Picture yourself with these three objects (candle, matches & thumbtacks) before you. Your task is to stick the candle to the corkboard on the wall so that, when it's lit, the candle wax won't drip onto the table below. You find yourself puzzling over the items, turning them over in your hands. Can you think of the solution? When presented with this problem, most people only consider the candle, the matches and the thumbtacks. But more innovative minds recognize the potential of the thumbtack box. The optimal solution to the puzzle involves viewing the thumbtack box not just as a container, but as a candle holder. This is the 'candle problem', a classic test of creative thinking. First developed by Karl Duncker, and published posthumously in 1945, it has since been used in countless studies testing everything from cognitive flexibility to the psychological fallout of stress. In the late 1970s, psychologist Alice Isen used it as the basis for an influential experiment to study how mood affects people's creativity. Credit and Disclaimer The text provided here is an excerpt from Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, used solely for the purpose of typing practice. This content is shared with the intent to help individuals improve their typing skills while exploring the engaging ideas presented in the book. We encourage everyone to support the author by purchasing the book if you find the practice content valuable. You can buy Feel Good Productivity online through official retailers or Ali Abdaal's website. This practice exercise is not intended to infringe on copyrights or replace the need to purchase the book. All rights to the text remain with the author and publisher. Thankyou!