1 comments about The Creative Quest: Discover a Three-dimensional Life With the Creative I's Workbook.

1. In this inspirational book, sculptor Bernice Schachter, provides readers with a road map to discovering and enhancing their creativity. By using sculpture as a metaphor, Schachter helps readers from all artistic fields rediscover their passion and find the "necessary dedication to develop the discipline needed in honing their skills."
   
   What sets Schachter's book apart from other creativity development books, however, is her use of the artistic works throughout the book. Schachter has included full-page photos of numerous dynamic sculptures, most created by Schachter and her colleagues. The works are beautiful and inspirational.
   
   My favorite part of The Creative Quest is the "Creative I's Workbook for Discovery". In this section of the book, Schachter presents a variety of exercises designed to stimulate and enhance the creative mind.
   
   Readers will certainly find The Creative Quest an enjoyable book and a valuable resource.

5 comments about Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist.

1. I love the new book by Kaleo and Elise, as a Life Coach who uses art process in my practice I have found Chi and Creativity to be a synthesis of many important aspects of energy work and art process. The guided imagery, art and chi kung processes, so clearly expressed and laid out for the reader makes incorporating these practices into everyday life easy. Kaleo and Elise have inspired me with new ideas for my own personal artwork. I use the photos and diagrams as an ongoing personal reference but find that the photos of the artwork and the illustrations of the meridians and acupoints very helpful for clients. The way the book is written makes their work so accessible and easy for anyone interested in art process, healing energy work, chakras, to understand...This book complements my own life's journey and my coaching practice; I highly recommend it to everyone.



2. As an artist, I appreciate the physical quality of this book. It feels good in your hands, paper stock and layout are beautiful. As a healer, this book gives me great ideas to build my chi with many different exercises, reaching all aspects of myself. Highly recommended.



3. This book is wonderful. I love the mediations, chi gong exercises, and more. Through doing the chi gong and mediations I have been able to reopen my creative self again. I feel like myself again, an artist! The book was very well written and illustrated. I love the personal journal inserts for they helped me to relate to the writer and to my self.



4. Both me and my girlfriend, a licensed psychotherapist, have used this book. More than just a creativity guide, its a guide to well being and to life. The masks are incredible. What a valuable resource and a beautiful, inspiring book.



5. The authors of Chi and Creativity present important concepts and methods for living in an expansive and intentional way. In this book we are shown how meditation, guided imagery, breath work, and chi kung can effectively awaken and enrich our creative processes. This remarkable book has have been of great help in supporting my chi kung practice.
   Lew Carson, Professor Emeritus of Art, California State University, East Bay

2 comments about Plato's Ion & Meno.

1. These recordings bring the dialogues to life! The Ion is a discussion between Socrates and Ion, an interpreter of Homer, who tries to argue that he knows everything in Homer's work, but Socrates shows that only experts know about what Homer writes. The Meno is a discussion about virtue, and whether it is teachable. This dialogue contains Plato's famous doctrine of recollection and Meno's Paradox about knowledge. Socrates ends by arguing that virtue is not teachable, but instead is a divine gift. You owe it to yourself to listen to these the way the Greeks talked about these timeless philosophical issues - we haven't solved these issues yet!



2. These recordings bring the dialogues to life! The Ion is a discussion between Socrates and Ion, an interpreter of Homer, who tries to argue that he knows everything in Homer's work, but Socrates shows that only experts know about what Homer writes. The Meno is a discussion about virtue, and whether it is teachable. This dialogue contains Plato's famous doctrine of recollection and Meno's Paradox about knowledge. Socrates ends by arguing that virtue is not teachable, but instead is a divine gift. You owe it to yourself to listen to these the way the Greeks talked about these timeless philosophical issues - we haven't solved these issues yet!

3 comments about The Creative Spirit: 2Tie-in (PBS).

1. Based on a PBS Special, I have given this book as gift to several of my supervisors as I left to go on to greater things with the hopes that it would inspire them to make the workplace a great place to be.



2. For those who were as disappointed of "How to think like Leonardo Da Vinci" as I was: This may be the one!



3. Recieved item on time, right when we were told it would arrive. Book in very good condition.

1 comments about Your Creative Power.

1. Ogburn is the O in the very creative BBDO advertising firm. His anecdotes leads you to engage your brain in some very creative thinking. Although his checklists don't just pop out of the book, they are there for your use. We only use our brain power about ten percent. You can really boost your brain power with Ogburn's Your Creative Power

5 comments about How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less!: Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing Today.

1. Obviously this author has taken seminars on "How to Write Catchy Titles That Will Get People to Buy Your Book." (In Two Hours or Less.)
   
   I was very excited to get this book, it had many good reviews on Amazon and I was looking for what the title suggested, a 30 day plan for writing a book. What a joke.
   
   This is a very small book that is very "short" on information and advice. It took me about 30-45 minutes to read. (There are 95 pages with huge margins and triple spaces between each small paragraph.)
   
   It is written at about a fifth-grade level, and might have some use in that type of classroom setting. There is nothing new here for the adult who has any education whatsoever, especially any college English classes. I just kept saying "duh" as I read each page.
   
   Her credits at that back of the book say she has written two children's books, and I guess two "How-to" books, including this one. That's some kind of expert advice.
   
   And incidentally, the 30-day plan isn't mentioned until page 63 as part of a BONUS SECTION! It includes such useful tips as, "grab your coffee and snacks," "do the laundry," and "go to the park." Gee, why didn't I think of that?
   
   This book is for you if you have absolutely no education, no imagination and the idea of getting a snack for yourself before you sit down to write gives you an "Ah ha" moment.



2. This little volume packs as much of a punch as any of the ginormous or gigandous plodding tomes you will find on the same subject. This is the one that actually got me inspired to do what I wanted to do, sit down and write without that gnawing anxiety blocking my creative urge. If you think you've got a children's book in you and you just haven't been able to get it to come out--or you haven't been able to finish it--this book will do the trick. Once I find a publisher, look for my children's book on Amazon next. The working title: "The Most Important Nation on Earth!"



3. I was expecting a book that would address the issues of children's book writing that many beginning authors face including working through plot glitches and character development on the small scale( particularly picture books). This book gave the bare bones basics about book writing. I felt very cheated. There was more information about putting together a poster board with you future wishes than writing technique. It just goes to show that anyone can write a book in thrity days-- it just doesn't have to be well written or informative.



4. I received this as a gift from a friend who is encouraging me to write a kiddies book I have had up my sleeve for ages but never have the time to put pen on paper.... What I should have done is taken 2 hours to write a 'How to write a children's book in 30 day's or less' book and wait for any desperate soul to buy it and laugh my way to the bank. I am truely sorry my friend wasted good money (hard earned cash) on this. The best I can do to compensate is to write this review and let others know that this is a self published waste of time and your money. Everything that was valuable was in the title and that you got for free... so STOP procrastinating and start writing and dont buy this book.



5. I believe those who gave this book positive reviews must be friends with the author. This author published this book through a self-publishing agency. A publishing house did not invest in the publishing of this book. IT IS HORRIBLE! I have read many books on writing children's books, novels, creative writing, etc. This is the worste, by far. I learned absolutely nothing. It was a waste of 30 minutes of my life. That's how short the book is. DO NOT BUY THIS! IT IS ABSOLUTE JUNK! No wonder she had to go the self-publishing route. I'm sure no one wanted to publish this.

2 comments about Singing and Imagination: A Human Approach to a Great Musical Tradition.

1. Singing and Imagination: A Human Approach...by Thomas Hemsley is an excellent book for beginning students of voice, as well as for more experienced singers. After a review of basic voice mechanics, like attack, breath control, vibrato, and falsetto, the author makes his own unique and intersting contributions to the art of singing. He talks about using the powers of your imagination, through imagery, to produce the most beautiful and meaningful music. The book is well written, and is easy to read and understand. I found it to be extremely insightful, and very helpful in the course of my own vocal studies. I recommend it to anyone who sings, either professionally or as a hobby.



2. This is the most useful book I've ever read on the art and craft of singing, and recommend it highly to professionals and beginners alike. In a different approach to how we're usually taught, Hemsley argues that imagination and focus should be the most important aspects of vocal training. In doing so, he revisits all aspects of voice training, from breathing and "support" (a term he loathes) to colouring and performance, offering alternatives using one's imagination for each.
   
   Reminiscent of Sergius Kagen's "On Singing", Hemsley emphasises preparation of the text and Knowing Thy Score prior to even thinking about singing. Singing ought to start with an urgent impulse to share with the audience a story, which can only be brought about when one has brought the character, music and text to life in one's own head. Again like Kagen, Hemsley spends no time on anatomy or physics, arguing that this can even be detrimental in creating an artist.
   
   A particularly interesting aid is the use of tessitura (which in this case is defined by Hemsley as a single note around which the others are centred). Keeping this note in mind throughout the piece should ensure accuracy of pitch, and better legato.
   
   Overall, Hemsley provides a coherent and common sense framework for a meaningful performance."Testing" his suggestions one by one I found a distinct improvement in my technique and, more importantly, greater enjoyment of the music.

5 comments about How to Be a Creative Genius (in five minutes or less).

1. Don't skip the introduction to this little book or you will likely miss the perspective you'll need to appreciate it. The unusual format of bullet lists, no more than three or four per page, and a couple of short summary paragraphs scattered throughout each chapter, make for quick reading and easy remembering. Unger takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to stating the obvious; at least what is obvious to geniuses. He assumes his readers are geniuses, of course, and that adds to the enjoyment of the book.
   
   The genius tidbits are fed to us in chapters designated to cover the major avenues of work life: Genius Mentality, Dress, Work Flow, Health, Excuses, Advertising, and Spice of Life. Under Genius Work Flow, for example, he advises, "Never bring lunch to work. It allows for longer lunch breaks." After a series of these comments, a tightly written paragraph states his point clearly.
   
   Another pithy example comes from Genius Mentality: "Believe there is nothing wrong with a superficial solution." Sarcasm carries the day in this collection.
   
   I reviewed a galley copy so did not see the cover planned for the hardcover finished product. The brevity of the book and its bring-a-chuckle style may make it a victim to potential buyers who will just thumb through it in the aisle of the bookstore rather than purchasing it. I think it has good potential for stimulating team discussions in the workplace and widening creative thought channels in anyone who needs a spark touched to their innate creativity.
   
   Paula Buermele is a reviewer for BookPleasures and the author of "The Dream Catcher Tour."



2. I am not very creative nor am I a genius. I'm just a guy in sales whose manager told him that he has to "be more creative!" I don't even know what that means. I ran across this book hoping for some insight and hoping to become a genius in the process!
   
   I did enjoy the format of the book. Good mix of bulleted items and 'de facto" points makes the pacing of the book easy to read. The chapter titled "Genius Dress" and "Genius Excuses" made me realize that becoming a creative genius is more a state of mind than actually having to be a genius so, as the one of the bullets instructed, I am now going to "carry more stuff than you can handle into a meeting"! The chapter on "Genius Advertising" was spot-on showing practical examples of existing mundane advertisements and the final chapter on the "Genius Spice of Life" does a good job identifying the catalyst for creativity and genius. I'd tell you what that catalyst is but then what fun would that be!
   
   I keep the book on my desk at work to show my boss that I am trying to be more creative and I do open it from time to time to get an irreverent nugget of wisdom. Or then again, just to get a chuckle and a smile to justify my "be messy" approach. Good book, fun to read, can't wait for the next one from Gary!



3. "Creative Genius" is a great book! It will make you laugh and think. The author, Gary Unger, does a great job offering witty line after witty line that will have you rolling with laughter one minute and pondering life's mysteries the next. A great, quick read!



4. I was first attracted to this book by an amazon.com e-mail recommendation. In the future, I will take such recommendations with a grain of salt. The book is 90 pages long, with many of these pages blank, and most of them containing one or two sentences. If the brief sentences were pithy or insightful, then maybe the book would be worth reading and/or worth the money. But what we get are un-snappy one-liners that amount to non-sequiturs and stale recyling of well-worn motivational lines. Some of them are just bizarre (e.g., "Do drugs," "Be vegetarian"). I would bet some of the previous reviews are part of a business strategy involving associates of the author. (He is described as a high-powered advertising consultant.) Save your money. You will get nothing out of this book except a lighter wallet.



5. The following review is posted on my blog at www.InnovativeEconomy.com
   
   I suppose it only makes sense that if you are going to write a book on how to be a genius in five minutes or less, you should also write the book in a manner that fits the title. So when I picked up my copy at the bookstore, the impact began before I even had the cover opened, and then magnified when I started to read it.
   
   Gary's book, "How To Be A Creative Genius (in five minutes or less)" is a great catch-you-off-guard book. If you are a literal thinker ready to take step-by-step procedures from the book and execute your genius, forget it. It isn't there. If you measure the value of a book by dividing the price you paid by the number of pages, prepare to be frustrated. The book isn't expensive (I paid $14.95 at Barnes & Noble) but its is small and short. However, if you expect someone who claims they can teach you to be a genius to do something that signifies their own qualification to be the teacher, the book `experience' will teach you as much as the words on the page.
   
   The book is loaded with sarcasm. If you miss that early on, you'll go way off into the weeds regarding what he is saying. If you get that part right, it is easy to follow. Gary distills some profound truths into short cogent stories or examples that really stick in the mind and confront the heart in a gentle yet direct way. The premise of Gary's approach is that the genius is already inside you - he doesn't put it there, he helps you awaken it yourself and connect to it. To do this, he must confront the assumptions, beliefs and habits and that suppress the genius within you. Like the best pediatrician who can perform a procedure without the child even knowing it, Gary's approach causes you to confront those inhibitors through his whimsical fashion. By the time you realize what he is doing, he has already done it. It is truly a fun approach.
   
   I read the book last week and it has been on my desk ever since. I find myself referring to certain vignettes and then remembering them when I'm far away from my desk doing things that have nothing to do with work.
   
   One of my favorite qualities of the book is how Gary uses true stories of great geniuses to make the point his point, and how these points make the geniuses more human and real. I also really liked how it made me look in the mirror in a real way, not just once but pretty much every day since I read the book.
   
   This is not just a book, it is an experience. If you are in a rut or a literal thinker, prepare to cock your head to the side like a confused puppy before the wisdom of what he has done hits you. That is part of the value of the book, not a sign that it's the wrong book for you. The more you cock your head to the side, the more you need this book.
   
   It's a great read for entrepreneurs so I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to stoke up the creativity in a fun way.

2 comments about Becoming A Critical Thinker Fourth Edition.

1. I will first off admit that I have not read through this book in its entirety, but I have used portions of it for a 100 level college class. That being said, I can't imagine why anyone would even want to read through the entire thing, given its "painfully obvious" content.
   
   It amuses me to think that someone would feel compelled to write a book about "critical thinking," since it seems more like something one learns naturally than something learned from a book. This text provides plenty of exercises for this purpose, but I'm not sure why I found myself using it in a college class.
   
   The book is divided into six primary sections, titled Fundamentals of Thinking, Persuasive Communication, Becoming an Individual, Evaluating Arguments, Recognizing Errors in Thinking, and Applying Your Thinking Skills. If certain ideas come to mind at any one of these titles, you probably know the content of that chapter. I skimmed through these sections realizing I already knew the content, and then was very glad I did not spend my time reading them through.
   
   Can you learn from this book? Certainly. There is always a little something to be learned from books. Is it worth your time? Probably not. If you can honestly say you struggled in school, this book may shed light on obvious things that you simply never gave though to. Nonetheless, I am convinced most people know the majority of the information. You will probably use this while you need to, and never use it again.
   
   I advise anyone who needs this book for a class to buy it as cheap as you can. I advise anyone who does not need this book for a class not to buy it.



2. We were told at South College that this book was needed for 2 classes. Both classes we didn't use it. Waste of money!

5 comments about A Life in the Arts (Inner Work Book).

1. I enjoyed the quotes, but this book is filled with artist bashing through and through, continually harping on the mental fragility of artists, their inability to get along with others, or participate in mutually supportive communities. The exercises promote feeling guilty and insecure about seeing the world in unusual ways and imply that curtailing creativity will lead to better adjustment. The last chapter actually gives advice to the artist about how to make a transition out of a life in the arts. UNBELIEVABLE! The organization "Artists for a Better Image" has a web site that lists negative stereotypes of artists in the media. The author parrots these stereotypes hook, line, and sinker. The book "Art & Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland is much, much better as a guide to an artist's self-understanding. "A Life in the Arts" by Eric Maisel is a good book for artists, especially aspiring artists, to avoid.



2. I have just finished reading A LIFE IN THE ARTS for the second time. Maisel's book has become an indispensable companion and has helped me to look at reality and to accept certain compromises, at the same time keeping my mission in full focus and never undermining my integrity. It is a great rarity when I am able to identify or relate to a book as I have to this one. A LIFE IN THE ARTS is a wonderful work of art.



3. Alife in the Arts - what THE ROAD LESS TRAVLED was to seekers, this book is to artists-is,quite simply,for me. The Difinitive book on the full range of issues for anyone in the arts. It is a book that one can go back to at any point in one's journey, and glean something new.



4. I think I have become Maisel's best publicity agent since I have told every musician that I work with that they MUST get this book. Just having someone lay out for me the behaviors and personality traits that make up an artistic personality has taken a great load off my psyche. I've just finished the recording of my new CD and A LIFE IN THE ARTS was my bible during the incredible internal battles that I went through in pushin myself to the limit on this project. Great!



5. I purchased this book having spent a good hour and one half reading through it in a bookstore. The book described my life and I realize I have suffered some of the worst scenarios outlined in the book. I was disapointed in the last chapter as it did not offer a transition to a life in art along with the transition out of art. I believe this reveals Maisel's ultimate bias however he is entitled to draw conclusions of course. The book would have been more valuable to its readers less this omission as I am certain there are a significant number of would-be artists who have steered away from art and would like to make a stab at it. Reading a book like this is a step in that direction even if it stops short of the last chapter.