In this book, Mr. Cleese has distilled creativity down to its essential parts with no filler. Creativity is necessary in many areas, not just the arts. If you think you're not creative, think again! Start by reading this book. And the ring-tailed lemurs are adorable!

Who better to write a book about creativity than John Cleese?!

If you pick up this book thinking it will be a Monty Python-like humor book, you might be disappointed. But if you pick this up hoping to find some tips on how to discover or enhance your own creativity (as well as why it's important), in a light, cheerful, and ... dare I say it ... creative manner, then you should be thoroughly pleased.

If you are familiar with John Cleese (and if you aren't you probably wouldn't bother picking this up) you can probably 'hear' him reading this. He writes just as he speaks, making this easy and delightful to read.

Cleese wasn't always a creative comic (actor and writer) ... he initially studied to become a lawyer before getting involved with "the nicest bunch of people" while studying at Cambridge. Since that time, he's discovered a few tips and tricks about being creative.

What Cleese writes makes a lot of sense, and it comes from research which he quotes, and his own observations. If you were to sum it up, I believe it would be that creativity can't be forced, but it can be coerced and sometimes we need to recognize it for what it is. This latter part is particularly important. Cleese notes that when he and friend Graham Chapman were trying to write together they would grow frustrated during periods of creative 'blockages' - though after an entire week of work, they would typically come up with a certain amount of good material, week after week.

"We came to understand that the blockages weren’t an interruption in the process, they were part of it. For example, when you eat, the bit where the fork returns empty to your plate isn’t a failure. It’s just part of the eating process."*

Wow. That's actually kind of brilliant.

The book is brief ... very easy to read in one day ... but packed with insightful help and plenty of wit and charm. Just what you'd expect from John Cleese. He makes a strong case for reasons why creativity is important in everyday life and not just for the 'creative types.' But even those of us who consider ourselves creative will probably find a gem or two of advice that can be applied to our work (I know I did).

I highly recommend this book.

Looking for a good book? <em>Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide</em> by John Cleese is not only creative and clever, it is insightful and helpful and a great reference. You should get a copy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

*Note: Quotes are from an advance review copy of the book and may not reflect the final published version.

Very short and to the point. I couldn’t help but read it in his voice. Excellent advice with regards to creativity even for people like me who don’t feel they have a creative bone in their body.

I've read many a book about creativity and writing. This was a so/so for me because it was really nothing new. For a fan of John Cleese, it might be a five star. I did find many of his personal stories interesting and that moved this from a three rating (only because I've read so many books on Creativity) to a four rating. Good little read!

Comedy icon John Cleese provides a how-to on how to stimulate the creative process. Its succinct straightforwardness and practical strategies taken from his own personal experience plus the expert knowledge of others make for a wonderfully practical guide for anyone who’s having a little trouble getting their imaginative gears whirling up again. And here, “anyone” really does mean anyone, and not just the artists, writers, comedians, or the other usual types that one may naturally think up upon mention of “creativity.” For not only is this guide a marvelously pragmatic little resource, it’s an encouraging one as well that states right from the start that creativity is not the sole property of a select few jobs or hobbies. Rather, it’s something that we can all cultivate, - and with this little book’s help, there’s no doubt in my mind that quite a few people will get their creative cultivation going a lot easier than they used to.

John Cleese proves to be a witty author, and offers an accessible read. There is charm here, combined with intelligence for a worthwhile look at creativity from a voice we know well. Many thanks to the publisher for an advance review copy, from which I offer this unbiased review.

Short and cheerful is, indeed, at the heart of John Cleese's delightful and incredibly practical guide to creativity.

"Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide," scheduled for a September 8th release by Crown Publishing, celebrates creativity as a skill that anyone can acquire and rejects any notion that creativity is some elusive gift possessed by only a few. With brevity, wisdom, and more than a little humor, Cleese draws upon his lifelong experience as a writer and offers simple and understandable advice for getting the creative juices flowing and how to handle such familiar obstacles as the proverbial brick wall and learning how to discern roadblocks from detours.

You can practically hear Cleese's voice reading "Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide" and it's Cleese's ability to write in his familiar voice that really helps to make this short, breezy read such an absolute delight from beginning to end.

An academic before he entered the world of entertainment, Cleese explains how our minds work as we search for inspiration before offering up how we can approach the task before us creatively and come up with a better idea, refine that idea, and then present it to the world. While most often utilizing writing as an example, Cleese makes it clear that creativity has its place in our everyday world.

With simple and almost whimsical graphics and Cleese's always intact wit, "Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide" is a "must have" for Cleese's fans and a delightful addition to your self-help at a fingertip library.