The Mathematics of Creativity : The Book

A long time ago i promised myself that I would knock together a "pamphlet" on this topic.  This is where my main writing efforts have gone for about a year (hence the drop off in blog posts?)

Encouraged by friends I sent it off to several publishing agents last week.  Below is the covering letter.

For those who want a sneak preview here is a draught of the first three chapters that went with the letter.

Download Mathematics of Creativity - first three chapters

 

 I will probaby use this blog to chronicle my ventures in the publishing trade (which much like life may be brutal, nasty and short)...

Dear ...........

 

One summer, in a beach house near San Diego, Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Covey worked on a book together. On a hot August night, after several weeks of tetchy collaboration, they had a big fight over whose name was going to appear first on the cover. The next morning, over a rather frosty breakfast, they agreed to go off and write separate books.  And they never looked back.

 

But now, the lost manuscript of that secret collaboration has come to light….

 

OK. Not true.   But if there was a bastard love child of Malcolm “Outliers” Gladwell and Steven “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Covey then this book might be it.

 

On the one hand it takes something as seemingly impenetrable as “creativity” and then explains it with a mix of anecdote and simple maths to entertain and enchant the audience.

 

But at the same time, by providing a formula for how “highly creative people” do it, the intent is to give the reader some simple steps to become more creative themselves.

 

So let’s talk about the reader (who no doubt likes Gladwell and Covey).

 

He or she will probably not work directly in the creative industries.  But as a marketer, or accountant, or lawyer, or retailer, or general manager, they will bump into people that do. In fact, they may know that their role in some ways relies on the creativity of others.

 

But their world is full of numbers, targets, spreadsheets and maths.  And so they have often wondered exactly what goes on over there, on the wild shores of creativity?  Is it - fashion, advertising, film, publishing -  all about sex and drugs and rock and roll? What are they up to (and can I have some please)?

 

This books explains what is going on “over there”, but in their terms : numbers.  No bullshit, no self-serving myths, just a pragmatic analysis of the maths behind the magic.  And while this will really grab our creative-curious business folk I hope it will also appeal to the general reader.

 

Overall, how does this help the world?

 

Firstly, if we “understood a little more and condemned a little less” (to misquote Mrs Thatcher) then the creative people and business people would get along a whole lot better (indeed creative people may feel inclined to buy this book for their accountants, and other numerical tormentors).

 

Secondly, in a Google world where knowledge is common place, being an expert is becoming just a table stake.  To be a real high roller you will have to add creativity to your playing style.

 

We all need to double our creativity (preferably in ten easy steps) and that’s why you must read the Mathematics of Creativity.

Comments

[Charlesfrith]

I found this on my hard drive during some downtime and read it twice.

It's better than good.

I didn't agree unreservedly with what I read but the first chapter has character and originality.

I also remember one of your emails all too well at HHCL asking for examples of Bank marketing that was automated and 'spits' things out so the theme is consistent too. ;)