In alphabetical order, 17 potent, inspiring, and relatively unknown books on the power of art, imagination, learning, and metaphor. (These are books not commonly known, so that’s why some popular books on creativity and imagination aren’t listed.) Enjoy. THE AESTHETIC DIMENSION: Towards a Critique of Marxist Aesthetics by Herbert Marcuse ALONE WITH THE ALONE: Creative…
One of my favorite books about art-making and creativity is Robert Henri’s The Art Spirit. Here are a few passages that stood out to me: “…we must get rid of this outside feeling of looking in on art. We must get on the inside and press out. Art is simply a result of expression during…
In her timeless book, If You Want to Write, Brenda Ueland captures a profound truth: “When we ignore the imagination, we stop living from our center, from the creative fountain, and we live from the periphery, from externals.” Ueland’s words strike at the heart of how imagination shapes the human experience. Too often, we allow…
Spaces instigate transformation. During the civil rights movement, black churches were instrumental in creating change because they provided “free spaces” for people to meet. Churches were the places where people could come together to inspire one another, plot strategy, and catalyze change. Without those free spaces, the civil rights movement might not have happened. I…
Creativity isn’t about sticking to a plan; it’s about allowing yourself to be pulled by something—an idea, a vision, a curiosity. When you follow that pull, it leads you into a space you didn’t know existed. This is how we open new worlds. Creating something new requires openness, flexibility, and a willingness to embrace the…
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