Creating Minds: An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Str

by Howard Gardner

Book Overview

Howard Gardner changed the way we think about intelligence. In his classic work Frames of Mind , he undermined the common notion that intelligence is a single capacity that every human being possesses to a greater or lesser extent. Now building on the framework he developed for understanding intelligence, Gardner gives us a path breaking view of creativity, along with riveting portraits of seven figures who each reinvented an area of human endeavor...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465014550
• ISBN13: 9780465014552
• Release Date: July 1993
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The "Creative Enterprise Writ Large"

This is one of the most enjoyable as well as one of the most informative books I have read in recent years. I have long admired Gardner's work, especially his research on multiple intelligences which he discusses in other works such as Intelligence Reframed (2000), Frames of Mind (1993), and Multiple Intelligences (also 1993). As Gardner explains in the Preface, this volume" represents both a culmination and a beginning: a culmination in that it brings together my lifelong interests in the phenomena of creativity and the particulars of history; a beginning in that introduces a new approach to the study of human creative endeavors, one that draws on social-scientific as well as humanistic traditions." Specifically, this "new approach" begins with the individual but then focuses both on the particular "domain," or symbol system, in which an individual functions and on the group of individuals, or members of what Gardner calls the "field," who judge the quality of the new work in the domain. This is the approach he takes when analyzing the lives and achievements of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Gandhi. Throughout the book, Gardner makes brilliant use of both exposition (e.g. analysis, comparison and contrast) and narration (especially when examining causal relationships of special significance) to reveal, explain, and evaluate each of the seven geniuses.Gardner sets for himself several specific objectives: * "First, I seek to enter into the worlds that each of the seven figures occupied during the period under investigation -- roughly speaking, the half century from 1885 to 1935."* "In so doing, I hope to illuminate the nature of their own particular, often peculiar, intellectual capacities, personality configurations, social arrangements, and creative agendas, struggles and accomplishments."* Also, "I seek conclusions about the nature of the Creative Enterprise writ large. I believe that if we can better understand the breakthroughs achieved by the individuals deliberately drawn from diverse domains, we should be able to tease out the principles that govern creative human activity, wherever it arises."* Finally, "I seek conclusions about the sparkling, if often troubled, handful of decades that I term `the modern era'...Such a selection [of the seven during the half-century period] allows me to comment not only on [their] particular achievemnents...but also on the times that formed them, and that they in turn helped to define."Gardner achieves all of these objectives while somehow maintaining a delicate balance between respecting (indeed celebrating) individual genius and explaining the relevance (to each of the seven) of three relationships which are common to them all: the relationship between what he calls the "child" and the "master" throughout human development; the relationship between an individual and the work in which he or she is engaged; and finally, the relationship between the individual and other persons in

Fascinating Analyses Of Creative Icons....

....too bad Gardner could not have included an examination of another of my favorites, Henry Miller, in his study, but this, I have found, is an exceptional work if only for the author's ambition. Here, Gardner wanted to show similarities or differences the Modern Era (1885-1935) had on seven popular figures in the world of art, science, world affairs. Each of these folks came to thier idea(s) in their chosen fields of endeavor because each field had apparently bottomed, exhausted, became the same stuff warmed over and new forms of said fields had been created by these folks by destroying and or simplifying old tenets, and the well worn rules. Gardner also pursues how characteristics of these 7 folks (ill-defined probably in the sense that not many of the contemporaries of that time or the so called normal folks could detect anything nessesarily unusual about these guys and gal) came to gel into the genius we all know and love.Each were standoff-ish folks who Gardner defines as "marginal personalities"...or people who knew how to marginalise thier out put in order to get to something different and original. This I found was akin to the theory artist having to go thru suffering in order to produce their works. Each had at least one magnum opus--Eliot, "The Waste Land"; Einstein, the Special Theory of Relativity; Picasso, Guernica; Stravinsky, "The Firebird Suite", and so on. Each had at least one friendly foe--Eliot had Pound,Picasso had Braque, Einstien had Pauli, and so forth. Each made what can be described as a Faustian Bargain. (Hmmmm...) Each person is highlighted by a great biography/history put together in easily accessible writing and stunning detail. Meaning that the bios ain't just dry textbook style writing. This, if for nothing else, is in my opinion why this text will become a valuable addition to anyones library. However, I am left unconvinced that the advent of the Modern Era had much to do with these creative folk create. In spite of his compelling summary and final chapters...but, maybe there is something to the Faustian Bargain making.My overall impression has always been that in some kind of some mass destruction like say for instance, war and plague and poverty and drug infestation and the like, someone arises from the rubble to either voice human concerns or create that voice that touches on the universal concern. That is one great reason why these folks are compelled to create what they do end up creating.There is also the Factor Unwritten that is unique to each but cannot and will not be easily defined. Whether this is part of the Bargain, I, of course, cannot say. And although the era Gardner speaks of seems like a fertile time, history may show that people rising from the dregs to create the divinely inspired creation occurs more than is let on. (Maybe that is another reason why this is an important work, who's to say?) My opinion, and this is to no way belittle or deny the greatness of any of these creators and creat

One of My Favorite Books

This is Howard Gardner's masterpiece. It is a fantastic journey into the hearts and minds of these seven geniuses. Each person covered is brought to life by the author in his analysis of their accomplishments. He wanted to know in a scientific type fashion - what made them special and how were they able to accomplish the success in their lives? Each of these geniuses also contributed to our world in a positive way, which makes the book more uplifting. All of Gardner's books are excellent, but his own creativity is the most apparent in CREATING MINDS.

Explore creativity and multiple intelligence in one book

Howard Gardner is a leading writer and educator who developed the theory of 'Multiple Intelligence'. I have read most of what he has written, and I found this to be one of the more enjoyable and accessible books. What makes this a powerful book is that it takes his theoretical concept (Multiple Intelligence), and explores it from the perspective of renowned individuals who creatively exhibited a specific intelligence style.Gardner's theories are groundbreaking and this book is a great introduction, but also don't miss his seminal work in this area (Multiple Intelligence). I have had two children that have participated in multiple intelligence programs in school, and the results of those programs have been outstanding. I truly believe that if the concept that his work explored were deployed throughout our educational institutions that we would have many more "learners" as opposed to students.As the author of Aha! - 10 Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas, I was deeply influenced by Gardner's work. I believe that anyone who wants a better understanding of how learning styles and can impact the creativity of an individual will gain much from "Creating Minds."

Best Overview of Similarities in Creative Lives

Many have written about creativity, but few have considered creativity in the context of a cognitive model. Professor Gardner has added greatly to my understanding of what creative people's lives are like, by focusing on people from a variety of fields (from politics, to dance, to music, to physics, to poetry). A key lesson for me was that creativity can cause problems for the creative person. Having seen some of the bad habits outlined in this book, we can each see how we can become more creative and also avoid some of the pitfalls. Clearly, creativity can become an obsession, since it turns out to be so pleasurable to creative people. Creative people would clearly benefit from a series of questions that prompt them into considering the relevance and approriateness of their lives. I especially liked how Professor Gardner suggested what additional research should be done. I hope someone is working on these questions, now. I am a business person, and did not expect to learn much that would help in business. I was happily surprised to find that I did. An important lesson is that creative people need the right kind of emotional and social support in order to be most effective in not only creating more, but also in making their creations more useful for us all. I also recommend CREATIVITY IN CONTEXT and CORPORATE CREATIVITY, as good books for business people to read on the subject of creativity.