Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation

by R. Keith Sawyer

In the last 50 years, psychologists, anthropologists, and sociologists have increasingly turned to studying creativity, so we now know more about it than ever before. However, until about a decade ago, creativity researchers focused only on highly valued activities, such as creating
masterpieces in art and making highly significant discoveries in science. In Explaining Creativity , R. Keith Sawyer extends the study of creativity by examining not only these endeavors, but also movies, music videos, cartoons, video games, hypertext fiction, stage performance, business innovation,
and advances in computer technology.

Sawyer uses the sociocultural approach to creativity that was pioneered by Howard Becker, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and Howard Gardner, allowing him to move beyond the individual to consider the social process. Taking into account the interdisciplinary nature of creativity, Sawyer integrates
psychological data with anthropological research on creativity in non-Western cultures and sociological studies on the situations, contexts, and networks of creative activity. For more information, see www.explainingcreativity.com.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Science, Education, Business, Design, Art

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was on the list from the Arts in Research Universities group and I'm really glad I bought it. Sawyer draws on the latest research on creativity and provides a great introduction to the subject. Great bibliography and more references too. A must read for anyone interested in the most important 21st century skill - creativity.

[Maria Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

tese :)

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extensive review of the history and contemporary state of research on creativity. Each chapter attacks creativity from a different perspective, including forays into neuroscience, behavioral psychology, computer science, sociocultural, or historical.

I don't have much to say - this is the most comprehensive read you could ask for to understand the conceptual landscape of creativity. If you're curious about what is known about creativity, read it. In its 600 pages there is plenty of insight and many lessons to be learned to optimise your own creativity.

[Anonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first two parts of this book at Mortimer J. Adler's second level of reading (skimming or inspectional reading). I may return to reading bits from the next two parts of the book sometime later.

1️⃣ What is the book about as a whole?

This is a practical book in the psychology of creativity. It presents the research history of creativity covering most of the important discoveries that we know so far. The book defines creativity and explains the creative process in eight detailed stages - Problem finding, Knowledge Acquisition, Idea Generation, Incubation, Insight, Evaluation, Elaboration, Communication/Social Validation. The book breaks some myths concerning the links between biology and creativity, creativity and mental health. Participating in creative activities promotes good mental health.

2️⃣ What is being said in detail, and how?

All the research related to correlations corresponding to the links between creativity and several other factors has been cited rigorously. The book summarizes the cited research and everything is said in detail. However, the author explains how creativity works but does not cover how it can be learned and improved.

3️⃣ Is the book true, in whole or part?

Since the author mostly explains and cites research, I believe, it is true in whole.

4️⃣ What of it?

Reading this book made me understand the creative process and hence it reduced the anxiety of the unknown (how creativity works) in me. I feel more confident in taking up a creative task after reading this book. The book mentions that the flow state is where one gets to experience peak creativity and this is what I already knew. I would like to use this knowledge in working on creative tasks like creating new knowledge in research in pure mathematics. I would also like to proactively participate in more creative conversations and activities in life moving forward using the knowledge I gained from this book.

[Michael L · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this lucid but lengthy textbook, the distinguished psychologist Keith Sawyer summarizes research on creativity. He covers definitions and assessments of creativity, individual studies of personality and brain imaging, sociocultural studies of groups and cultures, and creativity in the visual arts, music, theater, and science. He provides evidence that contradicts common beliefs, e.g., that creative contributions come from outsiders who defy convention, and that people are more creative when working alone. To the contrary, the most creative contributions come from collaborations of experts in a domain as a result of years of painstaking work. Sawyer has recently published a new edition of this book.

[Gabriel Deschamps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explaining Creativity is just what the title suggests and Sawyer explains creativity considering all of it's dimensions by debunking myths, discussing the concept of creativity through the history, presenting the scientific research and knowledge of the subject, but also considering the social dynamics of the creative circles. The book has lots of references to other books and research papers for those who want to delve deeper in the science of creativity.

[Eugenio Fouz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to understand the origins of creativity through individualism, psychology, personality, art and social context makes the reading of the handbook a great experience. Creative people tend to diverge from the marked route all the time

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging!

[Jade Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a long journey

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

One of the most thoughtful, engaging and insightful textbooks I have ever had to read.

[Manal Elbanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

مما لا شك فيه ان الكتاب اكاديمي من الدرجة الاولى لمن يريدون دراسة الابداع كظاهرة فهو يحتوي على كافة النظريات القديمة و الحديثة التي تناولت كافة جوانب هذا الموضوع .. ففي الجزء الاول يتناول ظاهرة الابداع و هل بالامكان تفسيرها و الاساطير التي علقت بأذهاننا عن ماهية المبدعين و صفاتهم و كيف يأتي الابداع و .. الخ .. أما في الجزء الثاني يركز على النظريات و الدراسات التي تناولت الابداع كظاهرة عند الافراد نفسيا و بيولوجيا و اجتماعيا و صفات الشخصية المبدعة ثم الجزء الثالث الذي يؤكد على عامل البيئة و الثقافةالانسانية و الخبرات التراكمية في التأثير على عملية الابداع بناء الشخصية المبدعة و هناك جزء رابع لم يتثنى لي قراءته بعد و حقيقة لقد اجهدتني قرائته ربما لأنه ليس بلغتي الام و لكني استمتعت بالامثلة و البراهين في كل فصل و للأسف لم انتهي من قراءة الجزء الاخير بعد و لكن الكتاب في مجملة مرجع هام

[Elsie Kappler]

Some interesting facts and well supported, but it was very dry -- even textbook like -- and largely repetitive. Perhaps, given the subject, I was expecting something more ... um ... creative. Sawyer successfully conveyed that my expectation was predicated on a flawed romantic notion of creativity, however, so the read was far from a waste.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely comprehensive and well researched book on creativity, which examines both individual psychological underpinnings of creativity and sociological factors. It busted quite a few myths I held about creative endeavour.

[Chrissy Jensen]

First part of the book was just fine. Then it got far too detailed for the purposes of the topic and it became quite redundant :(

[Alex Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I am not going to write a review here as I actually have to cowrite a full review for this book elsewhere.