Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
Average customer rating:

Glossy, colorful, devoid of substance

useless

Great value

don't be deceived by the title

A disorderly book, some good advice, much confusion

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
Ellen Lupton
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Typography | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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The Elements of Typographic Style

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Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type (Design Briefs)

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Accessories:

Visual Grammar (Design Briefs)

ASIN: 1568984480

Book Description

The organization of letters on a blank sheet -- or screen -- is the most basic challenge facing anyone who practices design. What type of font to use? How big? How should those letters, words, and paragraphs be aligned, spaced, ordered, shaped, and otherwise manipulated? In this groundbreaking new primer, leading design educator and historian Ellen Lupton provides clear and concise guidance for anyone learning or brushing up on their typographic skills.
Thinking with Type is divided into three sections: letter, text, and grid. Each section begins with an easy-to-grasp essay that reviews historical, technological, and theoretical concepts, and is then followed by a set of practical exercises that bring the material covered to life. Sections conclude with examples of work by leading practitioners that demonstrate creative possibilities (along with some classic no-no's to avoid).

Customer Reviews:

Glossy, colorful, devoid of substance.......2007-10-09

Ellen Lupton's "Thinking with Type" is a strange book that exists because of itself. It uses different fonts and colors and layout to tell you about different fonts and colors and layout. Even the example text is about itself, and not Lorem Ipsum or some such (for example, "This is Helvetica 9 point" written in Helvetica 9 point).

This is about as meta as you can get, a work of reflexive modern art if you will. Think Godel, Lupton, Bach? But it advertises itself as A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers and Editors, which it surely, emphatically, is not. I learned more from the first few pages of Parker's Looking Good in Print -- a fine book every one of whose commandments Lupton manages to violate -- than from this opus of navel-gazing.

A few concrete things wrong with it: well, the obvious one is that since every design element in this book exists to show itself, the book as a whole is extremely difficult to read. This is exacerbated by bad Index and Table of Contents... the only reason they exist is because they should (sum ergo sum). The fancy rendering of chapters (of which there are three, yes three; moreover they have monosyllabic titles) and sections add to this weird where-am-I-in-the-text effect.

At a graphic design contest level, this might be interesting, but at a "critical guide" level, it is criminal -- worse than type crime. This book suffers from the unpardonable crime of overdesign at any macroscopic level you'd care to think about. Moreover, it simply lacks substance. If a tenth of the time spent typesetting this book had been allocated to actual content, it could have turned out all right. As such, it is full of gloss and color, signifying nothing.

useless.......2007-09-08

I wouldn't recommend this book to anybody. just a fiw bits of information from every area, but nothing specific or useful.

Great value.......2007-09-05

If you're loooking for a good foundational knowledge of type, this is one of the best books for the money you'll find.

don't be deceived by the title.......2007-09-04

not quite helpful with thinking with type as the title suggests. more of a brief historical overview of type and such. does not really help you think critically about type. there are a few other books i would definitely if you're wanting for something deeper about type after reading this book. overall, for the price, it's a decent book to own. i do wish the book talked more about the grid system though.

A disorderly book, some good advice, much confusion.......2007-08-25

This book does not accomplish what it sets out to be, according to the subtitle, "A critical guide for designers, writers, editors & students". It has some interesting examples of unusual designs and has some value for designers of, for example, brochures or advertisements. But the book has limited value for the remaining targeted audience, as far too much of the book is devoted to oddities and strange designs that a writer, editor or student should NEVER even think of using.

The majority of the examples of text settings in the book are unreadable for more than a few lines. No writer who actually wants his or her work to be read should ever want to have the text set in one of these designs.

There are some useful guides on matters such as leading and tracking, but these are lost in the overall jumble. The book merits two stars only because of designers might find it useful. All others should avoid the book.

Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism

Average customer rating:

Not terribly interesting or informative...
Don't Waste Time, Read Dawkins
Very informational
Great overview
Buy IT Now!

Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism
David Mills
Manufacturer: Ulysses Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Church & State | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
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God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist

ASIN: 1569755671

Book Description

Clear, concise, and persuasive, Atheist Universe details exactly why God is unnecessary to explain the universe and life's diversity, organization, and beauty. The author thoroughly rebuts every argument that claims to "prove" God's existence — arguments based on logic, common sense, philosophy, ethics, history and science.

Atheist Universe avoids the esoteric language and logic used by philosophers and presents its scientific evidence in simple lay terms, making it a richly entertaining and easy-to-read introduction to atheism. A comprehensive primer, it addresses all the historical and scientific questions, including: Is there proof that God does not exist? What evidence is there of Jesus's resurrection? Can creation science reconcile scripture with the latest scientific discoveries?

Atheist Universe also answers ethical issues such as: What is the meaning of life without God? It's a spellbinding inquiry that ultimately arrives at a controversial and well-documented conclusion.

Customer Reviews:

Not terribly interesting or informative..........2007-10-12

I picked this book up as a christian who is interested in maintaining a well-rounded viewpoint. I was hoping to encounter some interesting arguments or data to challenge specific points of the christian religion, but I can't say I really did. Ultimately, I feel like the author spent a lot of time dismissing Intelligent Design, which I can understand since it isn't hard science, but also ended up doing a lot of handwaving over his points of contention in general. Maybe I expected too much, I don't know. I think it's a worthwhile read since it's one of the highest ranking books on the subject, but that doesn't speak too well of the genre in general it seems. I appreciate the author's civil style and friendly tone, but ultimately I just wasn't persuaded to even reconsider anything, and that may make his attempt a failure.

Don't Waste Time, Read Dawkins.......2007-10-04

Don't waste your time reading this drivel. This book is so centered on the "dramatic" life of the author. None of his arguments are new or that well presented. Dawkins is more comprehensive, Dennett has more interesting insights and compelling arguments (belief in belief), and Hitchens will make you laugh and remind you that being an atheist doesn't mean you hitch your wagon to the crazy nuts on the left!

Very informational.......2007-10-03

I thought the information was so important I ordered a second copy for a friend who lives in the bible belt. Just the reference to the Treaty of Tripoli makes the purchase well worth the money.

Great overview.......2007-09-26

Mills has written a terrific and nearly comprehensive overview of why atheism makes more sense than religiosity. He builds his case -- argument by argument, point by point -- in a casual, conversant style of writing that anyone should be able to follow and appreciate. Highly recommended.

Buy IT Now! .......2007-09-18

Mills has done an exceptional job of comprising a multitude of philosophical and scientific perspectives as to why a god does not exist. While some would retort that I am biased, for being atheist myself, I would rebut that it does not affect it either way. If I were a Fundamentalist it would be very hard to deny the truth of what he has gathered.

He uses perfect analogies to explain what he is trying to get across to you right when you feel lost and confused.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially Fundamentalists.

He has sparked an interest in me to research further astrology, the impeding of technology by Christians, the inquisitions, evolution, religion and its evolution and philosophy.

BUY IT NOW!

On Chinese Body Thinking: A Cultural Hermeneutic (Philosophy of History and Culture)

Average customer rating:

On Chinese Body Thinking: A Cultural Hermeneutic (Philosophy of History and Culture)
Kuang-Ming Wu
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 9004101500

Book Description

This book uses Western philosophical tradition to make a case for a form of thinking properly associated with ancient China. The book's thesis is that Chinese thinking is concrete rather than formal and abstract, and this is gathered in a variety of ways under the symbol "body thinking". The root of the metaphor is that the human body has a kind of intelligence in its most basic functions. When hungry the body gets food and eats, when tired it sleeps, when amused it laughs. In free people these things happen instinctively but not automatically. The metaphor of body thinking is extended far beyond bodily functions in the ordinary sense to personal and communal life, to social functions and to cultivation of the arts of civilization. As the metaphor is extended, the way to stay concrete in thinking with subtlety becomes a kind of ironic play, a natural adeptness at saying things with silences. Play and indirection are the roads around formalism and abstraction. Western formal thinking, it is argued, can be sharpened by Chinese body thinking to exhibit spontaneity and to produce healthy human thought in a community of cultural variety.

Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain

Average customer rating:

Awesome Find!
This great book to kick-start creative mind.
The Copywriters and the Designers are Happy
Basically a rip off of a book written in 1999 called 50 Creative Exercises
Geared toward designers, but great for ANY creative mind!

Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain
Stefan Mumaw , and Wendy Lee Oldfield
Manufacturer: How Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Zing!: Five Steps and 101 Tips for Creativity On Command
Ideaspotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea
Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design
Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite
It's Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be: The World's Best Selling Book

ASIN: 1581808674

Book Description

Packed Full of 15-Minute Creativity Sparking Exercises

*Chock-full of useful exercises designed to help readers tap into a daily creative buzz
*Features an edgy sketchbook design (by the authors) for visual allure
*Appeals to anyone looking for easy ways to jump start their creativity

For any designer or creative type who wants to quickly limber up their imagination on a daily basis, Wired helps readers get into the creative zone, from which all their best work springs. Packed with 15-minute simple and conceptual exercises, this guide will have readers reaching for markers, pencils, digital cameras, and more in order to develop a working and productive creative mindset.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Find!.......2007-09-14

On first view (size and inside design) I was not impressed!

I took a few minutes to review the pages and I was sold! I took the book home and dove right into the exercises that span 6 types of activities! My son, who wants to be a designer @ 16, completed some of the projects until midnight!

I love this book, the breakdown of the projects in the back and the interviews inspire even rookie designers and reignite the fire of the design practitioner. It is a breakdown of the the elements of creativity, including writing projects, design, writing, and problem solving!

Enjoy!

This great book to kick-start creative mind........2007-07-11

I love this book it was full of great ideas, althought some of ideas were recycled a couple of times. This is great book for anyone creative field or whom is serious about creative hobby.

The Copywriters and the Designers are Happy.......2007-06-14

Some of the creative exercise books out there are kind of....well, lame. This one isn't. It's got its share of silliness, but the exercises in this book really get the right-brain working. For most, you don't need anything more than pen, paper, and imagination. A handful of the exercises call for items that you can find around the house or office.

Although they aren't necessarily designed with a team in mind, it's easy to adapt the exercises for a group. Plus, the range of exercises makes the copywriters and the designers happy. My group, a corporate creative team, frequently pulls from this book for our weekly creative stretch. Everyone usually has a good laugh at the end results.

Basically a rip off of a book written in 1999 called 50 Creative Exercises.......2007-04-28

I didn't find anything original in this book. It seems to be a rip off of a series of books written by Dr. Nicholas in the 1990s on Creativity - called 50 Creative Exercises.

Geared toward designers, but great for ANY creative mind!.......2007-04-22

It is certainly what it says! I started tabbing all the exercises that I especially wanted to try right away. Well, let's just say the book looks like it's growing some very colorful hair with all tabs sticking out of it! A lot of them that struck me initially seemed to be photography challenges, but I guess that makes sense since that is one of the things I'm really hoping to improve on this year.

It addition to the exercises, they also have numerous short interviews with some leading designers across a spectrum of website, logo, promotions, illustration, animation, etc. In these, I found numerous ideas and concepts to ponder, some of which I will be sharing with you here in the coming weeks.

Although this book is certainly not specifically geared towards scrapbookers, I think any serious 'creative' would find great value in this book.

Average customer rating:

clear thinker and builder
Highly recommended

Thinking Architecture
Peter Zumthor
Manufacturer: Birkhäuser Basel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 3764374977

Book Description

In order to design a building with a sensuous connection to life, one must think in a way that goes far beyond form and construction. In these essays Peter Zumthor expresses his motivation in designing buildings, which speak to our emotions and understanding in so many ways, and possess a powerful and unmistakable presence and personality.

This book, whose first edition has been out of print for years, has been expanded to include three new essays: "Does Beauty Have a Form?,” "The Magic of the Real,” and "Light in the Landscape.” It has been freshly illustrated throughout with new color photographs of Zumthor’s new home and studio in Haldenstein, taken specially for this edition by Laura Padgett, and received a new typography by Hannele Grönlund.

Customer Reviews:

clear thinker and builder.......2006-07-15

Reading this book was like reading a long-lost secret manual of
"How to become a 21 century Samurai..." I guess that sense of delusion rises because the content and the tone of book has this (quasi) idea of medieval perfection achieved through a repetition of hands-on practice. "I do not work towards architecture from a theoretically defined point of departure, for I am committed to making architecture,," writes Zumthor.

Moreover, a reader, at the back of her/his head, has those powerful images of Bath House in Vaals (tour de force of phenomenological experience) that intensifies the delusion. One would think, 'Zumthor must be a man from Mars to build architecture like that' and 'his writings must be a strong sleeping pill.' Usual Suspect !

He writes extremely clear with extremely simple terms. This slim book tells us how an architect of such originality thinks and experiences daily life. It's a great pleasure to find out what kind of music (Mozart's piano concertos) zumthor listens; what kind of artists (Beuys and Merz) he likes; what kind of film he watches (Ettore Scola's film Le Bal); what kind of books (Calvino) he reads; and what kind of sayings ("the hard core beauty") in the radio show captivates him. A former cabinet maker, his book is carefully jointed, just like his buildings. Anyone who found this book fun/inspiring to read should also try Alvaro Siza's "Writings on Architecture"

Highly recommended.......2004-04-10

A thoroughly engaging book about meaningful architecture - it now holds a very special place in my architecture library, right next to Michael Benedikt's For An Architecture of Reality.
Excellent for anyone interested in Peter Zumthor's work.

Visual & Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Decision Making

Average customer rating:

demystify the cloud
Superb analytical writing
Visual and Statistical Thinking....very visual
How not to lie with graphics
waste of money

Visual & Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Decision Making
Edward R. Tufte
Manufacturer: Graphics Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0961392134

Customer Reviews:

demystify the cloud.......2007-02-17

if you have to present or report complex information to others, this and tufte's other tomes are a very useful and are good reference library books.

Superb analytical writing.......2007-01-04

Tufte is a master of laying out the problem, revealing misguided analysis used in the two studies that he dissects and then shows how to better interpret the data. I found myself slowing down my usual reading speed to half and doubling my concentration to follow him, which is a compliment to the depth of his writing. Tufte is concise and a well-regarded authority on the methods to describe, define, reveal and present problems so that solutions are found honestly. I recommend reading all his work.

Visual and Statistical Thinking....very visual.......2006-08-02

A very good book on a fairly obscure but very important subject. Being able to effectively communicate numerical/statistical information in a graphical way is far more art and aethetics, than science. Anyone who uses charts and graphs to convey important information should get this book. In other works by Tufte, he shows how proper use of explaining critical numerical information could have stopped the Space Shuttle from launching on a cold morning which eventually led to it exploding shortly after tackoff in 1987 - due to an o-ring failing to seal properly. A fascinating read that reveals how important graphs are to making sense of numerical data.

How not to lie with graphics.......2006-06-12

This book is not as incisive as Tufte's classic "The Visual Display of Qantitiative Information". It does, however, discuss in cogent detail how to design a graphical display so that it will clarify ideas and not mislead the viewer. We are subject daily to a blizzard of deliberate dis-information by such means. Tufte's plea for clarity and honesty seems almost quaint by today's standards. Thank you, sir.

waste of money.......2006-03-25

Buy the book instead of this pamphlet. This small guide is a waste of money

Thinking Creatively: New Ways to Unlock Your Visual Imagination

Average customer rating:

Not Quite for Beginners
Eye Candy, Brain Vacuum
helped me
A book FILLED with great examples of design...
An outstanding book stuffed page to page with juicy ideas.

Thinking Creatively: New Ways to Unlock Your Visual Imagination
Robin Landa
Manufacturer: How Design Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Official Adobe Print Publishing Guide, Second Edition: The Essential Resource for Design, Production, and Prepress (2nd Edition) (Publishing Guide (AP))
Getting It Printed: How to Work With Printers and Graphic Imaging Services to Assure Quality, Stay on Schedule and Control Costs (Getting It Printed) 4th Edition

ASIN: 1581803389

Customer Reviews:

Not Quite for Beginners.......2001-11-26

This book is intended for someone who has a bit of a background in design. Landa does explain some of the things you will want to think about in a design, say for a book jacket or advertisement, but unless you are already familiar with the terms, this may not help.

There are exercises for you to practice what you have learned, but there are no answers. These are intended for the reader to explore what they have learned rather than "parrot" back what the author wants.

In the end of the book are some words about design from some big-name designers in either interview or short-letter form. This will mean more to you if you are familiar with the names.

The examples are good pictures with some information (who did the work and whom it was for), and they have a brief paragraph explaining what the creator were thinking about the project. In some cases, it is very enlightening, but in others, it just seemed like reminiscing.

I recommend this book for people with designer training, but not for the beginner.

Eye Candy, Brain Vacuum.......2001-03-05

OK, you can certainly see lots of examples of cool designs, but if you are looking for actual HELP with learning to design, this is NOT the book for you. I kept waiting for the book to be useful. Finally, towards the end is a section of exercises that can help "unlock" your visual creativity. That was useful, but in the end, it didn't redeem the book.

If you are looking for a neat beginner's guide to design principles, see "The Non-Designer's Design Book," another gem by Robin Williams.

helped me.......2000-09-30

Landa is the absolute authority on creative visual thinking. This book helped me tremendously! Buy it.

A book FILLED with great examples of design..........2000-01-28

Actually, the book ITSELF is well designed/layed out too, which could lead you to establish somewhat of a biased faith in its content before you even read it thoroughly (the content IS good, by the way). I've lost count how many times I've referred to it for inspiration and come out on top. It's certainly been a good investment for me.

An outstanding book stuffed page to page with juicy ideas........1999-01-08

Tired of searching for inspiration to unlock the block that's been stifling your creative flow? Well, this book is dynamite! Lots of direction both in writing and pictures for expanding creative muscle. Clear and friendly writing style, excellent organization of material, easy to follow and cruise through. And, not so expensive given the good quality paper, hc, and all those photos! I thought the interviews with designers was a humanistic touch. Nice to know the faces behind great design.

Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers

Average customer rating:

A helpful hint in the right direction
Very helpful book

Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers
Paul Laseau
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Architectural Drawing: A Visual Compendium of Types and Methods
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Design Drawing

ASIN: 0471352926

Book Description

The essential design companion-now in an up-to-date new edition

For architects, drawing is more than a convenient way to communicate ideas; it is an integral part of the creative process that has a profound impact on thinking and problem-solving. In Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers, Third Edition, Paul Laseau demonstrates that more versatile and facile sketching leads to more flexible, creative approaches to design challenges. To encourage this flexibility and stimulate graphic thinking, he introduces numerous graphic techniques that can be applied in a variety of situations. He also helps readers acquire a solid grasp of basic freehand drawing, representational drawing construction, graphic note-taking, and diagramming.

Important features of this new edition include:
* Easy-to-understand discussions supported by freehand illustrations
* A new format with superior representation of techniques and concepts
* Dozens of new and updated illustrations
* Extensive coverage of new technologies related to the graphic thinking process

For architects and students who want to maximize their creativity, Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers is a valuable tool in the pursuit of architectural solutions to contemporary design problems.

Customer Reviews:

A helpful hint in the right direction.......2000-05-27

As an Architecture Student, I really enjoyed this book. It was very helpful with sketching techniques and just general concepts related to architecture. It was a required text for a class, but it has been a helpful reasource since. I recommend this book to any person wishing to develop a good sketching technique. This book refrences very important works by Aalto and Wright. It also addresses important and helpful hints about abstraction of ideals and their graphic weight.

Very helpful book.......2000-03-30

As an interior design student I have found this book to be very informative and helpful. The step by step analysis of the design process is terrific and I've practically worn out the copy at the library, so it's time to buy it for myself.

Thinking in Type: The Practical Philosophy of Typography

Average customer rating:

Great read on type
Wonderful Book on Type

Thinking in Type: The Practical Philosophy of Typography
Alex W White
Manufacturer: Allworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type
Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop
Advertising Design and Typography
The Elements of Typographic Style

ASIN: 1581153848

Customer Reviews:

Great read on type.......2007-01-02

This is one of those books that every designer should have read and probably own. It contains a lot of useful information including history, theory, application, a lot of examples, and a fair share of philosophical food for thought.

I would recommend it as a great addition to any design library, and for students as a follow up to a basic book on type.

Wonderful Book on Type .......2005-06-09

Hands down, without a doubt, this is the BEST book on typography that I have ever read.

From the history of type to page layout, this book is a thorough reference in a little more than 200 pages.

Pictures accommodate every page, yet there is a TON of substance to read if you're interested.

I would recommend this book to anybody interested in graphic design and page layout (this applies to web design as well).

Great book!

The Big Book of Creativity Games: Quick, Fun Acitivities for Jumpstarting Innovation

Average customer rating:

Creativity from one who knows the source
Hare-Brained
Disappointed Innovator
Unleash Your Creativity
CREATIVE PROCESS DEMYSTIFIED

The Big Book of Creativity Games: Quick, Fun Acitivities for Jumpstarting Innovation
Robert Epstein
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071361766

Book Description

In the modern economy, where most workers are knowledge workers, creativity and innovation are the most easily sustainable competitive advantages. In The Big Book of Creativity Games, Harvard trained psychologist Robert Epstein provides dozens of games and activities designed to stimulate creativity and generate innovation in the workplace.

Dr. Epstein describes the scientific principles of creativity that underlie the games, and how these principles can be applied to tasks like problem solving, new product development, and marketing. Timely and innovative, The Big Book of Creativity Games is the ideal book for managers to turn to whenever they need:

Games that are easy to lead and fun to play
Exercises that go far beyond standard brainstorming techniques
Innovation jump-starters for team meetings and work groups

Customer Reviews:

Creativity from one who knows the source.......2007-02-11

The book is firmly rooted in science, and the exercises are proof: This is not a cookbook. You need to understand the rationale behind the exercises. The book builds up a coherent set of argument, points to further reading, and is a veritable treasure trove of how to be, and help others be, creative. I highly recommend it.

Hare-Brained.......2004-03-26

This book delivers so much less than it promises that I have found it virtually useless in training actual human beings. Maybe it was tested on hares. You would do much better (and be much more creative) coming up your own exercises.

Disappointed Innovator.......2004-03-06

This book was a total disappointment. I have never written a review online before, but if I can stop someone from buying this series I will feel like I've saved someone their hard-earned dollars. The subtitle says "Fun Activities for Jumpstarting Innovation". It should have said "Invent your own games because we don't have any good ones to tell you about". At least half the games were not games at all, but instructions for the participants to CREATE THEIR OWN GAMES!!!!! I COULD HAVE DONE THAT! One after the other are worded as follows: "Participants design and carry out their own exercise to demonstrate the importance of _____ for the creative process" -- (insert chapter topic in the blank). Sorry, that doesn't help me at all. STAY AWAY!

Unleash Your Creativity.......2003-09-07

It is probably no accident that Robert Epstein's _Big Book of Creativity Games: Quick, Fun Activities for Jumpstarting Innovation_ appears at first glance to be a book for children. Its title, colorful cover, and interior design are reminiscent of children's books. While many of the games can be used in classrooms, the primary audience for the book is adults -- people who want to improve the creativity of those in their businesses or other organizations.

The forty-eight games in the book are based on Epstein's Generativity Theory. His ideas about the creative process grew out of his laboratory research. In addition to refuting popular myths about the creative process, Epstein identifies four core competencies that help individuals express their creativity (plus four more competencies to nurture creativity in others):
1. Capturing new ideas
2. Challenging yourself so that new ideas emerge
3. Broadening your base of knowledge and experience
4. Surrounding yourself with an environment -- both physical and social -- that encourages new ideas

Despite the fact that the book is grounded in theory and research, the information it contains is practical and easily accessible. The book is written in lay terms, and the information is as easy to understand as the juvenile format leads you to expect it to be.

The games are categorized by purpose (such as "convincing people that they're creative") and by core competency. It is easy, therefore, to find games to fit a particular need. Epstein devotes about three pages to each game, providing a summary of the game, its objective, the time required (ranging from 5 to 90 minutes), the materials needed (generally readily available), the procedure, and discussion questions. The discussion questions are indeed a key feature of the book, for the games are intended not only to boost creativity but also to demonstrate creativity's basic principles.

Epstein places a high premium on failure. He says that failure causes us to recall past methods of dealing with a problem -- and often discover a new solution. Without failure, creativity is not needed (remember the Apollo 13 mission). Many games involving the second competency, Challenging, deal with managing the frustration and other negative emotions that often accompany failure.

In addition, the book includes an abridged version of Epstein's Creativity Competencies Inventory for Individuals (ECCI-i) along with a self-scorer. These tools are effective for evaluating a person's overall creativity and each of the four competencies. It is easy, then, for a person to see which areas would benefit from development.

CREATIVE PROCESS DEMYSTIFIED.......2000-11-15

Thank you, Robert Epstein, for demythologizing creativity. As a writing teacher I found this book very helpful in several ways. The games are fun and each one makes a strong point. My students respond to the core competencies with excitement and gratitude and most can't wait to develop these concrete skills. I've found nothing better for tackling the problem of "writer's block." I have used this book with students in classroom and workshop situations and recommend it to managers who want to jump start their employees' creativity.

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