Creativity, Inc.
Pixar's co-founder on building a culture where creativity thrives, and the hidden forces that block it.
Creativity
Creativity isn't a gift for a lucky few; it's a practice. These books tackle procrastination, fear and resistance, and offer practical ways to make creative work part of everyday life.
They suit writers, artists, makers and anyone who has a project they keep putting off.
- 25 books
- 8 authors
- 1 reading paths
If you read only one
Our essential picks in creativity.
Creativity, Inc.
Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace
Pixar's co-founder on building a culture where creativity thrives, and the hidden forces that block it.
Designing Your Life
Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
Apply design thinking to your life: get curious, try things and prototype your way to a career you love.
On Writing
Stephen King
Part memoir, part writing guide: Stephen King on the craft, discipline and joy of writing.
Designing Your Life
Apply design thinking to your life: get curious, try things and prototype your way to a career you love.
On Writing
Part memoir, part writing guide: Stephen King on the craft, discipline and joy of writing.
The War of Art
Name the force that keeps you from your real work, then beat it by showing up every day.
Big Magic
Live creatively alongside fear. Warm encouragement from the author of Eat Pray Love.
Bird by Bird
Funny, honest advice on writing and life: take it bird by bird, and allow terrible first drafts.
Building a Second Brain
Stop trying to remember everything. Build a trusted digital system that stores your best ideas and helps you use them.
Flow
The deepest happiness comes from full absorption in a challenging activity. The classic study of flow.
Keep Going
Ten short lessons for sustaining a creative life, from routines to taking walks.
Made to Stick
Simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional stories: the recipe for ideas people remember.
Originals
An organizational psychologist explains how people champion new ideas and fight conformity.
Range
Early specialization isn't the only path. Why breadth, experimentation and late starts often lead to success.
Show Your Work!
Share your process, not just your results. A short, illustrated guide to building an audience by being generous.
Steal Like an Artist
Nothing is original. A short, illustrated guide to borrowing well and making your own work.
Storyworthy
A champion storyteller teaches how to find and tell true stories, and the daily habit that collects them.
The Art of Possibility
A therapist and a conductor offer twelve practices for seeing possibility instead of limits.
The Artist's Way
A 12-week programme to recover your creativity through morning pages and artist dates.
The Creative Act
A legendary music producer's meditation on creativity as a way of being.
How to Take Smart Notes
The note-taking method of a prolific sociologist, explained as a way to think and write better.
Mastery
The path from apprentice to master, told through the lives of historical figures. A long, inspiring study of skill and…
Purple Cow
Advertising is losing its power. The only way to stand out is to build something remarkable.
The Element
Finding the place where your natural talents meet your passion can transform your life.
The Practice
Creativity is a practice, not a gift. Trust the process and ship your work regularly.
Turning Pro
The shift from amateur to professional is a decision, and it changes everything.
Authors in creativity
Suggested reading paths
Other categories
- Habits and Discipline 41
- Productivity and Focus 37
- Mindset and Psychology 54
- Confidence and Self-Esteem 26
- Leadership 52
- Entrepreneurship 31
- Money and Financial Literacy 29
- Relationships 35
- Communication 35
- Emotional Intelligence 46
- Motivation 34
- Personal Growth 77
- Purpose and Meaning 53
- Decision-Making 39
- Health and Wellbeing 47