Liminal Thinking
Create the change you want by changing the way you think.
Why do some people succeed at change while others fail? It’s the way they think! Liminal thinking is the art of creating change by understanding, shaping, and reframing beliefs. What beliefs are stopping you right now?
You have a choice. You can create the world you want or live in a world created by others. If you are ready to stop making excuses and start making changes, read on.
No matter who you are or what your situation is, some change is always possible. If there’s a situation in the world you want to change, liminal thinking can help.
Beliefs form the basis of everything people say, think, and do. When people change their beliefs, they change their behavior, which changes their lives.
“Liminal Thinking is a book about how to be mentally healthy, how to be present, and how to be a positive force in the world. But more simply, and more importantly, it’s a book about how to be.”
Dan Pink, Author of Drive and To Sell is Human.
Why is change so hard?
Even the most driven people hit a plateau. You set goals, implement new strategies, work to spark change… yet nothing budges. It’s frustrating and discouraging. Why do some people succeed at change while others fail? It’s the way they think!
Hidden, limiting beliefs can keep you trapped in old patterns without you even realizing it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re going in circles — in your career, personal growth, or leadership — it’s likely because of unseen assumptions shaping your decisions.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Liminal means “threshold” – the space between what is and what could be. Liminal Thinking is the art of stepping into that space to transform your mindset and, in turn, transform your world. By learning to recognize and reframe the beliefs that silently guide your behavior, you can open the door to change in any area of life. No matter who you are or what your situation, some change is always possible — and it starts with how you think.
“In a time of increasing complexity and change, Dave Gray’s Liminal Thinking provides a much needed blueprint to help us clarify our own thinking, make connections with others, and communicate powerfully our ideas in a way that is both deeply human and profoundly impactful.”
Lisa Kay Solomon, co-author of Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversations That Accelerate Change.
What is Liminal Thinking?
Liminal Thinking is a groundbreaking approach by acclaimed author Dave Gray that teaches you how to create the change you want by changing the way you think
This isn’t just another self-help idea; it’s a practical framework rooted in psychology and real-world experience. In everyday life, in business, and especially in leadership, the ability to challenge and change your own beliefs is a superpower – it helps you solve stubborn problems, adapt to new realities, and make better decisions.
In this concise, engaging book, Dave Gray distills six core principles and nine actionable practices that anyone can use to break free from mental ruts. You’ll learn how to step back and examine your assumptions, truly understand others’ perspectives, and continuously “upgrade” your beliefs to meet your goals. Whether you’re striving to improve your personal relationships, lead a team through change, or simply make smarter choices day to day, Liminal Thinking gives you the tools to get there.
“Dave Gray has taken the brilliantly simple germ of an idea (how to think across the borders of belief) and written it into a potent virus. Dave’s timing couldn’t be better. As the world slips again into splintered conflicts of belief, I hope and pray his virus spreads.”
Dan Roam, author of The Back of the Napkin.
“Becoming an effective agent for change is invaluable… In Liminal Thinking, Dave Gray nails it! Do yourself a favor, buy this short book and finish reading it immediately.”
Jeffrey Eisenberg, New York Times bestselling author of Call to Action.
What you’ll learn — and why it matters
In Liminal Thinking, you will discover how to:
- Identify Hidden Beliefs Holding You Back: Uncover the unconscious assumptions and “stories” that shape your reality, so you can spot what’s really preventing progress in your life or work. (Imagine realizing the one belief that’s been sabotaging your goals – and knowing how to change it!)
- Break Out of Mental Ruts: Apply nine practical strategies to reframe your thinking – from “Emptying Your Cup” of preconceptions to “Making Sense with Stories” – and watch new solutions and opportunities emerge where you once felt stuck.
- Lead and Communicate with Clarity: Learn how to get in touch with your ignorance and seek understanding, enabling you to connect with others’ beliefs and needs. Become the kind of leader who navigates change gracefully and inspires buy-in by truly understanding what makes people tick.
- Make Better Decisions, Every Day: Sharpen your decision-making by questioning false assumptions. Liminal Thinking shows you how to minimize reality distortion and see situations from multiple angles, so you can make choices based on a fuller picture (critical in both high-stakes business moves and personal life decisions).
- Create Change — Without Formal Authority: You don’t need a fancy title or big budget to create change. Learn how to start shifting the dynamics around you from wherever you are, using small actions and experiments to “act as if” and prove that new ways can work. Empower yourself to be an agent of change — in your team, family, or community — by changing how you approach problems.
Each insight is illustrated with real-life stories and simple diagrams, making the concepts easy to grasp and apply. This book isn’t abstract theory – it’s a hands-on playbook for changing your mindset and seeing immediate results in the challenges you face.
“In the best sense of the word, this is popularization of the obvious, of the space between things, of seeing things you’ve always seen but never seen and pulling them into your own personal library, for getting through the morass, the flotsam and jetsam of all the stuff that’s around us.”
Richard Saul Wurman, Founder, TED, author of Information Anxiety.
“If we hope to shape change, we must understand and reframe our beliefs. But to cross a boundary or threshold is to experience ambiguity and disorientation. That’s why we need Liminal Thinking. This book is a map made of stories that will change your mind.”
Peter Morville, author, Information Architecture for the World Wide Web.
“Applied organizational Buddhism. Design thinking for life.”
Mike Zeigler, VP of Business Development and Operations, Cox Media.
“I’ve read so many books about dealing with complexity. Most of them tell us that we can go on doing things the way we’ve always done them as long as we carry around some totemic words like “fractal” and “strange attractor” and “emergent.” Liminal Thinking is different. It may be the first book I’ve read that challenges its readers to live more effectively in a world that seems (but isn’t) newly complex (and complicated).”
Cynthia Kurtz, Author and researcher.
About the author.
Dave Gray is a trusted authority on innovation, change, and visual thinking. He’s the founder of XPLANE, a renowned consultancy that has helped Fortune 100 companies, NGOs, and governments around the world tackle complex challenges
An artist and information designer turned business thinker, Dave has spent decades teaching leaders and teams how to break out of old mindsets and find creative solutions.
He’s also the bestselling author of Gamestorming (with over 100,000 copies sold in 16 languages) and The Connected Company. When it comes to understanding how people and organizations tick, and how to spark real change, Dave’s experience runs deep. In Liminal Thinking, he becomes your coach — guiding you through proven principles, asking the tough questions, and lighting the path toward a new way of thinking. With Dave Gray as your guide, you’re learning from someone who has walked the walk and helped countless others transform their approach to problems.
4.3 stars on Amazon. Liminal Thinking is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars (average of 800+ reviews on Amazon).
Ready to Change Your Thinking and Change Your World?
It’s time to step across the threshold. If you’re ready to stop making excuses and start making changes, then Liminal Thinking is the roadmap you’ve been looking for. Break free from the beliefs that have been holding you back. Embrace a new mindset that will empower you to transform your life, your work, and your relationships from the inside out.
Buy Liminal Thinking now and take the first step toward the change you want and deserve. Your future – and a new way of seeing the world – is waiting on the other side.