The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

Unlock Hidden Solutions with Pictures and Outthink Your Competition by Thinking Visually

Dan Roam

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Discover a radically simple approach to business problem-solving with The Back of the Napkin. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or new to visual thinking, you’ll embark on a hands-on journey through everyday challenges—transforming confusion and complexity into clear, actionable insight. Using just pen, paper, and your built-in visual tools, you’ll learn how to break down information overload, map complex data, and communicate new ideas with clarity and confidence. With step-by-step frameworks, vivid stories, and actionable examples, you’ll see, imagine, and show solutions that stick—proving that anyone, even self-proclaimed non-artists, can master this universal language and start solving problems in ways words alone never could.

About the Author

Dan Roam is an internationally recognized advocate for visual thinking in business, known for his ability to demystify complex concepts using deceptively simple drawings. With consulting experience spanning global brands like Google, Microsoft, and Boeing, he’s helped leaders across industries harness the power of pictures to drive better decisions. Dan’s approachable style, insightful frameworks, and real-world success stories have inspired tens of thousands to unlock their hidden creative potential—proving that everyone can 'think with their eyes’ to achieve extraordinary results.

Biggest Takeaway

Readers will develop powerful visual thinking skills, enabling them to instantly clarify complex problems, discover new perspectives, and foster greater understanding in teams. Expect to make more confident decisions with less ambiguity, communicate ideas that resonate and persuade, and foster creativity in both personal and professional settings. By internalizing the frameworks and practicing hand-drawn problem solving, readers will build the confidence to tackle information overload, bridge communication gaps across disciplines, and catalyze action wherever they work.