If you sometimes struggle with getting creative inspiration, you’re in luck.
I recently surveyed some really cool creative folks who shared with me their favorite books for creativity.
One of the ways I tap back into my creative spark is by learning from the creative process of others.
When I posted on facebook about the best books my friends have read on creativity, I not only learned a bit about my friends and their passions, but I also got a whole new reading list.
If you want to refill your creative tank to help you spark that next big idea, check out the following books that inspired…
Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion by Joseph Campbell
Suggested by: Rick Ray, Award-winning cinematographer, writer, editor and director, Rick Rays Films, Ventura, CA
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
“Carroll captures those transitions from scene to scene that we only experience in our dreams. No explanation: just change of scenergy and characters.”
~Ann Cohn Asprodites, Owner, Asprodites Reps, New Orleans, LA
The Book of Gossage by Howard Luck Gossage, Jeff Goodby and Edited by Bruce Bendinger
“Advertising based, but great for creative inspiration.”
~Damon Webster, Freelance Senior Producer/Founder, PhotoInduced, New York, NY
Starting Point: 1979-1996 by Hayao Miyazaki
“My most recent source of inspiration.”
~Richard O’Connor, Animator and Artist, Ace & Son Moving Picture Co., LLC, New York, NY
The 10 Faces of Innovation by Thomas Kelley
Suggested by: Kim Ann Curtin, Founder & CEO, The Wall Street Coach, New York, NY
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer
Trust The Process: An Artist’s Guide to Letting Go by Shaun McNiff
The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity by James C. Kaufman and Robert J. Sternberg (editors)
“I have so many in my library, but these are the ones I keep referring back to.”
~Steve Keller, CEO & Strategist, iV audio branding, Nashville, TN
The Courage to Create by Rollo May
“I read The Courage to Create in my senior year of college, and it had a profound impact on me then.”
~Ezequiel Leal, Designer, Calvin Klein, New York, NY
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
“The book was written to help people with artistic creative recovery, which teaches techniques and exercises to assist people in gaining self confidence in harnessing their creative talents and skills. Correlation and emphasis is used by the author to show a connection between artistic creativity and a spiritual connection with God.”
~Wanda Caroll, Writer, storyteller, performer, Outport Productions, Toronto, ON
The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron
Answered Prayers: Love Letters from the Divine by Julia Cameron
“Anything by Julia Cameron. She has the most interesting and inspiring life…and she’s the real deal.”
~Anna Nardi, Yoga Teacher and Writer, Toronto, ON
The Magic By Rhonda Byrne
Juicing the Orange: How to Turn Creativity into a Powerful Business Advantage by Pat Fallon and Fred Senn
It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be: The World’s Best Selling Book by Paul Arden
Suggested by: Cassandra Zawadowski, Associate Creative Director, Toronto, ON
Happy Summer Reading!
Love
Meg