Creativity & Brainstorming

Here are the best of the best from my library of creativity, ideation, and brainstorming books.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath The search for getting information into people’s heads… a tough one, I’ll admit. I’ve run across some GREAT examples (some of which are presented in this book), but could never really put my finger on a clear plan of action for duplicating the successes of the examples. Well hello Heath Brothers – thank you for helping me FINALLY reach this goal. Lead? Teach? Have kids? Want to revitalize your corporate impact? Youtube producer? All of the above? Read this. Read it now and commit… yourself to this useful template.
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds It was amazing. It’s not just about making a nice slidedeck – it’s about making a nice life. I get a kick out of turning raw data into cake people can enjoy. This book has added many more tools to my toolbox. It will be a desk reference for anyone that has to get their point across to an audience – that’s you. Thanks, Garr.
Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques (2nd Edition) by Michael Michalko Ever come up with an idea that just made you shiver in giddy excitement? I’m talking “hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck” type “whoa!” thrill? Give the brainstorming methods of this magnificent gem a chance and I can assure you this will be a part of your life. Thinkertoys is a tool that any person, creative or ‘not’, can use and *will* produce usable results. An honest attempt at the exercises is necessary – you can’t go becoming a body-builder just by picking up a weight one time now can you? This book will take some time to go through if you take your time but it’s worth the effort. Add this to your library, tab/flag the Thinkertoy ‘blueprints’, and proceed to have a great innovation tool by your side at all times.
Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod A good book! Full of useful tips you can put to work very quickly. High has a great attitude and this was a fun read to run through. Definitely a nice tool to add to the creativity toolbox. If you have to think, you might as well make sure you’re using your time wisely. Check it out.
The Circle of Innovation: You Can’t Shrink Your Way to Greatness by Tom Peters This was not only extremely fun (though his style and format took some time… like 30 pages… to get used to) it was terribly inspiring! I love thi…moreThis was not only extremely fun (though his style and format took some time… like 30 pages… to get used to) it was terribly inspiring! I love this out-of-the-box stuff that just seems to make so much sense. It may be over a decade old now, but I’m glad I ran across this one.
Type Rules!: The Designer’s Guide to Professional Typography by Ilene Strizver A good intro to typography, or so I can guess as this is my first book in the subject. Great examples, great visuals, and good for helping a newbie like me see just how much work goes into making type look good. People that make things that other people will see need to get up to speed on typography. It’s important.