Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
**Be your own Picasso**“I unthink therefore I create.” Now, that’s a thought to think about. That thought is the heart and soul of Erik’s approach to rediscovering your creative genius. And, yes, that is *re*-discovering your creative genius. As kids, we were all creative geniuses—our natural states of curiosity, playfulness, spontaneity, and engagement left wide open the field of endless possibilities and discovery. But, then, we became adults…and, well, you know the rest of the story…So, how can we get back our innate childhood gifts and become the creative artist we’re meant to be? That is, the kind of artist “who knows when to embrace the childlike creativity of the right brain and when to embrace the logical strategy of the left brain…. who you truly are when you are whole.” (p. 54)In _Unthink_, Erik draws up a blueprint for rediscovering your own Picasso by allowing yourself to be more Provocative, Intuitive, Convicted, Accelerated, Spontaneous, Surrendered, and Original: *P*rovocative1. Step outside your bubble2. Live with some discomfort3. Ask forgiveness instead of permission4. Start small *I*ntuitive1. Know what’s under the surface2. Loosen your processes3. Make discovery as valuable as data 4. Let conversations be your proving ground*C*onvicted1. Do the next thing in your heart2. Be a catalyst*A*ccelerated1. Refine your resources…even when you don’t have to2. Refuse to be overwhelmed*S*pontaneous1. Act through the fear2. Leave room for interruptions *S*urrendered1. Surrender the recognition2. Surrender the labels3. Surrender the moment4. Surrender the outcome[Surrender to creativity]*O*riginal1. Dance to your own drum2. Work boldly, uniquely, freely3. Recruit an allyPicasso summarized the dilemma with these words: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”Erick Wahl offers a creative solution with this book. Disclaimer: I received this book free to review and share my thoughts and no, this does not affect my honest opinion about the book.I loved Unthink by Erik Wahl a lot more than I thought I would and that in itself is a lesson: not judging a book before you read it. I've read so many business books, new era of business and traditional, as well as a few on creativity and self-discovery but there were parts in Wahl's Unthink that I had not thought about in the past. It was a very interesting synergy I felt with this author where he was taking my half-baked thoughts and finishing them for me. The combination of the right and left brain, our desire to be both creative as well as logical and rational, the need and fusion of both in business and in life, I loved his approach. It's a tricky topic but I kept reading and staying engaged. Okay there were a few case studies around football and baseball that I just skimmed at best - that does not do it for me but I try to keep an open mind - but then there were so many other fantastic stories that the author used to show his point. My favorite parts of the book are how he invites all of us to be creative and his definition of that creativity and that process of creating your art. Reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way at the same time right now and I can say that I saw some parallels and was very happy to constantly reinforce this single notion that we have a creative genius - now let's find a way to tap into it and bring it to the surface. How do we do that? Unthink will make you, no pun, think - think in a new way by first unlearning the old ways of thinking. I loved it. I almost gave it a 4-star because of those boring case studies in the middle but you know what, this book really helped me get a sense of urgency about my creativity and with helping my own clients and students in a more effective way so for that, I think it deserves a full 5-stars.
What do You think about Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius (2013)?
There are a couple of chapters that I really enjoyed reading and will refer back to in the future.
—sgilb
There's not an original thought in the entire book.
—valee_patrone
I think his paintings are better than his book....
—Fydah
A contemporary masterpiece, an injection of hope.
—Danielle2468
