The Creativity Book: A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance

by Eric Maisel

Whatever you do, says Dr. Eric Maisel, creativity helps you do it better. Creativity encourages the artist to paint more frequently and authentically. It allows a busy executive to see her options more quickly, make changes more fluidly, and become more self-directing and confident.

In this book, America's foremost expert on the psychological side of the creative process presents a complete one-year plan for increasing and unleashing your creativity. It includes two disucssions/exercises per week, and culminates in a guided project of your choice—from working on a current novel or symphony to planning a new home business or becoming a more effective supervisor.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Art, Reference, Personal Development, Self Help, Inspirational

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is the author of more than 40 books in the areas of creativity, coaching, mental health, and cultural trends. He is a psychotherapist and creativity coach, and writes for Psychology Today and Professional Artist Magazine and presents workshops internationally.

Reviews

[JayeL · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/4/2010: With the Word of the Day book, 365 Tao, that I used last year, I felt really good about moving forward in small bits every day. The book worked for me as I had time in transit to work on it. I didn't think much about picking a new book until this year. My sister was kind enough to send me this book, which I have started. It is is not as transit friendly, often requiring technology to complete the exercises. I will reserve judgment until I get a little further along.

1/27/2010: I have to admit that as I read this book I got pretty angry with the author. Who was making lunches for his family while he went up to his study and wrote for two hours? Who was making breakfast and getting the kids off to school? Did his wife, spouse or life partner make this discipline possible? I left the book for awhile and didn't read it, because I was angry.

2/9/2010: I last week I gave myself permission to just read the book and do whatever exercises I could do at the time. I didn't stop reading because I didn't have a computer with me or wasn't in a place where I could write 12 to do lists on big white boards. I gave myself permission to read and absorb and pick and choose. This was a fabulous decision, because it carried over into other books that I am also reading and aren't always convenient. I did some of the exercises once I felt I didn't have to. Life is better!

[Derrick Trimble · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been reading this as a weekly primer for the past nine months. When I hit week 39, I decided to read through to the end.

Over the readings in time, I've had some really good weeks for reflection and others that left me dry. Some exercises are manageable when you have a full time job. Other exercises are near impossible to pull off unless you are full time in a creative endeavour.

I'll keep my copy nearby just for the occasional exercise.

The chapters are almost set up like a creativity beatitudes. Good promptings but I'd be surprised if the creative had not pondered the propositions time and again in his or her reflections of self, work, and the world around them.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book to add to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to nurture their creativity or become more creative. A highly recommend any book by Eric Maisel. I have found all of them excellent resources, and pull them often from my bookshelves to re-read or recollect his advice, lesson or activity.

[Carol Fillmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the ideas are good, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. Am an overthinker at the best of times, this book was too much to handle. Instead of being inspired, it had the opposite effect. While the book is organized well, certain tasks to be undertaken over a period of weeks during a year, it was still too much information for this introvert to deal with.

[Ranmali Kirinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read with a lot of exercises to spark creativity. Ideally this should be read over a period of time while you work on the given exercises as well.

[Christie Hinrichs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly worthless.

[Sondra Caserio]

I just picked this one up at goodwill over the weekend. It has a little creative idea or project or story for every day of the year. Can't wait to start it!

[Marci Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago when my life felt kind of blah and it really seemed to help and get me out of my slump. It has some really interesting ideas of how to think of things differently.