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The Imagineering Workout
You've been told how to think "out of the box," and even been told to throw the box away, but really, isn't it time someone taught you how to create your own box in the first place? The Imagineering Workout: Exercises to Shape your Creative Muscles, will do just that, with interactive, ingenious, and practical exercises that will stimulate your imagination, tone your creative muscles, strengthen ideas, and, most importantly, inspire new approaches. The Imagineering Workout is for anyone who wants to learn new ways to problem-solve challenges, whether they're creative, logic-oriented, everyday, or event-inspired. The ingredients Imagineers use are simple and contain a large measurement of fun, which contributes to shapelier thinking and stronger solutions.
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
31 people are currently reading
569 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 7, 2019
About half of this book is encouragement for the creative spirit in all of us. Frankly, I didn't find that helpful, as the encouragement came in well-worn tropes. But hidden among those are exercises that are absolute gems. I'll be sure to use a few of those activities as I begin to create my next novel.
May 26, 2017
There is a lot to do and it encourages you to draw, write, make it your own. I have still to do more on it but I have gone through it cherry picking bits and pieces and loving it. It is fun. And it challenges your thinking slightly.
October 20, 2017
The idea for this book was good, but execution was poor.
I'm a creative thinker, but this book was clunky. Slightly disappointed in how it played out in my hands and my mind.
I'm a creative thinker, but this book was clunky. Slightly disappointed in how it played out in my hands and my mind.
June 23, 2018
Great book for sparking creativity - short clips of tips and advice.
December 1, 2021
Such a fun read with a lot of great tips
June 27, 2025
One day…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2014
I have to admire editor Peggy Van Pelt. I imagine it took a lot of work to gather material from so many people who likely had more pressing priorities. There are well over a hundred contributors, all of them Disney employees. She then had to arrange the contributions in ordered sections, and managed to make each to conform to a consistent format, with most having an overview, a highlighted action step section, and a conclusion. Getting a lot of different people to deliver material in a consistent format is not easy, so she must have done a lot of work to structure the content.
The one thing this book lacks, however, is a central narrative thread running through the whole book to give it cohesion. While the content is arranged in themed sections, there isn't any big picture text to link everything together. That's part of the reason it took me well over a year to finish. Each page felt like an island unto itself. Some contributors made statements that gave me insight or inspiration, but a lot I simply couldn't relate to. They use very broad terms and concepts. For example, the invention of the wheel led to the invention of the road. Interesting thought, insightful and perhaps inspiring, but I'm not sure what to do with it.
I may have had a different reaction if I had a strong felt need to read this book, but I rarely feel I have a struggle with creativity. It is interesting to see how an array of people in creative fields approach creativity in a business environment, and there are a few tidbits here and there about specific projects. But if a reader is looking for behind-the-scenes stories on Disney projects, there is almost nothing like that in this book. The majority of the content is broad advice, trying to be inclusive of all creative fields. The result reminds me of how my college professor of literary criticism began her introductory class: "We're not going to study literature, we're going to study the study of literature." By the next class, 75% of the students had dropped the course. I feel as though this book is on a similar level, more an academic approach it appeals to a narrow market.
The one thing this book lacks, however, is a central narrative thread running through the whole book to give it cohesion. While the content is arranged in themed sections, there isn't any big picture text to link everything together. That's part of the reason it took me well over a year to finish. Each page felt like an island unto itself. Some contributors made statements that gave me insight or inspiration, but a lot I simply couldn't relate to. They use very broad terms and concepts. For example, the invention of the wheel led to the invention of the road. Interesting thought, insightful and perhaps inspiring, but I'm not sure what to do with it.
I may have had a different reaction if I had a strong felt need to read this book, but I rarely feel I have a struggle with creativity. It is interesting to see how an array of people in creative fields approach creativity in a business environment, and there are a few tidbits here and there about specific projects. But if a reader is looking for behind-the-scenes stories on Disney projects, there is almost nothing like that in this book. The majority of the content is broad advice, trying to be inclusive of all creative fields. The result reminds me of how my college professor of literary criticism began her introductory class: "We're not going to study literature, we're going to study the study of literature." By the next class, 75% of the students had dropped the course. I feel as though this book is on a similar level, more an academic approach it appeals to a narrow market.
June 7, 2009
I love this very short, illustrative book for three reasons:
One: Simple. The book gets right to the point. Imagineers step forward and give you their take on what creativity means to them, and how they employ it. Each section is signed by the imagineer that wrote it, and there are examples that accompany nearly every chapter.
Two: Fun. The Imagineering Workout Uses examples right out of the Disney parks, movies, rides, offices ... you name it! There are wonderful, optimistic and friendly pieces of advice and passages, all filled with authentic Disney magic.
Three: Consolidated. The end of each chapter has a summary of the advice given in one or two bolded sentences. Even if you have very little time, a quick skim to glance at the bottom of the pages for each chapter can instill some wise words or needed inspiration. Some chapters even have quotes accompanying them from the imagineers or their mentors.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Disney, wants to exercise more creativity, or learn how to make an easy-going effective work environment.
One: Simple. The book gets right to the point. Imagineers step forward and give you their take on what creativity means to them, and how they employ it. Each section is signed by the imagineer that wrote it, and there are examples that accompany nearly every chapter.
Two: Fun. The Imagineering Workout Uses examples right out of the Disney parks, movies, rides, offices ... you name it! There are wonderful, optimistic and friendly pieces of advice and passages, all filled with authentic Disney magic.
Three: Consolidated. The end of each chapter has a summary of the advice given in one or two bolded sentences. Even if you have very little time, a quick skim to glance at the bottom of the pages for each chapter can instill some wise words or needed inspiration. Some chapters even have quotes accompanying them from the imagineers or their mentors.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Disney, wants to exercise more creativity, or learn how to make an easy-going effective work environment.
May 5, 2012
A good primer on cultivating and fostering a creative mind written by employees at Walt Disney Imagineering. Each person gives a tip or an exercise that they've learned from their own experience in tackling creative problems. It contains a lot of great advice on just how to get your creative juices flowing. I'd recommend this to any artist or anyone in a creative field. I found the last 20% of the book to be especially useful with tips on how to deal with creative blocks, and staying optimistic, having a different perspective on things, and keeping yourself creatively inspired and challenged. Because each entry is only about 2 pages I would have liked to read some of the ideas in more depth.
December 9, 2016
When you need a boost to your creativity, there's no better resource than Disney's Imagineers. This is a great resource to keep around. For me, it wasn't the kind of book I could read straight through. Each idea presented, and even each chapter, demands that you give it some time to marinate in your brain. So many talented people contributed to this book, it's very impressive that these ideas and pieces of advice could be collected in one place. Illustrations had an impact and broke up the monotony of what's really a textbook on how to kickstart a project or pull yourself out of a rut. You don't have to be in a creative position to put this book to work for you. The concepts gathered here are applicable to any line of work.
April 21, 2012
I bought this book in Disneyland because I was feeling so creatively inspired and wanted to take some of that feeling home with me. It did the job. The book is full of ideas to help jump start creativity with literal activities as well as ideas to consider. I was able to use this to help my students at school in the 2010-2011 school year when we were all new at making a yearbook. It worked well, so I am planning on using it during the 2012-2013 year when I have yet another brand new yearbook staff. I want to go through the book again and do some of the activities on my own.
June 27, 2016
A great book for the serious teen actor. This book is much more than a book on acting. With plenty of topics such as Acting for Money, which covers a broad range of professional concerns for teen actors, to acting coaches, to fun with acting, to acting on the high school level and the community level. This is an incredibly valuable resource I would recommend to every teen actor. It may not be all relevant to any individual person, but everyone is going to come out with valuable information from it.
January 10, 2010
I picked this book up a few years ago while in the airport on the way home from a business trip - I started reading it on the plane and broke all my rules about not working on planes! It made me come up with some great ideas that I was too excited not to work on. (= It's awesome for work, home or any area that you want to look at in new creative ways.
July 10, 2011
Written by the imagineers at Walt Disney Company, this book is a tool to help people think outside of the box and be more creative in your career / work. Of course, some principles can be used in any setting, but the primary focus is helping you achieve more creativity. Does it work? Part common sense, part new ideas... I'd say it's not too bad.
July 25, 2013
For anybody who is involved, even remotely, with any creative project/concept. For teachers, for parents, for anyone desiring to reach and implement more of their imagination, to live creatively. This book is an ABSOLUTE TREASURE. Can be read, reread and visited during periods of creative sluggishness or at high peaks of full motor creation. This book has a prominent spot on my shelf.
December 22, 2013
Who would have thought that a book on creativity produced by Disney would be such a drag? Actually, I think the book has quite a bit of value ... but not for me. I read my way through it all, but little of it sank in. I do have a friend that I think would benefit from a greatly, I plan to give her the book the next time I see her: she's got a great imagination
September 28, 2014
The book is a grouping of recommendations from people in the animation (and creativity) industry. A simple read with several good take aways. Although I don't agree with everyone of the contributors style, I enjoyed reading from their perspective in one book. That triggers me to look deeper into their writings and suggestions in other books (and blogs).
January 22, 2016
A fantastic book about how to get inspired, how to channel your creative energies, and get your projects done. It gives useful advice in how not just being creative in the arts, but also in other everyday and common fields: every activity is a fertile field to put your imagination. An awesome and easy read.
October 16, 2008
Time to think out of the box and not worry about whether or not the box was constructed of pine, spruce, maple, or oak. Everyone has great ideas, and everyone has writer's block. What counts is what you do about them.
May 22, 2012
I loved this book. It is easy to read and fun with it's quotes and illustrations. It focuses on curing your writer's block, looking at projects from multiple perspectives, getting your initial idea, and working with a team. I really enjoyed reading this book and am itching go go be creative, NOW!
September 13, 2008
I use some of this with my students
Currently reading
May 3, 2011Found this on the March 2011 trip. Looks fantastic! Enjoying this tremendously. Getting the creative juices flowing.
December 29, 2020
I'm not going to rate this because I really didn't know what to make of it. Wasn't at all what I was expecting.
January 24, 2009
This is fun primer for the creative process.
August 16, 2013
It's really really really really helpful.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews