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Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration Audiobook
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(3.10) - 103 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Creativity has long been thought to be an individual gift, best pursued alone; schools, organizations, and whole industries are built on this idea. But what if the most common beliefs about how creativity works are wrong? In this authoritative and fascinating new audiobook, Keith Sawyer, a psychologist at Washington University, tears down some of the most popular myths about creativity and erects new principles in their place. He reveals that creativity is always collaborative - even when you're alone. Sawyer's audiobook is filled with compelling stories about the inventions that changed our world: the ATM, the mountain bike, and open-source operating systems, among others. In each case, Sawyer tells the true story of innovation. In spite of the "lone genius" myths that always spring up after an invention's success, these important inventions always originate in collaboration. To understand the hidden collaborations that drive exceptional creativity, Sawyer spent 15 years studying jazz groups and theater ensembles, small businesses, and large corporations. In Group Genius he distills the essence of this acclaimed research and shows us how to be more creative in collaborative group settings, how to change organizational dynamics for the better, and how to tap into our own reserves of creativity. The empowering message is that all of us have the potential to be more creative; we just need to learn the secrets of group genius.
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"This is what my current research is on, so no doubt hat is why I like this book so much. But Sawyer does such a good job of making the science behind group creativity understandable and engaging. He's coming to visit us at BYU in the fall, and I'm rereading this to refresh my memory of his ideas. "
— Richard (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I can’t stop thinking and talking about Group Genius. It’s filled with insightful nuggets—from improvisational theater to the advent of Monopoly to Impressionist painting to the invention of the mountain bike—about teams and the creative process. Whether shedding new light on brainstorming or exploring the subtleties of language, Sawyer made me see creativity in a whole new way.”
— Ori Brafman, New York Times bestselling author of The Starfish and the Spider -
“Useful, upbeat…a solid recipe for ‘unexpected success.’”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A fascinating account of human experience at its best.”
— Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow -
“Keith Sawyer has emerged as the world’s leading scholar on innovative, collaborative creativity. Sawyer is a consummate storyteller and a sure-handed guide to the secrets of success in the ever-changing global marketplace. Group Genius is essential reading for anyone who competes in that marketplace.”
— David Henry Feldman, professor of child development, Tufts University
Group Genius Listener Reviews
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" This is an interesting take innovation and the power of group collaboration. The main idea is that innovation is not a solitary creation, but the building of sparks together over time from many people into extraordinary ideas. "
— Brent, 7/13/2013 -
" I learned that Brainstorming isn't done best the way we all think it should be... "
— Pam, 10/31/2012 -
" This is what my current research is on, so no doubt hat is why I like this book so much. But Sawyer does such a good job of making the science behind group creativity understandable and engaging. He's coming to visit us at BYU in the fall, and I'm rereading this to refresh my memory of his ideas. "
— Richard, 8/27/2012 -
" The first half of this book was a bit slow. It picked up in the second half. I'm not sure it gave me any great "insight", but it reminded me of a number of things that are important to keep "top of mind". "
— Chip, 2/22/2012 -
" The first half of this book was a bit slow. It picked up in the second half. I'm not sure it gave me any great "insight", but it reminded me of a number of things that are important to keep "top of mind". <br/> "
— Chip, 12/18/2010 -
" I learned that Brainstorming isn't done best the way we all think it should be... "
— Pam, 12/17/2009 -
" This is an interesting take innovation and the power of group collaboration. The main idea is that innovation is not a solitary creation, but the building of sparks together over time from many people into extraordinary ideas. "
— Brent, 11/10/2007
About Keith Sawyer
Keith Sawyer is an associate professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of the textbook Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation, has designed video games for Atari, and lectures frequently to both academic and business audiences. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
About Jonathan Marosz
Jonathan Marosz has narrated dozens of audiobooks throughout his career, including numerous titles by bestselling authors David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, and Tony Hillerman. He is a veteran stage performer with regional and national stage credits ranging from works by Shakespeare to modern day.