Susan Recommends: Books on Creativity _______________________________
1. For Recovery and Healing--Read The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron.
The Artist's Way is a must for all creatives.
When I was a practicing psychotherapist, I usually had paper and crayons nearby. I remember one client who sat through session after session with her hand creeping toward these materials but afraid to pick them up because she "wasn't artistic". Hogwash! We are all creative. In my experience, one of the first qualities to emerge as people heal is their creativity.
The Artist's Way is about healing, rediscovering and reclaiming the creative spirit lying dormant within us. It is ideal for anyone who remembers a time in her life, even if it was in kindergarten, when she loved to create and wants to recapture the love and freedom of creating.
This is also a wonderful book for working artists who struggle with frequent and ongoing creative blocks.
2. For Developing and Growing Your Creativity--Read How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day
If The Artist's Way is Creativity 101, How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael Gelb, is Creativity 201.
In it, he provides a step-by-step program for expanding your creativity and accessing your own creative flow.
This book has not gotten the press attention it deserves. Get it anyway. It's a gem!
3. For Dealing with Resistance--Read The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield (the author of "The Legend of Bagger Vance").
I'm sure you never suffer from resistance ;-).
Right!
When doing the laundry feels more urgent than working, you know you're dealing with resistance. We've all been there and you'll see yourself repeatedly in this book of entertaining and insightful essays.
You will also be inspired to take your work seriously, move beyond your resistance and become prolifically creative.
4. For Understanding the Value of Your Creativity in the World and Workplace--A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age by Daniel Pink
A Whole New Mind makes a compelling case for the increased value of our creative skills in the marketplace as information jobs get automated and outsourced. For all of us who have struggled to have our talent, skill and vision valued, this book is wondrously hopeful.
5. For Understanding the Connection between Creativity and Healing--The Creative Connection by Natalie Rogers
The Creative Connection by Natalie Rogers,the daughterof Carl Rogers (of person centered therapy fame), is a wonderfully inspiring book that explores the creative process---why we create, how we create and how to foster creativity in ourselves and others. It's a bit pricey but it's well worth it.
6. For Writing Poetry--Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making by John Fox
Although Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making focuses on using poetry for healing, it also provides wonderful tools for writing poetry whether you are an experienced poet or just beginning.
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As you read these books, let me know what you think. And I would love to hear what you're reading. Feel free to contact me at susan@susanfuller.com
May you always have great creative success!
Susan
If you found these recommendations helpful, you might be interested in my other products and services which can be found at:
http://www.susanfuller.com
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