Understanding Creativity
by: Jane Piirto, Ph.D.
This reader-friendly book is used as a college textbook for courses in creativity. However, it is also interesting just as a nonfiction book with its sections on creativity, information about well-known creative individuals, and the different domains within creativity—artists, writers, musicians, scientists, mathematician, comedians, and more. Learn how the definition of creativity has changed through the years, and view the author’s own depiction of creativity, called the “Piirto Pyramid of Creativity.” Read about how Bill Gates embodied the classic traits of an underachieving gifted boy, how Van Gogh’s artwork was brushed off by art galleries of his time, and how jazz extraordinaire Ella Fitzgerald was denied a job with a Harlem band because she didn’t have the looks. The real-life examples described in this book will help parents and teachers learn to spot talent through children’s behaviors and know how to encourage them so that their creativity can shine.
Topics include:
- Talent in a domain
- Environmental factors
- The importance of motivation
- Discipline and practice
- Biographical examples
Length: 548 pages
ISBN 10 digit: 0-910707-59-6
ISBN 13 digit: 978-0-910707-59-6