The most recommended books on creativity

Who picked these books? Meet our 161 experts.

161 authors created a book list connected to creativity, and here are their favorite creativity books.
When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

What type of creativity book?

Loading...

Book cover of Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention

Barry Green Author Of The Inner Game of Music

From my list on music inspiration.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the former Principal bassist with the Cincinnati Symphony and am currently active as a soloist, educator, and author of three books on the mind, body, and spirit of music. My first book is about the mind, The Inner Game of Music, followed by The Mastery of Music on the human spirit of over 120 great musicians and Bringing Music to Life exploring physical skills of communication of all artists, actors, and dancers. I hope to inspire artists of all disciplines, that our performances come from our hearts and souls and not the technical form of dance, music, or words. Performers express feelings and use this gift to spread inspiration and joy to the world.

Barry's book list on music inspiration

Barry Green Why did Barry love this book?

This amazing book draws on nearly one hundred interviews with creative people in every field and thirty years of research on the subject of creativity. There are multiple stories from musicians and composers while Csikszentmihalyi abstracts the common characteristics of the creative process that transcends the arts, science, architecture, and technology. He studies personalities, family backgrounds, and the environments that inspire the creative process. We learn to accept that many uniquely creative people have channeled their contributions by focusing their energy through unique structures that include conflicts, disease, handicap, stress, poverty, and emotional instability. The 426 pages of research and interviews are captivating, informative, and insightful and can inspire creative expression from new sources of understanding. 

By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Creativity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Creativity is about capturing those moments that make life worth living. The author's objective is to offer an understanding of what leads to these moments, be it the excitement of the artist at the easel or the scientist in the lab, so that knowledge can be used to enrich people's lives. Drawing on 100 interviews with exceptional people, from biologists and physicists to politicians and business leaders, poets and artists, as well as his 30 years of research on the subject, Csikszentmihalyi uses his famous theory to explore the creative process. He discusses such ideas as why creative individuals are…


Book cover of Fates and Furies

Teresa Iacobelli Author Of Death or Deliverance: Canadian Courts Martial in the Great War

From Teresa's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Historian Reader

Teresa's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Teresa Iacobelli Why did Teresa love this book?

Lauren Groff's writing style is consistently superb. Great book about secrets, marriage and our inner lives.

By Lauren Groff,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Fates and Furies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY: THE WASHINGTON POST, NPR, TIME, THE SEATTLE TIMES, MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE, SLATE, LIBRARY JOURNAL, KIRKUS, AND MANY MORE

“Lauren Groff is a writer of rare gifts, and Fates and Furies is an unabashedly ambitious novel that delivers – with comedy, tragedy, well-deployed erudition and unmistakable glimmers of brilliance throughout.” —The New York Times Book Review (cover review)

From the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Florida, Matrix, and the highly-anticipated The Vaster Wilds: an exhilarating novel about marriage, creativity, art, and perception.…


Ad

Book cover of The Curiosity Cycle: Preparing Your Child for the Ongoing Technological Explosion

The Curiosity Cycle by Jonathan Mugan,

The Curiosity Cycle is a book for parents and educators who want to teach their children to be active explorers of the world. Learning through curiosity leads to adaptive thinking because your child is continually trying to improve his or her understanding of the world, and new facts and ideas…

Book cover of Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Book cover of Fates and Furies

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,847

readers submitted
so far, will you?