Creativity, Inc.

This book is written by the founder of Pixar and is about his experience building a culture that fosters creativity.

His theory is that people are fundamentally creative, but many forces stand in the way of people being able to do their best work.

I love reading first-hand accounts about how people build great companies like Pixar and nurture innovation and creativity. This should be inspiring to anyone looking to do the same, and hopefully there will be lessons we can apply to connecting the world!

Some other books I’ve really enjoyed: Creativity, Inc. [...]

Creativity, Inc. - I know it's a classical book, but I just got to read it.

I've read many, many great business books out there; each building upon the others to provide a valuable sense of direction.

If I had to pick one to recommend above all overs, it would have to be Creativity, Inc.

Not only is it an engaging story about the cherished Animated Movie studio, it holds several valuable lessons about creativity in the workplace, and the natural human tendencies that squash that creativity.

What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard to uncover these problems, even if doing so means making ourselves uncomfortable; and that, when we come across a problem, we marshal all of our energies to solve it.

Even if you have no interest in management, this book holds valuable lessons in understanding how creative teams work together and how important critical feedback is in producing great works.

As for a non-fiction/business book I would say Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull. It is a great look inside the mind of one of the founders of Pixar, but also a great case study on how to deliver blockbuster success time and time again.

This book gives a fascinating insight into how Pixar works, and a lot of what they do to create amazing movies is highly relevant to designing and building great products. It's been a while since I read it, but it's full of useful and practical examples to boost creativity and problem solving in teams.

Creativity Inc, narrated by Pixar's co-founder Ed Catmull, documents the meteoric rise of Pixar from its humble roots as a technology company to the movie studio powerhouse it is today. The book offers a treasure of insights to anyone running a business that involves creative production of any kind. Ed talks about crucial strategies used by Pixar — the idea that every person in an organization is accountable for quality, that creative freedom and exploration are instrumental to building great products, that failure early in the process is not just acceptable but also to be encouraged, and many others.

I opened this book seeking answers about the relationships between creativity, vulnerability, and courage. I didn't expect it to profoundly change the way I work. This is one of the most important leadership books of our time.

No matter your circumstances, storytelling and creativity are two 'meta-skills' that can take your business and life to the next level. Ed is a master.