inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity Hardcover – April 17, 2012

My inspiration for reading Tina Seelig's excellent book was this quote from the book that I came across in my on-going research on the subject of creativity: "knowledge is the toolbox for your imagination". The book has a worthwhile number of findings, tips, and words of wisdom on the subject of creativity. I found particularly interesting her insight into the subject of working under pressure because most creativity studies indicate that pressure is a bad environment for generating new and creative thoughts. Seelig's findings are that it isn't that simple. Her discussion of the subject spurred me on to further research, aided by her footnotes, which has helped me in the creativity classes I teach for the Professional Photographers of America. All in all this is a worthwhile book on the subject of creativity although less so for those of you who are "art oriented" than "business oriented". Most books on creativity lean one way or the other and the majority (although not all) of Seelig's examples are for the business world. For those seeking a solid foundation in the subject of creativity I also recommend "Your Creative Brain" by Shelley Carson. For me it has served as the base of knowledge with all the other books and articles filling in smaller gaps or expanding on specific subjects.

I've just finished reading Tina Seelig's "InGenius" and the best compliment I can pay it is that it has changed me, "supercharged" me and provided me with inspiration, motivation and - best of all - it has helped me find creative answers to specific innovation challenges I had been working on for some time.Her model of the Innovation Engine with its six components (culture, attitude, imagination, resources, knowledge, habitat) is brilliant. When you think of the process of innovation in this way, you realize how critical each component is. In a proper engine, each part is necessary but not sufficient - take one small valve or bearing out and the engine grinds to a halt. But in most environments that want to foster innovation and creativity, we often see several components that are inadequate or missing altogether - which explains why so many such efforts are unsuccessful.As she elaborates on the engine model, she covers tools that are probably familiar to people who have an interest in creativity and innovation. However, as she did with the engine model, she analyzes how and why these tools work and, more importantly, how they are often mis-used. Her section on brainstorming is a perfect example. Most people think they understand how to run a brainstorming session, but they really don't; they just collect a random bunch of people in a room (often a room unsuitable for the purpose) and start tossing ideas out in a free-for-all frenzy. Tina summarizes the "rules" of brainstorming clearly and succinctly, and in a way that will probably make you realize that most of the brainstorming sessions in which you have participated were, at best, poor and pale imitation of what really effective and efficient brainstorming should be like.I could tell you more, but I don't want to spoil the pleasure and insights you'll get by reading "InGenius" yourself.As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, "InGenius" changed and energized me. I read it over two mornings and, while reading, I found myself taking many notes and furiously writing down ideas. When a book permanently and substantively changes the way you view things - your long-term perspective - while giving you immediately applicable insights, advice and tools, you can't ask for more. "InGenius" is such a book. Highly-recommended. Thank you Tina!

I am a student at the University of Baltimore. I was recommended that I read this book for class material, so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the book. However, I can rightfully say now that this book has given me solutions to so many different problems.This book showed me that the imagination that I had when I was younger can be used to boost productivity through innovation. It also emphasized the importance of experimentation in even more than just science. On top of this, it helped me learn more ways to expand my creativity. The very first chapter taught people how to shift their perspective to see the world differently than from their own point of view. This point would reverberate throughout the entire book to make even the act of practicing this book’s advice of expanding creativity feel like a creative venture.The book’s use of perspective revealed a lot about how the use of different people’s ideas can meld into an innovation. It is because of these varying ideas that people are able to come together, focus, and overcome failure in order to achieve the creative venture. It presents solutions to gain inspiration to escape creativity barriers like writers block, and encourages the use of unusual thinking to move forward. The book also gives a plethora of examples that gives readers many ways to better understand how to use their creativity. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to create anything.

Highly recommended book. It is a game changer! If you want to become more creatively confident, read it. Creativity is not an artistry! Many people have a mistakable understanding of the meaning of the word.Creativity influenced by internal factors like imagination, knowledge, and attitude, and external such as habitats, resources and culture. Once you read this book you will start noticing how those factors influence your creativity. When you start paying attention to all areas that mold your creativity you can consciously use them for your creativity enhancement.

Great insights on creativity. Good workshop examples. Interesting reading. Light information, easy to read. Fuels ideas on innovation and creativity.

Great quick read to get you thinking more about Creativity. I am also doing the online creativity course and this book also is part of the reading so it has been very helpful. Been very interesting finding out about other companies and creativity at work.

Great book & interesting comments - re. Crash Course on Creativity (Stanford University) Free on line course (Offering). Helped as a preamble for the course.

I bought this book while doing an art course and found it very inspiring in order to brainstorm and get creative for art, life, work and more aspects of my life.