Information is everywhere, but understanding is hard to come by. How do we make sense of complex and ambiguous information? How do we communicate our insights effectively to others? How do we design products and services that help people understand better?

These are some of the questions that Stephen P. Anderson and Karl Fast tackle in their book Figure It Out: Getting from Information to Understanding . The book is a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of sensemaking—the process of creating meaning from information.

The authors draw on insights from cognitive science, psychology, design, philosophy, and other disciplines to explain how our brains process information and how we can use various tools and techniques to enhance our understanding. They also provide practical examples and case studies from various domains such as business, education, health care, journalism, and more.

The book is divided into four parts:
- Part 1: Foundations introduces the core concepts and principles of sensemaking, such as mental models, frames, metaphors, diagrams, visual thinking, abstraction, synthesis, and storytelling.
- Part 2: Tools explores different types of tools that can help us make sense of information, such as sketches, maps, charts, graphs, tables, timelines, matrices,
- Part 3: Techniques covers different methods and strategies that can improve our sensemaking skills, such as asking questions,
- Part 4: Applications shows how sensemaking can be applied to various contexts and challenges, such as designing user interfaces, explaining complex topics, facilitating meetings, and making decisions.

The book is written in an engaging and accessible style that combines theory with practice. It is full of illustrations and examples that demonstrate how sensemaking works and why it matters. It is also rich with references and resources for further learning.

Figure It Out is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to transform information into understanding—for themselves and for others. It is especially relevant for designers, developers, educators, consultants, managers, analysts, journalists, and anyone else who deals with information on a regular basis.

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Buy it here: Figure It Out