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Creative Quest
A unique new guide to creativity from Questlove—inspirations, stories, and lessons on how to live your best creative life
Questlove—musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore—shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life.
In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he’s heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise readers and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics—what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture—all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story.
Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he’s learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D’Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Quest is many things—above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.
Questlove—musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore—shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life.
In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he’s heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise readers and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics—what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture—all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story.
Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he’s learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D’Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Quest is many things—above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.
Audio Cassette
First published April 24, 2018
815 people are currently reading
7410 people want to read
About the author
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
16 books726 followersAhmir Khalib Thompson, known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove (also known as BROther ?uestion, Questo, Brother Question or Qlove), is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer.
He is best known as the drummer and joint frontman (with Black Thought) for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, serving since February 17, 2014 as the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the same role he and the band served during the entire 969 episode run of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
He has produced for artists including Elvis Costello, Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa and more recently, Al Green, Amy Winehouse and John Legend. He is a member of the production teams the Soulquarians, The Randy Watson Experience, The Soultronics and The Grand Wizzards.
His memoir Mo' Meta Blues was published in 2013.
He is best known as the drummer and joint frontman (with Black Thought) for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, serving since February 17, 2014 as the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the same role he and the band served during the entire 969 episode run of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
He has produced for artists including Elvis Costello, Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa and more recently, Al Green, Amy Winehouse and John Legend. He is a member of the production teams the Soulquarians, The Randy Watson Experience, The Soultronics and The Grand Wizzards.
His memoir Mo' Meta Blues was published in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
June 17, 2019
I listened to the audiobook of Creative Quest however, around 60% of the way through, I decided to buy the actual book too because I was enjoying it a lot and know it’s a book that I’ll be able to refer back to again.
Questlove is best known for being part of The Roots. In addition to being a drummer and producer, he’s a DJ, has dabbled in the culinary world, and is also an adjunct professor at NYU.
Creative Quest discusses the artistic process, providing a perspective on creativity: it’s definition, how to maximize it, and how to embrace your own ideas. There were 3 particularly valuable sections of the book for me:
1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- This chapter shares ways to get started or restart when you feel writer’s block or in some form of a rut. There’s no harm in revisiting and analyzing earlier work, which can serve as a good starting point for inspiration.
2) Curation as a Cure
- ”Think of your creative choices as if you were creating an art exhibit. Some of your ideas immediately go on display. They become part of the version of yourself that you present to the outside world. Others are waiting for similar things to become a useful group, after which they can be displayed.”
- ”Curation also teaches you principles of display... Height on the wall matters. Size matters. Order matters. When you have multiple pieces of an idea, they communicate with each other in various ways.”
3) The Departure
- This chapter recommends being open and receptive to the ideas around you.
- ”Moving away from those familiar spaces and places raises the stakes. It puts us in a position where we will find either major inspiration or no inspiration at all. It’s an adrenaline rush. It renews the risk.”
Questlove narrates the audiobook, interjecting humor and subtle background music throughout. His tone is relatable. While many examples throughout Creative Quest are related to music, there are plenty from chefs, artists, and writers. There are takeaways here for everyone.
Questlove is best known for being part of The Roots. In addition to being a drummer and producer, he’s a DJ, has dabbled in the culinary world, and is also an adjunct professor at NYU.
Creative Quest discusses the artistic process, providing a perspective on creativity: it’s definition, how to maximize it, and how to embrace your own ideas. There were 3 particularly valuable sections of the book for me:
1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- This chapter shares ways to get started or restart when you feel writer’s block or in some form of a rut. There’s no harm in revisiting and analyzing earlier work, which can serve as a good starting point for inspiration.
2) Curation as a Cure
- ”Think of your creative choices as if you were creating an art exhibit. Some of your ideas immediately go on display. They become part of the version of yourself that you present to the outside world. Others are waiting for similar things to become a useful group, after which they can be displayed.”
- ”Curation also teaches you principles of display... Height on the wall matters. Size matters. Order matters. When you have multiple pieces of an idea, they communicate with each other in various ways.”
3) The Departure
- This chapter recommends being open and receptive to the ideas around you.
- ”Moving away from those familiar spaces and places raises the stakes. It puts us in a position where we will find either major inspiration or no inspiration at all. It’s an adrenaline rush. It renews the risk.”
Questlove narrates the audiobook, interjecting humor and subtle background music throughout. His tone is relatable. While many examples throughout Creative Quest are related to music, there are plenty from chefs, artists, and writers. There are takeaways here for everyone.
December 8, 2018
Love, love, loved listening to this book. But now I want to buy a physical copy to mark up because he really has some great pieces about creativity and creative work
Watch me discuss this book in my November wrap up: https://youtu.be/vzYX9EeZvRs
Watch me discuss this book in my November wrap up: https://youtu.be/vzYX9EeZvRs
June 11, 2018
This book is genius, and universal concepts are simplified. Just about anyone can benefit from this information. And anyone who wants to create the unthinkable can understand and improve their own unique craft with this brilliant masterpiece. As a writer, sometimes it’s hard to stay original. This has helped me tremendously.
June 16, 2018
What a warm book, a great joy to read. It's like The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles but without the weird cancer victim-blaming, and with more of an introspective, self-reflection vibe going on.
There's so much mature, smart stuff here:
Especially in a hyperconnected world you cannot stop 'stealing' from others, it's impossible to remember whether an idea you had is novel or whether you saw it on Twitter late at night 2 years ago. That's not a bad thing, but you have to develop from there, you have to curate your inner space. You have to let some things in and purposely leave some things out.
I find that very interesting, and it reminded me of Kobo Abe/Haruki Murakami. I think part of the reason Murakami is so popular in 'Western' audiences is that there is no point of reference, no similar author. However I'm convinced that Murakami 'took' a lot from Kobo Abe (who I only discovered because once I thought I'll read the whole public library in Muenster starting from A - I gave up at Chinua Achebe because the glue of the books smelled weird). That's not a bad thing, that's how art works, but it's great luck for Murakami that Abe is so unknown (get The Box Man!), it makes Murakami stand out more. I wonder how many other authors stand out in a similar way (just think of Umberto Eco and his neverending knowledge of books!)
There's so much other cool stuff, like this quote:
The best scientists' talks I've seen were clearly thought out in a similar way. I've seen the greats finish their talks, take questions, say 'ah yes!' and show a few more slides they prepared in advance, slides which didn't fit with the story they wanted to tell, but slides which answered the audience question perfectly. That always leaves me in awe. (Questlove has a similar story where he expected that someone on the Internet will claim that his drums on a record weren't played live and weren't played through, so he put in a tiny fill at a particular position so he could point any future naysayer to that second! that is so cool)
Questlove is not a fan of artists who present themselves as 'pure', outside of any commercial interest. He lists a few points where commercial interests are the drivers of the art, without it the art would've never been made (the deadline!). I'm reminded of Douglas Adams, who would've never finished The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy without the BBC's deadlines, famously writing scenes for the radio play while the previous scene was being recorded in the next room over. In science it's very similar, the majority of scientists (I believe) need a structure around them, they need a goal to work towards. Nowadays it's the paper, the publication, in the past, it was the public presentation. I think that the focus on papers is one of the drivers of a faster scientific progress, but that's hard to prove (the professional scientist is a very recent invention too, and now there's so many more compared to Darwin's time!)
One great example you should probably read is Mlodinow's Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life, which is more or less exactly about this dichotomy between 'inner drive towards creativity' and 'outside pressures to produce results'. After a highly promising PhD thesis Mlodinow was offered a unique 'do whatever you want' position, which is what the book is about. Without external structure Mlodinow crashed and burned, and eventually left science! I believe that most scientists would've fared similar. That's not to say that wasting years of your life writing grant applications are necessary, but I believe (like Questlove) that this external structure driving you on is (mostly!) necessary.
Another great point Questlove brings up is failure.
How good is that? It works similar in research - one of the things I have to learn as an early career researcher is when to admit defeat, when to kill a project. Sometimes research just doesn't work, you neither proved or falsified the basic hypothesis, nothing makes sense, and I've seen people waste years of their career going down these nowhere paths. The day you kill those projects, the day you kill your darlings you'll feel sad, but also liberated. I think Konrad Lorenz wrote something to the tune that as a researcher, every day before breakfast you should kill your favourite hypothesis, it keeps you young.
Anyway, read this book if you want a warm, mature, kind voice telling you about creativity as a lifelong pursuit, you won't regret it.
P.S.:
Somewhere, Questlove cites a self-motivational letter Michael Jackson wrote to himself when he was starting out on his solo career ('I should be a new, incredible actor/singer/dancer that will shock the world.'). It reminded me of Octavia E. Butler's wonderful letter here, go read it! (Questlove uses this as an example for the necessary 'departures' a creative person makes, to break out of the mould other people see them in)
There's so much mature, smart stuff here:
Especially in a hyperconnected world you cannot stop 'stealing' from others, it's impossible to remember whether an idea you had is novel or whether you saw it on Twitter late at night 2 years ago. That's not a bad thing, but you have to develop from there, you have to curate your inner space. You have to let some things in and purposely leave some things out.
Creative people need to start thinking of themselves a little differently. Now, in the twenty-first century, creative life also includes some management of other people’s creativity and the overlap between yours and theirs. To put it a different way: you can be an artist, but you also have to be a curator. You have to occupy both of these roles at the same time.
I find that very interesting, and it reminded me of Kobo Abe/Haruki Murakami. I think part of the reason Murakami is so popular in 'Western' audiences is that there is no point of reference, no similar author. However I'm convinced that Murakami 'took' a lot from Kobo Abe (who I only discovered because once I thought I'll read the whole public library in Muenster starting from A - I gave up at Chinua Achebe because the glue of the books smelled weird). That's not a bad thing, that's how art works, but it's great luck for Murakami that Abe is so unknown (get The Box Man!), it makes Murakami stand out more. I wonder how many other authors stand out in a similar way (just think of Umberto Eco and his neverending knowledge of books!)
There's so much other cool stuff, like this quote:
Protocreativity? Prepackaging? Whatever it is, it can be useful. If you’re a writer, imagine the blurbs that will be on the paperback. If you’re a painter, imagine what people will say when they’re standing in front of your canvas. This is another example of being present but not-present: you are the creator but also the eventual audience. When you’re on the outside of your own work looking in, you’ll be able to see the overall shape of it, which will help you to realize that you’re on the right track (or, alternatively, that you’re not).
The best scientists' talks I've seen were clearly thought out in a similar way. I've seen the greats finish their talks, take questions, say 'ah yes!' and show a few more slides they prepared in advance, slides which didn't fit with the story they wanted to tell, but slides which answered the audience question perfectly. That always leaves me in awe. (Questlove has a similar story where he expected that someone on the Internet will claim that his drums on a record weren't played live and weren't played through, so he put in a tiny fill at a particular position so he could point any future naysayer to that second! that is so cool)
Questlove is not a fan of artists who present themselves as 'pure', outside of any commercial interest. He lists a few points where commercial interests are the drivers of the art, without it the art would've never been made (the deadline!). I'm reminded of Douglas Adams, who would've never finished The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy without the BBC's deadlines, famously writing scenes for the radio play while the previous scene was being recorded in the next room over. In science it's very similar, the majority of scientists (I believe) need a structure around them, they need a goal to work towards. Nowadays it's the paper, the publication, in the past, it was the public presentation. I think that the focus on papers is one of the drivers of a faster scientific progress, but that's hard to prove (the professional scientist is a very recent invention too, and now there's so many more compared to Darwin's time!)
One great example you should probably read is Mlodinow's Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life, which is more or less exactly about this dichotomy between 'inner drive towards creativity' and 'outside pressures to produce results'. After a highly promising PhD thesis Mlodinow was offered a unique 'do whatever you want' position, which is what the book is about. Without external structure Mlodinow crashed and burned, and eventually left science! I believe that most scientists would've fared similar. That's not to say that wasting years of your life writing grant applications are necessary, but I believe (like Questlove) that this external structure driving you on is (mostly!) necessary.
Another great point Questlove brings up is failure.
David Bowie said something I really liked. I don’t know if he said it often, but it’s the kind of thing that you should get tattooed on your leg. He said that creativity is “one of the few human endeavors where you can crash your airplane and walk away from it.” Your mistakes don’t have to bring you down, not by any means. But Bowie’s observation has an even deeper level. Creative failures can feel like near-death experiences, and surviving them can create a sense of liberation. [...]Creative failure leads to a similar liberation. When you walk away from your crashed airplane, you’re playing with house money. You can do anything—and hopefully you will. Failure is sometimes in your mind. Sometimes it’s in the eye of the . . . well, not the beholder, exactly, but the afflicted. Even when it’s not, even when it’s indisputable, it’s never the end. [...] true creative people don’t walk away from it, not exactly. They walk toward the next thing.
How good is that? It works similar in research - one of the things I have to learn as an early career researcher is when to admit defeat, when to kill a project. Sometimes research just doesn't work, you neither proved or falsified the basic hypothesis, nothing makes sense, and I've seen people waste years of their career going down these nowhere paths. The day you kill those projects, the day you kill your darlings you'll feel sad, but also liberated. I think Konrad Lorenz wrote something to the tune that as a researcher, every day before breakfast you should kill your favourite hypothesis, it keeps you young.
Anyway, read this book if you want a warm, mature, kind voice telling you about creativity as a lifelong pursuit, you won't regret it.
P.S.:
Somewhere, Questlove cites a self-motivational letter Michael Jackson wrote to himself when he was starting out on his solo career ('I should be a new, incredible actor/singer/dancer that will shock the world.'). It reminded me of Octavia E. Butler's wonderful letter here, go read it! (Questlove uses this as an example for the necessary 'departures' a creative person makes, to break out of the mould other people see them in)
Read
July 19, 2020While I admire of his work and enthusiasm to share his experiences, and his intentions for this book, I would be lying if I said it resonated much with me.
*Note- I also followed the audio which had all sorts of production added to it; music, sound effects, special guests, the whole nine yards! So if you are interested in this, you might want to consider the audio.*
I realized I, as someone who dabbles in art, have never picked up a book on creativity! A friend recommended this, and I had seen it a few times, so I truly was hoping this would be a win.
I think what didn't work for me is the writing style more than the content. It seemed to loose sight of it's purpose or what he was going for and felt very 'stream of conscious'-like. That isn't a problem in itself, except that it felt like there were all sorts of tangents hat didn't exactly add to the main message. He also emphasizes how this serves as a guide to creators and the creative process, but not even a day after reading this I can hardly remember any of his key points that served as the guide.
*Note- I also followed the audio which had all sorts of production added to it; music, sound effects, special guests, the whole nine yards! So if you are interested in this, you might want to consider the audio.*
I realized I, as someone who dabbles in art, have never picked up a book on creativity! A friend recommended this, and I had seen it a few times, so I truly was hoping this would be a win.
I think what didn't work for me is the writing style more than the content. It seemed to loose sight of it's purpose or what he was going for and felt very 'stream of conscious'-like. That isn't a problem in itself, except that it felt like there were all sorts of tangents hat didn't exactly add to the main message. He also emphasizes how this serves as a guide to creators and the creative process, but not even a day after reading this I can hardly remember any of his key points that served as the guide.
April 8, 2024
I enjoyed listening to QuestLove go through his thought process on the creative process
June 13, 2018
Yes! At first I thought this book was kind of self help (which coming from Questlove would be a great one anyway) But it´s not. He tells a bunch of great stories that have to do with creativity. I recommend this to anyone, not just artists or people who do something that is more obvious with being creative. I think we all require of creativity in one form or another, and this book is a great read. It´s like having a friend give you tips, and anecdotes about different ways of inventing and reinventing yourself, about humility, and competition. And you do get some great ideas, and thoughts by someone who is truly creative. Can Questlove be my neighbor please?
May 23, 2018
I’m a junkie for books about writing and books about creativity, and a lot of them make me want to shake the addiction. This book is a notable exception. It’s readable, clarifying, and was something I immediately put to use for a museum visit that definitely enriched the experience. For that last one it was obvious advice I usually feel too guilty to embrace: skip the stuff that doesn’t grab you and save the time for work that moves you.
The narrative and stories in this book are probably the most enriching, particularly because they’re not predictable stories of overcoming challenges through boot straps and perseverance. Instead it’s unraveling the kind of knotty blocks and challenges that are the “gifts” of the creative process. And he’s honest enough to talk about how people need to get paid so most of us can’t afford to ignore or dismiss our audience.
My only complaint is this book needs a Spotify playlist. Questlove’s expertise and intuitive feel for music (which he admits is sometimes snobby) is truly awesome. Read this book with your phone nearby so you can catch his references and enrich your life.
The narrative and stories in this book are probably the most enriching, particularly because they’re not predictable stories of overcoming challenges through boot straps and perseverance. Instead it’s unraveling the kind of knotty blocks and challenges that are the “gifts” of the creative process. And he’s honest enough to talk about how people need to get paid so most of us can’t afford to ignore or dismiss our audience.
My only complaint is this book needs a Spotify playlist. Questlove’s expertise and intuitive feel for music (which he admits is sometimes snobby) is truly awesome. Read this book with your phone nearby so you can catch his references and enrich your life.
March 29, 2022
I'm probably not the intended audience: I don't play a musical instrument and I'm only marginally familiar with Questlove.
That being said, I'm glad I gave this a chance. It had some decent tips for living a creative life, and was interesting from an outsider's perspective.
“There's species-wide programming and then there's individuality. The overlap between those two opens up a space for creativity. Live in that space. I'm here too. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.”
That being said, I'm glad I gave this a chance. It had some decent tips for living a creative life, and was interesting from an outsider's perspective.
“There's species-wide programming and then there's individuality. The overlap between those two opens up a space for creativity. Live in that space. I'm here too. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.”
June 23, 2018
Very fun book, and one that's superb in audiobook form because it's read by the author, who uses the audio format to actually MAKE it an audio experience - sound effects, dropped samples, etc. Probably great in print as well.
December 5, 2020
An author who opens his book on a subject by saying he read almost every book on that subject raises the bar for himself, there's a promise there, and it was not met. The anecdotes were amusing sometimes, but overall the book was very disappointing. I really don't wanna waste more time on elaborating, the time I wasted listening to the audio book is enough. I just wanna reply to another comment that compared this book to "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield by saying HOW DARE YOU!!
November 1, 2018
This is one of the best books on creativity I've ever read. It's right up there with Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird.
April 22, 2018
Creative Quest is more about the creative process and how ?love can find inspiration for creative endeavors across various platforms than it is about how to be creative. So it’s an interesting look at the sparks of creativity he finds for himself, along with some life memories and wisdom from the legendary Roots drummer. His stated goal is “This book is a way to resolve these questions, and it’s also a way to leave those questions unresolved. I will explore my creative process by examining the creative processes of people I know—who are already committed artists, whether musicians or chefs or comedians or directors. I will play good student to their good teacher, and I will try to understand the ways they feed my own creativity.”
Which questions you ask?; well the questions of does he see himself as a creative and can he somehow teach others to harness their own creative energies while dealing with creative anxieties. In this stated goal he mostly succeeds as he regales the reader with tales of creative inspiration and how he has been able to move easily through different industries. It is important for Questlove to be creative, “Being creative, is the proof that we can leave an imprint on our surroundings, that we can make a mark on time..” And he wants to help you find your own creative spark with strategies that are non-traditional and unorthodox. In this way, he shows a willingness to be vulnerable and open as he not only shares his own beliefs but liberally borrows from others unabashedly showcasing their thoughts and ways of engaging the creative process. An enjoyable and easy read and informative in a way that can be a help to anyone struggling to create or just needing an inspiration boost. Thanks to Edelweiss and Ecco Press for an advanced DRC. Coming Apr. 24.
Which questions you ask?; well the questions of does he see himself as a creative and can he somehow teach others to harness their own creative energies while dealing with creative anxieties. In this stated goal he mostly succeeds as he regales the reader with tales of creative inspiration and how he has been able to move easily through different industries. It is important for Questlove to be creative, “Being creative, is the proof that we can leave an imprint on our surroundings, that we can make a mark on time..” And he wants to help you find your own creative spark with strategies that are non-traditional and unorthodox. In this way, he shows a willingness to be vulnerable and open as he not only shares his own beliefs but liberally borrows from others unabashedly showcasing their thoughts and ways of engaging the creative process. An enjoyable and easy read and informative in a way that can be a help to anyone struggling to create or just needing an inspiration boost. Thanks to Edelweiss and Ecco Press for an advanced DRC. Coming Apr. 24.
August 5, 2018
This is an interesting book about creativity. While most examples are about music, the ideas about collaboration and building on the work that came before you, crosses all creative disciplines. I found this book more informative than inspiring, but I believe the disconnect is personal, I didn't know, or sometimes understand, a lot of the musical references.
January 17, 2019
Listened on Audible and halfway through, bought my own copy so I could highlight and make notes. Can Questlove be my new best friend? I love his storytelling and realism about how much hard work it takes to be creative.
Read
August 24, 2018Going to write a nice, juicy review for this one shortly. But know it's outstanding, motivating, encouraging, insightful, and absolutely powerful in audiobook format.
August 24, 2018
I enjoyed the concept of this book, but I didn’t completely connect with all the aspects of creativity that Questlove discussed. The only part that bothered me is was the references to the other books he has written. I’m reading this book, it’s not considered a sequel, so thus I’m not interested in your past projects, let’s just focus on the current project.
June 7, 2018
I have never considered myself a creative person – at least in the traditional sense. I’m not a writer, designer, photographer, painter, songwriter or chef. In my career, I rely on my creative problem-solving abilities, and the “I know it when I see it” side of creativity when directing marketing projects, but I’ve always admired truly creative people. Those who create.
In my efforts to cultivate creativity, I often listen to podcasts and pick up the latest books on the subject like The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Cutmull.
I’ve found my new favorite. Questlove’s Creative Quest.
I have been a fan of Questlove for a long time. Most people know him as the leader and drummer of the hip hop band, The Roots. In addition to their role on The Tonight Show, he has written several books including a memoir, has the most encyclopedic knowledge of music, has designed products, teaches, and is apparently quite the foodie. He’s one of the people I’d invite to my celebrity dinner party.
Creative Quest is an insightful journey through the creative process and the work of being a creator. Through personal stories and those of his famous creative friends, Quest covers finding inspiration, overcoming blocks, and honing the tools to not only be more creative, but to create better work. He thoughtfully explains the value of finding great mentors and building a creative network, and perhaps most importantly for artists, how to deal with criticism which can be “destructive to the creative ego.”
The first step in creating is re-creating – making a version of something that already exists. The first time I saw The Roots play a popular song with classroom instruments on The Tonight Show (I think it was Call Me Maybe back in 2013), I thought “how fun! how creative!” and with the millions of views these videos get on YouTube, I’m sure they’ve introduced new music to a lot of new listeners by making the songs fun and approachable. My favorite is the Sesame Street theme song.
One of the book’s insights that really hit me is the notion that we don’t know how to be bored anymore. We have access to entertainment in the palm of our hands 24/7. We’ve lost the ability to be quiet with ourselves and embrace boredom, which “represents pure, undiluted time in all of its repetitive, redundant, monotonous splendor.” Wow. What a concept.
I was also struck by a study he references that indicated that the more rested and alert a person was, the LESS creative they were at their task. When the mind is sharp, it is less likely to be creative. Huh. And all this time I’ve been defending my eight hours a night!
I am so glad I decided to get the audio version of this book as Questlove provides thoroughly entertaining narration that had me laughing out loud in my car. I can’t remember the last audio book that I ‘highlighted’ the pages of (pausing and making notes on my phone so I could go back to those sections). One of my favorite lines was when he told a story about D’Angleo and his songwriting, saying, “If you x-rayed his creativity you would find those songs in there glowing from his bones.” What a visual!
Everyone who will listen to me has heard my recommendation of this book. If you are traditionally creative or, like me, wish you could sharpen that skill, I encourage you to download the audio and treat yourself to some tools and inspiration. With a few chuckles on the side.
In my efforts to cultivate creativity, I often listen to podcasts and pick up the latest books on the subject like The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Cutmull.
I’ve found my new favorite. Questlove’s Creative Quest.
I have been a fan of Questlove for a long time. Most people know him as the leader and drummer of the hip hop band, The Roots. In addition to their role on The Tonight Show, he has written several books including a memoir, has the most encyclopedic knowledge of music, has designed products, teaches, and is apparently quite the foodie. He’s one of the people I’d invite to my celebrity dinner party.
Creative Quest is an insightful journey through the creative process and the work of being a creator. Through personal stories and those of his famous creative friends, Quest covers finding inspiration, overcoming blocks, and honing the tools to not only be more creative, but to create better work. He thoughtfully explains the value of finding great mentors and building a creative network, and perhaps most importantly for artists, how to deal with criticism which can be “destructive to the creative ego.”
The first step in creating is re-creating – making a version of something that already exists. The first time I saw The Roots play a popular song with classroom instruments on The Tonight Show (I think it was Call Me Maybe back in 2013), I thought “how fun! how creative!” and with the millions of views these videos get on YouTube, I’m sure they’ve introduced new music to a lot of new listeners by making the songs fun and approachable. My favorite is the Sesame Street theme song.
One of the book’s insights that really hit me is the notion that we don’t know how to be bored anymore. We have access to entertainment in the palm of our hands 24/7. We’ve lost the ability to be quiet with ourselves and embrace boredom, which “represents pure, undiluted time in all of its repetitive, redundant, monotonous splendor.” Wow. What a concept.
I was also struck by a study he references that indicated that the more rested and alert a person was, the LESS creative they were at their task. When the mind is sharp, it is less likely to be creative. Huh. And all this time I’ve been defending my eight hours a night!
I am so glad I decided to get the audio version of this book as Questlove provides thoroughly entertaining narration that had me laughing out loud in my car. I can’t remember the last audio book that I ‘highlighted’ the pages of (pausing and making notes on my phone so I could go back to those sections). One of my favorite lines was when he told a story about D’Angleo and his songwriting, saying, “If you x-rayed his creativity you would find those songs in there glowing from his bones.” What a visual!
Everyone who will listen to me has heard my recommendation of this book. If you are traditionally creative or, like me, wish you could sharpen that skill, I encourage you to download the audio and treat yourself to some tools and inspiration. With a few chuckles on the side.
August 31, 2018
Heard Questlove on a BN Podcast: http://bnpodcast.barnesandnoble.libsy...
Brilliant book about creating and creativity. Full of pop culture references and musical insight. As a 64-year-old grandmother, I realize that I am not the target audience. Still, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book and soaking up some of the creative inspiration found between its pages. Fun, entertaining and informative!
Brilliant book about creating and creativity. Full of pop culture references and musical insight. As a 64-year-old grandmother, I realize that I am not the target audience. Still, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book and soaking up some of the creative inspiration found between its pages. Fun, entertaining and informative!
September 2, 2019
I FINALLY finished this after so long. Uni has been already super busy and not even from class; I finally made friends that haven't not made plans like almost every single day. It's been good, and I'm glad I've got friends, but my reading time has been halved. I feel like I need to hide from them to get my reading time in xD But I love them all so I can't be too mad.
August 26, 2020
Through quarantine. I read and discussed a chapter of this book every week with a friend. It allowed me to slow down and really absorb all the lessons & suggestions within. This book has a lot of entertaining anecdotes and great thoughts about music especially, but it helped me approach creativity as practice, too. There are a lot of useful, practical suggestions — and quite a few that worked for me. Definitely recommended.
January 2, 2019
Creativity is one of those concepts I find endlessly engaging. As a label, it seems to be used as both a blessing and a curse. It carries certain similarities across individuals and mediums, such as drawing unlikely tangents, combining ideas/approaches in novel ways, facilitating the expression of feelings or ideas in ways not otherwise possible, etc. But it also operates on a uniquely personal level when it comes to inspiration, process, output, and so forth. It can be essential to one's profession or it might just be woven into everyday life. I suppose a lot of my own notions about the topic have largely been formed by Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art (one of my favorite books) and Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, both of which were introduced to me some 20+ years ago by a psychology professor and painter at Virginia Tech. Interestingly enough, the concept of "flow" and the Buddhist notion of "mindfulness" have both found popularity in business and management lit in the past five years (although, I tend to abhor the way such trends try to cherrypick spiritual practices as some sort of shortcut that can be leveraged for corporate/organizational efficiency after a half-day class or shoddy book that has "repackaged" the concepts).
But Questlove is the real deal--he walks the walk and talks the talk. He's interested in the topic from a personal/professional standpoint, in addition to studying it as someone who likes to let his curiosity lead him deep down rabbit holes. He's interested in opening doors for anyone who is interested in leading a more creative life. As such, he starts with what it is and where it originates. As he does throughout the book, he does a good job balancing his thinking/message with personal anecdotes and research (linking ideas like cognitive inhibition to studies showing that being tired may facilitate such a state of mind, which tends to lead to more creative thinking). He adopts a rather conversational tone and, as a reader, you feel like you're on a journey together. He tackles everything from influence to collaboration, and while he has a slight tendency to digress, he always manages to summarize his key points:
- It's as important to think about the type of artist you don't want to be as it is to think about the kind you do want to be.
- Be open and receptive (and when something moves you, take note of why you think it does)
- Keep moving forward (try new things, make new relationships, learn)
- "Copying, or covering, is always a valuable creative exercise. It gets you going. It restarts your brain and encourages you to look for the way things are built."
- Revisit earlier work
- Expect and demand change in your own creative output, but keep it attainable
- "If you make things long enough, you will fail." (It's natural and can be a good thing. It's what you do with that failure that matters.)
The highlight of this book for me was his various explorations of how technology effects us creatively starting with how our brains used to largely be "retainers" of information but are now often "researchers" (we moved from memorizing and thinking independently to searching online for answers). In the process, we gain extraordinary access to vast resources of knowledge/culture/inspiration but we lose out on thinking for ourselves, serendipity, daydreaming, deeper reading/thinking, etc. A recurring theme throughout the book is sustaining creativity through finding the right balance (between focus and spontaneity, between input and output, between independence and collaboration, between influence and originality, between being online and being unplugged, and so on).
A lot of creativity is about trying new things, "playing" with ideas. You don't need to be an artist to be creative. Every time you try a new approach to getting your kids to stop fighting or finding a better route to work or surprising your significant other, you're exercising your creativity. It's really about being open and being willing to explore possibilities.
But Questlove is the real deal--he walks the walk and talks the talk. He's interested in the topic from a personal/professional standpoint, in addition to studying it as someone who likes to let his curiosity lead him deep down rabbit holes. He's interested in opening doors for anyone who is interested in leading a more creative life. As such, he starts with what it is and where it originates. As he does throughout the book, he does a good job balancing his thinking/message with personal anecdotes and research (linking ideas like cognitive inhibition to studies showing that being tired may facilitate such a state of mind, which tends to lead to more creative thinking). He adopts a rather conversational tone and, as a reader, you feel like you're on a journey together. He tackles everything from influence to collaboration, and while he has a slight tendency to digress, he always manages to summarize his key points:
- It's as important to think about the type of artist you don't want to be as it is to think about the kind you do want to be.
- Be open and receptive (and when something moves you, take note of why you think it does)
- Keep moving forward (try new things, make new relationships, learn)
- "Copying, or covering, is always a valuable creative exercise. It gets you going. It restarts your brain and encourages you to look for the way things are built."
- Revisit earlier work
- Expect and demand change in your own creative output, but keep it attainable
- "If you make things long enough, you will fail." (It's natural and can be a good thing. It's what you do with that failure that matters.)
The highlight of this book for me was his various explorations of how technology effects us creatively starting with how our brains used to largely be "retainers" of information but are now often "researchers" (we moved from memorizing and thinking independently to searching online for answers). In the process, we gain extraordinary access to vast resources of knowledge/culture/inspiration but we lose out on thinking for ourselves, serendipity, daydreaming, deeper reading/thinking, etc. A recurring theme throughout the book is sustaining creativity through finding the right balance (between focus and spontaneity, between input and output, between independence and collaboration, between influence and originality, between being online and being unplugged, and so on).
A lot of creativity is about trying new things, "playing" with ideas. You don't need to be an artist to be creative. Every time you try a new approach to getting your kids to stop fighting or finding a better route to work or surprising your significant other, you're exercising your creativity. It's really about being open and being willing to explore possibilities.
December 22, 2019
His observations are interesting and useful. I thought the book was a little rambling and verbose, though I enjoyed hearing the stories about Questlove's own experiences. He seems to have mostly creative professionals in mind at several points.
July 26, 2019
You know when they ask if you could choose any person to have a conversation with, who would that person be? One of my top choices is always Questlove. My reason is that Questlove is an amazingly curious person. Curious about music, curious about people, curious about food. That curiosity, in turn fires amazing creativity. As a musician, designer, DJ, and foodie, he has an interesting take on the topic of creativity.
Creative Quest is his exploration of the topic. Be prepared for many 'semantic antics'.The title is the first of hundreds of examples of Questlove's adoration of wordplay. What makes a person more creative? How do you deal with creative blocks? What inspirations might trigger creativity? Is imitation ok? Questlove answers these questions simply and directly, always noting that it is from his point of view. He covers some basic topics, such as mentors and apprentices, but also tackles some tough issues as well. One of my favorite quotes: "getting into a groove can become dangerously close to getting into a rut". He's not afraid to make mistakes and even less afraid to admit them. It seems to me that this is why Questlove is so creative, and why creative spirits of all types can learn from him. As Questlove says: 'creative people are creative...if you have a creative attitude, you are a creative person."
Creative Quest is his exploration of the topic. Be prepared for many 'semantic antics'.The title is the first of hundreds of examples of Questlove's adoration of wordplay. What makes a person more creative? How do you deal with creative blocks? What inspirations might trigger creativity? Is imitation ok? Questlove answers these questions simply and directly, always noting that it is from his point of view. He covers some basic topics, such as mentors and apprentices, but also tackles some tough issues as well. One of my favorite quotes: "getting into a groove can become dangerously close to getting into a rut". He's not afraid to make mistakes and even less afraid to admit them. It seems to me that this is why Questlove is so creative, and why creative spirits of all types can learn from him. As Questlove says: 'creative people are creative...if you have a creative attitude, you are a creative person."
August 22, 2018
I didn't have very high expectations going into this, what with it being Questlove's third or fourth book in more or less as many years. (Why would a celebrity working with a ghostwriter need four books?) Neither the title nor the cover indicates what it actually is. It seemed like it might be the author (and the other guy, surreptitiously) rambling at length about the nature of creativity. Come to find out, that's exactly what it is. Surprisingly though, it's not half bad. It's compulsively readable, especially if you're in an airport or something, in the way that self-help books can sometimes be, and its advice on how to be more creative or whatever might actually be of some use to artists, writers, musicians, etc.
August 8, 2019
Questlove's book on creativity and how best to harness it is a fun and entertaining read, but also brings up useful exercises and questions for every creative person to consider: Should you create for the sake of creation or create with an intended audience in mind? What's the balance between art for the sake of art and art for commercial purposes? Is any idea truly original or is all creation based on the works or ideas of another?
As with a lot of his books, Questlove uses tons of examples from the music and hiphop world to illustrate his point. Anyone who is not familiar with these worlds may be a bit turned off.
Overall, I appreciate the focus Quest puts on understanding and improving our creative process.
As with a lot of his books, Questlove uses tons of examples from the music and hiphop world to illustrate his point. Anyone who is not familiar with these worlds may be a bit turned off.
Overall, I appreciate the focus Quest puts on understanding and improving our creative process.
October 17, 2018
Questlove projects a very likable persona and has some very down-to-earth tips for energizing one's creativity, along the lines of pointing at random words in the dictionary. He also gives advice on living as a creative person. There are even a few moments in the book about how science is also a creative process like the arts. One of his first points is that not everyone is equally creative so this book isn't meant to make you creative if you aren't.
Overall, there was too much "inside baseball" for my taste. I prefer something like Mastery by Robert Greene.
Overall, there was too much "inside baseball" for my taste. I prefer something like Mastery by Robert Greene.
January 8, 2019
I always pick a word to define my upcoming year- this year I chose 2- Grace and Create. Questlove’s book is my first read on creativity and it is inspiring. The cover is an image of his own creativity as a Rube Goldberg machine. He is a student of creativity and his book is replete with examples of creativity in others as well as how he has used their experiences to inform his own works. Last year I read about art every Sunday- I now read wider!
September 8, 2019
It was ok. I felt like it was 30% creativity and 70% music career name dropping.
March 4, 2023
This was an amazing look into both Questlove’s creative process and THE creative process.
Questlove describes the creative process (and how he engages with it) in a way that both leaves me in awe of his creativity AND makes creative endeavors accessible to me - especially ways to foster my own creative energies and skills in whatever domain I may need them. At it’s core, this is not a how to book, nor a memoir, but has elements of both to present tools, paradigms, and insights into the purpose of creativity and how to engage in the creative process, from wherever you are, and whatever your focus might be.
I listened to the author-read audiobook and benefitted from hearing from Qestlove himself. But, because I was either driving or walking when I listened, I found myself often wanting to write down a principle or exercise to come back to later or to keep as a reference. So much, that I ended up purchasing a paper copy of the book to be able to return to it whenever I need to.
Questlove describes the creative process (and how he engages with it) in a way that both leaves me in awe of his creativity AND makes creative endeavors accessible to me - especially ways to foster my own creative energies and skills in whatever domain I may need them. At it’s core, this is not a how to book, nor a memoir, but has elements of both to present tools, paradigms, and insights into the purpose of creativity and how to engage in the creative process, from wherever you are, and whatever your focus might be.
I listened to the author-read audiobook and benefitted from hearing from Qestlove himself. But, because I was either driving or walking when I listened, I found myself often wanting to write down a principle or exercise to come back to later or to keep as a reference. So much, that I ended up purchasing a paper copy of the book to be able to return to it whenever I need to.
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