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I envy Denise Shekerjian because she had the opportunity to interview 40 recipients of MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. Her purpose was to obtain their thoughts about how great ideas are born, then share the responses with those who read this book. I especially appreciate her somewhat unorthodox but immensely effective approach of weaving portions of the material generated by the interviews within the fabric of the book's thematic framework. These themes include taking on risk, learning through doing, sustaining concentration and drive, and building resiliency.
According to Shekerjian, "What harnesses the idea of vision to the creative impulse is the notion that dreams unleash the imagination. And taking this one step further, where the dream addresses some greater good, there is an even stronger tendency to take risks and make the innovative leaps necessary to accomplish its goals. Limit yourself to your own private world and you've limited your creativity by worrying about how to protect what you've got and how to get what you're missing. Get yourself out of the way in pursuit of some greater good, in response to a strong pull of mission, and you've liberated the mind." (Page 96)
In collaboration with those interviewed, Shekerjian explores with her reader a perilous process through which a vision or insight is developed and refined until becoming a creative achievement, one that reveals "a new measure of human dignity." This process somewhat resembles medieval alchemy. That said, she offers this reminder: "Whether in science or in art, then, the ability to judge that a work is finished is more an act of commitment to the consciousness of the creative process than it is a sign of having expressed the last word.Read more ›
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By looking at the title of this book, you would have thought this book is about geniuses, the winners of the MacArthur Awards. But no. This book covers four topics and none of them well: 1. The award recipients 2. Discover the creative traits of these award recipients 3. Dissect the creative process 4. Discuss how we the average people can apply the creative process
If you are looking for min-biographies of the 40 recipients of MacArthur Awards in this book, you will be sorely disappointed. This book is more about the interpretation and discussion of the creative process by the author than the geniuses of the MacArthur Awards themselves.
One major drawback of this book is that Shekerjian does not stick to one writing style. In the first chapter of PART ONE of this book with the interview of Dr. Stephen Jay Gould, Shekerjian revealed that Gould's creative genius is in making connections among various fields. It would be great if she continues in this style of writing in the following chapters discussing about special creative traits of other award winners. But she doesn't.
Another major drawback of this book is that Shekerjian tries to tackle too many subjects at the same time. She tries to cover the 40 award winners. She tries to dissect the creativity process. She tries to commoditize the creative process for average folks. In the end, none is done well.
Yet another major drawback of this book is the treatment or detailing of 40 award winners and the creativity traits. For example, Peter Sellars occupied many pages, while Stephen Gould (described as the person second only to Darwin in the study of evolution) gets only four and a half.Read more ›
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55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
"How are creative people able to look at the same thing as everybody else but see something different?" Denise Shekerjian relying on interviews with forty MacArthur Foundation Fellowship winners tries to answer this in "Uncommon Genius." The Fellows, all having demonstrated creative genius across a variety of pursuits, provide a glimpse inside their own experience with the creative process.
"All were driven, remarkably resilient, adept at creating an environment that suited their needs, skilled at honoring their own peculiar talents instead of lusting after an illusion of self, capable of knowing when to follow their instincts, and above all, magnificent risk-takers, and unafraid to run ahead of the great popular tide."
This is a great read for both those who have already embraced their creative potential as well as for those who have not. Shekerjian surfaces the common threads of attitudes and behaviors that foster creativity. Creatives can use this book to build on the "why" of their creativity with confidence.
For those interested in developing their creative potential, the book eliminates the mystery and lays out the "how" of being creative. But to be successful, one needs to make an "act of faith" in the "act of doing." Shekerjian's "doing" includes:
1. Find your talent.
2. Commit to it and make it shine
3. Don't be afraid of risk. Or even failure, which if seen in its proper light, brings insight and opportunity.
4. Find courage by looking to something stronger and better than your puny vulnerable self.
5. No lusting after quick resolutions. Relax. Stay loose.
6. Get to know yourself; understand your needs and the specific conditions you favor.
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This item: Uncommon Genius: How Great Ideas are Born
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