Out of Our Minds The Power of Being Creative

Creativity is critical.

Out of Our Minds explores creativity: its value in business, its ubiquity in children, its perceived absence in many adults and the phenomenon through which it disappears — and offers a groundbreaking approach for getting it back.  Author Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognised authority on creativity, and his TED talk on the subject is the most watched video in TED’s history. In this book, Sir Ken argues that organisations everywhere are struggling to fix a problem that originates in schools and universities. Organisations everywhere are competing in a world that changes in the blink of an eye – they need people who are flexible enough to adapt, and creative enough to find novel solutions to problems old and new. Out of Our Minds describes how schools, businesses and communities can work together to bring creativity out of the closet and realise its inherent value at every stage of life. This new third edition has been updated to reflect changing technologies and demographics, with updated case studies and coverage of recent changes to education.

While education and training are the keys to the future, the key can also be turned the other way; locking people away from their own creativity. Only by actively fostering creativity can businesses unlock those doors and achieve their true potential. This book will help you to:

• Understand the importance of actively promoting creativity and innovation.
• Discover why creativity stagnates somewhere between childhood and adulthood.
• Learn how to re-awaken dormant creativity to help your business achieve more.

• Explore ways in which we can work together to keep creativity alive for everyone.

Modern business absolutely demands creativity of thought and action. We're all creative as children — so where does it go? When do we lose it? Out of Our Minds has the answers, and clear solutions for getting it back.

SIR KEN ROBINSON, PHD, is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He speaks to audiences throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies. Listed by Fast Company as one of the world's elite thinkers on creativity and innovation and ranked among the Thinkers50 of the world's top business thought leaders, he has worked with governments in the United States, Europe and Asia, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, national and state education systems and some of the world's leading cultural organizations.

For 12 years, he was professor of education at the University of Warwick in the UK and is now Professor Emeritus. He has received numerous honorary degrees and awards for his international work in education, creativity and cultural development. In 2003, he received a knighthood from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts.

Sir Ken's famous 2006 talk at the prestigious TED Conference is the most watched in TED history and has been seen by millions of people in more than 160 countries. He is author of the New York Times bestsellers The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything and Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life. Born in the UK, he lives in Los Angeles California.

Acknowledgments xi

About the Author xiii

Preface to the Third Edition xv

1 Out of Our Minds 1

2 Facing the Revolution 15

3 The Trouble with Education 41

4 The Academic Illusion 65

5 Knowing Your Mind 91

6 Being Creative 119

7 Feeling Better 143

8 You Are Not Alone 169

9 Being a Creative Leader 187

10 Learning to be Creative 209

Afterword 239

Endnotes 241

References 259

Index 267

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