Without the capacity to create a mental tension by holding two opposing ideas in mind we would not be able to cross-fertilize these ideas to find innovative ways forward. Martin calls this 'integrative thinking' - synthesizing elements from opposing views to find a third way. It is about avoiding 'either/or' thinking in favor of 'both/and' thinking. In this reading Martin explains in more depth the steps that need to be taken to effectively engage in integrative thinking, which will will be of particular use in discussing the first two readings, and more in general also throughout the rest of this book.