Creativity: Summary and Review

Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Review

This book provided lots of technical studies I cited in my undergraduate thesis on creativity. You can read it for a high-level summary of the ideas in this field.

See How To Get More Creative: Strategies Successful Entrepreneurs Use To Find Breakthroughs

I found quite interesting Csikszentmihalyi’s note that most of his successful participants were too busy to be interviewed:

He is creative and, because of this, totally overworked. Therefore, the very reason you wish to study his creative process is also the reason why he (unfortunately) does not have the time to help you in this study. He would also like to add that he cannot answer your letter personally because he is trying desperately to finish a Violin Concerto which will be premiered in the Fall. He hopes very much you will understand.

Or:

…I hope you will not think me presumptuous or rude if I say that one of the secrets of productivity (in which I believe whereas I do not believe in creativity) is to have a VERY BIG waste paper basket to take care of ALL invitations such as yours—productivity in my experience consists of NOT doing anything that helps the work of other people but to spend all one’s time on the work the Good Lord has fitted one to do, and to do well.