Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life (Paperback)

~ (Author) "People who come to my native Boston often ask me, "How did they ever design the layout of the roads?..." (more)
Key Phrases: germinational energy, predominant creative force, willpower manipulation, New York, Grand Canyon, Tiny Tim (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Using as analogy the scientific principle that energy follows the path of least resistance, the founder of the DMA seminars attempts an easily assimilated self-help book--a substantial revision of his 1984 best seller. He argues that just as wind moves around natural obstructions, seeking the path of least resistance, so do we attempt to move around the structures of our lives--getting by with as few hassles as possible. Fritz's advice is to modify the structures, enabling the creative energy within to flourish instead of dissipate. Initially, his focus is clear; but numerous citings of well-known psychologists and famous movers and shakers (Einstein, Henry Moore, etc.) grow tiresome as Fritz drones on, losing us in excess verbiage. Some valuable sections, but most will find this tedious. Not recommended.
- Kevin M. Roddy, Oakland P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

A revolutionary program for creating anything, from a functional kitchen to a computer program, to a work of art, Robert Fritz demonstrates that any of us has the innate power to create. Discover the steps of creating; the importance of creating what you truly love, how to focus on the creative process to move from where you are to where you want to be, and much more.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Rev Exp edition (April 22, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449903370
• ISBN-13: 978-0449903377
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,311 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #28 in

  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Creativity

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the most important book I've ever read., November 18, 2000

By	Michele Eshleman (Colorado, US) - See all my reviews

Many of us realize that our lives are driven by certain learned patterns of behavior and thinking. This little treasure helps us to identify those patterns that we fall into unconsciously on a daily basis. It brings them into consciousness, where we can alter them and transform our lives. These old patterns form deep groves into our minds (the path of least resistance), which we too easily fall back into--unless something comes along to form a new, powerful and more effective pattern. Examples and analogies abound here, from the creation of musical compositions to manifesting the ideal job for you. It is practical and yet touches something at a deeply spiritual and creative level.

This book is not for the feeble-minded. Read it slowly and let your psyche absorb it with pleasure. If you have the resources to commit to reading and comprehending it, it will change your life. Are you concerned about the environment? Are you worried about something else going on in the world or in your life? Listen to me-- after you read this book you will view and be able to act upon ANY global or personal "problem" in a new and more powerful way! I'm not kidding. Our thoughts and words have so much power! Our patterns of thoughts and words can create a world we only dreamed about before. This book is magical. This book shows us how to be responsible for the state of our lives and the condition of the world around us. It teaches us how to own our personal power.

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an empowering guide to creating the life you want., October 23, 2000

By	Ruth Henriquez Lyon (Duluth, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Robert Fritz's Path of Least Resistance is an empowering guide to creating a life that reflects your abilities and passions. It's not a New Age book, in that the author does not teach that everything that happens to us stems from our conscious attitudes and intentions. He presents very good evidence as to why affirmations and will power don't work. His thesis is that you cannot create what you desire in life until you change the underlying structures that make your life what it currently is. Changing those structures does not have to do with problem solving either. It has to do with figuring out what you do want (harder than it sounds) and then using the creative process to set in motion the forces to accomplish whatever that is.

Fritz is a professional musician with a clear understanding of the artistic process. However, he takes this process well beyond the arts and applies it to life in general. He has worked with groups who have used these principles in foreign aid projects and business; he's also worked with individuals who have changed their personal and professional lives for the better. The point is that creativity is not just for artists--it's a human concern. If we all understood how to create rather than to just react to what life throws at us, the world would be a happier place. This is a hopeful, inspiring which should benefit anyone wanting to live a well-crafted life.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We are Made in the Image & Likeness, meaning we Create also, June 23, 2002

By	Steve Bailey "Steve" (U.S.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Path of Least Resistance is an awesome piece of work. It's a "manual" that belongs to the product of YOU the instant you learn how to read.
We do exist to create, you know. In one of his books, inspirational author Alan Cohen has a chapter named: Create or Die.

If you think this is just a specifically focused book of techniques for artists on ways of being "creative", such as brainstorming and doesn't apply to your life as a bus driver, or a waitress, or a doctor, you're wrong. We ALL create, everything from good relationships, to successful meeting outcomes, to careers, and yes... music and paintings and inventions and sculptures and books. As a matter of fact, Fritz eschews the notion of brainstorming and you'll see why in this book.

Basically, the first thought that'll crowd your mind as you complete the first chapter and then the second chatper, is that you have to read this repeatedly, because you want to soak these very profound, life-changing ideas into your psyche. It was hard for me to concentrate on the rest of the book during my first reading, because I was so excited about the implications of my expected change in thinking, and how I would tell others. What you'll learn is that being a reacter to problems doesn't result in peace of mind or success long-term. There are actual laws that he cites which explain the Structure of Tension which causes you to let go of all struggle and be powerfully pullled toward completion of ANYthing you want to accomplish.

In this book, he tells when you think of a goal, that you need to separate what your brainwashed mind think what is impossible, from what you reallly want. You'll see that the stress of repeatedly lying to yourself throughout your life about what you want can slowly but surely impact your health even! If you set goals that are based on what your fears tell you that you are limited to, but not what you *really want*, this wears on you physically.

Forget what your current environment or conditions tell you. THOSE DON'T MATTER! Just change to another "Structure" which leads to creation, not one that will swing you back and forth between struggles to fixing a problem, then...aaallllllmost getting there, but then the rubber band of the "Reactive" Structure pulls you back toward giving up on your faulty "fix-your-exterior" behaviors.

Fritz mentions that he studied Metaphysics in his life, but wasn't much interested in them; however, this topic can't avoided, and you'll see how when you are in the correct Structure of Creating, and you simply make a decision to create something, that this sets powerful acts of force in your favor. Between sessions of actually working on your project, like walking the dog or taking a shower, your subsconscious goes to work and pulls from the collective conscious of Man EXACTLY what you need to create what you decided to create. He includes this in the examples, but not in the way I'm describing it. Don't worry, he doesn't write with the scatter-brained style of this review. You'll get it, and you'll be grateful for his simple four-step guide to Creating

One more thing: Fritz discounts all self-help techniques such as affirmations or long term therapies. Personally, things like EFT and the Release Technique have been a godsend to my ability to function in interviews lately, and to eliminate strong negative emotions in some encounters.
But I see what he's talking about with respect to focusing more on just being the Creative Being that you were meant to be, rather then making your life into one long Saga of long term therapy-seeking and inner-child healing.