The Grace of Great Things: Creativity and Innovation

by Robert Grudin

Examines the nature of creativity, exposes the inefficiencies of universities and corporations, and attacks the intolerance of liberalism

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Writing

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Grudin graduated from Harvard, and earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship for 1992-1993. Until 1998 he was a professor of English at the University of Oregon. He has written about many political and philosophical themes including liberty, determinism, and several others.

Reviews

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most influential books i've ever had the pleasure of reading. Although it can be considered an aquired taste because of it's informational nature, and non-fictional content, this book helped me to put together answers to some of my most important questions. The Grace of great things is a book about creativity and innovation. It gives way to the reader finding a thread between their creative and analytical mind. For me this was huge. So many times we hear people label themselves one or the other. this book helps people know that in all of us, there is the capacity for both, and infact, there can not be one with out the other. An Amazing book...it never gets old to me. no matter how many times I pick it up.
The fore mentioned is what I took away from it personally. this book touches on so many social, artistic, scientific, and psycholodical issues and innovations that shape the very world in which we live. Amazing book.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for all entrepreneurs and leaders. It's the best, most profound book I've read in a long time. It's a guide book and a source of motivation and solace for anyone trying to push the boundaries of human society and understanding.

I've been on a quest to develop my creativity for about two years. During that time, I've read lots of "how to" books. But this book goes way deeper to consider the social and moral implications of creativity and innovation.

Grudin touches on the deepest aspects of human nature, most notably the concept of freedom, arguing that "…the creative act is the classic act of freedom and by extension the ultimate justification of the argument for free will."

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very wise book with many insights. The idea that innovators are experts who make connections outside their fields means that they must be both specialists and generalists. One of my professors at library school said that the strength of librarians is that they are generalists. I am a generalist who is learning how to specialize through my academic course work. Grudin's point, however, is that the narrowness of specialization will stunt creativity. He focuses a great deal on the academic culture in which elaboration is regarded as the same as innovation, but he also suggests strategies for change.

As someone who is interested in the environment, I was very interested to learn about the existence of the 17th century solar power pioneer Cornelius Drebbel. Grudin uses him as an object lesson on how not to present new ideas, but I would definitely like to find out more about him.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

oldie but goodie ... think I read this back in 2001 when I was just moving from the 'magical' idea of creativity to the 'creativity is hard work - you have to prepare and make space for it' idea. it's been a while since i picked it up - it deserves another read!

[Amy Senger · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some writers seem to spend so much time worrying the troubles and problems and contradictions of modern life that they have no time left over to actually live, no matter how well they have described the human dilemma...

[Alyson]

This book was a interesting but a little too philosophical so I read the parts that interested me. A few quotes that stood out to me:


"Why is inspiration given to some people and withheld from others? The key word in our ancient definition is "deserving." All inspired individuals are, in some way, prepared for the experience. A corporation lawyer, unstudied in math beyond simple arithmetic, cannot expect sudden revelations about non-Euclidean geometry; a football player, dreamily jetting home from a road game, is unlikely to be visited by new insights into the gasification of oil. If inspiration is indeed an abandonment and a transcendence, it is nonetheless impossible without groaning effort, without the painful winning of skill. Here as before, inspiration suggest the combination of an active principle- hard-earned expertise-with a passive principle- unencumbered and trustful receptivity." pg. 11

"a by-product of work well done is a kind of integrity... focused commitment and delight in labor that mark the creative mind" p. 72-73

p.31, 165

The diplomacy of Invention pg. 204 Practical strategies for presenting new ideas.

"You will not have forgotten the foolishness of that abbot...who was present one day when Duke Federico[da Montefeltro] was addressing what should be done with the great mass of earth which had been excavated for the foundations of this palace, which he was then building, and said; "My lord, I have an excellent idea where to put it. Give orders that a great pit be dug, and without further trouble it can be put into that." Duke Federico replied, not without laughter, "And where shall we put the earth that is excavated in digging this pit of yours?' Said the abbot: "Make it big enough to hold both." p.199

How often do I dig another whole instead of truly trying to find a solution that doesn't just cause more probems.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Inspired ideas are less often solutions to old problems than newly discovered or totally reformulated problems - problems "created" like brilliant works of art.

If anything controls or dominates at the moment of inspiration, it is not the mind but the idea, or rather, the suddenly articulated power of our own inner energies... The expansion of any idea is thus also an expansion of self.

Discovery more often waits upon those who conceive of achievement as part of a communal effort than upon those who want it as a personal prize.

Creativity is dangerous. We cannot open ourselves to new insight without endangering the security of our prior assumptions... Creative achievement is the boldest initiative of mind, an adventure that takes its hero simultaneously to the rim of knowledge and the limits of propriety.

To think creatively is to walk at the edge of chaos.

People who try to please or otherwise gain acceptance seldom make important discoveries, for they limit their endeavors to contexts and channels that have been established by others.”

[Craig Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grudin keeps his readers sane. For those of you who are struggling with difficult creative work environments, particularly those that are stiflingly restrictive, Grudin can deliver up this type of thinking to hang on to...

"Like some homeopathic cure, our very sense of imprisonment can be a step toward liberation. We need not rebel against our temporally determined roles. Merely to recognize them is to limit their power over us. The liberation implied by such awareness is threefold. To understand one's own temporal determinism is to establish, above and beyond what one says and does, an analytic posture toward the present history; it is to achieve, amid the earnest vanities of contemporary society, an easing humility; it is to mark off, as territory precious and imperiled, the moments and pursuits that are left to our choice." p 232.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of interesting concepts and reminders to dig deeper: beneath the surface, into the past, into the future. Creativity, self knowledge, art, awareness of the earth and all within it's atmosphere, there are many thought provoking topics. The concepts discussed include modernity vs. post modern vs ancient or near history; and original ideas that have a tie to the past, but such ties often were ignored or dismissed.
The perspective was interesting while reading a few decades after several of these chapters were written or conceived; I found myself wondering what Robert Grudin would say now in his comments about liberalism and conservatism.

[Nicholas George · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be frank, a fair amount of this was a bit over my head, but I mostly enjoyed Grudin's various theories on the types of environments, ideologies and practices foster innovation and creativity. I particularly liked his chapter on self-knowledge, as told through a conversation between two reunited old friends walking around San Francisco. It got the theory out of his voice and made it come more alive.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out wonderfully. I'd say the first 1/3 of the book is worth checking out. Grudin has some unique and interesting thoughts on creativity. My regret is that he takes it into long and uninteresting tangents that made me skip several sections and only peruse others. The concept is great but unfortunately I felt the book sank and never quite recovered.

[Anthony Tenaglier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title was what drew me into picking up this book at a local used book store and the book delivered the message implied in the title. An excellent read. Dense in some sections philosophically, but overall very insightful.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a really worthwhile read. His thoughts on creativity, pain, courage, and liberalism were helpful to me.

[Peter H Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read. Brilliant.