Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Shambhala Pocket Classics)

Amazon.com

Wherein we discover that many of the "rules" for good writing and good sex are the same: Keep your hand moving, lose control, and don't think. Goldberg brings a touch of both Zen and well... *eroticism* to her writing practice, the latter in exercises and anecdotes designed to ease you into your body, your whole spirit, while you create, the former in being where you are, working with what you have, and writing from the moment.

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Natalie Goldberg's love of writing stems from her desire to connect with herself. In this audio version of her bestselling Writing Down the Bones, this is a potentially self-absorbed wish, especially considering that the author reads from her own work and interjects morsels of wisdom gleaned from a long writing career, which includes books on writing (Wild Mind, Long Quiet Highway), creativity (The Well of Creativity), and art (Living Color). However, Goldberg's relaxed narration and Everywoman sensibility help her avoid this danger. The classroom-like reading gives listeners a growing acquaintance with Goldberg and a friendly assurance of her methods as she quips: "you can hear my New York Jewish voice nagging you." The recording also includes an interview with Goldberg, focusing on her use of Zen meditation in writing and offering additional insight into her own rule-free writing habits. (Running time: 9 hours, 6 cassettes) --Bryony Angell

Book Description

For more than twenty years Natalie Goldberg has been challenging and cheering on writers with her books and workshops. In her groundbreaking first book, she brings together Zen meditation and writing in a new way. Writing practice, as she calls it, is no different from other forms of Zen practiceâ"it is backed by two thousand years of studying the mind." This edition includes a new preface and an interview with the author.

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Writing Guide!.......2007-06-01

My dad gave me this book many years ago. He always had such faith in my writing ability, and he would mail me articles, books, reviews and such all the time.

Thanks to him, I have many writing books -- inspirational, how-to, and so on. This is the only one that is dog-eared and has food and coffee stains on many pages.

I noted that one reviewer thought it was really only a book for those who write poetry. I couldn't disagree more -- I have never written poetry, don't plan on it, and actually don't particularly like it. I mostly write non-fiction articles, and I LOVE the author's philosophy!

I do my research and interviews, read-read-read about whatever subject it is I want to write about, and then when it's time to sit down and write -- I just let it flow. I don't stop to think about it -- I just GO with it. My writing has improved so much this way! I used to try to outline and plan -- and my writing was disastrous. I did not listen to my instincts, which told me that my very best writing was always, without exception, the kind that happened with no planning at all.

If you aren't afraid to write without a "plan", get this book. Even if you DO think you need a plan, get this book. Try a different way of writing, and you just might be surprised at the REAL writer within you, dying to get out and express herself (or himself)!

My problem is not with Natalie Goldberg's book..........2007-05-13

This edition is TINY. I would love to be reviewing Natalie Goldberg's book right now, but apparently Amazon saw fit not to include the warning "This book is only 3 by 4 1/2 inches in size (text inside occupies a 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch area on the page)."
The is not the sort of book I already have mostly memorized; but if I had, perhaps it would help to have this tiny reference around to jog my memory now and again. Indeed, I do not foresee ever reading it because it is too tiny to hold, or to see. Moreover, since it is a guide to writing, I would ideally like to be jotting notes in the margins. But the margins are about an eighth of an inch wide. So you see my problem.
Amazon, please carry normal sizes. There's a reason for it.

The book that made me a writer.......2007-03-19

This is probably one of the best books ever on the subject of writing. While Goldberg hardly covers anything technical with regards to writing specific genres (be it poetry, novels, magazine articles), she triumphs by enabling the reader to overcome their writer's block, and dare to write about the things that matter to them. Simply follow her technique, apply yourself to it for years, and you will be able to write fluidly and confidently about anything that you know. No more staring at blank pages, no more tearing out your hair to get the right wording. Subsequent to reading this book, I became a poet (see[...]), a songwriter, and a novelist (with one finished book and one draft). I also, over the last ten years, have filled a 7-foot stack of notebooks with my practice writing, and forged a number of friendships over journal writing sessions. Yes, read this book, but as you read, make sure you start writing, so that the inspiration will not just be a passing phase.

THANK YOU NATALIE.......2007-03-18

Dear Natalie (and how many reviews begin with that), thank you so much for writing this book. If it weren't for your guidance, this resistant writer would still be staring out the window of her Maine summer house wishing she could be published (or that she had anything to say for that matter). A great classic book that I recommend to all my sisters on the journey....Sincerely, Pamela D. Blair, Author, The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Midlife and Beyond

Opens your world........2007-03-17

I have used all her advice and boy does it help. This lady knows where she is coming from and thats from the heart of writing. You will hope to meet her in a cafe where you could talk endlessly with her, but this book does just that. Its your meeting with this one of a kind genius who takes you on a journey of storytelling, how its done and all its secrets.

Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage and Book Artists (Quarry Book)

Average customer rating:

Fun and Inspirational
Best guide for collage
Definitely has some inspiration but...
Portable Inspiration
So many ideas!

Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage and Book Artists (Quarry Book)
Lynne Perrella
Manufacturer: Quarry Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592531768

Book Description

Mixed media techniques have come to forefront again, with artists in every field combining materials and effects to create journals, altered art, collage pieces, memory art and more. With all the creative experiementation developing at such a fast pace, it is pertinent to know how various techniques and combinations work and whether they are right for your latest project. Alphabetica illuminates new techniques through detailed visuals and rich, explanatory text. From cover to cover, readers absorb the specialties of each contributing artist, such as Judi Riesch's use of vintage photographs, and Lesley Riley's sophisticated fabric transfers, and are able to get an "over the shoulder" glance at how these artists work.

Customer Reviews:

Fun and Inspirational.......2007-08-09

This book is loaded with fun and funky ideas for any artist. Some reviewers mentioned that they believe the ideas contained here to be geared more toward altered book artists, but I disagree. Any artist can adapt the principles found in this book to inspire their own work. This book is a go-to resource for me on a regular basis. Love it!

Best guide for collage.......2007-07-30

This book is well laid-out and easy to follow. The illustrations are exciting and explanatory. This allows me to use a little or a lot of collage in my artwork.

Definitely has some inspiration but..........2007-05-18

I collect a lot of books as an artist because I like to have multiple avenues of inspiration around me when I'm creating. This book definitely has many ideas but my one problem with it is that it's not that well organized. It covers each letter in the alphabet, like the title suggests, but jumps around, is not sequential, and the connections to each letter are not predictable so you really have to look through the whole book to find each idea. Letters for key words are repeated throughout the book...though the ideas are all original. For example: B is for buckle; B is for blocks; B is for brainstorming...etc.

For a quick reference however, it's great. Nice imagery and exemplars, with some inspirational ideas. If you are a book artist looking for more ways to alter and express your ideas, this is a great resource. If you are an artist looking to enhance your journals...this is a great book. If you are a teacher, this is also a great resource.

The back end of the book has 27 pages of workshops with detailed ideas. Here are some examples: Faux & Ancient Surfaces; Transparencies; Attachments; Building a Surface with Patterning; Metal Tape and Altered Images; Creating with Recycled Papers; Working Intuitively.

Each workshop page has an inspirational related quote, what to try, how to get started, tips, creating, a list of influences/exemplary artists, and studio essentials- a list of materials needed to complete this workshop.

Portable Inspiration.......2007-03-24

I love the ability to take this book with me wherever I want to go to fuel my inspirational fires whenever needed. This slim book is about the size of a magazine, so it'll go into a backpack or any other kind of "carrying bag" with ease. Even though there are few pages compared to some art books, this book is FULL. Not one centimeter of this book was left untouched by the talents of the artists collaborating on this project. I'm hungry for more and will certainly be making future purchase from any one of the artists listed in this book.

So many ideas!.......2007-03-08

A very interesting book. I have only tried one idea from it so far, but I was impressed with the results.

Bipolar II: Enhance Your Highs, Boost Your Creativity, and Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression--The Essential Guide to Recognize and Treat the Mood Swings of This Increasingly Common Disorder

Average customer rating:

Bipolar II
IRRESPONSIBLE!
BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!
Even hot air can be useful
RIDICULOUS

Bipolar II: Enhance Your Highs, Boost Your Creativity, and Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression--The Essential Guide to Recognize and Treat the Mood Swings of This Increasingly Common Disorder
Ronald R. Fieve
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1594862249
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Thirty years ago, Dr. Ronald Fieve pioneered the use of lithium for what was then known as manic depression. His book Moodswing was a runaway hit, published in seven countries. Since then, Dr. Fieve has focused on patients with mild bipolaritywhat is now known as Bipolar II. He has discovered that Bipolar II patients arealmost across the boarddriven, successful, high-achieving individuals who, with the right treatment, can actually turn their illness into an asset. In this first book to concentrate exclusively on milder bipolarity, Dr. Fieve explains how newer drugs with fewer side effects are revolutionizing the treatment of Bipolar II. Some people with mild bipolarity may not require drugs at alljust a specific lifestyle program, which Dr. Fieve spells out in this book. In the past, many patients with the illness have resisted treatment because they did not want to give up the euphoria of the highs. But left untreated, the conditions lows can be devastatingsometimes resulting in suicide. Here, Dr. Fieve reveals his remarkably successful treatment program (with results supported by thousands of patient histories) that allows patients to keep the highs while minimizing the lows. And he explains how his program can help turn the illness into a positive and patients into what he calls bipolar beneficials.

Customer Reviews:

Bipolar II.......2007-07-18

For family, friends, and those that suffer from one of the various forms of mood disorder, sometimes finding informational resources is almost as challenging as dealing with the condition itself. Most books as well as our health care workers tend to talk above us. We tend to leave the experience feeling overwhelmed and without much of an idea of what was actually said. Understanding what we can do to help or trying to integrate this information into our lives is often an exercise in futility.

Bipolar II neither talks down to its readers nor dumbs down the information it presents. After reading this book, the reader will have a good understanding of the various types of mood disorders and how to differentiate between them. This is incredibly important information to have when going to see your doctor as often people don't mention (or remember) maniac periods and are erroneously given a diagnosis of depression. The problem is that medications for treating depression are completely different and often cause further complications for those individuals actually suffering from bipolar conditions.

Definitely pick this book up if you or anyone you know and love has any form of mood disorder. It will arm you with knowledge and allow you some aspect of control in a situation that might seem very overwhelming and chaotic.

IRRESPONSIBLE!.......2007-07-01

I think that it is irresponsible for Dr Fieve to extoll the blessings of hypomania.
This book addresses a small percentage of Bipolar II patients. It leaves the rest of us feeling cheated for not getting the wonderfully creative Bipolar IIB.

BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!.......2007-03-09

After reading the the negative reviews on Amazon, I bought this book anyway. There are few books that I've found on Bipolar II. I thought it was great. Yes, it goes into a lot of textbook-type information on this disease, but I appreciated that. If you are Bipolar II, you can read this book, feel informed, and accept your diagnosis much easier than before you read it.

Even hot air can be useful.......2007-02-20

Bipolar II is a very good diagnostic tool for those who wonder if they are bipolar or merely depressed. The book is well written. The case examples are useful. Dr. Fieve will remind you of his accomplishment to the point of tediousness but he is a pioneer and scholar in this field.

RIDICULOUS.......2007-02-08

I felt as if I was reading science fiction. The doctor seems incapable of understanding or addressing in any real or practical way the confusion and anguish that this disorder can unleash on a family. He states often that an accurate diagnosis is crucial (I'll say), but also seems to be under the impression that any psychiatrist is capable of making that crucial diagnosis (they're not). On the whole, I would say that while there are some useful tidbits about medications and biochemistry scattered throughout, this book should not be taken too seriously by either a bipolar ll patient or the parents of one.

Creating: A practical guide to the creative process and how to use it to create anything - a work of art, a relationship, a career or a better life.

Average customer rating:

Distinguishing Creating from Creativity
Pragmatic, demystification, just slightly marred
I'm more lost than when I started
Great ideas, though not a totally reader-friendly book!
Getting the results you want

Creating: A practical guide to the creative process and how to use it to create anything - a work of art, a relationship, a career or a better life.
Robert Fritz
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0449908011
Release Date: 1993-03-31

Book Description

Whether you wish to create a work of art, a novel, a thriving business, nourishing relationships, or a deeply satisfying life, Robert Fritz, composer, artist, writer, and entrepreneur, reveals the guiding principles that can empower you to reach your goals.

Customer Reviews:

Distinguishing Creating from Creativity.......2007-08-03

While some reviewers may have hoped for help on overcoming creative blocks, it seems they miss the point.

Robert Fritz makes a big distinction between creating and creativity. To create, you have to care about bringing something into reality that doesn't exist. As Fritz says, "Creating is in the realm of the noninevitable."

Creativity, in contrast, refers to the unusual and inventive, and Fritz argues that:

"Creating sometimes includes creativity, but most often it does not. As you master the creative process, the unusual becomes usual, and so it will seem less creative. You may be creating, then, and not have creativity. Likewise, you can have creativity but not be creating."

I had this discussion with a software engineer working on a major user interface introduction. Fritz would have him first determine what he loves enough to create, what are its qualities, and what is the "result" he wants to create. It's not about being infinitely creative, his engineers are already doing too much of that. It's about creating around a single design point versus maintaining too many open possibilities.

Another part of the book I really liked was "First Person/Third Person." Fritz makes the distinction between people who see their creations as part of their identity (meaning they are apt to "advocate a specific position") and those who remain separate from, while still passionate about, their creations (people "more apt to seek accuracy") as they encounter reality.

In "The Worldview," Fritz carries this theme further, quoting Robert Frost in saying: "The artist must not select a universal and then find particulars to fit it."

In the end, Fritz argues for pure emotion ("you want what you want") along with a rigorous process ("the creative process is made up of many steps in a particular sequence"). He believes that if you're frustrated in creating something, it's nothing more than not knowing what you want and/or inexperience in the creation process!

Pragmatic, demystification, just slightly marred.......2004-02-13

This book sets out to demystify creating, to pragmatically assist the reader in learning ideas and processes that can be applied to creating works of art, craft, business, et cetera. It's well worth reading for that pragmatic purpose. The first chapter sample, available on "look inside" on this web site, gives a good sample of Fritz' approach, uncluttered by the flaws noted in later sections of the book. He emphasized some steps and aspects of process that I wasn't so starkly aware of. I've created effective cartoons, articles, essays, songs, clothing designs, gardens, et cetera, but this book could help in becoming much more productive.

Some sections of the book launch into an attack on cultural assumptions. Bravo. Most of it was valid in supporting his approach to creating. However, I was uncomfortable with some of his extreme statements about certain disciplines and cultural traditions. He seemed to dismiss all of psychotherapy, and take some cheap shots, for instance, rather than limiting his comments to self-indulgent and deluded approaches. He overgeneralized and thus misrepresented other cultural traditions, ideas, and disciplines. For example:

"While meditation and psychotherapy may have replaced tranquilizing and recreational drugs, all of them presume you are entitled to feel good, even if you need to dull your senses and color reality to find happiness, self-love and fulfillment." p122 Fawcett edition, 1991

On the contrary, I would argue, going through a course of therapy based on Alice Miller's (sample title: Thou Shalt Not be Aware) views might allow and traumatized individual to function in life without enduring constant shaming, flashbacks, and emotional paralysis. It can be important to examine emotions, and feel good at times. Also the meditation I have personal experience of, mindfulness and insight meditation, as described by Chogyam Trungpa (sample title: Meditation in Action) and others are not about brainwashing oneself or dulling the senses. In fact, mindfulness meditation is likely to lead to some of the same insights and awareness Fritz describes in his discussion of the mind, separation, and so on. Fritz would do better if he didn't dismiss everyone else's work. Yes, it's true that people can get too focused on transient emotions and fixing the self. However, meditation and psychotherapy do still have something to offer, keeping in mind the 80/20 rule -- most of everything is crap, so buyer beware.

Ironically, right after Fritz' section on the lack of necessity to choose a right worldview, he launches into what is obviously his worldview. Oh, he has a disclaimer, and he's not dogmatic at that particular moment, but still, throughout the book, he does argue for his views of how things work, what will be if you follow his process. My suggestion: just ignore his adamant, paternalistic ranting, see through it, and go for his basic ideas, which are useful even though he has an obnoxious personality and a bit of a ham-fisted way of throwing around generalizations.

If you want to create something, this book can challenge you in a useful way.

I'm more lost than when I started.......2001-06-09

I have to admit, I was pretty excited to read this. However, after finishing it, I am fairly neutral to the application of Fritz' theories. I was expecting a book on methods of relieving creative block and getting into the creative mindset. While the book does accomplish this to some extent, most of it takes you through many of Fritz' anti-philosophical/self-help theories. This is fine for a book about that sort of thing, and I agree with what he says (for the most part) but I fail to make the connections he is trying so hard to show the reader. Maybe I just need time to absorb, and test his theories in real life. Oh, and if he plugged his "Technologies for Creating" workshops (registered trademark) one more time, I was going to throw the book out of my car window. Anyway, I will re-review this book after I have some time to put into practice some of his theories. Who knows, maybe there is a connection between painting a picture and the Holocaust. (see section on identity)

Great ideas, though not a totally reader-friendly book!.......2001-03-01

I had to give it five stars because it did such a job stimulating me with its new ideas about creating. At times it's slow to pore over. You're excited at the stuff you're learning, but the prose feels a bit tedious, so it's like being chin-deep in water and wanting to race ashore for something great. But this book's concepts, about the structure of creating, are so mind-blowing to us "creatives" that it's a must to sit and take it a swallow at a time. Fritz's challenging ideas allowed me to expand my thinking about myself, to see myself not as a writer but as a creating person (one of whose creating modes is writing). My promotion of my written materials is an act of creating. So is the plan I'm putting together for my life. Wow!

Getting the results you want.......2000-03-28

I bought this book because creating always felt like a white-hot, hit or miss, lightning flash, that also felt dangerous and fearful, like having to step off a cliff into thin air. Author of The Path of Least Resistance, Robert Fritz, in Creating, says thin air is good. And -- gulp -- he's right. For Fritz, creating is an ordinary and understandable skill we can learn -- and we can, he says, learn to do it better and more often. He's right about that, too. He says creating is getting the results we want in any area of our lives -- work projects, art work, career, relationships, community. It is a process with form and shape. It's not problem-solving, or reaching for the unusual, or about inventiveness or "creative ability." Anyone can do it. And he outlines nine stages of the process, from conception to living with what you create. Creating ranges far, around and through the subject, offering practical approaches and even a warm-up guide, and he deals with hindrances like the discrepancies between "Ideal-Belief-Reality" that get in the way. If this book helps you surface what he calls "invisible beliefs" that get in the way of what you want in life, it's worth three times the price. Fritz argues creating is not discovery. Some people take his seminar to discover what really matters to them, but as he says, that idea "presumes that what matters somehow already exists (p. 118)." Creating brings into existence something that did not exist before, makes something from nothing. This book is broader and deeper than the typical how-to-create book -- it doesn't talk about brainstorming or problem-solving or creativity. It describes how to become aware of the process and some of its pitfalls, and how to do it in a way that helps you get the results you want. I have no problem with a point of view that our ideas can help or hinder us in getting what we want. For those who do, this book may open their eyes.

The Five Faces of Genius: Creative Thinking Styles to Succeed at Work

Average customer rating:

Useful With An Asterisk...
Interesting perspectives on creative thinking styles

The Five Faces of Genius: Creative Thinking Styles to Succeed at Work
Annette Moser-Wellman
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142000353

Book Description

What do Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ray Kroc, the man who created the McDonald's franchise enterprise, have in common? They have all mastered the skills of creative genius-essential tools in today's business climate.

Having researched the lives and techniques of past and present geniuses for this inspiring and provocative new handbook, Annette Moser-Wellman helps workers at all levels build and refine their working styles. These qualities of creativity-drawn from the the realms of art, science, as well as business-make up the five distinct "faces":

* Seer-the power to image
* Observer-the power to notice details
* Alchemist-the power to make connections
* Fool-the power to celebrate weakness
* Sage-the power to simplify

Moser-Wellman shows how we can utilize these creative thinking strategies and flourish in the workplace.

"It teaches people about the nature of creativity and how to cultivate it." (Fast Company)

"Moser-Wellman has given us five different perspectives from which to creatively tackle business challenges." (Carla J. Paonessa, Managing Partner, Accenture)

Customer Reviews:

Useful With An Asterisk..........2005-11-10

But so are most books of this type. The book's best feature is a nice combination of detail with theory. There are lots of exercises and a generally cheery "you can do it!" tone. That's good, but the book's recurring emphasis on developing multi-modal approaches to problem-solving is better (i.e., creativity means trying approaches you're not as familiar with). Concluding sections on interacting with people of dominant types that differ from you, and how to sell your ideas to them, is probably worth the cover price alone.
The author loves examples. These examples are not always correct (salons peaked in the 1700s, not the "seventeenth century" to cite one of more than a dozen examples), nor do they fit as neatly into their creative categories as the author supposes. In part, though, the reader comes to see this as the unique characteristics of a certain creative style--seeing this and making allowance for it is good practice for the rest of the book. After all, true creativity is aware of variant creative modes, especially in colleagues or even competitors.
The morning after skimming the entire book I began to experiment with some of its suggestions. Within two hours I had come up with a metaphor that will solve one of the most intractable process problems for my company--an idea that literally took my breath away, on something I'd been struggling with for months. I put a lot of work in; this book didn't give me any answers. But in a sense it reminded me of the answer, or gave me ideas about how and where to look for the answer. I was a college football player already, to use a metaphor, and this was a long look at a pro playbook. It won't work unless you're playing college ball; if you're a top pro player, you should look at something more advanced. But if you want to develop a basis of creative talent, this'll help.

Interesting perspectives on creative thinking styles.......2003-12-27

This book starts off a quick précis of the 5 faces : Seer, Observer, Alchemist, Fool, Sage. Then it gives a self-assessment of which Styles you are currently using. I scored highest on Fool & Observer, and lowest on Sage.

As I read through the book, I was disillusioned as to its worth. But when I got to Fool, I thought "that's me exactly" (there's no shame in being a 'Fool' in this schema).

So I looked back at the earlier chapters, and thought maybe the questions & examples were not as appropriate as they might have been?

Anyway, I began to appreciate the book more. Certainly the latter sections on how to apply the 5 different styles at work, and the strengths & weaknesses of teams who find themselves with & without all these players, were of more use than the theorising.

Amazon.com

Adapting their techniques for fostering creativity as a means to spiritual fulfillment for the workplace, the authors of The Artist's Way at Work have shown that people can thrive at their jobs when they take time to nurture their spirit and listen to their thoughts. The book features psychological guidance, anecdotes, and exercises to assist the reader in sorting out the multitude of happenings, commitments, and choices in one's life. Again, these authors of the enormously successful The Artist's Way recommend their fundamental technique of "morning pages"--a kind of free-form journaling--to unravel thoughts and feelings, focus energy, and direct action. The beautiful surprise of this deceivingly simple exercise is that it actually works! It's making the time to do morning pages that's the real battle. But, if you, like so many others, feel swept up by the tidal wave of our fast-paced, noisy culture, then the authors' slow and steady steps toward reclaiming the spiritual self are invaluable. Some of the suggestions and exercises are a bit out of touch with the complex, and often emotionally-charged, political maneuverings of corporate culture, but the aim of cultivating an individual's ingenuity and resourcefulness is effective and expertly structured. Overall, the authors' philosophy boils down to change that begins with a constantly emerging self. With this book's help, you'll not only find how that new self spawns clarity and grace, but how widely their effects can reverberate throughout the workplace. --Karen Karleski

Book Description

After the publication of the bestselling book The Artists' Way, Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan, co-creators of the country's most successful course on creativity, were often told that their techniques helped people achieve their business goals. This spurred them to refine the methods to help people perform more creatively and effectively at work. The program is revealed in The Artists' Way at Work: a twelve-week encounter with your own ingenuity, struggles, strengths and dreams -- as well as the political guidance to enable you to get things done.

Through powerful self-assessment exercises with intriguing titles such as "Power Inside vs. Power Outside," "Developing Creative Continuity," and "Finding Your Truth," readers learn to release their creative spirit at work and tap reserves of energy, vision, and passion. The Artists' Way at Work will help you excel in your job, launch the business of your dreams, or find the career you love. Best of all, you will learn to "live in the paradox" -- to develop a personal philosophy of excellence that sustains you, whatever the future holds.

The processes in this book are rooted in cutting-edge principles of human development, organizational behavior, and the arts. They have been rigorously tested among business audiences and will unleash a degree of satisfaction at work (and in life) you may never have believed possible. For every one of us who works, The Artists' Way at Work reveals a completely new way to thrive.

Customer Reviews:

Works well for groups.......2007-07-24

These books were ordered to be used in a weekly group discussion. The response was well received.

Fair Warning, Preview the Book.......2006-03-30

Reading the book for a masters level creativity class so I started out a skeptic. While much of the reading in the class has turned out to be very interesting, this book just hasn't struck any chords for me.

Some of the poeple in the class seem to appreciate it so it gets an extra star... but I'd suggest reading some of it before picking it up. If it works for ya, go for it. Otherwise, be cautious.

working artist.......2005-07-25

This is the second Julia Cameron book I have read. It is very much like Artist's Way except it is for the artist in the work place. All of Cameron's books talk about the artist within but it is for those who are looking for self. Self is what you are going to find. It is getting rid of what is unimportant and focusing in on the important making a complete and happier person. I am not quite done with this book but have devoured it and shared it as I did with her first book.

Artists can be thriving (not starving) artists.......2005-03-21

After completing the self-study program with Julia Cameron's Artist's Way ... this work-oriented book helps artistic and creative souls find a way to breath life and express their creative fire on the job. Cameron's analogy of the dragon is a dep metaphor to the fears that stop us from being our true selves. Instead of bottling up all the intense energy ... Riding The Dragon ... draws out our intensity with constructive excercies, wisdom, and a proper channel to achieve positive results. Cameron is one of the best informal writing guides for all of us with a voice were excavating.

Motivational Psychobabble Crud.......2004-06-10

You've got to be kidding is right. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God

Average customer rating:

A Blessing

It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God

Manufacturer: Square Halo Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0978509714

Book Description

This book is a collection of over twenty essays on issues relating to making art from a Christian perspective. The volume is filled with color artwork from Michelangelo to Makoto Fujimura and from Rembrandt to Tim Hawkinson.

Customer Reviews:

A Blessing.......2001-03-05

"It Was Good-Making Art to the Glory of God" brings forth many struggling topics and themes that Christian artists are challenged with. These essays are writing by some of the most important Christian artists today (i.e. Makoto Fujimura, Theodore Prescott, and Edward Knippers.) The book discusses issues looking at our fallen world with a realistic point of view. It teaches to face evil head on and to point towards the grace, the hope, and the glory, namely Jesus Christ. As God's children it explains our need for art in the church and in our communities. It also depicts the problems of Christian art, with topics such as GOOD, ("The efforts of most artists who attempt to present a picture of `good' tend toward dishonest, sugary sweet propaganda. They ignore the implications of the fall and paint the world as a shiny, happy place." -Ned Bustard, "Good"), EVIL, and IDENTITY. It is hard being both Christian and artist. It seems no one understands you in the art world and no one understands you in the Christian world. This book praises our gifts of creativity and imaginations, in which we learn to integrate both our faith and art, and return these gifts to praise Our Father. "It Was Good..." should be essential to your book collection. I once had a discussion with a friend of how we can meditate on a single passage for hours. These essays have been so inspirational that I have spent some nights restless, because I could not wait until the next day to work on my own art. It is such a blessing to know, in this generation (so full of narcissistic and meaningless art,) that this book is out there to help other Christian artists. I personally feel doubly blessed because I am still an undergraduate in art school. I feel a great comfort to apply and develop these ideas into my own critiques. But this book goes way beyond the ordinary art school critique and grows toward my relationship with God and towards his people.

75 Cage Rattling Questions to Change the Way You Work: Shake-Em-Up Questions to Open Meetings, Ignite Discussion, and Spark Creativity

Average customer rating:

Well worth the price
Makes you fully aware of the pitfalls of patterning in our minds & to encourage you to constantly challenge your assumptions!
Questions and More!
You can come up with these
Actually useful

75 Cage Rattling Questions to Change the Way You Work: Shake-Em-Up Questions to Open Meetings, Ignite Discussion, and Spark Creativity
Dick Whitney , and Melissa Giovagnoli
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070700192

Book Description

Asking the old questions, according to authors Dick Whitney and Melissa Giovagnoli, means getting the same old answers. And that can be deadly for any group or company that wants to move ahead. Instead, they offer 75 outrageous, thought-provoking questions that clean out the corporate cobwebs and get workers’ minds working in new and productive directions. Drawing from their own experiences as top international business consultants, Whitney and Giovagnoli provide field-tested "cage-rattlers" that can help improve leadership, resolve on-the-job conflicts, stimulate innovation, facilitate better communication, and much more. Additionally, the guide benefits individuals as much as it does teams, small groups, small businesses, and larger corporations.

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price.......2006-11-03

I'm the author of "Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques" and pretty much read everything that is published in the creativity field. I find this book useful, entertaining and enlightening. Buy it. It's well worth the price.

Makes you fully aware of the pitfalls of patterning in our minds & to encourage you to constantly challenge your assumptions!.......2006-10-21

75 Cage Rattling Questions to Change the Way You Work: Shake-Em-Up Questions to Open Meetings, Ignite Discussion, and Spark Creativity
by Dick Whitney, Melissa Giovagnoli

This book has been around for almost a decade. I have found it to be a very good book as it teaches readers how to break the normal thinking patterns in the mind. To use a popular neuro-linguistic term, how to do a 'pattern interrupt'!

Patterning is one of three principal operating principles of the human mind. (The other two: selective recognition & self-organising.)

The good thing about patterning is that you don't have to relearn the same pattern if you are comfortable with it or it works for you, e.g. riding a bike or driving a car or using a piece of software. The bad thing about it is that you may get stuck with it, especially when the old pattern doesn't work any more. In the same vein, the patterning makes it hard for a new idea to get fair treatment in your mind.

Edward de Bono, the father of lateral thinking puts it very beautifully: "The mind is habitually uncreative - it is usually preoccupied with organising masses of incoming data into convenient patterns. Once the pattern is established, then the mind tends to rely upon that pattern in future situations, in order to facilitate decision making & action in an otherwise complex world."

Dr David Perkins, author of 'Outsmarting IQ: The Emerging Science of Learnable Intelligence', explains further: "...As we go through life, puzzle out problems, & gain experience, we store up patterns that work well for us. In meeting new situations, we automatically try to make a match to what we know & select a pattern from our storehouse that might apply. This matching process gets influenced not only by what patterns we have stored up, but also by our goals, prejudices & passions."

So, how does one break old patterns or get out of complacency? On workable method is to pose to ourselves challenging, thought-provoking questions. Better still, wild & crazy ones!

Why such questions?

Well, for one thing, they set off processional effects that have great impacts beyond your imagination. Questioning your limitations is what tears down the walls in life - in business, in relationships. I believe growth & progress are often preceded by new & challenging questions.

This book offers 75 outrageous, thought-provoking questions that can clean out the cobwebs in your minds & get you working in new & productive directions.

The essence of the book is not so much using the 75 field-tested "cage rattlers" to shatter the complacency. I feel that the primary objective of the two authors is to make you fully aware of the pitfalls & dangers of patterning in our minds & to encourage you to constantly challenge your assumptions!

This book has 75 short chapters, fully corresponding to the self-described 'cage rattling' questions. Each chapter opens with the question, provides you with some ways to use the question, shares a war story & gives you further tips for using the particular question.

Frankly, I would encourage readers to formulate your own list of 'cage rattling' questions to be used in your own different situation. Certainly, you can make use of the book's questions as a springboard.

Sometimes, the questions to be asked don't even have to be 'cage rattling'. All you need to do is to reframe the question. For example, in problem solving, I always like to ask myself, 'what else can I do?' instead of 'what can I do?'; 'what has not yet happened here?' instead of 'what has happend here?'...

Questions and More!.......2006-05-06

This book has 75 short chapters, one for each of the self-described "cage rattling questions." Each chapter opens with the question, provides you 3-5 ways to use the question, shares a "war story" and gives you some tips for using this particular question.

I have long been a proponent of, and encouraged people to build lists of questions they could use in different situations. This book would be a good place to start your list if you are a trainer, consultant, facilitator, or team leader. You will find many of these questions useful to spark conversations, trigger new ideas and build synergy.

Look at it this way... if you got only one great question that you use to great advantage it would be worth the cost of the book. I'm sure you will get at least several more than that

You can come up with these.......2000-12-19

I wouldn't disagree with any of the other reviews, but it's a matter of personal preference where I spend my money. I wouldn't spend it on this book. Once you focus on what you want to accomplish (ie., "shake-em-up"), you could come up with a lot of these challenges. "If your company were a car...If your company were a footbal team.." and so on. In a word, analogy. I've found in workshops I've conducted, whether they're on Creativity, Problem-Solving, Leadership, or other topics, I'll use this "provocative" technique maybe once or twice in a full day. Beyond that the novelty has worn off.

Much of the text that accompanies each question is also a little repetitious - the "war stories" all start to sound alike.

Actually useful.......2000-09-09

I was surprised at how useful this book is. When I first looked at it, I thought the questions looked obvious and simplistic, but they work very well to start off team meeting sessions. The authors provide lots of good ideas about how to use them, and little anecdotes to inspire you to believe that the questions can actually change the way you do business. I've used them for meeting kick-offs and to jump-start moribund discussions.

The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring

Average customer rating:

unmasking illusions to reveal reality
For those on a spiritual journey
you said it
Cicero Was Right
Work Revisioned as Service and Mindfulness

The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring
Parker J. Palmer
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0787949345

Book Description

The Active Life is Parker J. Palmer's deep and graceful exploration of a spirituality for the busy, sometimes frenetic lives many of us lead. Telling evocative stories from a variety of religious traditions, including Taoist, Jewish, and Christian, Palmer shows that the spiritual life does not mean abandoning the world but engaging it more deeply through life-giving action. He celebrates both the problems and potentials of the active life, revealing how much they have to teach us about ourselves, the world, and God.

Customer Reviews:

unmasking illusions to reveal reality.......2007-01-18

In the last few decades a fair amount of attention has turned toward the so-called "inner journey" of Christian discipleship, as opposed to the mere externals of our "outer" journey. One thinks, for example, of the writings of Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Foster. Parker Palmer writes out of this genre, and takes as his starting point the many "monastic metaphors and practices" that inform the inner journey--silence, solitude, contemplation, centeredness, and the like (p. 1). But therein lies a Catch-22. Many of us lead such frenetic and harried lives that trying to appropriate these "inner" ideals becomes practically impossible, an unattainable gold standard, the result being feelings of failure, guilt, and unspirituality. Still, we rightly sense that there is something true and good about whatever it means to lead a "centered" life. Conversely, viewed from the energy of an outwardly active life, is not such silence and solitude really a thinly veiled form of escape, passivity and withdrawal? Or perhaps obsession with action is a diversion and ploy to avoid one's "real" self? Thus, the "tug-of-war" (p. 5) between the active and contemplative life, both of which demand our attention and both of which seem opposed to the other.

To move beyond this stalemate Palmer encourages us to understand contemplation (which he defines as unmasking illusions to reveal reality) and action not as contradictory opposites but as complementary poles of a paradox that we should hold in tension. Further, we all have unique callings from God and should strive to maintain our own integrity, whether that veers toward one pole or the other. After two introductory chapters, Palmer devotes one chapter each to six stories or poems that have helped him to tease out the relationship between inner wholeness and outer activity: (1) "Active Life" by Chuang Tzu, a fourth century BC Chinese Taoist, (2) "The Woodcarver" by Tzu, (3) "The Angel" by the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, (4) the temptation of Jesus in the desert, (5) the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, and (6) a poem by the Guatemalan activist Julia Esquivel entitled "Threatened with Resurrection." Palmer is at his best, I think, when he reminds us how much we are obsessed with outcomes, the almost ceaseless efforts we make to prove and justify ourselves, our fears of failure rather than embracing the power that comes from being "dis-illusioned," the task of becoming our own true selves instead of allowing others to define us, moving beyond criticism and praise, and the like. This is the third book by Palmer I have read, and he repeats much of his material, but I have found that many of his stories, and his willingness to share his own personal story, encourage me to develop a centered self out of which I can be the unique, active disciple God has called me to be.

For those on a spiritual journey.......2006-12-12

I am pleased to read of the struggles shared by the author and insights received into spirituality of those who are active faith workers like myself. Many friends with whom I have shared some of the insights contained in this book are thankful to know their faith is still in reach in the active and confusing culture in which they and we work and try to find our being.
Chaplain Joyce

you said it.......2004-05-21

I believe the words were 'narrow-minded religious zealot,' though I might prefer 'nearly as arrogant as he is ignorant' to describe the previous reviewer. He had nothing interesting or useful to say, and thus decided simply to be mean. I feel no need to defend Parker Palmer; I do, however, feel compelled to rebuke said reviewer, and to hope that his angry demons will be exorcised. If only our poor reviewer spent less time judging, and more time reading (and learning)...

Cicero Was Right.......2003-11-30

Busy Christian professionals doing their best to keep their occasionally frenetic lives under control might wonder if a book featuring praying hands on the cover and entitled The Active Life would prove helpful. Mercifully, writer, teacher and social activist P. J. Palmer, Ph.D. (philosophy), gives those harried saints a quick heads up on how utterly useless his book will ultimately prove on the first page of his 1999 Preface:

"'The Woodcarver,' for example, the protagonist of the Taoist story at the heart of Chapter 4, has become a living figure for me. Often in the midst of much madness, I will have a quiet dialogue with him, seeking and receiving insight, challenge and comfort."

Call me a narrow-minded religious bigot if you want, but I think I speak for the vast majority of those of us who have turned executive control of our lives over to the throne of Jesus Christ, i.e., Christians, when I say that even when life gets hectic, we would still much prefer "seeking and receiving insight, challenge and comfort" from the Holy Ghost, thanks very much.

Christians are not the only ones who will find Parker's 155 pages of mostly inane tripe a complete waste of their time. Anyone who has a problem with a large collection of absurdities masquerading as profundities is a candidate to threaten his retailer with citizen's arrest for failing to refund the purchase price of An Active Life.

Before you accuse me of waxing hyperbolic, try wrapping your cerebral cortex around a few of these jewels of insight:

"We must abandon the commonsense notion that the monsters we meet within ourselves [i.e., our human propensity for evil] are enemies to be destroyed. Instead we must cultivate the hope that they can be companions to be embraced, guides to be followed, albeit with caution and respect. For only our monsters know the way down to that inner place of unity and wholeness; only these creatures of the night know how to travel where there is no light. ...

"It is not the angels in us but the fallen angels who know the way down, down to the hidden wholeness." (31)

One can only speculate how many times the former 1960s commune-dweller Parker had to refill the bong before coming up with those pearls of wisdom. Christians generally believe we would should take the Apostle Paul's advice and crucify those monsters before they have us for lunch (Gal. 5:24).

Here is another equally valuable tidbit from Parker:

"True, more education may lead to more affluence and hence, more consumer choices, but more education may also narrow the range of meaningful choices about the direction of our lives. Once you have spent ten years and a small fortune getting a medical degree, how can you choose to be a logger if you discover that logging is what you really want to do?" (41-42)

Er, um, Dr. Parker ... pardon me sir, but if you would not mind a quick observation from an unlettered philosopher ... it would seem to me and, I suspect, quite a few rational others, that anyone who has "spent ten years and a small fortune getting a medical degree" only to discover that logging is his thing has a much bigger problem than a dearth of "meaningful choices" left for career directions. Namely, he is an idiot.

The Active Life is divided into eight chapters, each one struggling mightily to read more foolishly than its predecessor(s).

Chapter one is a brief introduction informing the reader that what he has in his hands is the direct result of the author's "long journey toward the knowledge that I am not a monk" (1), ala his main guru, Thomas Merton. Parker confesses that after a brief stint in a monastery he decided to trade a cloistered, celibate existence for a more active life.

Chapter four presents more ancient Taoist literature, the tale of "The Woodcarver," alluded to in Parker's 1999 preface. The Woodcarver is Parker's hero, a model for "right action," a fellow who "knows that if his work is to be true he must discern and keep faith with the nature of the tree" (69). (Yes, Parker actually wrote that.)

Chapter six is a commentary on the Gospel writer Luke's account of the temptation of Christ (4:1-15). Here Luke, who is widely considered among the finest of ancient historians, is demoted to "a master storyteller" (101). According to Parker, this story does not demonstrate that the devil's lies can and should be resisted with the truth of God's word, but rather objective truth is illusory and "Right action requires only that we respond faithfully to our own inner truth and to the truth around us" (115). It seems highly likely the September 11, 2001 hijackers were also responding to an "inner truth" and whatever they considered to be "the truth around us."

If one is forced to make a choice, chapter seven is probably the most obnoxious of the irritating eight. Here Parker gives us his exegesis of the story of Jesus' feeding an audience of five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. Despite the fact that this story appears in all four canonical Gospels, books that fairly teem with miracles, Parker believes

"That interpretation, one that focuses on a supernatural Jesus, does not make the story useful to ordinary activists, much as we would like to be miracle workers too. ...

"What may have happened instead is that Jesus and the disciples simply modeled the act of sharing for the crowd by giving thanks for what little they had and then offering it to any who wanted to eat." (129-31)

Parker cites no religious scholars who share this extremely eccentric interpretation, apparently feeling an amen from an expert would be superfluous.

In summary, to read The Active Life is to be continually reminded of Cicero's famous observation: "There is nothing so ridiculous but some philosopher has said it" (De Divinatione, II, 119).

Work Revisioned as Service and Mindfulness.......2001-07-22

This book will help any who are struggling with finding authentic work, or the transformation of current work. The kind of wisdom on action Palmer describes here can help us all to find and to engage in work and creativity which serves simplicity, mindfulness and healing rather than materialism and distraction.

Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity

Average customer rating:

fun team challenges
A wide variety of great ideas.
3 activities with 1001 variations
From the Creativity Editor at BellaOnline.com
Must have! Wish I'd had it years ago!

Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity
Kris Bordessa
Manufacturer: Zephyr Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569762015

Book Description

Team Challenges promotes effective communication skills and teamwork. Designed to offer teachers, facilitators, and parents a wide variety of activities to cultivate children's problem-solving skills while fostering cooperation between group members, the activities in the book utilize common household items and recycled materials, and require no more than 10 minutes, start to finish. Presented with a challenge from this book, kids work cooperatively to solve open ended problems which can incorporate structure building, improvisation skills and physical tasks. The challenges will teach children to experiment with building methods, discover new uses for everyday items, try on new personas, and express themselves as they work together toward a successful solution. Team members are required to think outside the box, communicate clearly, and cooperate with each other in order to complete each task.

Activities include building structures from materials such as index cards, drinking straws, paper clips and sticky dots; moving items from one location to another without directly touching them; or presenting a skit portraying their solution to a hypothetical dilemma. Children will learn not only from each other, but also from observing how other teams navigate each task.

Pass some creative problem solving skills on to the kids (and adults!) in your life with the fun activities you'll find in Team Challenges. Adults who work with children will find this to be a great addition to their repertoire.

Ever found yourself with five extra minutes to spare, but nothing to discuss in that short amount of time? Turn to Chapter Five, and you'll find questions such as these:

*Name things that you carry on your back (a backpack, a baby, a monkey)
*Name things that you take out (garbage, Chinese food, an opponent)
*List things that are printed (newspapers, the alphabet, T-shirts)

Need a simple activity to occupy the kids and encourage them to work cooperatively? Challenge them to one of the Tiny Tasks, found in Chapter Four:

*Build a structure as tall as possible using 5 marshmallows and 10 drinking straws
*Create a bridge that will span 18" using 3 sticky notes and 10 cotton balls
*Create a continuous line as long as possible using 1 envelope and 5 recycled bottle caps

More detailed challenges are found in subsequent chapters.

Customer Reviews:

fun team challenges.......2007-08-14

I am a Destination Imagination team manager who is looking forward to getting my kids working on these team challenges. There are a variety of challenges in this book that are easy to prepare and set up for but they look fun, interesting and challenging. They are sure to make my kids brains work! Book contains good tips too!

A wide variety of great ideas. .......2006-12-16

This book offers all kinds of great activities that will help foster cooperation, communication and creativity within whatever group of people you're using it for. The tasks range from mental activities to physical ones and are easy to understand, fun to execute and can be completed with objects that you usually have around the house. The book is a great tool for your own children, birthday parties, classrooms and it's also a perfect teacher gift!

3 activities with 1001 variations.......2006-11-23

Essentially, this is a book for people with little-to-no experience with group games or team building. All of the activities listed were ones I already knew, and the large number in the title comes from the number of variations for each of 3 activities: building things out of everyday items (see how high you can build a tower with the given items), common physical challenges (get the group from one side of the room to another using various props), and improv/word games. If you have a small imagination and very limited knowlegde of common team building activities, you might like this book, but if you're already in the field and looking for a book of new ideas, keep on looking. This isn't it.

From the Creativity Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2006-05-11

Team Challenges is a resource book packed with ideas and activities for encouraging and developing children?s creativity, lateral thinking, and communication skills.

It's easy to see how these challenges could help to develop a child's confidence as well as exposing children to career and skill development options. Solutions are not necessarily guaranteed and children can be encouraged to continue thinking a problem through when the time is up and to present further ideas later, or even try the task again.

The challenges in this book emphasise creative and imaginative thinking and I'm very impressed with the author's ideas.

Must have! Wish I'd had it years ago!.......2005-12-21

We're a homeschooling family, and have started using this book in our co-op. It's so amazing to watch the idea of "team" unfold as we go along. This book is fantastic, so well organized and well written, and full of so many different ideas, you're bound to find something unique that works for every personality. We've participated in Oddessey of the Mind in the past, and I think this book should be on every group leader's book shelf. If you like helping kids and adults learn to work together, this book will take you to new levels of cooperation, and will likely teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

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