Some creative brain food: Books and podcast recommendations from M&C Saatchi Public Relations' Julian Cirrone
New Ideas
I’m not afraid to admit it. Coming up with ideas is tough.
You are constantly drawing on your past, the future and everything in between, to find that killer idea. On top of that, you are doing so in an unforgiving industry whose relentless warp-speed pace, can stifle even the most creative of individuals.
So, it’s important, no matter how proficient you think you are at conjuring ideas, that you keep that powerful lump of grey matter nourished with inspiring, enriching and thought-provoking techniques which make summoning that flash of brilliance a walk in the cerebral park.
Helpfully, some very clever people have put pen to paper and words to airwaves, to keep us at our creative best throughout 2019.
Here’s what my creative hunger will be dining out on in 2019:
If you want to start your day with a creative bang, try Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are by Danny Gregory.
Danny Gregory is an inspiring artist who knows all too well the pressure to produce an ever-increasing amount of brilliance in an ever-shrinking amount of time.
His book shared five- to 10-minute exercises for different skill levels you can do anywhere, that helps to foster and develop creative habits.
If you want to get better at coming up with ideas quickly, try The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice by Todd Henry.
I can’t wait to get stuck into this one. Todd understands the pace at which the industry moves and in his book, he explores how you can quickly and efficiently develop new ideas into your daily life by providing simple exercises.
Unlocking creativity not just within yourself. but also your team.
If you want to unleash your creative potential, try Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley.
With his brother Tom, David Kelley founded IDEA and this book aims to provide alternative approaches to problem solving.
If you work in silo or as part of a team, this book suggests principles and strategies to tap into your creative potential, both at work and in your personal life.
If you are interested in knowing how others create, try Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind by Scott Barry Kaufman.
This book studies the habits and attributes of some of the most creative luminaries on the planet, everyone from; Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, video-game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Josephine Baker to musician Thom Yorke and chess champion Josh Waitzkin.
These behaviours will inspire you to form your own habits that fit your lifestyle, by looking into the ‘messy minds’ of highly creative people.
Top Podcast
If your commute to work needs a dose of curiosity try No Such Thing As A Fish.
From the researchers behind the TV show QI, NSTAAF is an informative and funny lesson on some of the best and weirdest facts of the past seven days.
The rabbit holes their conversations wander down are filled with interesting anecdotes and insights that have sparked many an idea.
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