Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius

This is something that is tickling my mind, after reading first few chapters of this book, I closed it, stood up, walked around my living room with my hands folded back. I looked outside the window and saw few kids playing in the park and was forced to think something.We as kids first made to learn lots of new things and are forced to treat those things as basic and important which does not turn out to be true in the long run (refer to Michael's blog about Thomas Edison's Greatest Blessings). Later on we discover how things are different in life than the way we know them.After reading the book Thinkertoys and Creative Thinking, I feel like its not that I have to learn these new concepts straight but there is an entire process involved of first of all unlearning most of the stuffs from past and then learning these new concepts. Also, I feel that we all do feel at times that we might naturally have discovered these methodologies ourselves but sat back as these were not the rules of the books.And when I say that I have to look at the kids I wonder what they are being taught in their schools, only to find one day that they have to unlearn some of the concepts on which they are spending or rather wasting their time.Do read the book, as mentioned earlier it makes you smile after every chapter as you discover immense possibilities of what all can be achieved in your day to day life.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is unusual because I am not an avid reader at heart. The author presents many historical case studies of creativity and demonstrates how they apply to different problem solving situations. My only complaint about the book is that toward the end of the book he repeated his historical examples. This made the book a little repetitious and tedious to read.The best part of this book is that it emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind! Without an open mind which is receptive to unconventional ideas some of the greatest breakthroughs in the world would have not happened.For several weeks after reading this book I found myself practicing the author suggested "keeping an open mind". This can be an effective tool. Now I am back to my predisposed, stodgy old personality.Maybe I should read his new book "Thinker toys" for a fresh injection of creativity.

A good book. I liked the way the author emphasizes "thinking out of the box," and how most brilliant ideas were really common concepts not usually put together. As a writer, I enjoyed his creativity tips on how to think and his discussions of Einstein, Edison, and other greats. The only problem I had with the book is that it was geared more toward the business side of discovering new ideas. I would have preferred more discussion about creating new literary ideas. The author also repeated much of what he said in his previous "Thinkertoys" book, but what he said was on point. Highly recommended.

This book holds true to its title. This no nonsense book gets straight to the point on how to unfold your mind and let loose your creativity. This book WILL start to help you think out of the box, to use an old cliche.Full of great examples and tests along the way that will teach you the process of unleashing your creativity. It contains fascinating historical facts on the great genius of the past, from Newton to Einstein, and how some of their inventions came to be, and their methods used to achieve them. Though chances are we will never come close to the creativity that will compare to the great ones of the past, but it will add and alter your thought process for the better, as it has mine.I would recommend this book to anyone.

I've read many books on creativity and problem solving, and I'm surprised to see this book has received such a high rating. Many methods presented in the book are so similar that the book can be cut in half without any loss of major concepts. The techniques are not organized or structured towards problem solving and creativity. It's not known when and where to use each method. Some of the ideas presented in the book have gone too far and look ridiculous, for example: "Patients buy their own tools, which are stored by dentists"!It's also surprising that many of the techniques have already been instructed in De Bono's books, but no reference is given to DeBono! This is sad and probably unethical. Some examples/methods look to have been just copied from De Bono's books.

An excellent book full of techniques and tips to get you thinking creatively, coming up with ideas, and generally breaking out of your standard thinking patterns.I recommend this book especially for those that feel that their creativity has died off a bit perhaps due to the corporate world of processes and procedures, or simply due to their job not requiring much creativity. Even for those that never feel they've been creative, this book will help.

Great Book the Author Michael Michalko is the Leading Authority on the Subject of Creativity and his Research into the Subject of how the Great minds of History applied Creativity to Solve Challenges and invent and create and build things has no RivalCheck out his other book ThinkerToys

I've been reading this a piece at a time. Seems for me the best way to let its advice sink in.Enjoyable, encouraging, and has already stimulated several ideas.I'd buy it again. If I didn't give 5 stars, it is at times repetitive. This may not be all bad,if the goal is to get some "how to" advice to sink in.

I love this book - just open for two minutes at any page and it’s full of interesting suggestions...

This is an amazing book that's full of creative ways to generate ideas in any field.Every aspiring creative thinker needs to have this book on their shelf.Because this book is brilliant.

I found out plenty of helpful creativity tips and new ways for solving problems (including personal ones). What I need to do now is to remember and apply them whenever I feel stuck.

Michael Michalko gibt mit seinem Buch 'Cracking Creativity' (nach 'Thinkering') einen weiteren ergänzenden Überblick zum Thema des kreativen Denkens. Er beschreibt zahlreiche operative Aspekte des Ideengenerierens, vom (entscheidenden) Definieren des Problems, über das Definieren des Challenge Statements bis hin zu verschiedensten Kreativitätstechniken, mit denen man die Kreativität wecken kann. Diese Techniken sind ausführlich und praxisnah dargestellt. Die beschriebenen Techniken helfen, die Prinzipien des Ideengenerierens zu verstehen und nicht nur die Techniken abspulen zu können. Das Buch ist inhaltsschwer und es bedarf merklicher Energie, es komplett durchzuarbeiten. Es ist aber für das tiefgehende Verständnis von 'Thinkering', wie Michalko es gerne nennt, quasi unerlässlich. Andere Autoren bleiben hier nur an der Oberfläche. Michalko holt den Leser in die Tiefe der Materie.Die Beschreibungen um das Definieren des Problems und der Challenge, wo auch kreativ überlegt werden muss, sind nicht überschneidungsfrei zu den Darstellungen der Kreativitätstechniken. Daher bietet es sich an, das Buch zweimal durchzugehen, jeweils mit einer 'anderen Brille auf der Nase'.Schwerpunkt bildet auch in diesem Buch von Michalko das Generieren von neuen Kombinationen bzw. das Zusammenführen nicht zusammenhängender Ansätze, Ideen, Attribute o.ä., um so wirklich neue Ideen entstehen lassen zu können. Die Intensität und enorme Menge der Darstellungen und Techniken ist fast schon zu groß. Hat man das Buch aber durchgearbeitet, ist einem klar geworden, warum man sein Denken verbiegen muss und auch, wie man das ganz praktisch schaffen kann. Dazu dienen die dargestellten Methoden, die diese Schwerpunkte haben:Nicht zusammengehörende Aspekte zusammenbringen als Impulsgeber (mittels Zufallswörtern, Ergänzungen, Verfremdungen).Aspekte und Statements verdrehen, negieren, ändern.Neue Perspektiven und Rollen einnehmen.Unbekanntes suchen und finden.Kollaboratives Ideenentwickeln.Überblick zu verschiedenen, in der Breite bekannten, Kreativitätstechniken wie z.B. Brainwriting, Idea Pool, Gallery, Three Plus, Wall of Ideas und Two Weeks Brainstorming.Kurz: Geeignet für all diejenigen, die tiefer in die Materie von Kreativität und Ideation einsteigen wollen.

There about nine strategies to hand creativity which is great. Love the way each strategy is explained