Creativity Books

In The Artful Universe, Barrow explores in great and fascinating detail just exactly how the fine structure of the cosmos bears fruit in the structure of the human body, and in particular the structure of our ideas, preferences, values, aesthetic reactions, ways of thinking; our minds. The primary thrust of this wide-ranging survey is that animal minds and bodies subjected to natural selection are in big trouble if they embody propositions about the world, and therefore about the appropriate way to behave, that are in any important way essentially wrong. He argues that just as the structure of the eye constitutes evidence one way or the other for the correspondence to reality of our ideas about light, so the structure of, e.g., our mathematical faculties constitutes evidence for the mathematical structure of reality.

Barrow is terrifyingly erudite, and a clear, graceful writer. He manages to convey boatloads of highly technical concepts from numerous fields in crystalline arguments accessible to anyone with a basic scientific education. You will learn a ton from this book. You'll work for it - Barrow never condescends - but you will be well rewarded.

I guess it took me about half the book to find out what his general points were going to be. To me the book made connections between the nature of the universe and all things (particularly humans) in it.

I really wanted to closely scrutinize the chapters on sound (I am a musician and scientist). Unfortunately, by that last third of the book, I was too fatigued by the writing style. I ended up reading a few paragraphs in each section and skimming the rest, knowing (or making a logical guess) about the rest of the material. The author's basic points had already been made.

Furthermore, I felt unsatisfied by the author's overall treatment of art (particularly music). I was hoping for something more "insightful." It seems somehow self evident that particular sights and sounds are "appealing" to us given our physiology, evolution and their relationship to the nature of the universe itself. These arguments seem like tautologies; We like what we like because we are who we are. In the end, this isn't very interesting. On the other hand I could plead guilty to expecting too much.

There is more to art and music than meets the direct senses. When you try to explain what is "more" about music, you lose the meaning. Maybe the lesson is to just play the music and let it speak for itself. If the author was trying to make this point (indirectly) it is now very well taken. It's better to explain the beauty of music with selections of Joco Pastorius...

Finally, I thought the book was in places too human centric. Clearly books are intended to be read by humans. But I thought some of the author's points of view bordered on saying human animals were somehow more "important" than others. The universe doesn't make conscious choices to anoint one animal over another. Those evaluations are (too often, unfortunately,) made by us, not nature. Free will does exist.

Given these points, I do think the book was worth reading and might even be suitable for a seminar. I took about 4 days to read the book, but maybe should have taken more time. Anyway, at best, I think this book is worth 3 stars; Not bad, not great, but worth reading and discussing with others.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

His is a much more personal book than those written on the same general subject by others such as Claxton, de Bono, Levesque, Michalko, and von Oech. It covers less material. That's OK. This book would be much easier to re-read on a regular basis (which I highly recommend) for those involved in marketing and sales who need to reactivate their creative "juices" from time to time. Of course, it would also be of substantial value to just about anyone else. To school and college students, for example, or to those who have only recently begun a career, or especially to those who have (voluntarily or involuntarily) reached a crisis point in their career.

One of the book's greatest benefits is derived from Tobe`s own "coloring" outside various "lines" throughout his own life and career. Perhaps he agrees with my own opinion that most human limits are self-imposed. That is to say, on many occasions we feel constrained by "lines" we ourselves have drawn. (Long ago, Henry Ford said something to the effect "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.") Tobe wrote this book primarily (but not exclusively) for marketing and sales executives. As indicated previously, I recommend it to anyone who now feels constrained by real or imagined "chains." Tobe offers new "crayons" with which to "color" and strong encouragement to re-think assumptions about creativity. Two chapter titles suggest how: "If It Is [italics] Broke, Don't Fix It...Yet" and "To Err Is Right...or at Least Necessary."

Once you have read this book, you will be much better prepared to read other books written by the aforementioned Claxton, de Bono, Levesque, Michalko, and von Oech. More to the point, you will be much better prepared to increase and enhance your ability to think creatively whenever that may be necessary...which is to say, all of the time.

It is said that if you tie an elephant to a stake with a thin rope when it's young, the elephant learns that it is secured to that stake. The learned behavior "sticks," enabling handlers to secure huge, powerful elephants to stakes with thin ropes. The elephant doesn't believe it can break free. Humans are not so different.

Then Jeff Tobe comes along and shatters all those imaginary boundaries. A salesman and professional speaker, he specializes in stimulating creativity and innovation in business organizations. As demonstrated by his stories in this book Tobe helps companies break through "innovation deficiency," characterized by Internal Myopia and the Ostrich Syndrome. He argues that business leaders-and everyone else in the environment-must change the way they perceive, think, and behave to succeed in today's competitive world.

You get an immediate sense that this book is going to be a bit different when you open the cover. There is no traditional Times New Roman type between these covers. The typeface--throughout the entire book--looks like something from a primary school primer on the fine art of printed word penmanship. The message is clear: this book is going to be different and fun. And it is, but it's serious, too.

"Coloring Outside the Lines" is organized into three sections: Creativity, Marketing, and Sales. Each section has 6-9 chapters that stimulate the thinking and illustrate how things can be done differently. The lessons are valuable-some are fresh and some are the old saws that we've all learned for years. Each lesson is presented in the context of a story that you might hear on a fun walk through a meadow with the author. The chapters are filled with personal stories and experiences with titles like "Are Your Bagels Hot?" to "Step into My Office." These narratives are enjoyable (yup, chuckles in this book), comfortable and reasonable, yet highly instructive. The book is deceivingly simple in appearance; the educational aspect sort of sneaks up on you.

This easy-to-read volume will be thought-provoking and stimulating for salespeople, marketers, and other executives and managers who welcome inspiration (or permission) to do things just a little bit differently. If the thinking and behavior or different, (surprise!) the outcomes are different.

If you can remember car lines and wonder why a Nissan and Infiniti grill (or any car for that matter) looks the way it does - this book is for you. FYI - you can probably get essentially the same book in hardback at a used place for the paperback.

Sorin was successful at her last job, but it wasn't satisfying. When the time came to create a garden at her new home, Sorin went to special lengths for her garden and it eventually lead her to a new career in garden design. The lessons learned during her career change are what _Digging Deep_ is all about.

Sorin's book is set up in six sections.

"Six stages of "creative unfolding within the context of your garden: Imagining, Envisioning, Planning, Planting, Tending, Enjoying, and Completing."

In the stages are mini chapters of creative lessons. Sorin gives examples by way of her experiences with her clients. She tells of her clients' excitement in discovering a creative approach to life, in the hopes that it will inspire the reader. At the end of the chapters, she gives readers things to do. They aren't demanding and some may even become nice habits.

_Digging Deep_ is an inspiring self-help book that uses gardening as a metaphor. The book is well written and Sorin's advice is rational and clear. Highly Recommended.

This book will be helpful to every knowledge worker--the title should not scare off the 99% of the population that does not qualify for "genius" status.

Certainly there will be those looking for some magical way to lift themselves from obscurity, or lethargy, or oppression, that that think they are unappreciated geniuses and are simply looking for the window-dressing they need to be recognized. This book is not for them.

What this book does, in a very nice way that reminds one of Drucker's belief that the best work is work as a "calling"--work as a beloved endeavor that brings out the best we have to offer--or of the 7 Habits book that emphasizes the urgency of protecting those activities that are important but not urgent (things like family time, exercise, and freedom from the telephone--or now, email)--is "review the bidding" on five different workstyles, and how to make them better.

In a nutshell, this book is what results when Myers-Briggs and 7 Habits have children, and the children grow up to be artists. It is a good read, and at a minimum it will help *anybody* bring more reflection and more peace back into their daily work routine.

This book has also helped me cope with people I once perceived as difficult to get through to. I have since been able to 'read' my coworkers in such a way that every exchange ends positively, not at a cross-roads like before.

Great for business, indispensable for life.

Listen to the writer, Robinson Davies (p.23) describing his inspirational moments: "An idea for a novel seizes me and will not let me go. What often appears in my head is a picture which somehow must be considered." Now, that happens to all of us. But, we need to learn how to act on those inspirational moments. This book teaches us how. Goethe's quote (p.193) is timely and has encouraged many of us to take action. It is at the heart of great leadership and magnificent results: "If you can imagine it, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it." We should especially heed this advice during the current economic slump. It looks like the company, Agilent, did. The HP spinoff and maker of test and measurement equipment recently declared it would do something different to save money. It will cut the salaries of all 48,000 employees by 10% to avoid layoffs. This is an imaginative way to deal with economic hard times. It's also the "HP Way" - respect the individual. How to achieve this type of creative and positive response is all explained in the book. Finally, a third example that "exploded off the page" as I read the book are the Exercises found in each chapter. When you complete them you should submit them to your employer. They might become "the fuel that lights a fire" under your business.

This stuff works! Just read about the companies and people who have improved their lot. The author has identified 204 specific examples of individuals and organizations to make her point as to "the Skills needed to Master Ideas at Work." Heck, that's probably more than the number you would learn about at a good, four year college. And, this 208 page book can be read in a few hours.

In the Bible, Philippians 4:8, St. Paul urges us to think about "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." This book induces me to do just that. It seduces my senses. The author, Annette Moser-Wellman, knows what she is talking about. Can you define and dominate a market niche with your product or service? Read this book to find out how.

The author has imagined, noticed detail, connected domains, celebrated weakness, and simplified throughout her life. With this book she has brought the reader into "the company of the creative." Take advantage of her counsel. Discover the "seer, observer, alchemist, and sage" that lies within you. If you don't at least glance through this book, you're "a fool."

For "one shinning moment" then, be "a deer caught in the headlights of a passing car." Pause, in your life, read this book, and let the creative juices flow. Solve some problems in new, exciting, and imaginative ways. Then write the author, and thank her for encouraging you to be creative, improving the quality of your life, and increasing the productivity and profitability of your enterprise. Who knows, maybe someday you'll create a new "soft-chip technology" that eliminates cancer. This book is a wonderful, stimulating read. Enjoy it.