Creativity
Ratings20
Average rating3.7
____________________________ We can all be more creative. John Cleese shows us how. Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you've come up with something that might be worth pursuing? What do you do if you think you've hit a brick wall? Not only does he explain the way your mind works as you search for inspiration, he also shows that, regardless of the task you've set yourself, you can learn to be better at coming up with a promising idea, refining it and knowing when you're ready to act on it. We can all unlock new reserves of creativity within ourselves. John Cleese shows us how. ____________________________ 'Humorous and practical ... Whether you're hoping to write a novel or paint a masterpiece, you're sure to feel inspired' OK Magazine 'His candor is endearing ... An upbeat guide to the creative process' Kirkus 'A jovial romp ... Cleese fans will enjoy, and writers and other artists will breeze through, picking up a few nuggets of wisdom along the way' The Festival Review 'A sincere and thoughtful guide to creativity, and a very useful book' Graham Norton 'Wise words on the serious business of being silly' Sunday Business Post
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John Cleese shares all he knows about creativity in this 103-page book. He studied science and later law in college, but it was only after he joined a society called the Footlights that he began to learn about creativity.
He learned that if he worked on a comedy sketch for the society at night, he would get stuck, and he'd eventually give up and go to bed. In the morning, he'd wake and the solution to the problem he'd had the night before became obvious to him. He began to realize that his unconscious was working on stuff all the time, without his being aware of it. The language of the unconscious is not verbal. To better think in the slow, more creative way, a person must (1) know how to play and (2) defer making decisions for as long as they are allowed. The answer will eventually present itself.
He warns us that, to be creative, we must avoid interruptions. The longer we sit, the more the mind settles. Don't get too critical too soon.
And that's it. Of course he also talks about “Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind,” and offers lots of hints and suggestions, so you may want to read the book yourself. Hey, it's only 103 pages.
Great guy, unnecessary book. I felt that How To Solve It by George Polya covered similar info in a more practicable way. But I'm a programmer. So maybe if you're a comedian this book is a better fit dunno.
