Title: The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
Author: Twyla Tharp
First published January 1, 2003
247 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780743235273 (ISBN10: 0743235274)
Rating: 4.06
Overview
Twyla Tharp believes that creativity is not something that is given to a select few, but rather something that can be achieved through practice and effort. In her book The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, Tharp shares the insights she has gained from her 35-year career and offers advice on how to make creativity a habit in your life.
Whether you are an artist, writer, businessperson, or simply someone looking to inject more creativity into your daily routine, Tharp’s wisdom and guidance will inspire you to pursue your creative impulses and achieve your goals. Through preparation and effort, you too can unleash your inner creativity and make it an integral part of your life.
About the Author
Meet Twyla Tharp, a renowned American dancer and choreographer who has garnered multiple accolades including Emmy and Tony awards. Based in the bustling city of New York, Twyla continues to inspire audiences with her creative choreography.
Editoral Review
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp is a groundbreaking book about creativity that stands at the intersection of self-help and memoir. Tharp, a renowned choreographer and dance impresario, offers readers an insider’s view into what it takes to develop a creative habit and sustain it for a lifetime.
Published in 2003, the book has become a classic in the field, inspiring countless artists, thinkers, and professionals to unlock their creative potential and make lasting contributions. Tharp opens the book by defining creativity as a habit rather than a talent.
She argues that creativity is not something that you are born with or that you can only access under special circumstances, but rather a skill that you can cultivate through practice and discipline. To this end, the book presents a series of exercises, strategies, and insights that Tharp has developed over decades of artistic work, along with personal anecdotes and reflections on her career.
One of the strengths of The Creative Habit is the clarity and directness of Tharp’s prose. She writes with authority and grace, conveying complex ideas in simple and accessible language.
The book is organized into chapters that cover topics such as preparation, skill-building, breakthroughs, and death, each of which offers practical advice and encouragement for readers to apply to their own creative pursuits. Another strength of the book is Tharp’s emphasis on the importance of rituals and routines in fostering creative behavior.
She shows how she has used daily practices such as taking long walks or buying a new pencil to stimulate her imagination and spur her work. She also stresses the need for discipline and hard work, reminding readers that creativity is not just about inspiration but also about persistence and resilience.
That said, the book has its limitations. Some readers may find Tharp’s focus on the arts and performance limiting, and may struggle to apply her advice to fields outside of the creative industries.
Additionally, some of Tharp’s anecdotes and examples may feel dated or irrelevant to contemporary readers, given the book’s original publication date. Despite these limitations, The Creative Habit remains a valuable guide for anyone looking to sharpen their creative skills and unlock their potential.
Tharp’s insights are rooted in a deep knowledge of the creative process, and her advice is both practical and inspiring. Whether you are an artist, a writer, an entrepreneur, or simply someone looking to infuse your life with more imagination and joy, this book is a must-read.
Rating: 4/5 stars.