About A CHILD in US: The Creative Thinking Handbook
A CHILD in Us: The Creative Thinking Handbook is a practical guide to unlocking the powerful problem-solver you already are, using a clear, research-informed framework designed for the future of work. Instead of treating creativity as a rare talent, it shows you how to turn everyday thinking into a systematic, repeatable skill you can apply to real decisions, projects, and challenges.
What this book is about
At the heart of the book is the CHILD Creative Thinking Framework, built on five cognitive tools everyone already possesses: Curiosity, Heuristics, Imagination, Laconic expression, and Deductive reasoning. You learn how to activate and combine these traits with professional essentials like empathy and active listening to generate sharper ideas, solve complex problems, and communicate them with clarity.
Rather than offering random “think outside the box” slogans, the handbook gives you a structured, step-by-step way to approach any challenge—whether you are designing a product, leading a team, making a career decision, or navigating personal crossroads. Each chapter translates theory into simple tools, prompts, and mental models you can immediately use at work, in classrooms, and in everyday life.
Why it matters now
Global employers are already signaling what the future demands: the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights analytical and creative thinking, along with curiosity and lifelong learning, as some of the fastest-rising skills in importance through 2030. At the same time, many leaders report that innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking gaps are actively hurting business performance and limiting growth.
This book is written as a direct response to that skills gap, giving you a practical methodology to build the kind of creative, adaptive thinking that technology cannot automate. Whether you want to stay employable, build IP and new value streams, or simply feel more confident in uncertain times, the CHILD framework turns “be more creative” from vague advice into a concrete, learnable advantage.
Who this book is for
A CHILD in Us is for anyone who needs systematic creative thinking, not just “artistic” creativity. It is especially useful if you are:
Innovators: designers, product teams, entrepreneurs, startup founders, R&D and creative professionals who must generate fresh, actionable ideas on demand.
Enablers: managers, team leaders, consultants, and senior executives responsible for guiding teams, shaping strategy, and unlocking innovation in others.
Future thinkers: educators, college students, young adults, and lifelong learners who want a durable thinking toolkit for an unpredictable job market.
Problem solvers: policymakers, public sector professionals, analysts, engineers, and IT experts tackling complex systems and high-stakes decisions.
If you are tired of feeling stuck, dependent on “naturally creative” people, or overwhelmed by chaos and change, this handbook gives you a grounded way to think differently, adapt faster, and lead with clarity. It does not ask you to work harder—it teaches you to think smarter, by awakening the CHILD within and intentionally designing your next chapter.
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Author Bio:
Gaurav is a design anthropologist, author, and designpreneur dedicated to unlocking systematic creative thinking in individuals and organizations . As the creator of the CHILD Framework—a methodology for mastering creative problem-solving—he bridges cognitive science, design thinking, and practical innovation to address the World Economic Forum’s #1 skill gap for the next decade.
With a foundation in design, Gaurav spent years observing how children naturally approach complex problems with curiosity, imagination, and systematic thinking before formal education conditions these traits away . This research became the cornerstone of A CHILD in Us: The Creative Thinking Handbook, which translates those observations into a trainable framework for adults navigating complexity, innovation, and uncertainty .
His work focuses on making creative thinking accessible, systematic, and immediately applicable across industries—from startups and innovation labs to education and personal development
Gaurav believes that creative thinking is not a talent—it’s a systematic skill anyone can develop . His work challenges the myth that creativity is mystical or reserved for “naturally gifted” people. Instead, he demonstrates that with the right framework, anyone can generate original ideas, solve complex problems, and think beyond conventional constraints.
In an era where automation handles routine tasks and AI generates predictable outputs, Gaurav’s mission is to help people cultivate the uniquely human cognitive capabilities that remain irreplaceable: curiosity-driven inquiry, hypothesis formation, imaginative thinking, adaptive learning, and deductive reasoning.
Gaurav works with organizations, educational institutions, and innovation teams to implement systematic creative thinking frameworks. His approach helps teams develop cognitive capabilities that drive breakthrough innovation and competitive advantage in rapidly changing markets.