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The Creative Condition: Understanding and Embracing Human Creativity
Without creativity, the human race could not have survived this long.
Despite astounding technological advances in the 21st century, we continue to misunderstand and undervalue its vital role in our education, societies, cultures, and industries.
What is creativity? How do we understand it and embrace our own to lead more fulfilling lives, revolutionise industries, and solve our problems?
Ben Tallon has spent his 16-year career exploring the many facets of creativity, having illustrated for The New York Times, The Guardian, UNICEF, and The Premier League since 2008, and hosting the weekly The Creative Condition podcast since 2016. Through a series of case studies, stories, personal experiences, and a broad range of interviews with leading voices in the creative industry – and those practising creativity far beyond – he presents a powerful, entertaining, expansive, and insightful biography of one of humanity’s greatest gifts.
Packed with the voices of neuroscientists, firefighters, reformed criminals, Olympic gold medal winners, teachers, artists, rock stars, psychologists, sensitivity experts, and more, The Creative Condition invites you to reflect on the significance of creativity in your life and its role in shaping the broader human experience.
‘In The Creative Condition, Ben shares an intimate and timely insight into the pivotal role of creativity, serving not only as a reflection of our identity but also as our guiding light during tumultuous times. In an era where hope might seem fleeting, he champions the wonder of our imagination, emphasising its profound ability to uplift our spirit and inspire transformative change in the world around us.’ – Katy Cowan, Founding Editor of Creative Boom
‘This book will drive you to live, work, and create freely.’ – Héctor Ayuso, founder, OFFF Festival
‘Engaging, humorous, approachable, and actionable.’ – Kyla Paolucci, Assistant Professor, St John’s University
Despite astounding technological advances in the 21st century, we continue to misunderstand and undervalue its vital role in our education, societies, cultures, and industries.
What is creativity? How do we understand it and embrace our own to lead more fulfilling lives, revolutionise industries, and solve our problems?
Ben Tallon has spent his 16-year career exploring the many facets of creativity, having illustrated for The New York Times, The Guardian, UNICEF, and The Premier League since 2008, and hosting the weekly The Creative Condition podcast since 2016. Through a series of case studies, stories, personal experiences, and a broad range of interviews with leading voices in the creative industry – and those practising creativity far beyond – he presents a powerful, entertaining, expansive, and insightful biography of one of humanity’s greatest gifts.
Packed with the voices of neuroscientists, firefighters, reformed criminals, Olympic gold medal winners, teachers, artists, rock stars, psychologists, sensitivity experts, and more, The Creative Condition invites you to reflect on the significance of creativity in your life and its role in shaping the broader human experience.
‘In The Creative Condition, Ben shares an intimate and timely insight into the pivotal role of creativity, serving not only as a reflection of our identity but also as our guiding light during tumultuous times. In an era where hope might seem fleeting, he champions the wonder of our imagination, emphasising its profound ability to uplift our spirit and inspire transformative change in the world around us.’ – Katy Cowan, Founding Editor of Creative Boom
‘This book will drive you to live, work, and create freely.’ – Héctor Ayuso, founder, OFFF Festival
‘Engaging, humorous, approachable, and actionable.’ – Kyla Paolucci, Assistant Professor, St John’s University
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2024
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Ben Tallon
12 books32 followershttp://bentallonwriter.com
With searing wit and bare-knuckle prose, Ben Tallon digs deep into the darkest pits of the human psyche and reminds us that we are animals.
His dark fiction explores that which we try to hide in polite society. Human vulnerability, inescapable realities, and the terrifying everyday are the stars in his warped show.
“Ben Tallon really captures a certain ‘did I just see that?’ British griminess. This is the kind of in-the-shadows suburban horror I love. Always in danger of getting out of control.” - Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead.
"A brilliantly warped mind." - Katy Cowan, Creative Boom
"Proper moody and horrible stuff, this." - Shaun Ryder, Happy Mondays
"Ben writes like he draws: vivid, instinctive, and intense. He lands the reader straight in the story and marches them through a cityscape that is simultaneously humdrum and horrific. All told in big, confident splodges that stick in the mind." - Nick Asbury, author of Perpetual Disappointments Diary.
“Tallon's Notes are written in a spare, pummelling fashion like conkers dropping from big trees onto expensive cars. He's telling us that the world is underpinned by a disturbed hilarity. This is a book that smells like my old socks. But the sort of old socks you like; because they're yours; that smell, that stink, it's yours.” - Austin Collings, author of God’s Fox and The Myth of Brilliant Summers
"Ben's mundane world is our world. His skill is pulling back the veil, and showing us the depravity that lurks closer than we allow ourselves to realise." - Susan Earlam, Author of Earthly Bodies.
With searing wit and bare-knuckle prose, Ben Tallon digs deep into the darkest pits of the human psyche and reminds us that we are animals.
His dark fiction explores that which we try to hide in polite society. Human vulnerability, inescapable realities, and the terrifying everyday are the stars in his warped show.
“Ben Tallon really captures a certain ‘did I just see that?’ British griminess. This is the kind of in-the-shadows suburban horror I love. Always in danger of getting out of control.” - Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead.
"A brilliantly warped mind." - Katy Cowan, Creative Boom
"Proper moody and horrible stuff, this." - Shaun Ryder, Happy Mondays
"Ben writes like he draws: vivid, instinctive, and intense. He lands the reader straight in the story and marches them through a cityscape that is simultaneously humdrum and horrific. All told in big, confident splodges that stick in the mind." - Nick Asbury, author of Perpetual Disappointments Diary.
“Tallon's Notes are written in a spare, pummelling fashion like conkers dropping from big trees onto expensive cars. He's telling us that the world is underpinned by a disturbed hilarity. This is a book that smells like my old socks. But the sort of old socks you like; because they're yours; that smell, that stink, it's yours.” - Austin Collings, author of God’s Fox and The Myth of Brilliant Summers
"Ben's mundane world is our world. His skill is pulling back the veil, and showing us the depravity that lurks closer than we allow ourselves to realise." - Susan Earlam, Author of Earthly Bodies.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 3, 2024
One of the best books I’ve read on the subject of creativity.
Inspired me and informed me.
Can’t recommend it enough!
Inspired me and informed me.
Can’t recommend it enough!
Displaying 1 of 1 review