ok; superficial, lots of generalizations, glib, arrogant style; two good stories about 3M and Pixar. Reads like a bunch of New Yorker columns strung together - a very formulaic approach. Generally, a light, slightly boring read.

In addition to the stories, he summarizes scientific research. Lehrer has been criticized by the scientific community for making elementary errors in how he represented the science.

[Update: according to wikipedia - "Starting in 2012, Lehrer was discovered to have routinely recycled his earlier work, plagiarised widely from colleagues, and fabricated and/or misused quotations and facts."] ( )

Interesting and fun read about the science of creativity. From the "Unconcealing" to "Urban Friction", it's a fascinating look at how creativity works. The author makes it a quick and easy read too with lots of examples. ( )

After an uncharacteristic reading hiatus, a back-to-back jag descended on me. I picked up Lehrer's book about five minutes after putting down Charles Duhigg's Power of Habit. This accounts for the three rather than four star rating. I could not help but compare the texts. I felt slightly jarred by the change in font and layout. Strange, but true. Also strange, Duhigg begins and ends his text referencing William James and Lehrer invokes his name in his introduction. Lehrer's work involves research and a variety of studies that support his thesis. He likes footnotes, not my favorite style. Once I recovered from missing Duhigg's style, I found Lehrer's smooth enough, but his tone seemed less hopeful. At first. I got over it and followed his reasoning. Creativity thinking comes from different parts of the brain and is released in different settings. I may need to move to a large city and pursue improve once again. ( )

Alas, due to the author's intellectual dishonesty, I can't tell whether the book's brilliant, well-researched parts are false. Certainly, there is enough of the book that is clearly not well-researched and sensational to frustrate me. ( )

creativity ( )