Customer Reviews

The Art of the Idea: And How It Can Change Your Life

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Perhaps, like me, you came across this book at Amazon, seeing it listed among books on creativity. As I write, this is only the second review of this book. That's too bad, because this is a little gem of a book that distinguishes itself from the crowd. When I first unpacked it, it immediately made a fine impression with the crisp "board book" binding and subtle cover art. The production quality of the book is exceptional with fine paper, fonts, and layout touches. The artist illustrations are fresh and give the book a unique mood. The author shares his insights in a series of "observations" that have greater depth than many of the "slice and dice" idea generation books. There are 20 observations of about four substantive pages each, and numerous passages that resonate like memorable quotes. The writing style is both sophisticated and friendly. Okay, that's my take. If this review has piqued your interest, then you're in luck....the publisher's website has ample illustrations and excerpts to give you a taste. I couldn't find this book at B&N or Borders for a prepurchase look-see, and I suspect that it may not be widely distributed. But, I ordered it on a hunch. If you are leaning that way, you are in for a treat. Then, add your review and maybe others will take notice, too.

After reading promos of the book by Tom Peters and Seth Godin, I thought I couldn't go wrong by ordering it. Was I ever wrong! I think those two were just trying to promote a friend's book, no matter its actual value. This book can be read in a very short time, because there is virtually nothing in it.

Save your money and your time. This book has only a couple ideas worth putting into print. They could have been put on 4x6 index cards and sold for $1. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

This book is has some amazing insight into what blocks ideas from flourishing. Many of the concepts are easy to observe but hard to avoid. This books helps open people minds to the power of ideas and the mindset necessary to let them reach their full potential. In a age of closed minded lemmings, it doesn't surprise me that some would give this book a negative review. Reading this book will help you grow and embrace the free thinking and sharing necessary to have meaningful impact on the world. Even on a micro-level, this book will help you day by day take advantage of the great thoughts that you and those around you have.

The kind of books that you need to finish just because you started reading it, couple of chapters are worth reading, the rest can be put in bullet points
Got really bored reading it ..
the graphics though is v.craetive

A nice devotional for a Sunday afternoon meditation on the creative idea. Great insight into the barriers we put in front of ideas, either consciously or unconsciously.
Would like to have read a little more about the joy and pleasure of behaving creatively. Not enough attention is paid to the psychic rewards of creativity. If more people only knew...

Woody Allen has a line about this in "Annie Hall." Two Hollywood guys are at a party talking about their screenplays and one says to the other: "At the moment it's just a notion, but with a bit of backing I think I could turn it into a concept, and then an idea."

The book is beautiful and indeed, very stiff and firm. The art is lovely. But although I loves me my abstractions, my full bleed art with sparse text, my self-published ad agency waiting room books, still, after trying to wade through this text I think the art of this particular idea was for me to impulsively click that 1-Click button over on the right.

I came across a link to this book in a blog. Viewed a few excerpts and bought two copies.

Growing up with a family-run business, I enjoyed the somewhat unfettered environment of creativity. We had to solve problems - in the house, in the fields, on the job-sites. Some ideas worked; many did not. Rapid and iterative ideation became natural for many of us. After 20+ years at two huge companies, I have seen the climate of creativity vary from lush rain-forest to arctic tundra.

This book delivered some entertaining and essential reminders that we can take some control over the creative climate. It offers a few tips and examples that can inspire us to rediscover the "art" of the idea.

Awesome book! Forget how it's bound, which I got over because of the content. Not a bad bind, just different. You will love it. Can't wait for it to be available on Apple's new touchscreen tablet computer.

I found this book simple and powerful, fresh and inspiring. It's not focused exactly on how to produce new creative ideas, but more on the preconditions that favor and environment where new ideas can easily blossom. I highly recommend it for anyone who works in any creative field.

The Art of the Idea is an insightful and delightful book. It is recommended by legendary business gurus Tom Peters and Seth Godin. I interviewed the author, John Hunt, in the Huffington Post. If you're interested, it's here: [...]