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

by Eric Maisel (Author) "Many of us are confused about how to knit together a meaningful life..." (more)
Key Phrases: everyday creative person, current creative project, art buddy, Hunger Artist, New York, Sleep Thinking (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A complete creativity education in one volume. Everything you need to know to increase and unleash your creativity, by America's leading expert on the psychological side of creativity.

Whether you're a painter or a human resources manager, a novelist or an information services specialist, says Eric Maisel, whatever you do, creativity helps you do it better.

In this book, Maisel presents a complete one-year plan for unleashing your creativity. It uncludes two discussions/exercises per week, and culminates in a guided project of your choice--from working on your current novel to planning a new home business.

About the Author
Eric Maisel is the author of twenty-two books, including Deep Writing, A Life in the Arts, Fearless Creating, Living the Writer's Life, and Affirmations for Artists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585420298
• ISBN-13: 978-1585420292
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,407 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb guidance, not for the lazy!, October 28, 2001

By	M. Smith "cenmad" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Maisel consistently challenges the artist to be true to his/her artistic self in all his books, and this is no exception. Unlike The Artist's Way (a fine book for the creatively blocked or undiscovered), The Creativity Book targets the artist who has achieved a higher degree of self-knowledge and acceptance. He asks the reader to choose a Dream early in the year, which will be accomplished as the year unfolds. Each week highlights an aspect of living as a creative being, and includes exercises to clear the way to living more fully. The exercises range from easy (have a morning and evening tea ritual for three days) to much harder (sit for 40 minutes and do NOTHING), but the difficulty will doubtless vary for each reader.

Maisel has a no-holds-barred style that doesn't permit excuses, whining, or hedging. His message is simple: one must actively pursue the muse at all times, and embrace her when she appears. You don't HAVE to do any of the exercises, although he'd like you to do them all. He makes it clear, however, that choosing not to do the exercises is also a clear statement of your degree of commitment to your Dream, which ultimately boils down to art.

If you're looking for coddling, this is the wrong book. But if you're ready to be gently but firmly led to create as you know you can "if only...", Maisel removes the "if only..." and leaves you with a fuller, more satisfying relationship with your artistic self.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back on Track, August 17, 2000

By	Mary Bradley (Claremont, N, H.) - See all my reviews

This wonderful book came to me at a time when I was experiencing a painful and desperate disconnection from my work as a sculptor. I took the fast track with the book and read it in 4 days. My resistance, fear, uncertainty, grief,...etc. has miraculously resolved. I have begun a new and extremely satisfying body of work, and I'm filled with new creative energy in all aspects of my life. It was the right book at the right time for me. My hope is that it may that for you. I will always be grateful to Eric Maisel for writing this book!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creativity for anyone--not just writers and artists, April 28, 2004

By	H. Grove "owling6683" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I'm quite fond of Eric Maisel's books. He's a psychotherapist and "creativity consultant," and he has written a number of books on writing, art, and creativity. Several of them are among my favorite writing books: "Living the Writer's Life," "Deep Writing," and "Write Mind." Unlike those books, "The Creativity Book" is not aimed specifically at writers. It's aimed at you, me, your brother, and the guy in the cubicle down the hall. In other words, anyone who'd like to use a little more creativity in their lives, whether for painting, writing, mathematics, relationships, or business plans.

The book is designed to be read one section at a time, to take you through a year of learning. It has 88 sections, two per week, to get you through ten months, and then the idea is that you spend the last two months of your year devoted to a particular creative project. Each base section is pretty short--generally a page or three--so you'll have no trouble reading it in a few spare minutes some evening. Then it's followed by at least one exercise, and sometimes several. Sometimes the exercises are very specific; at other times, Maisel suggests ways to apply the exercises to whatever area you're trying to become more creative in.

Many of the ideas in the book are relatively basic, but this in no way makes them useless. After all, they're only basic for people who are already highly creative and making abundant use of that creativity. In large part this book is designed to help those who aren't sure where to start when it comes to creativity, and who haven't had much luck sitting down and getting started with their creative projects. Even highly creative people will still find things of value in this book, however. Some sections will feel like remedial schooling, but others might unlock surprising ways for you to move forward in your work. People with more experience using their creativity might prefer to skip from section to section instead of following the "plan," however, using the bits that have particular value to them.