Books

We’ve got choices: X for soundbites, Linkedin for the next job and Youtube for showing off. But you can’t beat a real book for digging through to the core of a subject. Social media gives the headlines, books add the essential context. My creativity book is called The Characters of Creativity with the subtitle Activate Creativity By Understanding Your Colleagues.

My book meets puzzled people where they work, it’s their experienced professional friend who may have a few useful ideas to pass on. The book whispers, ‘Maybe that colleague you’re managing is Solo. They’re never going to enjoy working in a team, but how about trying …’  And to another: ‘I recognise you, your name is Wobbly. Did you know that all the other creatives know your work is terrific.’ And to the Board, my book politely suggests that it is indeed possible to have a well run, orderly company that is still creative. It’s not one or the other. Look, I’ll show you how…’’

The book I’m currently working on is for students about to enter university; it will help them succeed academically.

During my career I’ve taught thousands of students. Most did okay, just a few did a lot more than okay, gaining really high marks in their academic work. I don’t think they were more motivated, diligent or intelligent than the majority. No, they just approached their academic work differently. Although they had the same skills as their peers, the academically successful students  - crucially - knew that they had them, and could deploy them effectively.

So my new book is rooted in skills needed for a really good degree. Sounds dull? But I don’t start with the skills. Instead, they emerge from random questions such as: why do we like laughing; what are Nations actually for; what has Picasso got to do with lasagne; and how do we decide what is true?

None of these questions will appear on the students’ courses at university, but all encourage them to acquire, practice and deploy habits they certainly will need for high academic success.

The book after that? Maybe something about what it feels like when one gets a new idea. I wonder if it’s the same feeling for everyone.