A much-needed shout-out to good habits

Any additional comments?

If you have any creative component to your work-life, you should listen to this book by Twyla Tharp. It's about facing the blank canvas of creativity and overcoming all of the distractions, fears, and roadblocks to getting creative work done.

And a terrific narrator, too.

Highly recommended!

26 people found this helpful

First try at "Self Help" wasn't helpful.

What would have made The Creative Habit better?

Actually more ideas, rituals, and suggestions to actually develop a creative habit. This just seems to be mostly about the authors grandeur in dancing and creating plays.
There is some useful information but for me it was only a handful of times and few and far between.
I would have gotten more helpful ideas from a Lifehacker article.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Some thing historical or a biography.

What about Lauren Fortgang’s performance did you like?

Her voice is very soothing and well spoken.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The performance was good and there were some helpful ideas.

13 people found this helpful

Does not deliver

Author talks too much about herself and does not give information on creating the habit.
It is not what I expected. I like when she talks about the geniuses but overall I think this 8 hour book could be done in 2 hours.

16 people found this helpful

Overall an inspiring listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend it to friends looking for inspiration, motivation and ideas on how to keep up their creativity and work in it as a profession. Why? I found the stories and such promote all the necessities to successful creativity in a really nice and clear way.

What did you like best about this story?

She uses a variety of examples and explains things really well. It's a good book on reflecting and learning from a fellow creative's experiences as she explains her own mistakes, pitfalls and areas of success. I liked the examples of other creatives she also researched and read about.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the stories on classical composers and their working habits the most.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Creative Habit?

I'm seriously considering her idea of putting each project into its own box/boxes to keep a log of everything associated to it. That was a neat idea.

Any additional comments?

The narrator did a really good job too, it was one of those cases she sounded like she truly did author the book. Loved it.

4 people found this helpful

Useful advices

I am always interested in listening to (reading) artists' perspectives on how to "make it" and survive in each area of arts. She provides several useful advices. I understand that the field of modern dance is extremely competitive and under-appreciated. I am sure she worked very hard, tried creative approaches, and definitely deserves the success. But, reading her stories, I could not help feeling that she was still a lucky one. Although this is supposed to be a how-to book of sort, sometimes I felt like she was bragging a bit. I had to compare this to David Byrne's How Music Works, which, to me, provides broader perspective in art in general as well as very practical considerations in music industry. Anyway, I still appreciated her advices nevertheless...

12 people found this helpful

Title does not reflect the content

I was expecting this book to set out tools on developing the creative habit. The book started off strong and had some great information but the second half of the book had very little to do with it. The most difficult part was enduring the narration.

5 people found this helpful

Wordy, overacted, not easily applicable

Would you try another book from Twyla Tharp and/or Lauren Fortgang?

I would not purchase another book by Twyla because she focuses way too much on dance and doesn't convey it well to other aspects of the creative world. I would not purchase another book read by Lauren because she overacts and drawls on, making a read that should only be a few hours into an excruciating 6 or 7.

Would you ever listen to anything by Twyla Tharp again?

No

Would you be willing to try another one of Lauren Fortgang’s performances?

No

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

There was nothing helpful or insightful for me. I was hoping for a book that would give me some guidance or a few good techniques, but this book is more like her patting herself on the back for solving some of her own problems. Her problems are very specific to producing dance and choreography, which doesn't translate to my creative problems at all.

Any additional comments?

Was bored out of my skull listening to this one.

19 people found this helpful

life altering

Genius. I could take this book and start a school. The lessons apply to all fields and I like learning about the dance world. The exercises challenged me to the core and upset me sometimes but in a good way.

6 people found this helpful

Borrowing !! Habit !!!

What would have made The Creative Habit better?

Structure ! Plan System !!!!

What was most disappointing about Twyla Tharp’s story?

This book was not inspiring !!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Lauren Fortgang?

Any One !!!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No I made myself listen because I purchased it !!!!

3 people found this helpful

It is OK

It is just an average book. No SECRET to creativity or anything that you would not guess. It is about Preparing and clearing your mind so you get the Creativity flowing. It probably over promises. and the performance will easily put you to bed. One of the slowest reading I ever saw.

5 people found this helpful