Creativity Books

I used to go around collecting quotes that really moved me and write them places for people to see. When I read this book, my first instinct was that I wanted to write down all these quotes and share them with the world, when I relized that that is exactly what these students did. Now I have two copies of this book. One I leave on the coffe table for anyone to read, and the other by my bedside. This way, whenever I feel like I need something inspirational I can always pick up this book, open it up to any page, and find something that really connects directly to my heart. Thank you to all of students who put this book together. It makes a world of difference.

Let me take a deep breath, I have enjoyed this more than any book I have read in recent months. I can't say if it is the quotes, which are a distinct cut above the current common caliber seasoning everything we read lately, or if the penetrating expressions on student's faces go right to the core of the reader. There is a sense of the unity about this book. There is a wisdom in the student perspectives beginning each section that stopped me for a moment. If there is a concern for a "dumbing down" in America, it is NOT apparent in this book. These high school graduates seem to be going somewhere. That somewhere isn't on the usual charts. They seem content. They seem to radiate truth. They speak of enlightenment. As a nation, maybe what we have called "smart" and what we have called "intelligence" need to be looked at again. Looking at society today, it's been a while since we could say that intelligence brought inner happiness. I recommend this book to anyone who embraces for the future a vision of hope, who longs for leaders of truth, and believes in universal wisdom.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who seriously wants to know about meditation ! Throug the practise of it,levels of perception change, and this book is a great guide on that path. I come back to it again and again, and always find new insights, inspiration and advise on how not to get lost in something that might not be meditation.

This book is one of the best overviews of what meditation is about. The author very clearly highlights the differences between meditation, shamanism, hypnosis, ect. While this book does not actually TEACH meditation, the author does give excellent advise on what to look for in a teacher, and what could be expected from meditation. Highly reccomended.

"Mental Leaps" gives the impression of an academic book, and it is. However, it is written so well that [almost] everyone can understand it. It is a very good intoduction to the very concept "analogy" -- not very philosophical or very abstract, but rather "scientific" and concrete. Authors give a lot of examples and refer to experiments and case studies, thus the reader should have considerable amount of insight on "how we think", "how we learn", "how we understand" and etc. after reading this book. Of course, no one should expect to learn everything about these issues from this book, since cognitive science is still in its infancy. I think anyone can benefit from this book. A little insight about your own "thinking" won't hurt!

A thoroughly well written very clear representation of the topics discussed. It was a joy to read a book written by authors who could present such an ambiguous topic with such clarity. I strongly recommend it to all those interested in Analogy.

This little book is a visual feast, a celebration of nature's bounty in this lovely, unsung corner of the world. The 3 creators each address art and nature in their own unique--and breathtakingly beautiful--manner. This book is a priceless gem, believe me.

I own a copy of Mirror Lake.? Robert and I think it is absolutely stunning!!! It is evocative, yet restful.? I love the combination of the paintings with the photographs, and the combination of your bright colors together with the starker whites, greys, light browns and light blues--of the ocean, sand, sky and birds. ? It is really a remarkable accomplishment!!!

Author Gwen Snyder Kaltman brings yet another fantastic resource for early childhood teachers in her book, "More Help! For Teachers of Young Children, 99 Tips to Promote Intellectual Development and Creativity," (Corwin Press, 2006), sharing experiences from her 25+ years of experience in working with children, parents and teachers to provide insight and inspiration. The book supplies teachers with a template for creating classrooms that foster curiosity and creativity, giving children "the freedom to control their learning without letting a classroom get out of control." The format for the book makes it enjoyable reading, starting with a concept, illustrated by one of Gwen's personal stories, a review of the lesson learned, then a self-assessment for the teacher to help identify where changes need to be made. She provides lists of activities to support each concept and her engaging stories are ones teachers can relate to, making implementing them into their own classrooms that much easier. The author is an advocate for children, supporting teachers in their quest for finding the balance between teacher planned activities and child lead. Her focus is on the children, following their interests, and creating an environment that supports their creativity. The book is filled with practical, use-it-today type of activities that teachers can take to make a difference in the learning atmosphere in their classrooms. The activities provide outlets for the child's natural urge to explore their world and learn about it and their place in it. The self assessment tools after each concept challenge the reader to be honest about their current practices in order to implement real change and improvement. Teachers will not only be inspired by the engaging stories, but be provided with the means to bring those same stories to life in their own classrooms. "More Help" is exactly that - help for teachers, a helping hand and friend to guide you along the way, the kind of resource you will use again and again, the one you will turn to when things go array because you know it will get you back onto the path of success!

Patricia Dischler is the author of "From Babysitter to Business Owner: Getting the Most Out of Your Home Child Care Business", and national speaker at early childhood conferences promoting professionalism and creativity.

These books are a wonderful source for learning about dealing with pre-school children on a daily basis. Informative, and innovative ideas which can be used on a daily basis. I am a former teacher and found these books an excellent refresher for dealing with my 2 year old grandson. Amazing what I have forgotten. I have sent copies of these books to my daughter-in-law.

In this delightful read, Prof. Stock uses Er-hu (Chinese Spiked Fiddle) and A-bing as two themes within a montage that traces the history of Chinese folk music. Not only does the author present a convincing argument for the lost emphasis upon improv in Chinese music, but he also presents his arguments within the cultural context of A-bing's China.
Yet, this highly academic text is presented in an invigorating manner and grips the reader to finish the book at one sitting. Although some basic knowledge on western music notation is needed to get the most out of the book, the accompanying CD that has the er-hu performance of A-bing are indeed priceless (and worth the price of the book).

This work is a combination of the anthropological and historical study of Chinese society and the musicological analysis of Chinese music. Abing was a key Chinese traditional musician who lived in the city of Wuxi from the 1890s to 1950. Initially a Daoist priest, Abing went blind and became a street musician. It was in this guise that he was recorded by a visiting team of musicologists in 1950. (Recordings from that session are on the CD with this book.)

His music, which analysis shows to have been improvisatory in nature, was then taken up by players of erhu (two-stringed fiddle) and pipa (four-stringed lute) in the Chinese music conservatories. In this process the music became fixed in notation and turned into set compositions to be performed in concert-style renditions, often arranged with the accompaniment of other instruments. Meanwhile, the details of Abing's life have been reinvented several times by the cultural establishment, and he became (after his death) variously a hero of the downtrodden masses, an outspoken class revolutionary, a romantically inspired composer (like Beethoven).

In short, the book shows how one echelon of Chinese musical culture was transformed in the twentieth century, on the one hand by imported Western musical ideas (the composer, the piece), and on the other by the social and political currents of the day.

As a contribution to ethnomusicology, it argues for a greater attention to the analysis of music as a means of unlocking historical clues. It is also one of the first books to fully apply the cross-cultural perspectives of ethnomusicology to Chinese music. (Of course, I have to choose 5 stars!)

Enlightenment is being awake to who we truly are. ~Henry Grayson

Henry Grayson is a leading psychologist who has a key to your happiness and peace. His message literally changed the way I was looking at all my relationships. This tape set could change the way you view yourself and how you view the world.

After listening to this tape set, I felt more peaceful and finally accepted a variety of concepts I had not fully understood before. Through his teaching, I learned how to incorporate spiritual practice into my everyday life.

Henry Grayson is a keen observer of his own experience. He also has a vast knowledge base from which to draw from and he gives creative insights into spiritual concepts I had never heard before. His teachings will make you a creative force for good. He introduces a much more empowering love and encourages you to let go of the Ego's painful and controlling tactics so you can awaken as love.

How can giving also be receiving?
Can my healing thoughts about others affect them in positive ways?
Why are humans attached to their suffering and how can you free yourself?
Is there a way to create a dream love relationship with my partner?
How can I make perceptual shifts to erase fear?

There are sections for meditation and deep breathing where Henry Grayson guides you through the techniques and practice. He also techniques for changing beliefs you no longer feel are useful to your life. A few of the highlights include:

The Common Barriers to True Love and How to Overcome Them
Three Types of Thinking and How they impact the External World
On-the-Spot techniques to use in a Conflict
How to Reshape your Most Deeply-Ingrained Negative Beliefs
The Power of Choice
Rekindling Intimacy with the One You Love
Seven Signs of Empowered Love

I spent a few days listening to the tapes during quiet times when I could really absorb the message and it was like having a comforting, wise friend giving you insight into your life. I feel like my life is changing in huge ways because of the concepts I took and put into practice immediately. This also helped me in my marriage relationship and I can highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking more peace in their relationships or who wants to be a powerful force for positive change.

~The Rebecca Review

The Buddha once said that all that we are begins with our thoughts. The New Physics of Love is all about how we attract and repel love with thoughts. There is much wisdom here and in Dr. Grayson's other book Mindful Loving which covers his practice of thought monitoring. We have an impact on people with who we are being but we can't control the ultimate outcome of how they behave, respond, choose to act in life. We can only be responsible for our own thoughts and heal whatever distorted beliefs, old trauma, and other core beliefs we have inside us. The New Physics of Love has much to offer on healing our internal world and re-experiencing reality from a heal vantage point.

I found New Vision, New Reality to be an excellent. Dr. Klein has a tremendous background and has certainly shared his insights with the reader. Appreciative Living is a gift that most readers will be able to use to improve their lives. His elements of Appreciative Living: Clarity, Joy, and Creativity were especially helpful to people of all ages, but I have been using them to help troubled teenagers refocus on the kind of life they would like to build for themselves.

In New Vision, New Reality, Donald Klein (with the assistance of Kathleen Morrow) presents an innovative, practical, and imaginative guide to infusing our daily lives with energy, joy, and creativity. We can reconfigure our ordinary lives through our personal perceptions and the removal of self-imposed protective "filters" to see and experience the good things in our lives more fully and completely. Guided exercises are offered which illustrated how we can stop projecting our fears and self-induced limitations in order to bolster and enhance our appreciation for what live has to offer each of us, regardless of our present circumstances, conditions, or situations. New Vision, New Reality is a highly recommended addition to personal and community library self-help reference collections.

Our son is full of energy and has a hard time settling in for bedtime. I found this book by chance on the bargain table in the back of a small bookstore. I am convinced it was nothing short of a divine intervention. This book has worked wonders, at 3 1/2 my son lovees listening to these stories and he often drifts off before the story is over, sometimes telling me the next day how the story carried into his dreams. He especially loves the "castle story" ( called the singing mountain children ) and asks me to read that one the most. This is a wonderful parent/ child ritual and every story has a wonderful message. It helps children learn visualization and meditation at a young age, which I think is a wonderful gift in our stressed out, desensitzed society.

I read this book nightly to my 7-yo. It begins with information for parents on ways to use the book to connect with their kids. Written in a soothing tone, the stories begin asking the child to imagine a magic lantern that takes him/her on a path into each story. Quite uniquely told. At the end of these creative stories are "affirmations" that reinforce messages in the stories, but also offer opportunity to connect with your child by opening thoughtful, quiet conversation. Sounds new-age-y, but very effective. Illustrations are stunning. Wonderful!

Brackney creatively mixes in to the text her doodles, scribbled notes, cartoons, pictures, old photos, and other unexpected artifacts, and adds in an abundance of her own biographical up- from-the-bottom tales to make this small volume a sprightly tonic for despairing individuals, whether professional artist or other person looking for a quick pick-me-up.

I picked this book because I liked the title. Then I saw that the author/artist SARK had a comment on the bottom of the front cover saying she loved this book and I knew I had to buy it. I love reading SARK's books, so I knew I'd like this too!

It's a down to earth book with small drawlings inside to invoke your imagination. She shares her experiences and how she finally got published. She talks about the importance of money and keeping a job to enable you to continue creating. She gives very good advise that makes you feel like your not crazy or alone. She doesn't leave anyone out, she includes artists, dancers, choreographers, songerwriters, muscians, writers, and of course the artist-at-heart!!

I also like that at the end of the book in the appendix she included other books and websites for people to look into to help them on their creative path. This book is a must read!!