Reviews

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp

atlantisblauw's review

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2.0

It's not a very practical book, but mainly a (not very interesting) personal story about what creativity means to Tharp and how she works.

composed's review

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4.0

Tharp is one of my favorite choreographers. I lo-o-o-ove her work. Because I've already incorporated a huge amount of this book into my life (a bit of a theme in the nonfiction portion of my ambitious reading goal this year), personally it only rates three stars. It just didn't affect me that much. But overall the advice is sound and, in my opinion, one excellent framework to organize a creative career. As a composer it may be more applicable to me - as well as other people in the fine and performing arts - than someone applying creativity to a more "traditional" career, but I'm not sure.

the_mannika's review

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informative

3.0

comfort_33's review

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informative

3.75

sebswann's review

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4.0

"Confidence is a trait that has to be earned honestly and refreshed constantly; you have to work as hard to protect your skills as you did to develop them... Perfect practice makes perfect. The one thing that creative souls around the world have in common is that they all have to practice to maintain their skills. Art is a vast democracy of habit."

If you like books about creativity; full of insightful, helpful, and useful wisdom about developing habits to support creativity, Tharp shares experiences from her life and the lessons learned that have supported and underpinned her illustrious career. Reading this will push you to examine and reimagine your own creative habits.

slightly_devious's review

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3.0

Although I didn't fall in love with this book like I expected, I enjoyed the journey.

tjnoodle's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

hilary_v's review

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informative inspiring slow-paced

3.5

akbhatia's review

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.5

Well-written, well structured, mixes practical advice with more general thoughts on art and creativity. Nothing revolutionary but made interesting by the anecdotes she weaves in. 

agentcoco's review

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

3.75