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mwbuell's review
4.0
This was good. It was fun to read about creativity from the mind of a great dancer and choreographer, and she wove in a lot of stories of artists in other crafts as well. Some of the exercises were a little out there for me personally, but some were good! This felt like a long read to be honest. I felt like it was a bit repetitive at times, or that some stories were longer than they needed to be. But overall, I enjoyed it and took a lot of notes
brdgtc's review
4.0
I am not a creative person, but am trying to challenge myself to not set boundaries on my life and this book was surprisingly helpful. The author is clearly a gifted and (well earned) privileged artist, but she is very good at distilling ideas and providing concrete exercises that really make sense.
tracithomas's review
4.0
This is my second read of this book. I’d forgotten a lot. I got a lot out of it as a creative process text. Tharp helps to make creativity a practice and not a fluke. The book is a little disjointed and lacking any real celebration or acknowledgment of creatives who aren’t white (and male…aside from Tharp) which sucks. Mostly because it shows that Tharp doesn’t truly value the genius and/or process of people outside white and maleness. Except when it comes to white women dancers.
davemmett's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected I would.
A few things I took away from it:
Every creative work has a 'spine', a metaphor or message that holds it together. Not exactly the theme, more like the trace of where the idea came from that kept the project going.
I liked her concept (maybe it isn't hers, but it's in the book) of a 'metaphor quotient', one's ability to use and understand metaphors, to explain the world using reference to memories and experiences. Everyone can do it, but some are better than others at using metaphors. Her suggestion, of course, is that having a high metaphor quotient is connected to creativity. Probably true.
I read through the exercises in the book really quickly, but I might go back over them more thoroughly and try a few out. I love the point she makes with the exercises that creativity isn't just something you get out of bed and do, it's something that you need to work at. Anyone can be creative, they just need to prepare themselves to being creative, to open themselves up the idea that they can be creative, and to accept that they might make some mistakes along the way.
A few things I took away from it:
Every creative work has a 'spine', a metaphor or message that holds it together. Not exactly the theme, more like the trace of where the idea came from that kept the project going.
I liked her concept (maybe it isn't hers, but it's in the book) of a 'metaphor quotient', one's ability to use and understand metaphors, to explain the world using reference to memories and experiences. Everyone can do it, but some are better than others at using metaphors. Her suggestion, of course, is that having a high metaphor quotient is connected to creativity. Probably true.
I read through the exercises in the book really quickly, but I might go back over them more thoroughly and try a few out. I love the point she makes with the exercises that creativity isn't just something you get out of bed and do, it's something that you need to work at. Anyone can be creative, they just need to prepare themselves to being creative, to open themselves up the idea that they can be creative, and to accept that they might make some mistakes along the way.
willowsfair's review
3.0
Although the book began well, in my opinion it didn't really progress in the same fashion. I abandoned it about 1/3 of the way in, having leafed through and read several pages in different spots further in - and it became quite apparent I'd gotten all I could glean from it, which wasn't much. The ideas presented might have made a better magazine article - there wasn't really enough for a book. There was a lot of navel-gazing and personal history, which after awhile became annoying and actually interfered with the points the authors were trying to make.
allisonjpmiller's review
4.0
I've read perhaps too many books on the creative process – to the point where I've started to get diminishing returns, running into the same patterns and points raised time and again. The Creative Habit is a refreshing change of pace. Tharp's approach is more strictly philosophical, and very much aligned with the idea that creativity can only flourish in an environment of hard work, carefully maintained habits, and ritual. Otherwise, it is doomed to fizzle out. Tharp's primary creative pursuit is dance choreography – a world I know next to nothing about – and yet her insights and suggestions are sharp and universal. By the end, I felt challenged... I didn't feel like someone was holding my hand telling me it'll be all right (as many writing books do); I felt like I'd been given a healthy dose of reality and a hard shove out the front door.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.