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Grant Snider
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The Shape of Ideas: An Illustrated Exploration of Creativity Hardcover – Illustrated, May 9, 2017

by Grant Snider (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 390 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Previous page
  1. Part of Series
    The Shape of Ideas
  2. Print length
    144 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Abrams ComicArts
  5. Publication date
    May 9, 2017
  6. Dimensions
    7.75 x 0.85 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1419723170
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1419723179
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"'What do ideas look like? Where do they come from?'... Surprisingly, Snider’s beautifully composed cartoons have cogent answers to those questions —or if they don’t, he’s at least an urgent asker. He’s created something unique: a synthesis of comics, philosophy, and poetry: a thoughtful new way of packaging eternal ideas in cartoon boxes."―The Los Angeles Review of Books

"Grant Snider’s The Shape of Ideas is a creative kaleidoscope of humor, insight, and truth. An inventive window into the creative experience filled with hope and encouragement for daydreamers and doodlers, sketchers and scribblers, inventors, explorers, and spinners of yarns."
―Clare Vanderpool, Newbery Medal Winner for Moon Over Manifest and the Printz Honor for Navigating Early

"The tongue-in-cheek wit and self-deprecating style make this a pleasant introduction to the joy and frustration of making any kind of art, and the beautifully designed presentation—with a charming die-cut cover—is a fine proof of concept."―Publishers Weekly

“...a lighthearted visual examination of the labor behind the creative process.”―Hyperallergic

"Grant Snider's work delivers introspection, humor, and inspiration in visually stunning drawings. They are a colorful look into the creative process—from the moments of quiet contemplation to the days of frenzied desperation."―Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

"A friendly, encouraging depiction of the creative process, with its highs and lows, from a comics creator."―The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

"The Shape of Ideas is a book about looking, process, struggle, and how one creative orthodontist in Wichita has no choice but to create, and has done so since he can remember."―NPR Wichita

About the Author

Grant Snider is an orthodontist by day and an artist by night. His comics have been featured in the Kansas City Star, the New York Times, and the New York Times Book Review, as well as The Best American Comics in 2013. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his wife and three children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Abrams ComicArts; Illustrated edition (May 9, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1419723170
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1419723179
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 0.85 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 390 ratings

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About the author

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Grant Snider

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Grant Snider writes, draws, and lives in Wichita, Kansas. His first book, "The Shape of Ideas," is a personal exploration of the joys and frustrations of the creative process. His work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, The Kansas City Star, The Best American Comics 2013, and across the internet as the popular strip "Incidental Comics." Grant works as an orthodontist in his day job. You can often find him carrying a sketchbook, lost in his own thoughts.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
390 global ratings
Clever, witty, and full of heart
5 Stars
Clever, witty, and full of heart
This book is incredibly hard to put down. As I read it with my kids at night, they would always say, "Just one more!" when I attempted to close it so they could get to sleep. And as soon as we finished it, we were all ready to start it again. It's full of clever wit and creative inspiration, and it has a lot of heart.
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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous surprise
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2017
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10 people found this helpful
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paradoxigal
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Delightful
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2018
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5 people found this helpful
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MistyM
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Creative and Insightful with Great Cartoon Sketches
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2022
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2 people found this helpful
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Zebracorn
5.0 out of 5 stars What a delightful little book
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018
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Claire
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it. Truly is a gem. Everyone needs it.
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020
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Janice
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2019
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Melisa Shafer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Smart
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
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Sonora
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2023
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jdaijo
5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilhoso
Reviewed in Brazil on September 26, 2023
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Mirza A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
Reviewed in Germany on February 10, 2024
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Maria Belo
5.0 out of 5 stars que o Grant snider é um dos autores mais interessantes para conhecer
Reviewed in Spain on April 28, 2023
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Maggie M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaim your Life!
Reviewed in India on May 31, 2021
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Maggie M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaim your Life!
Reviewed in India on May 31, 2021
This man, Gary Snider is amazing. It isn't meant to be self help or bibliotherapy as such (about creative process*) but you will definitely gain those benefits as well as have a wonderful read.

Going through this book, even if you are NOT in a stuck phase or feeling a little down, you WILL feel happy, enlightened, not so alone and elevated. We all have either some repressed OR repressive feelings. These astute illustrations and captions are like a dose of some spiritual medicine . They help you put a finger on feelings and experiences and conceptualize them. Encouraged by the author's diligence and skillful work, one starts, you will start to pay attention to your own thoughts, feelings and look for metaphors for your own experiences. The picture I posted says, shows how you will feel. I felt my feelings valid and validated. (Even if you say you don't need outside approval or validation, you don't, it's a kind of self validation)

I feel a little like a WhatsApp meme anyway here goes. words of wisdom:
Your feelings are valid. You are allowed to enforce boundaries. You do not need anyone else's approval. You are amazing. You are enough. (That's what I came away with) Good Buy Great Read!

*Snider describes his work as “self-help for myself.” It’s a breakdown of the composite parts of “genius”: 1% inspiration, 29% perspiration, 5% improvisation, 8% aspiration, 7% contemplation, 15% exploration, 13% daily frustration, 11% imitation, 10.9% desperation, and 0.1% pure elation, according to his opening panel.

“I hope this book will provide some insight into the creative process,” Snider writes in his introductory letter to the reader. “I hope you can relate to the joys and pitfalls of creativity. Most of all, I hope this book encourages you in your own search for ideas.”
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