Creativity & work

The books behind it

• Leonardo da VinciWalter IsaacsonT
  Leonardo da VinciWalter Isaacson · 2017Reads the notebooks closely to connect Leonardo’s restless observation with the works he completed—and abandoned.›Walter Isaacson, 2017. Why this book: Reads the notebooks closely to connect Leonardo’s restless observation with the works he completed—and abandoned.
• Matisse the MasterHilary SpurlingT
  Matisse the MasterHilary Spurling · 2005A detailed account of Matisse’s mature work, relationships and exacting reinvention of his studio practice.›Hilary Spurling, 2005. Why this book: A detailed account of Matisse’s mature work, relationships and exacting reinvention of his studio practice.
• Beethoven:…Jan SwaffordT
  Beethoven: Anguish and TriumphJan Swafford · 2014Sets the music’s difficult making inside a full, unsentimental account of Beethoven’s life.›Jan Swafford, 2014. Why this book: Sets the music’s difficult making inside a full, unsentimental account of Beethoven’s life.
• The Creative HabitTwyla TharpT
  The Creative HabitTwyla Tharp · 2003A choreographer’s concrete account of preparing, collecting and working—best read as practice, not law.›Twyla Tharp, 2003. Why this book: A choreographer’s concrete account of preparing, collecting and working—best read as practice, not law.
• The Art of ThoughtGraham WallasT
  The Art of ThoughtGraham Wallas · 1926The classic source of the preparation–incubation account, useful when read beside later experimental tests.›Graham Wallas, 1926. Why this book: The classic source of the preparation–incubation account, useful when read beside later experimental tests.
• Art & FearDavid BaylesT
  Art & FearDavid Bayles and Ted Orland · 1993A compact, humane account of continuing to make work amid judgment, uncertainty and ordinary studio life.›David Bayles and Ted Orland, 1993. Why this book: A compact, humane account of continuing to make work amid judgment, uncertainty and ordinary studio life.
• Mozart: A LifeMaynard SolomonT
  Mozart: A LifeMaynard Solomon · 1995A psychologically alert biography that tests the Mozart legend against documents, family pressures and work.›Maynard Solomon, 1995. Why this book: A psychologically alert biography that tests the Mozart legend against documents, family pressures and work.
• The Creative BrainNancy C. AndreasenT
  The Creative BrainNancy C. Andreasen · 2005An accessible early map of creativity research, worth pairing with newer network-based neuroscience.›Nancy C. Andreasen, 2005. Why this book: An accessible early map of creativity research, worth pairing with newer network-based neuroscience.
• The Lady and Her…Roseanne MontilloT
  The Lady and Her MonstersRoseanne Montillo · 2013Places Shelley’s novel among the era’s experiments, bodies and intellectual circles without stealing her agency.›Roseanne Montillo, 2013. Why this book: Places Shelley’s novel among the era’s experiments, bodies and intellectual circles without stealing her agency.
• Broad BandClaire L. EvansT
  Broad BandClaire L. Evans · 2018Recovers women’s formative work across computing while showing how technical cultures decide whom to remember.›Claire L. Evans, 2018. Why this book: Recovers women’s formative work across computing while showing how technical cultures decide whom to remember.
• Ways of SeeingJohn BergerT
  Ways of SeeingJohn Berger · 1972A sharp invitation to compare images, contexts and habits of looking rather than accept the first reading.›John Berger, 1972. Why this book: A sharp invitation to compare images, contexts and habits of looking rather than accept the first reading.
• Daily RitualsMason CurreyT
  Daily RitualsMason Currey · 2013A varied collection of artists’ routines that is most useful as possibility, never prescription.›Mason Currey, 2013. Why this book: A varied collection of artists’ routines that is most useful as possibility, never prescription.