Creativity: Genius and Other Myths

by Robert W. Weisberg

Clears up misconceptions about creativity, the unconscious, divergent thinking, genius, scientific discovery, artistry, and problem solving

Genres: Psychology

169 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1986

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved it. Concentration, motivation, hard work, experience, skills specific to the job at hand, luck: these are what go into "creative genius." I should have added "practice, practice, practice." There are no characteristics common to all successful artists (or scientists). An artist is an ordinary person solving a problem in an ordinary way. Author Weisberg debunks the great debunker, Martin Gardner, proponent of the "aha!" view of creative problem solving. Don't try to "free" your mind of standard problem solving techniques. The only way to become proficient at solving any type of problem is to practice solving similar problems.