Books on creativity

Literature & Writing Reviews & Recommendations
1

Hello everyone,
I wish to know if I can get some titles of good books on creativity. Not necessarily manual or “how to be” (unless is a really great book), but any nice reading you think has to do with this theme.

Thanks! :smiley:

2

There are various books on Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow, including Writing in Flow by Susan Perry.

3

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art (but applies to writers too) by Ricë Freeman-Zachery
The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use It For Life by Twyla Tharp

Apollo16

4

Hi.

Another vote for Csikszentmihalyi and Twyla Tharp.
Plus:

  • Michael Michalko: “Thinkertoys” and “Cracking Creativity” (great read both for artists and business people).
  • Jack Foster: How to get ideas (short and to the point).
  • Paul Arden: It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be (not exactly a book on creativity: it’s more on crossing mental barriers and making the impossible possible).

Have fun.
Franz

5

Thanks all for your input!

  • Marco.
6

I just read The Art of Possibility by Ben Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander, and would highly recommend it:

7

I’m fairly skeptical of the how to genre, especially in reference to creativity. There’s tons of pseudo-knowledge on the subject. That said, I think Csikszentmihaly is certainly serious and worthwhile as a social psychologist. On a more practical level, for anyone here who struggles with the act of writing – or is even blocked to some degree --, Eric Maisel’s “Fearless Creating” is a refreshingly intelligent and thorough guide through the anxieties of creative types. He’s a respected therapist who’s helped artists deal with their creative issues for decades - and it shows. His advice is practical without being simplistic and he’s particularly strong on dealing with the different types of anxiety that can complicate different stages of creation. Procrastinators and ADD sufferers take note.