Creativity

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

1996 • 372 pages

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Average rating4.4

Creativity is about capturing those moments that make life worth living. The author's objective is to offer an understanding of what leads to these moments, be it the excitement of the artist at the easel or the scientist in the lab, so that knowledge can be used to enrich people's lives. Drawing on 100 interviews with exceptional people, from biologists and physicists to politicians and business leaders, poets and artists, as well as his 30 years of research on the subject, Csikszentmihalyi uses his famous theory to explore the creative process. He discusses such ideas as why creative individuals are often seen as selfish and arrogant, and why the tortured genius is largely a myth. Most important, he clearly explains why creativity needs to be cultivated and is necessary for the future of our country, if not the world.

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Eva

There's nothing more inspiring than reading about people who are leading fulfilling creative life. Hitting that balance between playful spontaneity and dedicated discipline, between openness and closed-ness, that allows them to innovate in whatever domain they're at home.

Csikszentmihalyi takes a system's view on creativity, demonstrating how besides an individual's personal characteristics, the patterns and rules of their domains, the gatekeepers of their fields, are equally important to foster creativity. How could we create a world where everyone has the freedom from worries and the opportunities, to cultivate their creative spirits. Innovation is what ultimately improves all our lives, yet also the act of innovation - of being creative while in a state of flow - is what fulfills one's life.

I've been going through this book slowly, a few pages at a time, to savor every little inspiration some of the interviews or insights might bring.

July 21, 2022