Imagine by Jonah Lehrer

“The imagination is vaster than we can imagine. We just need to learn how to listen." “Imagine” by New York Times best-selling author, Jonah Lehrer (“How We Decide”), is an exploration into the world of imagination and creativity through the areas of artistic inspiration, brain function, mental illness, and amphetamines.

Many artists, writers, and musicians from the early Greek through present day, have suffered from bi-polar disease or depression, which can generate feelings of melancholy triggering intense concentration and creativity. Artists and musicians are not the only ones to take advantage of creativity as a tool for productivity. The leaders of 3M and Pixar inspire creativity in their workforce through physical building arrangement, collaboration with those outside of the company, and group dynamics.

Lehrer encourages the reader to look at the world from a different vantage point. Think like a child. Talk to someone new. Travel.

Although this book is very thought-provoking, Lehrer sometimes jumps from topic to topic without providing a smooth transition. While I would not call this a casual read, the science of creativity is explored and those interested in the topic of imagination and inspiration will be intrigued.

~ Paula