Books open up worlds we never even knew existed. Whether they address creativity directly or not, books are a treasure trove of inspiration just waiting to be tapped.
For recommendations, I turned to bloggers and artists who connect to their creativity every day. Below they share the diverse books that have ignited their imaginations—which I bet will spark yours, too!
“I’m a voracious reader and find most books in any genre inspiring in one way or another,” said Nellie Jacobs, a bestselling author, award-winning artist and creativity consultant. Jacobs enjoys reading for information, style and format.
The books below have helped Jacobs think more creatively.
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Most of these choices, as far as I can tell, are non-fiction, self-help titles, that is except for the Harry Potter books, which are cited as a way of seeing how a child thinks. Those books have their moments for sure, but try Room by Emma Donahue, which is told from the point of view of a 5-year-old boy held captive with his mother in one room by a lunatic man. His mother does everything she can to make their situation normal. It’s amazing how she accomplishes that feat, and amazing how credible is the voice of her son.
Thanks for your comment.
Room sounds like an amazing story.
Creativity is a really a higher level of coping isn’t it? Instead of using drugs, becoming self-destructive or abusive creative people find another way.
Tango From Chaos to Creativity is my book about a man who creatively responded to heinous trauma by dissociating and developed multiple personalities.
Why is my book not listed?…. Oh, I know, it’s held together between some contruction paper, tied together with yarn…. Maybe that’s why Barnes & Noble rejected it. That’s okay, I don’t need Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Amazon (yes,I do, but I’ll never admit it.) I’m not a “real” writer anyway, more of a storyteller. We “writers/bloggers say that because it gets us off the hook with grammatical errors which seems to play me, plaque me, or plague me. One of those… If you are interested in my memoir that deals with Bi Polarism, Bad Customer Service, Thyroid Cancer (Do I blame the Anti Depressants I’ve been on for 25 years? hmmm….), A Nun Who Prophesizes, Road Trips…. email me at>desireedugas@cox.net… if your are a publisher call my agents Greg, Peter, & Bobby Brady… if you make documentaries call me via any Third World Country…. Oh, I almost forgot if you are in the neighborhood you can get my memoir at the local library. You know, it’s the library down the road to the left of Boudreaux’s house, but just before you get to Thibodeaux’s who is kin to Floyd Cooyan. I CURSED GOD, But He Listened Anyway is the title and under spritual. Now you see the librarian who card cattle logged my book must not have red it, cuz I’m a practicing Catholic Atheist. I’m Bi Polar so I can have my own religion, hey it works for me. Stay tunned…. Desiree Cart Dugas Ps Geaux Tigers, Geaux Fleur De Lis Saints… Tell me when Football season is over….MUSIC, DANCING, SEWING, CROCHETING, & STORYTELLING IS A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THING!!! (or did Julie Andrews sing that?)
A Pattern Language, if you can find it, is a compendium of building and space designs that please us – us as in humans. Sounds like a weird choice, but it helps me to grasp why we feel safer or more energized or happy in some places than in others. It is not a how to; but a reflection that can inspire design changes that make living better.
I will have to check some of these titles out. It would be awesome to find another book capable of sparking a surge in productivity like the one I experienced after reading Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.
The basics behind The War of Art as I perceived them:
• Conquer your fears
• Give your muse the attention it deserves
• Take your crazy pills
• Quit whining and work
I know of several people who have benefitted from reading it.
For the record: I’m not a PR guy for Pressfield, his publisher, or other publicity vehicle, I just really dig the book.
I also dig this post.
Thanks.
Great recommendations, I’m not sure where to start
And yes, “design for Mankind ‘ is absolutely inspiring.
I highly recommend “The Courage to Write” by Ralph Keyes. It’s not a ‘self-help’ manual so much as a ‘you are not alone’ anxiety-reliever. He references a ton of instantly recognizable writers (everyone from C.S.Lewis to Faulkner to Toni Morrison) and relates their struggles with paralyzing anxiety. It’s my go-to creativity-booster–I’m on my second paperback copy, having referenced the first so much that I broke the spine in half!
If you’re a fairly speedy reader, I’d recommend following up with “Bird by Bird” or Stephen King’s “On Writing” immediately afterwards.