The Creativity Bookstore - Detailed Listings

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The Best Books on the Topics of Creativity and Innovation

There are literally hundreds of books on the topics of creative thinking and organizational innovation. Below are some of our favorites, arranged by category and annotated. (Some books are listed in multiple categories.)

We will add new books and more detailed annotations regularly, so re-visit often. Or, you can sign our guest book and we will notify you when new books are added.

Immediately below is a list of the categories. Below that are the details on each book. Click on a category in the simple list to be transported to that portion of the detailed descriptions. Or just scroll beyond the list and start browsing.

Click on the book title and you will be transported to the Amazon.com web site where you can place your order. (Click here for a description of the ordering process.)

Looking for a specific book, but don't see it listed here? Send your request via e-mail. We will track it down for you and e-mail you back with information on how to order.

Categories In The Creativity Bookstore

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Methods, Tools, and Applied Theory of Creativity (18 titles)

Creativity in Organizational Settings (12 titles)

Research and Basic Theory Supporting Creativity (6 titles)

Background on the Cognitive Sciences (2 titles)

Creativity, Complexity, and Chaos (5 titles)

Studies of the Lives of Creative People (4 titles)

Classics in the Creativity Literature (6 titles)

The Family Section (2 titles)

Audio Cassettes on Creativity (5 titles)

Detailed Listings and Links

Methods, Tools, and Applied Theory of Creativity

These books are the "meat" of directed creativity. As the category name implies, they provide practical tools that anyone can use to be more creative. Further, many give practical, layperson-oriented insights into the modern theories on the workings of the mind. The first four are in our Essential Library of DirectedCreativity.

Creativity, Innovation and Quality. by Paul E. Plsek (ASQC Quality Press, 1997): This is our definitive guide to DirectedCreativity, with application to the pursuit of quality (TQM) in business. Section 1 explains why serious people in organizations should be interested in creativity. Section 2 outlines the essential theory behind directed creativity. Section 3 is a comprehensive guide to the tools of creative thinking and section 4 describes the application of directed creativity to reengineering, product and service design, customer needs analysis, and problem solving. An easy to read, practical, and informative guidebook.
101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques: The Handbook of New Ideas for Business. by James M. Higgins (New Management Publishing Co, 1994): This is my favorite catalogue of creative thinking tools. Each of the 101 tools is explained in detail; the book will provide you with plenty of food for thought. The presentation is organized around the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model, but the translation to the DirectedCreativity model we present here is easy.
Idea Power: Techniques & Resources to Unleash the Creativity in Your Organization. by Arthur B. VanGundy (Amacom Book Division, 1987): This is a great catalogue of tools. In addition, VanGundy has more to say about group and organizational creativity. The Appendix alone justifies the cost of the book. It contains an exhaustive list of videotapes, training programs, and software for creative thinking.

Edward de Bono is a one of the great writers of popular literature on creative thinking. The next three books are our favorites.

Serious Creativity : Using the Power of Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas. by Edward de Bono (Harper Collins, 1992): Publisher's Synopsis: A fundamental book on deliberate creative thinking from a world-renowned expert in the field and the inventor of the systematic process of lateral thinking. Used correctly, creating thinking can save companies millions of dollars as the best and cheapest way to get added value out of existing resources and assets.; Our comments: Edward de Bono is prolific writer on the topic of thinking in general and creative thinking in particular. Part 1 of this text will introduce you to such classic de Bono-isms as "lateral thinking" and the "self-organizing mechanism of mind." Though de Bono never refers directly to the research from the cognitive sciences, you will find his work consistent with it. Part 2 covers tools and techniques for creative thinking, while part 3 discusses issues of organization-wide creative thinking. de Bono's style is crisp, sometimes too crisp, but the book is fun to read.
Mechanism of Mind. by Edward de Bono (Intl Ctr for Creative Thinking, 1990; original publication 1969): de Bono was years ahead of his time in understanding and popularizing the "self-organizing nature of mind." In this book he describes this theory through many delightful analogies. He then describes several practical methods and tools that follow naturally from this new understanding of the mind. Good, easy, fun reading.
I Am Right-You Are Wrong: From This to the New Renaissance: From Rock Logic to Water Logic. by Edward de Bono (Penguin Books, 1990): Edward de Bono launches a delightful and spirited attack on the mental patterns and judgments that we have been taught from our earliest schooling. Genuinely revolutionary. If this book doesn't forever change the way you think, you didn't read it!
99% Inspiration: Tips, Tales & Techniques for Liberating Your Business Creativity. by Bryan W. Mattimore (Amacom Book Division, 1993): Publisher's Synopsis: Creativity is one of the most valuable and powerful resources in business today. 99% Inspiration supplies a palette of techniques and stories to help business people tap hidden creative strengths. This entertaining book enables readers to creatively solve a wide range of workplace issues by using the creative techniques of such geniuses as Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo DaVinci.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: A Swiss-Army Knife of Creative Theory and Techniques Mattimore gives us a readable overview of both theory and technique. Breezy style, not bogged down in rhetoric and faddish tricks as other management books often are. He explores the techniques used by proven creative-types, famous and not-so-famous. The results count, and his examples and personal experiences prove the methodologies. Readers of similar books may have seen or heard some of the stories elsewhere, but there's enough new to keep your interest. I have used his techniques and they do work for idea generation. He supplies enough, so that with a little practice, you can get started.
Breakthrough Thinking. by Shozo Hibino and Gerald Nadler (Prima Publishing, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: Using careful analysis and intensive study, Nadler and Hibino reveal how the most intuitive and creative people and organizations--such as Walt Disney and Kounosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic--have solved problems by adhering to seven basic principles.
Breakthrough Thinking in Total Quality Management. by John W. Moran, Gerald Nadler, and Glen D. Hoffherr (Prentice Hall Trade, 1993): Publisher's Synopsis: Shows professional TQM facilitators and trainers how to convert the available technology, knowledge, values, goals and good ideas of TQM into more effective, results-oriented practice. Integrates the power of the Breakthrough Thinking concepts; provides a full perspective on establishing a TQM program and follow-up; describes how to integrate TQM into other organizational functions and needs; summarizes techniques and tools; Book News, Inc., 03/01/94: Combines TQM and BT principles into a Strategic Total Enterprise Management (STEM) model, which focuses on results rather than just the creation of activities and teams, and on getting ideas and changes implemented. The model "breaks down the barriers of rationalism and faith-in-data that can foster antagonistic relations among people." Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Creative Solution Finding : The Triumph of Full- Spectrum Creativity over Conventional Thinking. by Shozo Hibino, John Farrell, and Gerald Nadler (Prima Publishing, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: You can contribute effectively to finding solutions in you family, neighborhood, buisness, community, state, and nation. Creative Solution Finding shows you that the real obstacles are not the problems themselves but the approaches to finding the solution. Based on many investigations and case histories, this book represents a "Full-Spectrum Thinking" approach to finding solutions. These proven new principles and processes will help you plan, design, reengineer, improve, and find solutions to problems.

The next six books take a less theory-oriented approach to creative thinking. They contain great tools and tips. But we recommend that you read them in concert with the books in our essential library of DirectedCreativity so that you know why the tools work. We believe that knowing why helps you to know how. Further, knowing why helps you to "sell" the use of these tools to you colleagues who may be less inclined than you to try something that at first seems a bit non-sensical.

Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Business Creativity for the 90's. by Michael Michalko (Ten Speed Press, 1991): Amazon.com Customer Comment: This is a treasure chest of business and creative ideas. The dozens and dozens of creative methods detailed in this book are new and excellent tools for any business person. And even for non-business types. Michael goes through ways to change your view of a problem, dozens of idea generating methods, sorting and weeding techniques, and group and individual methods. The number and quality of surprising, startling, practical, usable, and results-generating ideas was a shock. And despite the 335 pages, it is not over written, as many large books are. This is a tight, easy reading, tool chest for innovation. This collection of "Thinkertoys" will be part of your intellectual and problem-solving arsenal for years. As long as there are problems to solve, fun to have, and profits to make (through customers to serve) this book will be a heavenly gift and asset to anyone who reads and uses it.
Thunderbolt Thinking: Transform Your Insights & Options into Powerful Business Results. by Grace McGartland (Natl Book Network, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: Organizations that require high performance, strong teamwork, creativity, and innovation will welcome this five-step, how-to model that charges employers to create a dynamic, thought-provoking work environment--and to smash gridlock thinking.
A Kick in the Seat of the Pants : Using Your Explorer, Artist, Judge and Warrior to Be More Creative. by Roger Von Oech (Harper Collins, 1986): Publisher's Synopsis: Roger von Oech takes readers on a guided tour through the four roles of the creative process--Explorer, Artist, Judge, and Warrior--providing exercises, stories, tips, and proven techniques to help them strengthen each creative role.
A Whack on the Side of the Head : How You Can Be More Creative. by Roger Von Oech (Warner Books, 1992): Publisher's Synopsis: Revised and expanded for the 1990s, here is the best-selling creative-thinking classic written by America's foremost creativity consultant.
Creative Whack Pack/Book and Card Deck. by Roger von Oech (United States Games Systems, 1993): Publisher's Synopsis: An illustrated deck of 64 creative thinking strategies to enhance everyone's creativity. Complete instructions are included with cards.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: Wackiest way to change your life. What's the best way to whack yourself to a more creative way of life? Surely the Creative Whack Pack is one of the more practical systems to problem solving for anyone. I bought one sometime ago, now I'm buying four more for my colleagues at work and for Christmas I'll be buying some more.
The Universal Traveler: A Soft-Systems Guide to Creativity, Problem-Solving, & the Process of Reaching Goals. by Jim Bagnall and Don Koberg (Crisp Publications, 1981): We really like this quirky, 1960s feeling collection of creativity tools. Well organized around a straightforward model. The tools are crisply described; would be nice to use in self-study or group training.

The final two books in this category describe mind mapping. We consider this more of a thought-organizing technique than a creative thinking technique. Of course, organizing your thoughts better gives you the opportunities to discover novel connections. So, it leads to creative thinking.

Use Both Sides of Your Brain, 3rd Edition. by Tony Buzan (E P Dutton, 1991): Publisher's Synopsis: Using the latest research on the workings of the human brain, Buzan provides step-by-step exercises for discovering the powers of the right side of the brain and learning to use the left side more effectively. By increasing our understanding of how the mind works, Buzan shows us how to use our brains to the best advantage.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: Worth it for ``mind-mapping'' alone. While this book seems a bit enthusiastic and ``gee whiz'' it appears to be based on some solid research about how the mind works. This book is must reading for students, and for anyone else trying to keep up with the literature in a field. The book discusses study techniques, and the centerpiece of the book is a discussion of an innovative, efficient, and highly effective note-taking technique called ``mind mapping''. If you only read the chapter on mind mapping alone, you'll be amply rewarded for the time you spend with this book.
Mindmapping: Your Personal Guide to Exploring Creativity and Problem-Solving. by Joyce Wycoff (Berkley Publishing Group, 1991): Reviewer's Comments: Readers can finally break down the blocks that hinder free thinking and discover their vast stores of innovative ideas involving whole-brain thinking techniques presented here. "A no-nonsense, practical guide to help put creative powers to work!"--Michael LeBoeuf, author of Imagineering.

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Creativity in Organizational Settings

As the category title suggests, these books go beyond cataloguing tools to provide practical advice for engaging others in your organization in the pursuit of creativity. The first two books are in our essential library of DirectedCreativity.

Creativity, Innovation and Quality. by Paul E. Plsek (ASQC Quality Press, 1997): This is our definitive guide to DirectedCreativity, with application to the pursuit of quality (TQM) in business. Section 1 explains why serious people in organizations should be interested in creativity. Section 2 outlines the essential theory behind directed creativity. Section 3 is a comprehensive guide to the tools of creative thinking and section 4 describes the application of directed creativity to reengineering, product and service design, customer needs analysis, and problem solving. An easy to read, practical, and informative guidebook.
Idea Power: Techniques & Resources to Unleash the Creativity in Your Organization. by Arthur B. VanGundy (Amacom Book Division, 1987): This is a great catalogue of tools. In addition, VanGundy has more to say about group and organizational creativity. The Appendix alone justifies the cost of the book. It contains an exhaustive list of videotapes, training programs, and software for creative thinking.
The Competitive Power of Constant Creativity. by Clay Carr (Amacom Book Division, 1994): In his crisp, clear style, Clay Carr describes the roadblocks that most organizations put up in the path of creativity and then gives practice advice on addressing them. Highly recommended.
Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas. by James L. Adams (Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1974): Publisher's Synopsis: Reissued at a popular price, here is the map around mental blocks--with more than 200,000 copies sold. "Anymore who reads his fine book will be richly rewarded."--Donald Peterson, Chairman, Ford Motor Company.; Our comments: This is a timeless description of the blocks to creativity. Adam's list of blocks include perceptual, emotional, cultural, environmental, intellectual, and expressive. You'll find yourself thinking "He must know my organization and the people I work with... he may even know me!" Highly recommended.
'Yes, But...' : The Top 40 Killer Phrases and How You Can Fight Them. by Charles Thompson (Harper Collins, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: From "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" to "put it in writing," a killer phrase is a knee-jerk reaction that stymies creativity, prevents new solutions, and hinders growth and development. Thompson illustrates most of the top 40 phrases with amusing cartoons and suggests ways to fight back.
99% Inspiration: Tips, Tales & Techniques for Liberating Your Business Creativity. by Bryan W. Mattimore (Amacom Book Division, 1993): Publisher's Synopsis: Creativity is one of the most valuable and powerful resources in business today. 99% Inspiration supplies a palette of techniques and stories to help business people tap hidden creative strengths. This entertaining book enables readers to creatively solve a wide range of workplace issues by using the creative techniques of such geniuses as Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo DaVinci.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: A Swiss-Army Knife of Creative Theory and Techniques Mattimore gives us a readable overview of both theory and technique. Breezy style, not bogged down in rhetoric and faddish tricks as other management books often are. He explores the techniques used by proven creative-types, famous and not-so-famous. The results count, and his examples and personal experiences prove the methodologies. Readers of similar books may have seen or heard some of the stories elsewhere, but there's enough new to keep your interest. I have used his techniques and they do work for idea generation. He supplies enough, so that with a little practice, you can get started.
Breakthrough Thinking. by Shozo Hibino and Gerald Nadler (Prima Publishing, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: Using careful analysis and intensive study, Nadler and Hibino reveal how the most intuitive and creative people and organizations--such as Walt Disney and Kounosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic--have solved problems by adhering to seven basic principles.
Breakthrough Thinking in Total Quality Management. by John W. Moran, Gerald Nadler, and Glen D. Hoffherr (Prentice Hall Trade, 1993): Publisher's Synopsis: Shows professional TQM facilitators and trainers how to convert the available technology, knowledge, values, goals and good ideas of TQM into more effective, results-oriented practice. Integrates the power of the Breakthrough Thinking concepts; provides a full perspective on establishing a TQM program and follow-up; describes how to integrate TQM into other organizational functions and needs; summarizes techniques and tools; Book News, Inc., 03/01/94: Combines TQM and BT principles into a Strategic Total Enterprise Management (STEM) model, which focuses on results rather than just the creation of activities and teams, and on getting ideas and changes implemented. The model "breaks down the barriers of rationalism and faith-in-data that can foster antagonistic relations among people." Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Defying the Crowd: Cultivating Creativity in a Culture of Conformity. by Todd I. Lubart, Robert Sternberg (Free Press, 1995): Publisher's Synopsis: World renowned psychologist Robert Sternberg presents a fresh and compelling picture of the creative process from the inception of an idea to its ultimate success. With illuminating examples, Sternberg reveals the paths we all can take to become more creative and shows how institutions can learn to foster creativity.; Our Comments: In this book, the authors develop a stock market analogy of "buy low and sell high" to describe the dynamics of innovation in an organization. Since a creative idea does not fit the established patterns, it begins with a low value. Just as in good stock picking, the secret to success is to be patient with such "low value" ideas and wait until there value rises. The metaphor gets a bit stretched in places throughout the book, but along the way Sternberg and Lubart provide lots of valuable advice to the champions of successful ideas. Consistent with their backgrounds as academics, the authors also do a good job citing research to support their points. Good, interesting reading.
Innovate or Evaporate : Test & Improve Your Organization's IQ: Its Innovation Quotient. by James M. Higgins (New Management Publishing, 1995): Publisher's Synopsis: Used as the criteria for selection for the Global Innovation Award, this book features questionnaires that allow firms to test their current levels of innovation in the areas of product, process, marketing and management. It includes lengthy and numerous descriptions of the 49 characteristics of innovative organizations.; Midwest Book Review: Examine your organizational structure and purposes with a critical eye to evaluating its potential for innovation and change with the help of a fine handbook. From analyses of innovation versus imitation processes to strategies and alternatives to traditional business approaches, this is packed with original information.
Corporate Tides: The Inescapable Laws of Organizational Structure. by Robert Fritz (Berrett-Koehler, 1996): Publisher's Synopsis: The best-selling author of The Path of Least Resistance shows business men and women how to recognize the roots of their organization's failure, and build a healthy structure from the bottom up. Nationally acclaimed business consultant Robert Fritz outlines the basic laws of structure that determine a corporation's ultimate success or failure.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: rating=10: Excellent, best one of over 50+ Org. Dev. books I've read.
Mastering the Dynamics of Innovation. by James M. Utterback (Harvard Business School Press, 1996): Publisher's Synopsis: Mastering the Dynamics of Innovation offers a pioneering model for how innovation unsettles industries and firms, and features fascinating histories of new product developments and strategies for nurturing innovation. "The most valuable book I've read in years. . . . The analysis is brilliant."--Tom Peters.; Book News, Inc., 10/31/94: Develops a model for innovation and addresses such areas as how a dominant product design changes the basis of competition, how product technologies are displaced by successive waves of innovation, why most major innovations come from industry outsiders, how product and process innovations are linked, and how established firms respond when a radical innovation invades a stable industry. For both managers and scholars. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.; Amazon.com Customer Comment: rating=8: A worthwhile and important study on how corporations die. I found Mr. Utterback's book to be an excellent book on the reasons for the inability of existing corporations to make the needed rapid adoption of changes necessary to compete in a world of punctuated technological changes. I found his editors lacking in their permitting too many academic attitudes filter through to the final version. Too many references to "Utterback, our and my". Tiresome and pedantic in places. All in all an excellent piece of work though. Glad to have read it and I will undoubtedly read it again. Congratulations Mr. Utterback on an important piece of work.

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Research and Basic Theory Supporting Creativity

The books in this category are more scholarly, research-oriented books. The first two are in our essential library of DirectedCreativity.

The Mind's Best Work. by D. N. Perkins (Harvard Univ Press, 1981): This classic text takes you through the essential theory behind the modern view that creativity is not the result of some magical genius that only a few possess. While Perkins is a great scholar and there are extensive end notes for those who are interested in the primary references, the book itself is written in an easy-to-read populist style.
The Nature of Creativity: Contemporary Psychological Perspectives. by Robert J. Sternberg (ed) (Cambridge Univ Press, 1988): This is a comprehensive scholarly reference on the topic. Sternberg is an incredible synthesizer of others' work, as well as a major contributor to the field himself. The 17 chapters are well written and relatively free from the repetition one sometimes finds in a collected work such as this. The contributor's list reads like a who's who of psychologists, educators, philosophers, and computer scientists working in the field of thinking about creativity.
Mechanism of Mind. by Edward de Bono (Intl Ctr for Creative Thinking, 1990; original publication 1969): de Bono was years ahead of his time in understanding and popularizing the "self-organizing nature of mind." In this book he describes this theory through many delightful analogies. He then describes several practical methods and tools that follow naturally from this new understanding of the mind. Good, easy, fun reading.
Creativity : Beyond the Myth of Genius. by Robert Weisberg (W H Freeman & Co, 1993): Through careful analysis of the lives of famous creative people, Weisberg debunks the "myth of genius" and suggests that creativity is a mental ability that we all possess. Great creators, Weisberg argues, simply combined concepts that they encountered in the past to generate new ideas.
Changing the World: A Framework for the Study of Creativity. by David Henry Feldman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Howard Gardner (Praeger Pub Text, 1994)
Creativity in Context: Update to the Social Psychology of Creativity. by Teresa M. Amabile, Mary Ann Collins, Regina Conti, Elise Phillips (Westview Press, 1996): Book News, Inc., 11/01/96: An update of the author's 1983 work, The Social Psychology of Creativity, retaining the original edition's preface, ten chapters, and references, with updates after each chapter. Material in the original chapters that gets expanded treatment in the updates is marked by a symbol. The updates review major changes in theory and research in the field of creativity, focusing on the ways creativity can be killed or encouraged by social-psychological influences. For students, researchers, and general readers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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Background on the Cognitive Sciences

The books in this category go even deeper into the modern theory and research into the workings of the mind. Both books are great, but it is somewhat heavy reading. Only for the really serious.

The Mind's New Science: A History of the Cognitive Revolution: With a New Epilogue, Cognitive Science After 1984. by Howard Gardner (Basic Books, 1987): Publisher's Synopsis: The first full-scale introduction to and history of cognitive science. An interdisciplinary study of the nature of knowledge by the noted cognitive scientist and author of Frames of Mind.
An Invitation to Cognitive Science: Vol 3: Thinking, 2nd Edition. by Edward E. Smith (Editor), Daniel N. Osherson (Editor) (Bradford Books, 1996): Book News, Inc., 05/31/96: Part of a four-volume introduction to contemporary cognitive science. The volumes are self-contained, and can be used individually in a variety of advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. The first three volumes are: Volume 1: Language (65044- 4); Volume 2: Visual Cognition (65042-8); and Volume 3: Thinking (65043-6). All of the volumes in this edition contain substantially revised as well as entirely new chapters. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.; Our Comments: This volume is organized in seven chapters with to-the-point titles such as "Remembering," "Judgment," and "Rationality." There are also three appendices covering developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and cognitive evolution. It is reasonably heavy stuff, but it is not that hard to follow. Recommended for those with real interest in the theory of thinking.

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Creativity, Complexity, and Chaos Theory

The "new sciences" of complexity, chaos, and adaptive systems are changing the ways we look at things. The books in this category explain the new sciences, expand our knowledge of how creative ideas are generated, and explain why change in organizations is so hard.


Edgeware: Insights from Complexity Science for Helath Care Leaders. by Brenda Zimmerman, Curt Lindberg and Paul Plsek (VHA, 1998): Today, the lessons of complexity science are reverberating through the corridors of American corporations. For health care leaders, it's a strange new world that holds tremendous promise for the future of the industry. But revolutions can be disorienting. Complexity theory introduces new vocabulary, new concepts and new ways of thinking about ourselves, our work and our world. Intimidated? Don't be. Let Edgeware be your companion as you embark upon your journey of learning in this wondrous and challenging new landscape. Essential reading for those who are trying to understand what complexity sciences might mean for leadership and management in organizations.
Leadership and the New Science: Learning About Organization from an Orderly Society. by Margaret Wheatley (Berrett-Koehler, 1992): This was one of the first books to explain how discoveries in mathematics and biology might be applied to the complex, adaptive human systems in organizations. In a breezy and pleasant style, Meg Wheatley introduces the central ideas behind the so-called "new science." A great introductory text.
Complexity and Creativity in Organizations. by Ralph Stacey (Berrett-Koehler, 1996): Ralph Stacey is a professor of management and director of the Complexity and Management Center in the Business School of the University of Hertfordshire in England. He is a rising "guru" on the topic of complexity theory and its application to business. In this book he explains the basics of complexity and self-organizing, adaptive systems theory and shows how this explains creativity in individuals, groups, and organizations. It is a good treatment of the subject, but the writing does get a bit tiresome midway through the book. See the extensive notes as the Amazon.com site for a very critical review of the writing style. But there is a lot of good stuff here. For those really interested in the linkage between complexity theory and creativity theory, it is a gold mine. I skimmed over the middle chapters as the style got repetitive and a bit boring, but the first four chapters and last three chapters are really good. Decide for yourself after reading the critical review at the Amazon.com site.
Imaginization: The Art of Creative Management. by Gareth Morgan (Sage, 1993): Gareth Morgan brings the sometimes obscure world of complexity theory into practical application in this well-written case book. You will learn about how metaphors can transform our point of view in dealing with organizational issues. This book contains such classic Morgan metaphors as "the spider plant," "ice berg," and "deer hunting." Gareth is a high energy personality and he displays this personality in his writing here. Very creative and complex stuff. Highly recommended.
Images of Organization, Second Edition. by Gareth Morgan (Sage, 1997): This is a heavier (academically and literally) text than the one above. This 480 page work re-examines organization theory in light of complexity theory. In it, Morgan describes organizations as machines, organisms, brains, cultures, political systems, psychic prisons, flux, and instruments of domination. There are some powerful metaphors here for understanding why innovation change is so hard in most organizations. But it is dense material, probably best suited for academics and very serious practitioners.

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Studies of the Lives of Creative People

Another important avenue in the research into creativity is the study of creative people. A behaviorist's approach.

Creativity : Beyond the Myth of Genius. by Robert Weisberg (W H Freeman & Co, 1993): Through careful analysis of the lives of famous creative people, Weisberg debunks the "myth of genius" and suggests that creativity is a mental ability that we all possess. Great creators, Weisberg argues, simply combined concepts that they encountered in the past to generate new ideas. Good reading; a nice balance of theory, case study, and so what?
Creative People at Work: Twelve Cognitive Case Studies. by Doris B. Wallace, Howard E. Gruber (Editors) (Oxford Univ Press, 1992): In chapter 1, Howard Gruber lays out his "evolving systems" theory of creativity. Basically, Gruber believes that creativity is the interplay of purpose, chance, and insight in the lives of people. The remaining chapters illustrate this theory in the lives of 12 great creators; Darwin, Einstein, Jean Piaget, Michael Faraday, Wadsworth, and others. Fascinating reading for those who like case study research method.
Creating Minds : An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stranvinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Gandhi. by Howard Gardner (Basic Books, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: Focusing on the moment of each creator's most significant breakthrough, Howard Gardner presents a fascinating look at the nature of genius as seen in the lives of Einstein, Freud, Eliot, Ghandhi, and other giants. Sixth printing.
The Creative Process: Reflections on the Invention of Art. by Brewster Ghiselin (Editor) (Univ of California Press, 1952): This is a classic in the category of case studies in creativity (written some 40 years ago). Good case studies if you are more interested in artist creativity rather than scientific creativity.

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Classics in the Creativity Literature

All the books in this category are 30-40+ years old. The tools and models were developed before the modern theory of creativity was developed, but they are consistent with that theory.

Applied Imagination. by Alex F. Osborn (Creative Education Foundation,1993; originally published by Charles Scribner 1952): The book that gave the world brainstorming. You will be amazed at how much of the power of brainstorming has been lost in the modern practice of this tool. Osborn had a model for the creative process that included detailed preparation before a brainstorming session and development of ideas after. He would not have approved of today's common practice where we just decide to brainstorm for five minutes. A great book that will greatly enhance your appreciation of brainstorming.
Brainstorming : How to Create Successful Ideas. by Charles Clark (Wilshire Book Co, 1958): Clark was a disciple of Osborn who expands on the concept of brainstorming. This book is cheaper than Osborn's and covers basically the same ground; although the Osborn book is THE source.
Direct Creativity With Attribute Listing. by Robert P. Crawford (Fraser Publishing, 1979; originally published 1952): Crawford was a professor at Kansas University who, in the 1930s, was perhaps the first to teach a college level course on the purposeful production of creative ideas. This book is the course notes for Crawford's course. It is written in outline form. The book below covers the same basic ground, but in form more like a book than a course outline.
Techniques of Creative Thinking. by Robert P. Crawford (Fraser Publishing, 1964): See write-up above.
The Act of Creation. by Arthur Koestler (Arkana, 1964): Publisher's Synopsis: While the study of psychology has offered little in the way of explaining the creative process, Koestler examines the idea that we are at our most creative when rational thought is suspended--for example, in dreams and trancelike states. All who read The Act of Creation will find it a compelling and illuminating book.; Our Comments: But there is more to this classic book than that. Koestler argues that creativity is about novel mental association, what he calls "bisociation." Koestler was also one of the first to see that humor and creativity were connected, in that both rely on novel mental association.
The Creative Process: Reflections on the Invention of Art. by Brewster Ghiselin (Editor) (Univ of California Press, 1952): This is a classic in the category of case studies in creativity (written some 40 years ago). Good case studies if you are more interested in artist creativity rather than scientific creativity.

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The Family Section

You can take directed creativity home with you. The books below cover creativity on a level for children and young adults.

Teach Your Child How to Think. by Edward de Bono (Penguin Books, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: Here is the acclaimed program for helping children develop essential thinking habits they'll use throughout life. With examples, exercises, games, and drawings, de Bono demonstrates the difference between intelligence and thinking and provides a step-by-step method for helping children develop clear, constructive thinking.
Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity, 2nd Edition. by Teresa M. Amabile (Creative Education Foundation, 1992): This is a great book, full of good, easy to digest advice for creative children by one of the top researchers in the field.

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Audio Cassettes on Creativity

If you are an audio tape junkie, we have creativity "literature" for you as well. The tapes below are from some of the most widely known names in the field of creativity.

Edward De Bono's Smart Thinking. by Edward De Bono (Audio Renaissance, 1994): Publisher's Synopsis: The renowned creator of the concept of Lateral Thinking offers a revolutionary method for solving problems. Includes an interactive 32-page guidebook. About 60 minutes.
Masterthinker-Audio Cassette. by Edward de Bono (Simon & Schuster (Audio), 1989): Publisher's Synopsis: Fortune 500 companies have paid huge sums of dollars to bring this course to their executives. Mail order customers have paid over $100 each to learn it on tape. Now this remarkable course is available to individuals.
60 Minutes To... Super-Creativity. by Tony Buzan (Audio Renaissance, 1988): Publisher's Synopsis: A step-by-step program of exercises to coordinate the power of the right and left hemispheres of one's brain for more creativity and imagination. Includes a 32-page Guidebook to Super-Creativity.; Our Note: From the developer of mind maps.

Stimulating Creativity. by Teresa M. Amabile (Psychology Today Tapes, 1980): This influential creativity researcher shares her insights on the social psychology of creativity.
What Is Creativity. by Howard Gardner (Audio Scholar-Penton Overseas, 1996)

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|| Home Page || What's Directed Creativity? || Who's Paul Plsek? || Services ||
|| Links to Other Sites || The Creativity Bookstore ||
|| Creativity, Innovation, and Quality by Paul Plsek ||

DirectedCreativity Theory, Methods, and Tools...
|| DirectedCreativity Cycle ||
|| DirectedCreativity Heuristics ||
|| DirectedCreativity Toolkit ||