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Inspired : Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul
A groundbreaking new investigation into the mysteries of creativity and how to maximize your creative potential, from Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times reporter and bestselling author of An Elegant Defense Matt Richtel.
In his viral New York Times piece “How to Be Creative,” journalist and bestselling author Matt Richtel presented readers with a list of prescriptive advice on how to unleash your inner creativity through steps like paying attention to your imagination, embracing imperfection, and giving your brain some much-needed rest. Now he expands these concepts into a full-length book aiming to uncover the secrets of being more creative, and arguing for the power of creativity in all walks of life.
In Inspired, Richtel investigates the nature of creativity through interviews with prominent creatives on their craft, as well as scientists who have been working to unlock the secrets of the creative brain. Blending science and personal development, Richtel not only walks readers through how to maximize their creative potential, but also provides scientific and anecdotal evidence on how accessing creativity serves as a key to success in any field and a source of deep personal fulfillment and meaning.
In his viral New York Times piece “How to Be Creative,” journalist and bestselling author Matt Richtel presented readers with a list of prescriptive advice on how to unleash your inner creativity through steps like paying attention to your imagination, embracing imperfection, and giving your brain some much-needed rest. Now he expands these concepts into a full-length book aiming to uncover the secrets of being more creative, and arguing for the power of creativity in all walks of life.
In Inspired, Richtel investigates the nature of creativity through interviews with prominent creatives on their craft, as well as scientists who have been working to unlock the secrets of the creative brain. Blending science and personal development, Richtel not only walks readers through how to maximize their creative potential, but also provides scientific and anecdotal evidence on how accessing creativity serves as a key to success in any field and a source of deep personal fulfillment and meaning.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2022
99 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
About the author
Matt Richtel
16 books183 followersMatt Richtel is a best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times based in San Francisco.
He co-created and formerly wrote the syndicated comic Rudy Park under the pen name Theron Heir. Since 2012, the strip is now written by its longtime illustrator Darrin Bell.
He co-created and formerly wrote the syndicated comic Rudy Park under the pen name Theron Heir. Since 2012, the strip is now written by its longtime illustrator Darrin Bell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 17, 2022
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read in the synopsis that this book started as a viral essay, and I think that perhaps that's what it should have remained. There didn't seem to be enough to warrant stretching it into a full book, a roughly 400-page book at that.
It was interesting in places, but it could have used more structure and less meandering. My main takeaways: cultivating creativity requires removal of barriers, a willingness to make mistakes, and understanding that the quantity of ideas is perhaps more important to the process than the quality of ideas.
I read in the synopsis that this book started as a viral essay, and I think that perhaps that's what it should have remained. There didn't seem to be enough to warrant stretching it into a full book, a roughly 400-page book at that.
It was interesting in places, but it could have used more structure and less meandering. My main takeaways: cultivating creativity requires removal of barriers, a willingness to make mistakes, and understanding that the quantity of ideas is perhaps more important to the process than the quality of ideas.
May 7, 2022
This book was not inspired, offering little to remember. I took just a few ideas from it leaving the rest to be forgotten and not missed. There are some themed chapters but doesn’t feel cohesive due to the smattering of examples that seem designed by a marketing team to provide each customer persona a relatable example from the sports star to the niche musician.
My biggest issue with the book is it’s use of commercial success as the yardstick by which all creativity is evaluated. Sure he interviews less successful creatives but it’s about them accepting their lack of commercial success instead of questioning that success as an effective measure. We’re also forced to accept without question his generational tastes like Springsteen, Santana and U2 as pinnacles of creativity.
Other issues are that he repeats facts and anecdotes as if we never read them and brings up the pandemic whenever possible and in cases where calling what he’s describing “creativity” is a stretch.
I think cut way down into a long form article, this could be better.
My biggest issue with the book is it’s use of commercial success as the yardstick by which all creativity is evaluated. Sure he interviews less successful creatives but it’s about them accepting their lack of commercial success instead of questioning that success as an effective measure. We’re also forced to accept without question his generational tastes like Springsteen, Santana and U2 as pinnacles of creativity.
Other issues are that he repeats facts and anecdotes as if we never read them and brings up the pandemic whenever possible and in cases where calling what he’s describing “creativity” is a stretch.
I think cut way down into a long form article, this could be better.
December 5, 2023
I should have checked the reviews before committing. This book is an extension of a viral essay I did not read by New York Times reporter Matt Richtel. Creativity and inspiration is one of the highest human capacities, and also the hardest to achieve. The obvious thing being that creativity can't really be forced: In fact, unfocused time and a personal impunity to fear of failure, along with persistence, seem to be most correlated with creativity. The counter-intuitive result is that intelligence is often a negative force, especially at the top levels where 'never being wrong' is strongly encouraged, such as the SAT. Creative ideas often don't work.
The book wanders and clomps through interviews with various creative people, also framed around the evolutionary creativity of COVID-19, but doesn't quite gel on a bigger theme. There are some very sketched out notions about density and speed of idea, that big cities are more innovative than small towns, and that the 'global village' of the internet is causing more creativity, as opposed to more distraction.
If anything the only useful take-away is a four tier scale of creativity.
1. World-transformative. Shakespeare or Einstein or Lincoln. Truly generational figures.
2. Professionals: Working scientists, artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs who might be known in their own field, but are mostly toiling to push the frontiers of human innovation a little further.
3. Small moments of creativity in your own life. As a dad, that One Weird Trick to stop a tantrum and make bath time a game.
4. Truly miniscule creativity. "What if I added cinnamon to this recipe?"
I think we can all aspire to more creativity at level 2 and 3. So relax, ignore the noise, and just go.
The book wanders and clomps through interviews with various creative people, also framed around the evolutionary creativity of COVID-19, but doesn't quite gel on a bigger theme. There are some very sketched out notions about density and speed of idea, that big cities are more innovative than small towns, and that the 'global village' of the internet is causing more creativity, as opposed to more distraction.
If anything the only useful take-away is a four tier scale of creativity.
1. World-transformative. Shakespeare or Einstein or Lincoln. Truly generational figures.
2. Professionals: Working scientists, artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs who might be known in their own field, but are mostly toiling to push the frontiers of human innovation a little further.
3. Small moments of creativity in your own life. As a dad, that One Weird Trick to stop a tantrum and make bath time a game.
4. Truly miniscule creativity. "What if I added cinnamon to this recipe?"
I think we can all aspire to more creativity at level 2 and 3. So relax, ignore the noise, and just go.
September 12, 2022
There's some good stuff in here--a nice review of research and some interesting stories and anecdotes from creative people. I especially liked "Book 3: Neurology, Physiology, Personality...." where he discusses how scholars (notably Arne Dietrich in his book How Creativity Happens in the Brain) have stepped back from the idea that neuroscience has answers to how creativity works. Dietrich: "the complexity of creativity currently exceeds our ability to map it in the brain."
That's a relief. I can't imagine a world where we humans think we're "in control" of creativity. May it always be bigger than us.
That's a relief. I can't imagine a world where we humans think we're "in control" of creativity. May it always be bigger than us.
March 2, 2024
One star for citing interesting research on creativity (though sometimes dated) and one star for its ability to send me straight to sleep.
This was rather poorly written. It feels like a first draft that no one edited or bothered looking over. The ideas in the book were not set out in a readily comprehensible way - more like the authors train of thought. Of course it would make sense to him, as he has all of the knowledge in his head. But as a reader, I struggled to keep up with the ideas. As another reviewer said, the author keeps referring to the same examples and very obscure “creative” people…
This was rather poorly written. It feels like a first draft that no one edited or bothered looking over. The ideas in the book were not set out in a readily comprehensible way - more like the authors train of thought. Of course it would make sense to him, as he has all of the knowledge in his head. But as a reader, I struggled to keep up with the ideas. As another reviewer said, the author keeps referring to the same examples and very obscure “creative” people…
May 9, 2022
For a book about creativity, this is fairly uninspired.
Read
September 9, 2022Creativity has its own chaos,
it is not a pattern where everyone can master it,
by jumping in..
to come out with a great idea.
The book is dedicated to the people behind the process of lifetime achievement, in order to label them as creative people.
We are good at interpreting other successes and searching for their reason, and declare the reason was behind such success.
Actually there is no pattern to achieve creativity, it falls on its own without your concern like a friction. If you follow any of the reasons mentioned in the book. You're definitely going to get disappointed.
I have read books about creativity. None of the book knows the myth behind such creativity. It happens and all assume different reasons but actually there is no one reason and no one knows why cosmos consume ideas to one particular person.
Creativity is more like a kaleidoscope.
I found others who wrote books on creativity are proud as-if they found a pattern. Actually there is no pattern for creativity.
The only truth is when you're in the process, creativity may happen, when every myth of creativity falls into places.
it is not a pattern where everyone can master it,
by jumping in..
to come out with a great idea.
The book is dedicated to the people behind the process of lifetime achievement, in order to label them as creative people.
We are good at interpreting other successes and searching for their reason, and declare the reason was behind such success.
Actually there is no pattern to achieve creativity, it falls on its own without your concern like a friction. If you follow any of the reasons mentioned in the book. You're definitely going to get disappointed.
I have read books about creativity. None of the book knows the myth behind such creativity. It happens and all assume different reasons but actually there is no one reason and no one knows why cosmos consume ideas to one particular person.
Creativity is more like a kaleidoscope.
I found others who wrote books on creativity are proud as-if they found a pattern. Actually there is no pattern for creativity.
The only truth is when you're in the process, creativity may happen, when every myth of creativity falls into places.
March 14, 2022
INSPIRED
by Matt Richtel
Mariner Books
Pub Date: Apr 19
The science behind creativity is the focus of INSPIRED, written by NYT Pulitzer Prize winner, Matt Richtel.
I've always been intrigued by the concept of creativity and found INSPIRED incredibly helpful as it breaks down the process of spawning new ideas. Includes stories and traits of iconic creators, the environment in which new ideas thrive, obstacles to be removed, and links to faith and spirituality. A fascinating account for anyone interested in creation in any field.
Thanks to the author, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#Inspired #MattRichtel #Mariner Books #NetGalley
by Matt Richtel
Mariner Books
Pub Date: Apr 19
The science behind creativity is the focus of INSPIRED, written by NYT Pulitzer Prize winner, Matt Richtel.
I've always been intrigued by the concept of creativity and found INSPIRED incredibly helpful as it breaks down the process of spawning new ideas. Includes stories and traits of iconic creators, the environment in which new ideas thrive, obstacles to be removed, and links to faith and spirituality. A fascinating account for anyone interested in creation in any field.
Thanks to the author, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#Inspired #MattRichtel #Mariner Books #NetGalley
June 2, 2022
I thought that the book and the stories and references were all over the place. It kind of felt like the author wrote this book for all the name drops.
I didn’t think the book was cohesive. The same stories and references kept showing up in chapters that I didn’t think related.
1 star for the Taylor Swift references.
I didn’t think the book was cohesive. The same stories and references kept showing up in chapters that I didn’t think related.
1 star for the Taylor Swift references.
January 30, 2023
This work is a combination of elements: a survey of the scientific literature on creativity, interviews with those researching the field, examples drawn from the past, present, and the natural world across multiple domains and disciplines, and interviews with 'creators' on what they define creativity according to their personal experience.
The upshot is that creativity is part of life, not limited to the arts and science. Everyone has the potential to be creative in one or more ways; creativity can be frightening and produce well-being and happiness; intellect is not an indicator of creativity nor age a barrier; creativity may be spurred by problems to be solved such as vaccines for Covid-19 or racial bias, or simple curiosity as to how and why things work or exist. Keys to creativity include an openness to sources of information be they through human interaction, new and different experiences, persistence and a disregard of failures.
In general, the narrative is stylistically uneven, the first 'book' more like a blog. It felt oddly disjointed and difficult to parse. What followed seemed more a series of interconnected newspaper articles, much easier to read and definitely absorbing, though more 'hip' than expected. Still, the narrative thread was difficult to follow as the information hopped around in order to define and relate the creative impulse in humanity to behaviors in the natural world, particularly as seen in through the lens of the pandemic and COVID-19.
The final section (book) concludes with a the wonderful conversation with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The work is 'inspiring' in itself because of the works cited, the hopefulness seen in the examples presented, and the emphasis on 'authenticity' and openness, inclusiveness as important elements in becoming a creator and an better human being.
The upshot is that creativity is part of life, not limited to the arts and science. Everyone has the potential to be creative in one or more ways; creativity can be frightening and produce well-being and happiness; intellect is not an indicator of creativity nor age a barrier; creativity may be spurred by problems to be solved such as vaccines for Covid-19 or racial bias, or simple curiosity as to how and why things work or exist. Keys to creativity include an openness to sources of information be they through human interaction, new and different experiences, persistence and a disregard of failures.
In general, the narrative is stylistically uneven, the first 'book' more like a blog. It felt oddly disjointed and difficult to parse. What followed seemed more a series of interconnected newspaper articles, much easier to read and definitely absorbing, though more 'hip' than expected. Still, the narrative thread was difficult to follow as the information hopped around in order to define and relate the creative impulse in humanity to behaviors in the natural world, particularly as seen in through the lens of the pandemic and COVID-19.
The final section (book) concludes with a the wonderful conversation with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The work is 'inspiring' in itself because of the works cited, the hopefulness seen in the examples presented, and the emphasis on 'authenticity' and openness, inclusiveness as important elements in becoming a creator and an better human being.
January 23, 2025
Słuchając tej książki, czułam się trochę jak na wykładzie o kreatywności, na który zapisałam się z entuzjazmem, ale po 15 minutach zaczęłam sprawdzać zegarek. 😅
✨ O czym jest?
Autor próbuje zgłębić tajemnice kreatywności, łącząc sztukę, naukę i duchowość. Brzmi ambitnie, ale w praktyce to bardziej jak rozmowa, w której ktoś mówi coś ciekawego… a potem zanosi się na długą dygresję, która sprawia, że Twoja uwaga odlatuje w kosmos.
🔥 Co mi się podobało?
Pomysł na połączenie różnych perspektyw.
💔 Co było nie tak?
Nic odkrywczego: Większość rzeczy już gdzieś słyszałam, widziałam albo przeczytałam. Żadnych „wow momentów”.
Brak dynamiki i trudność w skupieniu: Szczerze? Więcej razy łapałam się na myśleniu o liście zakupów niż na analizie treści.
🎯 Czy polecam?
Może dla osób, które dopiero zaczynają przygodę z kreatywnością, to coś fajnego. Dla mnie? Było to bardziej jak audiobook do drzemki niż inspirująca podróż.
📚 Ocena: 3/5. Mniej „inspired”, a bardziej „meh”. Ale hej, zawsze to jakieś przypomnienie, że kreatywność to nie tylko wielkie idee, ale też cierpliwość w słuchaniu. 😅
✨ O czym jest?
Autor próbuje zgłębić tajemnice kreatywności, łącząc sztukę, naukę i duchowość. Brzmi ambitnie, ale w praktyce to bardziej jak rozmowa, w której ktoś mówi coś ciekawego… a potem zanosi się na długą dygresję, która sprawia, że Twoja uwaga odlatuje w kosmos.
🔥 Co mi się podobało?
Pomysł na połączenie różnych perspektyw.
💔 Co było nie tak?
Nic odkrywczego: Większość rzeczy już gdzieś słyszałam, widziałam albo przeczytałam. Żadnych „wow momentów”.
Brak dynamiki i trudność w skupieniu: Szczerze? Więcej razy łapałam się na myśleniu o liście zakupów niż na analizie treści.
🎯 Czy polecam?
Może dla osób, które dopiero zaczynają przygodę z kreatywnością, to coś fajnego. Dla mnie? Było to bardziej jak audiobook do drzemki niż inspirująca podróż.
📚 Ocena: 3/5. Mniej „inspired”, a bardziej „meh”. Ale hej, zawsze to jakieś przypomnienie, że kreatywność to nie tylko wielkie idee, ale też cierpliwość w słuchaniu. 😅
May 25, 2025
This is perhaps the first book that I ever thought could be turned into a drinking game. Take a shot with every mention of NYT or COVID.
Did I learn something? Yes. I learned Santana has a cannabis company. Did I learn something about creativity? Maybe. I lost the thread quickly, though. This book was rambling and DULL. Full of name drops and commentary of 2020. The author explored a lot of angles, but didn’t have much coherence. Cited himself quite a few times. I thought the purpose of this book was more about cementing a legacy for himself than an actual exploration of creativity. The self-citations, the name dropping, and the constant mention of his employer scream, “See me! I was on this planet!”
Did I learn something? Yes. I learned Santana has a cannabis company. Did I learn something about creativity? Maybe. I lost the thread quickly, though. This book was rambling and DULL. Full of name drops and commentary of 2020. The author explored a lot of angles, but didn’t have much coherence. Cited himself quite a few times. I thought the purpose of this book was more about cementing a legacy for himself than an actual exploration of creativity. The self-citations, the name dropping, and the constant mention of his employer scream, “See me! I was on this planet!”
November 21, 2022
Matt Richtel draws us into a large ideas and themes. He leads us through a wide range of topics and persons and somehow makes most of the themes come out in something we should read.
Note that the second level name for the book and(“ A Journal Through Art, Science, and the Sou” tells us that we have to know about all of these themes to understand the world we are in. His pieces of the book come from– human growth, laws of nature, neurology and many other big words.
In just a few pages beyond 300, he challenges us to understand our world in many ways. It’s a good read for people who have questions about the future.
Note that the second level name for the book and(“ A Journal Through Art, Science, and the Sou” tells us that we have to know about all of these themes to understand the world we are in. His pieces of the book come from– human growth, laws of nature, neurology and many other big words.
In just a few pages beyond 300, he challenges us to understand our world in many ways. It’s a good read for people who have questions about the future.
Read
February 24, 2024DNF. I felt like this was just jumping all over the place squeezing everything on Earth into the box of "creativity" to try to make a book of it. Not inspiring.
Alternatively:
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
Alternatively:
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
June 15, 2022
The author has an interesting way of telling stories and I did learn some creativity tips/facts that I wasn't aware of before, but overall, I just wanted more from this book. I also don't enjoy when authors repeat the same phrase over and over again and this one was "novel Corona Virus." I also felt like toward the end it lost steam and each chapter felt like short standalone story than a sequence in a book. Maybe that was intentional, idk. The topic of creativity and the science behind it is fascinating, but I think you can glean from internet articles too.
June 9, 2024
3.6/5. This book contains a myriad of elements, including a survey of the scientific works on creativity, interviews researchers in the field, examples from past, present, and the world across multiple cultures, plus interviews with creators on their personal experience. I really enjoyed it. It offered a lot of inspiration, was very organized and easy to digest, and fulfilled its purpose.
Why it’s not five stars:
- I felt like I learned more about how to conduct research rather than about the actual topic.
- Most of this information was entirely subjective. Now, I understand there is not an incredible amount that’s completely objective about creativity, but that makes me feel like this book a little ahead of its time, it’s trying to be something that isn’t possible in this day and age yet.
But I did learn a lot, and I really loved this author’s writing style, so it was a valuable reading experience to me.
Why it’s not five stars:
- I felt like I learned more about how to conduct research rather than about the actual topic.
- Most of this information was entirely subjective. Now, I understand there is not an incredible amount that’s completely objective about creativity, but that makes me feel like this book a little ahead of its time, it’s trying to be something that isn’t possible in this day and age yet.
But I did learn a lot, and I really loved this author’s writing style, so it was a valuable reading experience to me.
June 11, 2024
Like other reviewers have mentioned, this book felt like two or three essays stretched into a book. There were lot of interviews with and anecdotes regarding artists and people who came up with unique ideas. Some discussed their views on creativity which I enjoyed. Other times I felt like Richtel was working too hard to make them feel relevant.
The best part of the entire book came toward the end when he described the 4 C’s of creativity. That to me was eye opening.
Richtel’s style is extremely accessible, and the book is a quick, entertaining read.
The best part of the entire book came toward the end when he described the 4 C’s of creativity. That to me was eye opening.
Richtel’s style is extremely accessible, and the book is a quick, entertaining read.
October 3, 2025
This was a good read, but didn't quite deliver on all its promises. It didn't get anywhere near explaining where bursts of inspiration come from, and barely scratched the surface of any science connected to that. But it did tell a lot of interesting stories about creators, and make a couple of new arguments for the importance of every kind of creativity, even if we think the thing we're making isn't "important" at the time. I liked the examination of the differences in personality and parental upbringing in people who later become more creative.
April 28, 2022
"Albert Einstein said that creativity is intelligence having fun."
This book had some nuggets of wisdom, but was for the most part ALL over the place. Throw a dart at the map selection of areas in life/activities/professions you can use as examples of creativity. Really, anything seemed to be the line the book takes.
This book had some nuggets of wisdom, but was for the most part ALL over the place. Throw a dart at the map selection of areas in life/activities/professions you can use as examples of creativity. Really, anything seemed to be the line the book takes.
October 9, 2022
This book had a lot of potential but I found it overly didactic and trying to prove a point for the sake of proving a point. I'm not sure I actually learned anything?? I think the goal was to prove that creative lives in all of us but to be honest I already knew that and I felt less creative by reading this book.
November 20, 2024
I usually try to power through books, giving them the benefit of the doubt until the end. I did not make it far in this book but could have filled out a name drop Bingo card in the first few pages. There were also what felt like out of place statements about great creators’ political views. Seems like a lot of great ideas just wasn’t structured in a way that was productive for me
November 27, 2025
Didn’t wow me in anyway. Could have been summed up in one chapter. He had a couple of good lines but other than that, blah. He said early on that creativity itself isn’t good or bad but then he kind of refuses to acknowledge the bad uses of creativity, only praising what we see as good. I would have liked more on the bad uses of creativity, really delve into human nature.
July 16, 2022
Excellent book.
Matt has taken a very unique approach to creativity and how it can be encouraged.
Detailed description on the biology aspect and replete with examples from different fields, this is a great book for youngsters to build their creativity quotient.
Matt has taken a very unique approach to creativity and how it can be encouraged.
Detailed description on the biology aspect and replete with examples from different fields, this is a great book for youngsters to build their creativity quotient.
June 25, 2024
It did inspire me to create more and has an interesting connection with scientific thought, but I found it difficult to get through and sometimes more repetitive than needed. Sentences were phrased strangely at times, making me wonder if it was a straight up typo. Took too much brain power to read.
July 14, 2024
An excellent an in-depth discussion on what is creativity, where does it come from, who has access to it, its impact on society and individuals- and how society and individuals impact creativity. Positive, uplifting, well-researched. Recommended.
January 5, 2025
https://cerebralspice.wordpress.com/2...
If you love learning and growing your mind, count on Matt Richtel. Strong reporter, clear and fun-to-read writer. This one didn't disappoint and I recommend it!
If you love learning and growing your mind, count on Matt Richtel. Strong reporter, clear and fun-to-read writer. This one didn't disappoint and I recommend it!
September 6, 2025
Items of Note:
* Failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of success.
* Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality.
* The creative mind is a wandering mind. Allow it the freedom to roam, to make unexpected connections, to get lost in the wonder of it all.
* Failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of success.
* Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality.
* The creative mind is a wandering mind. Allow it the freedom to roam, to make unexpected connections, to get lost in the wonder of it all.
June 22, 2022
Inspiring! Especially in regards to the muse and listening to your own creative impulses.
August 4, 2022
Interesting study of creativity and creative people. I enjoyed Richtel's writing, especially the various anecdotes.
January 15, 2023
A superficial, rambling, poorly edited take on creativity, that was far less than inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews