Customer Reviews

Possible Futures: Creative Thinking For The Speed of Life

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For those of you looking to move forward in your life [in an informed and creative way] this book is a must read. A perfect complement to our fresh political climate; Possible Futures challenges readers to reject the status quo and rebirth their creativity, spontaneity, connectedness and social awareness. Yes, the "speed of life" can, at times, be overwhelming. But, you are not alone. The author teaches us the importance of "putting the brakes" on destructive thinking and replacing them with positive personal and social action. So take a deep breath, pick up anchor, and set sail in the direction of your choice.

While reading Possible Futures I was delighted to find myself familiar with many of the author's references, but even more delighted in seeing them presented in a new light. Pulling together ideas from Einstein to Csikszentmihalyi, weaving together concepts from physics to social and cognitive psychology with her own eloquent words and original thoughts, Jude Treder-Wolff creates a compelling summary of the crisis of human consciousness - and how to help it.

Possible Futures: Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life manages to capture a huge swath of human psychological upheaval between the industrial age and this technological age in the matter of a few pages. Our lives have become connected in innumerably dependent ways. Thanks to technology, we have access to more information than we could possibly comprehend in a lifetime, and yet socially our advancement is mired in outmoded, stagnant ways of thinking.

She puts it clearly in the first chapter; "The human cost of applying old ways of thinking to new and constantly evolving circumstances is a crisis of consciousness the stakes of which are nothing less than the soul of society." Looking at the familiar with new eyes is one of the underlying messages of this book. The author describes how applying the creative process in a variety of ways, role-playing, music therapy or problem solving, can help individuals take ownership of their paths through life.

Possible Futures reads like stream of consciousness, but this stream and conscious is clear and leads us to a distinct call - we must evolve our responses to the constantly changing world, and be creative in those responses. Readers who enjoy the narrative style of Malcolm Gladwell and Daniel Ariely, or the content of Rollo May and Victor Frankl will certainly appreciate this book.

I liked the premise of this book, "Possible Futures: Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life" by Jude Treder-Wolff and agreed to review it after reading a synopsis by the author/publicist. Those who wonder about the direction our wired society is taking us, will be challenged by the author's ideas that "technology overload" and "social media fatigue" should be balanced by creativity and "real life" social connectedness.

"Possible Futures" poses a serious and relevant question to the "Facebook generation" and answers it: Are we becoming too disconnected from real life and being driven at too fast a speed by new, fast-paced technology - communicating instantly, for instance, via computers, television, our cell phones, and other electronic devices? Are we ignoring our mental and physical well-being by the "consumer culture" that urges us to do nothing more than spend more and possess more? Why does all this matter? The author feels that our experiences can and do change and affect the brain and how it functions, and these changes affect us psychologically and emotionally. These arguments certainly made sense to me.

Treder-Wolff has a solution or an antidote for the fast pace of our modern times. Creativity counts! Her answer: " Our brains are designed for creative challenge. Our souls crave meaning. The human mind is juiced by experiences that combine novely/mystery with emotional involvement and a feedback loop of some kind, such as music, theater, comedy, dance/movement, play. Any kind of creative experience will do, whether it is scientific research or making an experimental papaya pizza or redesigning the baby's room to make better use of space, but the most direct route to the learning/expansion wellspring of feel-good brain chemicals is the artistic experience itself." (ch. 4, p. 59)

Jude Treder-Wolff is a licensed clinical social worker, creative arts therapist, and certified group psychotherapist. She also does play writing and acting. I was impressed by how well her work is researched and documented, supported by almost 18 pages of references. I think the book presents some serious challenges to our 21st century way of life and her conclusions are well worth examining.

"We are beginning to understand some negative psychological effects of the extraordinary volume and pervasiveness of media, advertising, entertainment, and electronic wizardry coming at us, and there is not a moment to waste in correcting them." Ms. Treder-Wolff spends the next few chapters in specifically detailing how each of these numbing, destructive influences, albeit designed to heighten progress, dull the mind in logical thought, feeling and the sense of self-worth necessary to live a fulfilled and successful life. Given that the rate of speed of mechanisms and technology is not about to alter in the near future, this text is a wake-up call and more than that a guide to get back on track before we become the Brave New World or other dystopian novel characters.

To begin with we are reminded that creativity requires both logic and feeling, a "balance between structure and open-endedness, as well as time to envision possibilities, a skill that all great thinkers possessed in the past. It also requires living with a certain amount of tension that always exists between what is and what is to be. Rather than being purely speculative, however, this social worker, creative arts therapist and certified group psychotherapist, offers valuable suggestions on how to achieve this structure and balance.

One chapter deals with the need for social connection, the fact that it is easier to brainstorm in community than it is individually. Living and working in a dynamic community decreases pressure and fosters creative ideas as well as networking connections to make the ideas a reality. Our technology often locks one into just the opposite as we sit typing on our computers or communicating on Facebook; this kind of connection lacks what in-person dialogue and living fosters so much more creatively. The author proceeds to both explain and prove this by citing research about how the neurons in the brain react to close relationships and communication, a reminder today's culture needs to heed. The roles we play emerge not only from our inner self but also from our "socially-imposed channels."

Finally, the end chapters of this text speak about the need to face our strengths and talents, as well as face our darkest thoughts and feelings in order to free up the space taken by pressure and pain to be filled with a stronger and more satisfying sense of personal worthiness and a positive self-identity. Many examples and details follow in a realistic, meaningful way that is both credible and supported by quotes from some of the greatest thinkers of the past and present.

Possible Futures: Creative Thinking For The Speed Of Life is a well-written, intelligent look at an alternative lifestyle awaiting one who wishes to live in the modern world but not be consumed by it. Much more information and discussions fill these pages that is practical, visionary and motivational for anyone looking to move out of the rut of contemporary living and consider a different "possible future."

Very nicely done, Ms. Treder-Wolff!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on August 21, 2009

I think the book is wonderful. I have made notes in the back and dog eared many pages which I want to go back and read again. The part about our human desires being insatiable and that material things do not lead to happiness is so counter cultural and yet so true. Moderation has almost become a dirty word and we are seeing the the result of that in our economy right now.

I also liked the many quotes and references which were made clear and easily accessible. I don't know how the author managed to read all those things keep track of them, but many were very profound and interesting.

The personal antidotes to reinforce the message were both refreshing and interesting. It made what was said connect to real life in a personal and familiar way.

The book also gave me an understanding of how Psychodrama works in the descriptions of instances described from the point of view of the participant.

All in all a very good book that gave me many moments to sit and ponder where we are as a society and where I am in my own life. Hopefully it will cause me to look harder for creative opportunities to stir my soul.

The creative mind never stops thinking. "Possible Futures: Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life" is a guide for the creative person to help them stay creative in a world that seems out to crush it. Written by a woman with many unique and fresh ideas on maintaining creativity and the creative thought processes, "Possible Futures" is a fine read for any creative person.