bhsmith's review
3.0
The aura of Pixar surrounding this book - complete with a silhouette of Buzz LIghtyear on the cover - made it intriguing and exciting for me to read. I like reading about the process of filmmaking, and the films Pixar produces are second to none. I was looking for some great insider stories about the creative process and what makes Pixar tick. And, Ed Catmull certainly delivered! The book is sprinkled with amazing insight and behind-the-scenes Pixar lore that details some of the decisions that have made Pixar what it is today.
Unfortunately, the book was full of more generic business and management advice than it was of great Pixar stories. If you're looking for someone to write or gather up some similes for you, Catmull is your man! Filmmaking is like steering a ship... is like running a race... is like climbing a mountain... is like navigating a long tunnel... and on and on! None of these similes had any real substance and could not be applied to any job or workplace with any effectiveness.
There were a few gems in the books. Pixar's ideas around constructive criticism, "Braintrust" meetings, and continual improvement are admirable qualities that could be applied in different ways across different industries beyond animation. But, these nuggets of actual useful business insight were pretty few and far between. I'm confident Catmull is a great leader and a smart guy... he would not be in his current role if he wasn't. Somehow, all of his advice just seemed watered down for mass consumption.
It was almost comical when I reached the end of the book and found a short chapter summarizing the key takeaways from the book. Catmull even pokes fun at trying to boil down key lessons into simple slogans... but then he goes ahead and publishes an entire chapter full of cheap slogans. "Give a good idea to a mediocre team, and they will screw it up. Give a mediocre idea to a great team, and they will either fix it or come up with something better." "The first conclusions we draw from our successes and failures are typically wrong." "Change and uncertainty are part of life." "Failure isn't a necessary evil. In fact, it isn't evil at all."
If you can slog through some of the faux-inspirational business tips, you will still come away from "Creativity, Inc." with a new appreciation for the work it has taken by all members of the Pixar team to produce an amazing, creative and nimble organization.
Unfortunately, the book was full of more generic business and management advice than it was of great Pixar stories. If you're looking for someone to write or gather up some similes for you, Catmull is your man! Filmmaking is like steering a ship... is like running a race... is like climbing a mountain... is like navigating a long tunnel... and on and on! None of these similes had any real substance and could not be applied to any job or workplace with any effectiveness.
There were a few gems in the books. Pixar's ideas around constructive criticism, "Braintrust" meetings, and continual improvement are admirable qualities that could be applied in different ways across different industries beyond animation. But, these nuggets of actual useful business insight were pretty few and far between. I'm confident Catmull is a great leader and a smart guy... he would not be in his current role if he wasn't. Somehow, all of his advice just seemed watered down for mass consumption.
It was almost comical when I reached the end of the book and found a short chapter summarizing the key takeaways from the book. Catmull even pokes fun at trying to boil down key lessons into simple slogans... but then he goes ahead and publishes an entire chapter full of cheap slogans. "Give a good idea to a mediocre team, and they will screw it up. Give a mediocre idea to a great team, and they will either fix it or come up with something better." "The first conclusions we draw from our successes and failures are typically wrong." "Change and uncertainty are part of life." "Failure isn't a necessary evil. In fact, it isn't evil at all."
If you can slog through some of the faux-inspirational business tips, you will still come away from "Creativity, Inc." with a new appreciation for the work it has taken by all members of the Pixar team to produce an amazing, creative and nimble organization.
sanitakacuba's review
4.0
Apart from making you want to work at Pixar, the book is also entertaining and gives you a handful of valuable management lessons. Simply a good read.
marianaarguellogalvez's review against another edition
4.0
Una lectura muy enriquecedora, los puntos principales que me encantaron:
1. El enfoque en la importancia de una cultura laboral saludable.
2. El desarrollar los primeros pasos de Pixar y de hacerme conciente de la dificultad de hacer una película.
3. Los consejos que brinda en cada capítulo y que luego te resume en el final.
1. El enfoque en la importancia de una cultura laboral saludable.
2. El desarrollar los primeros pasos de Pixar y de hacerme conciente de la dificultad de hacer una película.
3. Los consejos que brinda en cada capítulo y que luego te resume en el final.
hairband_dude's review
3.0
Started off really well, then degenerated into a management book rather than an innovation/creativity book.
jocelyn_n's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I love this book. It’s one that I’ve read before, and I’ve had a copy since shortly after it was first published. It’s part memoir, part business management book, and part Pixar history book. Mix it all together, and you get a high-quality read.
It’s well-written and well-organized into four parts (not necessarily divided by the genres I mentioned above), with each section, and each chapter within, building on the previous. It was easy to follow along with the author’s personal story and the stories of other significant individuals (such as Steve Jobs) and follow along with different events and principles mentioned and discussed. It’s one that I enjoy rereading as a casual reader or when I want to remind myself of one of the concepts highlighted in the book.
It’s well-written and well-organized into four parts (not necessarily divided by the genres I mentioned above), with each section, and each chapter within, building on the previous. It was easy to follow along with the author’s personal story and the stories of other significant individuals (such as Steve Jobs) and follow along with different events and principles mentioned and discussed. It’s one that I enjoy rereading as a casual reader or when I want to remind myself of one of the concepts highlighted in the book.
statman's review
3.0
Interesting biographical portion of Ed Catmull and his beginnings into the computer graphics industry. Also talks about the process of creativity and how they try to encourage it at Pixar.