Imagine: How Creativity Works

by Jonah Lehrer

I was half way through this book when the controversy hit-- the made up quotes, the copied  passages. It darkened my spirit for the book, which is a shame because it's good reading. Lehrer explores the different types of creativity and how to support them.

Things I want to remember.
1. Contructive criticism is more affective than brain storming.
2. In groups, great ideas come most often when the group has a mix of people who are used to working together, and people who are new ot the group.
3. There are phases to every idea. A great idea must be iterated and polished on for a long time. This can be far more work than actually having the idea.
4. The initial cut of Finding Nemo was so bad that Disney delayed re-signing a distribution deal with Pixer. Disney thought the movie would flop. It was through iteration, polishing and plussing, that Finding Nemo became great

Proficient Motorcycling...

By David Hough.

Very detailed and thoughtful writings about many aspects of motorcycling. I recommend you read a chapter, then go out and try it.

Make Your Point

by Bob Elliott and Kevin Carroll.

Make Your Point (MYP) is one of those books that have an over explored simple theses. I think MYP would be much better off as course material and lessons to practice. But hey...

The main thing I want to remember from MYP... the Diamond. This is a 'speach' pattern they recommend for all settings...

1. Attention.
2. Main Topic.
3. Preview 1, 2, 3
4. Sub-Topic #1, Sub-Topic #2, Sub-Topic #3
5 Summaries 1,2,3
6 Conclusion
7 Action

Notice there are three sub-topics in this speech. The book strongly recommends that you always include sub-topics. No more, no less. Three sub-topics in a speech makes keeps it from being too long, or too short. Too detailed, or too simple.