rumbledethumps's review against another edition
5.0
A very short book about encouraging a creative practice. Focused mainly on writing, it could also have uses in other artistic pursuits.
Some might say it is far too short, but it embraces what it is. There's very little filler (such as you might see in other books of its kind), it is to the point, and the few instructions it gives are direct and easy to implement.
I'll put this on my permanent shelf next to Austin Kleon and Twlya Tharp.
Some might say it is far too short, but it embraces what it is. There's very little filler (such as you might see in other books of its kind), it is to the point, and the few instructions it gives are direct and easy to implement.
I'll put this on my permanent shelf next to Austin Kleon and Twlya Tharp.
minty's review against another edition
4.0
Hardly counts as a book--more like a longform essay? But charming, and read by the author, and just a delight.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide is an examination of the creative process by the inimitable John Cleese. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Crown Publishing, it's a concise 112 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is exactly as advertized. It's cheerfully humorous and lighthearted but at the same time, a fairly rigorous examination of writing and the creative process from the prodigious experience acquired by Mr. Cleese over his long (and illustrious) career.
The book is broken into shorter chapters (some of them are 1 page(ish) - very short indeed) which illuminate one or more points. Many of the larger ideas will be familiar to fanatical followers of the author from his series of lectures at Cornell as a professor-at-large. They're expanded upon in this book and there are some pretty profound ideas included for a humorous little book.
In the current culture of anti-intellectualism it's all too easy to become disillusioned and exhausted by all of the backlash against well spoken prose, language, literature, intelligence... This book (and Cleese) are erudite and unapologetically intelligent.
There's a lot of material here for fans of Monty Python and Cleese the Actor, but there's also a lot to love here for anyone who loves to read intelligent well spoken people talking about an interesting topic.
I enjoyed it hugely and recommend it to everyone.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide is an examination of the creative process by the inimitable John Cleese. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Crown Publishing, it's a concise 112 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is exactly as advertized. It's cheerfully humorous and lighthearted but at the same time, a fairly rigorous examination of writing and the creative process from the prodigious experience acquired by Mr. Cleese over his long (and illustrious) career.
The book is broken into shorter chapters (some of them are 1 page(ish) - very short indeed) which illuminate one or more points. Many of the larger ideas will be familiar to fanatical followers of the author from his series of lectures at Cornell as a professor-at-large. They're expanded upon in this book and there are some pretty profound ideas included for a humorous little book.
In the current culture of anti-intellectualism it's all too easy to become disillusioned and exhausted by all of the backlash against well spoken prose, language, literature, intelligence... This book (and Cleese) are erudite and unapologetically intelligent.
There's a lot of material here for fans of Monty Python and Cleese the Actor, but there's also a lot to love here for anyone who loves to read intelligent well spoken people talking about an interesting topic.
I enjoyed it hugely and recommend it to everyone.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
quentin_r's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5