Look at this
This is a little drawing to illustrate the fact that there have been only 200 generations (each of about 25 years) since the beginning of recorded history right up to the present time. Isn’t that amazing? This grabbed me for two reasons. First, it really captures just how little time has passed since we began to record human history. That’s quite mind boggling (and humbling) in itself. But, secondly, it was the simplicity of the image which really caught my attention. I came across this on the digital roam blog…..that’s Dan Roam’s blog.
Dan Roam has written a book about using visual thinking and I think it looks GREAT. The book is called “Back of the Napkin”. Every day I draw simple little pictures for patients to help explain quite complex ideas like health, disease, healing, how to tackle allergies, and so on. Dan’s set up a web site to accompany his book. Go and check it out. He’s made a great little series of flash videos which I highly recommend. There are four of them (drawn on the back of a napkin!). Watch them all. It’ll only take a few minutes and I bet you’ll find it thought provoking about how we see and how we communicate with pictures.
Heroes Not Zombies 
Bob, this is a fantastic visual prompt and quite mind boggling thought about history too.
I get a similar reaction when I think back to my great-grandfather, born in the 1850s – just 3 jumps. Makes my head go funny!
I have to confess to having a mental block or rather a limiting belief about being able to think – or communicate – in pictures (years of humiliation in drawing classes at school). But I can see their power and with your prompting will explore the ‘napkin’ stuff a bit further…
Joanna
Looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
200 generations, that just warped my mind.