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cris_10_nj's review against another edition
1.0
About halfway through this book - too deep in to stop reading it - I read about the author's fabrication (lies) in the Bob Dylan chapter. I just couldn't get past his lack of credibility and it colored my perception of everything in this book.
pearlagcalo's review
3.0
3 stars. I started this book and shortly after learned about the controversy surrounding the author. Anyway, I’m glad I finished it. I learned something new, something interesting and something inspiring. That’s all I could really hope for when I read anything so, I’m happy that I stuck through it.
Not so goods- It can get incredibly boring. Some of the technical, scientific jargon easily slips out of my Peabody brain. And the chapters seem really long. Might not be a big deal to some, but I felt like it took forever to finally finish.
Goods- The appeal is there and Lehrer has impact. It forces one to step out of my comfort zone and create something different. And why not? Swiffer is a paper towel on a stick! It makes success seem so tangible. And my favorite anecdote: geniuses flock together. Hello friends, you are who you surround yourself with. Creativity is infectious.
ceeceejay's review against another edition
4.0
This could have been a lofty, high handed read, but the author, Jonah Lehrer, put as much skill into his storytelling as he did his research. The result is a well-paced, highly readable, and fascinating book. He takes his subject--creativity--and shows the reader how un-mystical it is. Without waiting for a muse to arrive, he shows how anyone can harness their own creativity.
pbobrit's review against another edition
5.0
My first book after semester was over, and what a great one to start the summer reading binge. A really well written non-fiction exploration of how imagination and creativity works. Looking at the neurology, the biochemistry, psychology all the way up to the big picture items such as city composition can influence creative. An inspiring and engrossing read. I'd highly recommend.
quinndm's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful. Informative. And inspiring.
This book completely changed the way I - not only - approach my work, but my creative practice in general. The lessons I learned has impacted the way I tackle tasks and challenges; while also providing insight into how I can streamline the process and put myself in a position to elicit more creative 'sparks' and moments of inspiration.
The scandal that surrounds the John Lennon quotes were serious, but were totally blown out of proportion - this book should still be in print. The extent of the damage should have been to remove those quotes, or just remove the John Lennon stuff completely.
One of the very few books I will recommend to any fellow artist and creative.
This book completely changed the way I - not only - approach my work, but my creative practice in general. The lessons I learned has impacted the way I tackle tasks and challenges; while also providing insight into how I can streamline the process and put myself in a position to elicit more creative 'sparks' and moments of inspiration.
The scandal that surrounds the John Lennon quotes were serious, but were totally blown out of proportion - this book should still be in print. The extent of the damage should have been to remove those quotes, or just remove the John Lennon stuff completely.
One of the very few books I will recommend to any fellow artist and creative.
bethgiven's review against another edition
3.0
I am really not sure how to rate this book.
On the one hand, it was very readable with some great ideas. Some of the stories I found fascinating: the invention of masking tape, Scotch tape, and Post-Its at 3M; Yo-Yo Ma and his creative gift for music; the role of creativity in education (especially in schools like NOCCA); Shakespeare's "genius." The prose was readable and the take-home messages applicable.
But it turns out that Jonah Lehrer and this book in particular are under fire, because he fabricated (or at least misconstrued?) some quotes from Bob Dylan. Funnily enough, I didn't even like that chapter. And Lehrer's also under fire for recycling blog posts -- reposting stuff for The New Yorker that he wrote for the Wall Street Journal and Wired. You can read more about all that here.
I do think it's ironic he's getting hammered for "plagiarism" (in quotes, because should it really be called plagiarism when it's your own material?) when he blatantly discusses in the last chapter: "T.S. Eliot said it best: 'Immature poets imitate. Mature poets steal.'" He even cites Bob Dylan, of all people, as an example. (Note that I'm not necessarily condoning what he did -- I do think The New Yorker is in the right for asking him to resign -- but isn't it ironic, dontchya think??)
Another thing: there were sure a lot of swear words in this book considering it's nonfiction. I mean, really -- do we need multiple counts of the f-bomb to make a point?? For all the quote-misconstruing Lehrer did, couldn't he have edited out a few of the "choicest" quotes from his sources?? (That's a lawsuit I'd like to see! "I specifically said '!#$@&*!' You're misquoting me! I'm suing!")
Still, I hope we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater on this one. There were a lot of great points and good stories here. And for whatever faults he has, Lehrer certainly is gifted in making neuroscience and social science accessible to the masses.
So ... three stars, I guess???
On the one hand, it was very readable with some great ideas. Some of the stories I found fascinating: the invention of masking tape, Scotch tape, and Post-Its at 3M; Yo-Yo Ma and his creative gift for music; the role of creativity in education (especially in schools like NOCCA); Shakespeare's "genius." The prose was readable and the take-home messages applicable.
But it turns out that Jonah Lehrer and this book in particular are under fire, because he fabricated (or at least misconstrued?) some quotes from Bob Dylan. Funnily enough, I didn't even like that chapter. And Lehrer's also under fire for recycling blog posts -- reposting stuff for The New Yorker that he wrote for the Wall Street Journal and Wired. You can read more about all that here.
I do think it's ironic he's getting hammered for "plagiarism" (in quotes, because should it really be called plagiarism when it's your own material?) when he blatantly discusses in the last chapter: "T.S. Eliot said it best: 'Immature poets imitate. Mature poets steal.'" He even cites Bob Dylan, of all people, as an example. (Note that I'm not necessarily condoning what he did -- I do think The New Yorker is in the right for asking him to resign -- but isn't it ironic, dontchya think??)
Another thing: there were sure a lot of swear words in this book considering it's nonfiction. I mean, really -- do we need multiple counts of the f-bomb to make a point?? For all the quote-misconstruing Lehrer did, couldn't he have edited out a few of the "choicest" quotes from his sources?? (That's a lawsuit I'd like to see! "I specifically said '!#$@&*!' You're misquoting me! I'm suing!")
Still, I hope we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater on this one. There were a lot of great points and good stories here. And for whatever faults he has, Lehrer certainly is gifted in making neuroscience and social science accessible to the masses.
So ... three stars, I guess???
k8iedid's review against another edition
4.0
Really stinks about Lehrer's quote fabricating because this is a great book. I hope he gets a second act.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
More pop science, though the formula is getting a little tired. (It was a hot day in August when Joe Blow first discovered something counter-intuitive which I will now explain to you.) But I will keep in mind how fruitful lots of weak connections can be and how, ironically, stealing ideas can be quite productive. Poor Jonah Lehrer.
stashac13's review against another edition
There's something awesome about reading a book that is no longer sold in stores. Even if the author printed false quotes, I now feel like a rebel. :)