5 comments about Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention.

1. Few activities are a misunderstood by the general public as inventing and creativity. Sadly, Hollywood and television often portray the great inventor, scientist or musician as some sort of "mad genius". This book seeks to put the study of creativity on a rational basis.
   
   For the purposes of this book, creativity is defined as "... to bring into existence something genuinely new that is valued enough to be added to the culture". Ninety-one noted contemporary people have been systematically interviewed. While only two -- Jacob Rabinow and Frank Offner -- are full-blown inventors, their creative processes have a fascinating similarity to the composers, architects, astronomers, biologists and others interviewed.
   
   The book does not just quote the people interviewed, but cites their views regarding various facets of the creativity process.
   
   Jacob Rabinow (200 patents in diverse areas) believes most original thinkers share three common traits -- 1) their curiosity, from early childhood, results in acquiring a great deal of information, 2) they enjoy thinking up and combining ideas, and 3) they recognize their "good" ideas and don't hesitate to discard "junk" ideas.
   
   Frank Offner (first electronic controls for jet engines and developer of the only successful heat-homing missiles in World War II) notes that while a "solid grounding in physical sciences" is an asset, knowledge from other fields may trigger a creative person's mind to override what is assumed to be true in one field. He also feels the love or joy of solving problems is a key to finding solutions. This fun aspect is so strong that Rabinow is quoted as saying that, given a choice between money-making and fun, he would go for the fun.
   
   Creative people are sometimes thought to be arrogant. However, this often stems from the need for self-assurance or, simply, overriding modesty. As Rabinow notes, "... I always assume that not only it can be done, but I can do it".
   
   Robert Galvin (head of Motorola for 30 years) is reported as saying two traits are essential: 1) anticipation, i.e., having a vision of the future, and 2) commitment, which keeps you going when you or others have doubts. He also practices a mental exercise worth considering -- flip the problem by asking, "What if the opposite were true?".
   
   Freeman Dyson, the physicist, observes, "... it is easy when you have a problem to work on. The hardest part is finding your problem".
   
   The book cites how being in the right place at the right time contributes to being recognized. In Florence, Italy, between 1401 and 1425, an explosion of creativity took place. For example, for eighty years the cathedral of Florence lacked a dome, and yet the Pantheon of Rome had a dome (142 feet in diameter!) for a thousand years. Suddenly, Brunelleschi, who had analyzed the structure of the Pantheon, applied it to the problem at hand. The social, economic and political factors that made Florence the "right place at the right time" are detailed in the book.
   
   Are we, today, providing incentives for creativity to flourish? One aspect of this is what we can do as a society. The author notes children who suffer from hunger or discrimination are less likely to be curious or interested in novelty. Another aspect is what as individuals can we do to promote our own creativity. The author offers various ways to cultivate creativity. For example, preserve the awe of childhood, "be surprised by something every day". Write down some of your observations and follow-up with some research. Don't think certain things are not your business -- life is your business.
   
   While the author is a professor and former chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, the book is free from pompous phraseology and is readable by just about anyone who is interested in understanding creativity. If you want to dispel myths, such as "creative people are hyperactive", "have very high IQs" and "lack humor", then read this book and find out the real facts about creative people. A big book -- 456 pages -- but a delightful book. Read it and donate it to your local library -- the truth is there, so get it out there.



2. If you're interested in any aspect of psychology then this is not only an informative book to read, but a fun one as well. As a psychology major, I enjoyed learning about how creative people live and work. Not only are the individual stories in the book interesting, but they also teach us ways of how to become more creative. The way Csikszentmihalyi describes the ways to enhance creativity makes us really believe we can do it. No, you don't need to come up with some incredibly brilliant invention. Just simply by waking up, setting a goal to achieve that day, enjoying your success, and increasing the complexity of the goal each day, you can develop the creative "flow" of everyday life.
   
   In addition to helping people who lack creative qualities, Csikszentmihalyi also describes many ways to stay creative. For example, he suggests making time for reflection and relaxation. Also, he says to start doing more of what you love, and less of what you hate. These are just a few of the simple ways to help sustain your creative "flow" and again we feel confident that we can do these things. It's not brain science.
   
   Even more importantly, Csikszentmihalyi does a great job of informing us about the so-called myths of creative people. These mostly deal with certain psychological traits that are given to the stereotypical creative person. We learn that creative people aren't as selfish, fanatical, crazy, and single-minded as we may assume. Psychologically, creative people tend to be very much a mixture of different levels of these stereotypes and the opposite of those stereotypes.
   
   If I had to pick one downside of this book, it would be that there isn't a lot of detail on each creative person being interviewed by Csikszentmihalyi. For some of the people, we are given enough information to understand their creative story fairly well. However, for others it felt like not enough background information was given. A psychologist is interested in all perspectives of assessment: disease, dimension, behavior, and life-story. Thus, it would have been better to learn more about each person's life outside the creative world in order to see if creativity derives from psychological aspects of the person as a child or adolescent. Furthermore, the book could have contained more about the person's family, upbringing, hobbies, past achievements, IQ, etc. Again this is a bit of a personal preference and not necessarily a substantial flaw of the book.
   
   This book "flowed", that's for sure. I enjoyed it!



3. Very interesting and detailed book. Helps explain the true reality and complexity of creativity - that it is a system of multiple environmental, technology and human personality elements which in combination and interaction bring about new products and processes.



4. The description posted here doesn't do the book justice - I own a copy and still made 8 pages of notes for myself. Typed pages! Dr. Csikszentmihalyi distills and highlights the creative moments in life and how to create more creative moments in your own. It is not dry reading - the interviews and comments from his pool of world-class 'creative' people was very enjoyable and I liked that portion the least! Here's one of my favorite quotes: 'Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives for several reasons.. First, most of the things that are interesting, important, and human are the results of creativity.
   
   We share 98 percent of our genetic makeup with chimpanzees. What makes us different - our language, values, artistic expression, scientific understanding, and technology - is the result of individual ingenuity that was recognized, rewarded, and transmitted through learning. Without creativity, it would be difficult indeed to distinguish humans from apes.'
   



5. I especially liked the part where he says that a good chunk of Eulers mathematical theorems came towards the latter part of his life and when he was blind. I was especially interested in the linkage between age and creativity since I'm in my early 30's & wanted to make sure that I still have some juice left in me. :-)

5 comments about A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative.

1. I bought this book several years ago and still find it helpful. It is worth rereading every year or so. The suggestions von Oech presents never go out of date. Getting stuck in a rut is a surefire way to squelch creative thinking. As a help to avoid getting in a rut, he suggests that men look for a new shaving pattern every day - look for a creative way to whack off those whiskers. Every morning when I see my face in the mirror, I get a daily challenge to look for a new way of doing routing tasks. That mental exercise helps keep my mind sharp.



2. I found this book to be very entertaining and it certainly gave me some fresh and creative ways to look at situations/problems. I'm not sure yet how I will be able to put any of them to use, but that may be because I'm a bit overwhelmed after just reading the book. The exercises within the chapters did not always offer me the insight on how to use the topics they were supposed to be practicing. I am hopeful that the next time I run into a brick wall, some of the suggestions occur to me and that I can put them into practice.
   
   I can see how this would make a very effective seminar or training, with groups working on the exercises, bouncing ideas off one another and spurring one another on to more creative thinking.



3. Roger von Oech deeply understands that the creative juices flow best when people are relaxed and having fun. He does this by creating a common sense book that has easy to read, and powerful exercise to help tap into the creative nature that we all have.
   
   The book is a key element in critical thinking. It focuses on developing the left brain, right brain crossover. I found the book refreshing, fascinating and insightful..
   
   The title says it all. The format is user friendly, the exercises are engaging and the cartoons are hilarious. The book firmly pushes anyone who reads the book out of his or her box to become a better critical thinker!
   
   The topics are fascinating. They include: Opening mental locks, Learning how to think, Making the strange familiar, Challenging the rules, Play is frivolous, The fools and the rules and many more.
   
   This is a great book for anyone who is ready to open doors to their mind and become more creative. It lubricates the door hinges that may have become a little rusty over time!
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking



4. This book belongs in every manager or leader's library. It hosts great practical ideas to thinking in a more dynamic, creative and innovative way. A five star resource.



5. I teach creative thinking in Hungary. This is the book I suggest to my students. It is a pity, that hasn't been translated to Hungarian.

5 comments about Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life (Masterminds Series).

1. This is an interesting book, but more importantly lead me to get another book from the same author - 'The Evolving Self'. Oh my god! I haven't read such clear logic in such an enjoyable style forever! It provides insides into change of self, through change of perspectives on evolution, that is evolution as a concept...One of the best books, if not the best book I have ever read! A beautiful combination of psychology and philosophy!



2. I absolutely loved this book. It's not a self-help book by any means. It goes beyond that. There are reasons why we love or hate anything we do, and this book goes into detail to answer the great question, "Why?"
   
   Seems like common sense, but it's not for most people. When you begin to understand why you love to do things and hate to do others, you can begin to enrich your life to enhance your overall experience on this planet.



3. If you can remember an instant in your youth when everything seemed to be going perfectly, you understand Flow. This book is a very good way to learn about Flow and work. How how to get back that felling from your past.



4. In _Finding Flow_, Cziszentmihalyi repeats the same concepts and even a few examples used in his previous book _Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience_. He introduces the concept of "flow" as essentially the mental state in which one is inspired, challenged, focused and capable all at once. Someone experiencing "flow" frequently loses track of time and worries while being completely alert to the activities engaging them. The author uses NUMEROUS examples to prove his argument, yet his conclusions are not always convincing (for example, he dismisses the accuracy of self-reports by teenagers who claim to experience more "flow" and less happiness-- while relying on these same self-reports to claim "autotelic" (in the "flow") teenagers are more satisfied).
   
   I suppose the book might be enlightening for those who have rarely experienced "flow" and wouldn't think to examine their experiences for it. I have been feeling less focused and less creative lately, so I was hoping to learn some new, practical strategies for improvement.
   
   Some worthwhile points:
   * Learn to re-frame your experiences so that they feel "willed" (in a healthy way)
   
   * Examine your daily activities for the ones that show recognizable elements of flow; add more of these activities to your life, if you can, or try to turn less enjoyable activities into games
   
   * Take interest in being disinterested. Do things for the sake of doing them, for the process and not for the result.
   
   * Do more housework if you are a man, less if you are a woman.
   
   Altogether, the book is rated 3 stars for a mediocre attempt at a worthwhile topic. Few examples and more analysis would have made the argument much more convincing.



5. would not have read if I didn't have to and this was not a good read

5 comments about Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament.

1. While Prof. Jamison's previous writing has inspired me and also given me insight to the potential pitfalls that face someone with bipolar disorder, I found this book to be a bit more technical. Perhaps a little too technical.
   
   Regardless, Kay Redfield Jamison is a brilliant author. Her honesty, insight, and ability to open her world to you as a reader is amazing. Blunt. Honest. Thought-provoking.
   
   Look up her other works and you will NOT be disappointed, particularly "An Unquiet Mind". You won't regret it.



2. Over the years.....for as long as I can remember - I sit alone and let my mind soar to the most incredible heights. My mind hears, sees and feels ....original music that tragically will never be heard. Motion Pictures that will never be seen. Eroticism that would make even the most sexually creative blush - never be felt.
   
   My mind went too high...too often that made life too difficult to bear when the stars tuned to clouds.
   
   Before the medication, early on a Sunday morning - I would play my piano into the early evening......with only vague recollections of my wife's voice mentioning something about lunch. Never being satisfied with what I had played over the last 12 hours. Vainly trying to fight off the anxiety and depression. The waves of original music I had just played while my body covered in goose bumps and those encompassing waves not dissimilar to a sexual orgasm..only giving way to the frustration and damning myself for the melodies that did not come. Regardless of the niceties bestowed upon me by neighbors at cocktail parties who overheard while watering the lawn or walking the dog.
   
   Mens sana in corpore sano - A healthy mind in a healthy body is something madness will not allow.
   
   My children and I thank you Dr. Greenfield and we thank you Pamela for continuing to lead me past the open windows. I love you both from the bottom of my heart.
   
   ....and thank you Kay for the validation.



3. As mentioned by others, if you are looking for the actual process of how depression is seen to predispose certain people to be creative then this book is not for you. The fineline between madman and genius is still poorly understood. Jamisons book is a treatise on what information is known along with citing studies and statistical analysis. It is aimed more towards scientists etc. studying the phenomenon as opposed to individuals looking for answers as to why they are prone to depression and the creativity that depression brings about.
   However, with the above in mind, Jamison has done a good job. I feel it to be incomplete as it doesn't really get in to the nitty gritty of what exactly is happening to cause the madman/genius scenario. Alas that isn't a failing of Jamison, more a case that currently no one knows with any certainty as to what is going on. Is it hereditary?, Genetics?, a social failing, artists taking advantage of societies perception of the madgenius-artist?, being predisposed to being more emotional and just feeling the highs and lows of the human condition to a greater degree? etc. etc. Hopefully one day soon the underlying causes may be know but not today. And in a way that is a plus for this book - Jamison for the most part appears to be impartial to the theories and merely collects them together for the reader to to review. There are some biographies of certain artists/writers/poets/musicians etc. with Lord Byron being the greatest study. They make for very interesting reading, along with the lists of well regarded artistic types and their battles with mental illness.
   If you are someone looking for answers this book isn't for you. But if you are looking for the current state of affairs in this field then you will find much here to dwell on. My background is science so I found the delivery of the book to be standard scientific fare and had no problems reading it. It may come across as dry to a reader not so well versed in this manner of writing. As I am now a writer and an artist I found the book to be very interesting - I didn't learn much beyond what common sense will tell you but it was useful to have all the current studies in one tome. A book in a similar vein worth reading is Anthony Storr's "Churchill's Black Dog".



4. HOw much of the creativity of fiery individuals is due to mood disorders? This book explores the connection of many who have been artistic and successful with mood disorder. Is there such a thing as an artistic temperament?



5. This book was too hard to follow. The author assumes that the reader (me) understands or has a dictionary is hand at all times. Which of course I did not.

4 comments about The Complete Artist's Way: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice.

1. The Artist's Way books are inspiring, and this pretty book containing three of them is worthy of a prime space on the bookshelf (while keeping it handy for check-ins!). Nicely done.



2. The exercises in the first part of this "trilogy" is more than worth the price of the book. If you choose to do the exercises, your creativity will be released/unblocked. What a positive response this book is for really anyone who wants to live more creatively. If you want to think of yourself as an artist, or if you never thought of yourself as an artist before, this book is for you. I have already given it as a gift and I'm not even half way through with the reading/journaling/pondering. It would be a tremendous book for your local library. Then, use it on a solo journey or work through it with a group. Gigi



3. "Was there any issue this week that felt significant to you in your self-discovery?" Cameron's questions and exercises are very helpful for someone getting started in an artistic pursuit - or someone who needs to reactivate after a period of not working in this arena for a time. The book is written in short essays, some of which have tasks to do. The exercises help reduce the rigidity of our mental constructs, and so open the spirit path. It is a book one may pick up and read at any moment... find a gem of an idea to build upon, or an understanding of what's at work in all of the arts. This book is a treasure for me. It never fails to remind me of the creativity that is always ready to be stirred in every human being.



4. I was very pleased with the delivery time and the perfect condition my book arrived in. I also was pleased with the price. I recommend this book!

5 comments about Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists.

1. Living the Creative Life is challenging me to look at creativity in many new ways. The approach taken from the viewpoint of many different artists in many different media shows the versitality of our innate creative spirit. The idea that all humans are creative if they allow that part of the whole person to flourish is not new to me, but the way this author discusses the creative spirit is fresh. The book is beautiful to look at and I love the format -- small size, lovely illustrations and great ideas for jump starting creativity.



2. This was the most boring book on art I have ever read or should I say flipped through and returned.



3. It is hard to imagine anyone could read this book without stopping multiple times to experiment with some form of art explorations of their own. The author makes it seem natural and oh so inviting. The only drawback is the small print on busy pages. It is sometimes difficult to read the suggestions.



4. You can't but be inspired after reading this wondrous book! I will admit first hand, I personally have no intention (nor the talent), to ever become a world class artist by any means. I do have passion to create however, and this book along with another I received around the same time, Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser, have almost convinced me to rethink my day job. How rewarding (and envious), it sounds from all these talented souls, to be devoted and fortunate enough to get to spend their time without a doubt, doing what they love. Not to say it is without effort, but the pure joy and love for expression, explodes off the pages and simply can not be denied in both of these glorious titles.
   
   Unlike the various first hand artistic testimonials featured throughout "THE CREATIVE LIFE..." - "YOUR HOME..." follows just one decorative artist's amazing creative journey, leading to the publishing of his extroidinary first book which documents the rebirth of his ordinary historic home, through must see mural and faux painting techniques and decoration. In addition, Heuser's book is full of beautiful before, during and after photography, and inspiring how to do the same for your own home-projects. There are similarities in both of these titles however, as the reader will discover and can almost touch the often unexplicable creative passion in the hearts and spirits of these diversely talented artistans.
   
   There appears a special kinship between the artists and authors of both these books - as each are driven by the undeniable desire to express themselves through a wide range of interesting art mediums. I want to personally "Thank" both authors for so eloquently and unselfishly sharing their work and individual views on creativity with us! Both books offer rare insight and are worthy of our every penny! ENJOY!!!!



5. I don't normally write reviews, but this book is truly special. As an art teacher for many years, this book is so practical and spiritual in its approach, it's hard to describe. I marveled over such an open and honest approach to workshop ideas, and the benevolent freedom of sharing that the author brings. I carry this book with me everywhere...continually reading and re-reading through it, and thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?"

5 comments about Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind.

1. Hi folks. I've met Joe a few times over the past years & I just wanted to extend my thanks to him. He's been very helpful & hopeful to myself and many others. I've bought his big book, Evolve your Brain, and although I may not understand it all as well as Joe does I certainly found it practical & inspiring, like Joe is. Nice book. Thanks again Joe. Sincerely, Harrison Hicks



2. While this book is well-written and packed with technical information about the brain, it is not at all about "evolving your brain". A better title for this book would be "How the Brain Works". I was on page 320 when I realized this book wasn't going in the direction I hoped it would. Detail after detail about the way a brain works. Quite the opposite of what I hoped.



3. After reading several books of quantum physic, I new that we are responsible for our own reality. This book reenforce the concept through a different perspective, how the brain work, how the mind and matter are linked.
   From now on, it will be one of my favorite books, I fully recommend it.
   
   I only hope next time, Dr. Joe Dispenza writes a new book linking more the mind and the matter topic.



4. If you already have basic knowledge of the nervous system, this book is elementary and tiresome. The story is intriguing, but is wrapped up in the first couple of chapters, followed by long winded explanations of very basic concepts. I feel like it may be beneficial to those who have no previous knowledge of the brain, its function and anatomy, and are interested in learning about it in a little more detail than the average person. Definately not for those who have taken even a basic neurophysiology course, though.



5. Dr. Joe Dispenza is a very eloquent writer and puts scientific research together with anatomy and physiology in very informative and enjoyable book. I recommend it highly to anyone who likes to learn about details and wants their own thoughts to work for them.

5 comments about How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day.

1. Sorry I can't get interested in a book written by someone who obviously has not researched DaVincie.At best, his coverage of Da Vinci is superficial. the rest is made up. There should be a way to vet this kind of book before it's published.



2. This was one of the best books I have read in a while. Don't try to rush through this book, read a chapter then think about it. I would consider this a 'MUST HAVE' on anyone's book shelf who is interested in creativity and increasing their creativity. 'Nuff Said.
   
   Leon



3. a friend of mine found this book on the streets of san francisco, i got lured by the bold title, and here i am :)
   
   .. and why not learn something from the maestro? the numerous (and fantastic) accounts-of and quotes-from leonardo da vinci make this book! the action-oriented "how might this help you" orientation makes for an easy and exciting read. there's a lot of interesting details about leonardo (he was a vegetarian..) and the renaissance period overall
   
   the main content is laid out in a series of seven (one for each "da vincian principle") two-part chapters; the first part containing fascinating accounts of leonardo's approach to life - the second, recommendations of how you might develop the principle within your life (eg: "curiousita.. and you")
   
   the recommendations are fairly trite - lacking the da vincian principle of "sfumato" ("a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty") - but they're easy to skim through. for example, page 233 offers this advice on improving your skills of "connessione" ("recognition of and appreciation for interconnectedness")
   
   ---
   
   "what connections can you make between: a bullfrog and the internet?
   the frog's feet are webbed; the internet links you to the world wide web"
   
   ---
   
   most of the suggestions aren't this bad, but it's representative of the (imo) over-simplified approach to the stated goal of "how to think like leonardo da vinci"
   
   but again, they're easy to skim over and i enjoyed the book overall



4. A nice balance of history (what made da Vinci a genius) and practical tips on how you can build on the 7 aspects that we all naturally have to varying degrees of ability. The book puts into words and structure how to live your life more fully, which I think people naturally want. The book breaks each step into chapters and the author recommends that you read the book through fully before going through the exercises.



5. This book has a lot of great ideas. The exercises are wonderful and interesting. Overall, I found the book stimulating and I really got a lot out of it. For these reasons, I give the book 5 stars.
   However, I do feel the need to point out that it was at times rather cheesy in its portrayal of da Vinci. Though I won't claim to be anywhere near an expert on the man himself, a lot of the things asserted in this book seemed to be conjecture, speculation and opinion. Those parts were very irritating to read and fairly worthless.
   It is hard to believe that such a great book includes parts that are so awful!
   Having said that, I would still recommend reading the book. It is worth pushing through the bs to get to the good stuff.

5 comments about Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace.

1. For those who were born living outside the box and coloring outside the lines..........this book was written for us. Humorous, accurate and great advice on how to survive and even thrive within a large company/corporation.
   
   I clearly understand the dynamics he writes about. I survived and even thrived for the last 10 of my 28 years in a large company. I wish I would have had this book back then. It would have helped me figure out how to fly below the radar even quicker than I did.



2. A fantastic read about maintaining & continuing to develop your personal creativity, while not allowing yourself to be stifled by corporate culture. This book has amazing & entertaining color illustrations depicting MacKenzie's personal experiences while working for 30 years at Hallmark Cards, not to mention being filled with extremely funny anecdotes. I found myself wondering several times while reading this book whether the author would have been able to continue to develop his creativity so well if he had not been so fortunate as to find himself with a plum job at Hallmark in the first place. Nonetheless, this book is well worth reading. I think that anyone, at any rung of the corporate ladder, could learn valuable survival & leadership tips from & relate well with Orbiting the Giant Hairball.



3. Judging by the evidence of this book, Gordon MacKenzie is a twinkling, Merry Prankster-esque holy fool, a cubicle-farm Patch Adams, out to shake up the grey-carpeted halls of corporate America with his own blend of studiedly random wackiness. As other reviewers have said, there is little in the way of practical, take-away advice in this book, and that might well be how MacKenzie wants it -- telling people how they should be is such an authority trip, man. But it leaves you with very little in the end, other than MacKenzie's self-satisfaction and a lot of fake-amateurish scribbling and marginalia. A few nuggets float to the surface here and there; I noted with interest how he told a group of timid executives to "make marks" on paper instead of draw on it, as "drawing" prompts anxiety in people not used to acting creatively. If MacKenzie could've deigned to offer a little more in that vein, this would have been a valuable book.



4. I've been buying this book for a decade; I've bought dozens of copies. It has been a welcome gift for all new clients in my agency. The art direction is just wonderful and it echoes Gordon's innovative way of seeing everything. Reading it just made me want to go to the office just to shake things up for the better.
   
   It's brilliant, fun and funny. You can sit down and read it through, or nibble at it in small bites.



5. It took me a while and even though a good friend from Brussels had talked about the "Giant Hairball" some months ago it didn't come close to me to put it on my reading list.
   
   As Gordon MacKenzie is writing in this amazingly insightful and joyfully written book, it needed a real new approach:
   
   While being over at my friend's place a couple weeks for a job interview, heading for my train to a tournament in Amsterdam he said, "Here take this book. I always have several ones on stock on my shelf to borrow to friends. Please send it back to me when you have finished reading it!".
   
   That was an unusual starting of a fruitful connection:-)
   
   Gordon MacKenzie has the ability to tell daily work problems in a way that you feel directly connected as you see through his stories into your own life at work. You realize that staying in the comfort zone where you comply to the company's procedures is really not fulfilling.
   
   Always try to get into the orbit outside the regular procedures create something new and reconnect with the inner company "hairball".
   
   Every story in the remarkably illustrated book makes you laugh and rethink the future (life and work:-)).
   
   The change you would like to see in the world is done by you taking the first step. You will see the system will change:-))
   
   Cheers,
   
   Ralf Lippold, Leipzig

5 comments about Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius.

1. Author Michael Michalko delivers his best performance to date in this book. The book is filled with information on, and techniques for using, our creative processes. Many of the techniques are easy to learn, requiring only a little bit of practice to get used to them. Most of the book centers around: helping an individual generate many possible ideas about something, which will be critically evaluated at a later time; visualizing the problem and potential solutions; seeing from another's perspective, even the problem's in one case (quite effective sometimes); collaboration and creativity. This book already helped me deliver a 5 star essay on a very controversial subject. I followed its advice, producing as many ideas as possible in a short time, without rejecting any at first. Also, visualizing the data, as recommended, formed the basis for my later outline, which was complete enough that a rough draft was no work at all. So, for me, buying this book paid off already. I think anyone buying this will read it for a few minutes and then recognize they have a winner in their hands.



2. This is the best book on or about creative thinking I have ever read. I've recommended it to everyone I know who is interested in creating ideas and new ways to look at the world. Thanks.



3. This is something that is tickling my mind, after reading first few chapters of this book, I closed it, stood up, walked around my living room with my hands folded back. I looked outside the window and saw few kids playing the park and was forced to think something.
   
   We are first as kids made to learn few things and are forced to treat those things as basic and important that is not true (refer to Michael's blog about Thomas Edison's Greatest Blessings). Now after reading the book Thinkertoys and Creative Thinking, I feel like its not that I have to learn these new concepts but there is an entire process involved of first of all unlearning most of the stuffs from past and then relearning the new concepts.
   
   And when I say that I have to look at the kids I wonder what they are being tought in their schools only to find one day that they have to unlearn some of the concepts on which they are spending or rather wasting their time.
   
   Do read the book, as mentioned earlier it makes you smile after every chapter as you discover immense possibilities of what all can be achieved in your day to day life.



4. Mind-mapping helped considerably narrow down visual arts individual style to preferred media and suitable materials, saving me much wasted time, expense and creativity.



5. This is my 3th book a read about creativity. I really found it very intersting, with good methods, and aldo written in an intersting way.
   
   What I really like most y that the research behind this book, has really ponder the most important genious way of creating, so it has a good background and very well supportted.