Out of Our Minds

Learning to Be Creative

By: Ken Robinson

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

There is a paradox. As children, most of us think we are highly creative; as adults many of us think we are not. What changes as children grow up? Organizations across the globe are competing in a world that is changing faster than ever. They say they need people who can think creatively, who are flexible and quick to adapt. Too often they can't find them. Why not? In this provocative and inspiring book, Ken Robinson addresses three vital questions:

• Why is it essential to promote creativity? Business leaders, politicians and educators emphasize the vital importance of promoting creativity and innovation. Why does this matter so much?
• What is the problem? Why do so many people think they're not creative? Young children are buzzing with ideas. What happens as we grow up and go through school to make us think we are not creative?
• What can be done about it? What is creativity? What can companies, schools and organizations do to develop creativity and innovation in a deliberate and systematic way?

In this extensively revised and updated version of his best-selling classic, Ken Robinson offers a groundbreaking approach to understanding creativity in education and in business. He argues that people and organizations everywhere are dealing with problems that originate in schools and universities and that many people leave education with no idea at all of their real creative abilities. Out of Our Minds is a passionate and powerful call for radically different approaches to leadership, teaching and professional development to help us all to meet the extraordinary challenges of living and working in the 21st century.

©2011 Ken Robinson (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Ken Robinson writes brilliantly about the different ways in which creativity is undervalued and ignored . . . especially in our educational systems." (John Cleese)

Inspired and motivated to contribute to change

Ken Robinson has written a truly inspirational exploration of the state of education; past, present and future. His observations of how and why our educational system has evolved, offer intriguing insights into what is possible if we take stock and shift our focus. Our young people are our future and we need to make some major changes, so they can reach their full potential and their dreams can transport us all into an incredible future.

Interesting listen

What did you love best about Out of Our Minds?

I found interesting how Ken Robinson spends most of his book explaining (or at least enumerating) the great creative innovations in human history.

Concerned about our country's future? Read this.

Like in his inspired "The Element", Robinson delves into the importance of creativity in our country and world, and how our educational system is not built to foster it in our kids. More data-driven than the Element, it is more informative than inspirational, but still serves as a call to arms for those interested in truly reforming our schools. Moreover, it explains to the layman why s/he should care about the issue.

Lee's performance is certainly adequate, but I was spoiled by hearing Sir Ken's own voice reading the Element.

Draaaaaaaag

I don't write many reviews and I enjoyed watching Ken Robinson's discussion with Eckhart Tolle. His presence was wonderful. This book was mentioned and I decided to download the Audible version. I am into chapter 3 and the ceaseless story of numbers, how powerful computers are and will be, along with the population growth is WAY OVER THE TOP!!!

OK, enough with this nonsense! If it continues much longer I will change my review to ZERO stars and request a refund.

What was his editor thinking?!

Brilliant

This book should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in any type of education. Thought provoking and thoroughly worth the read. I have, and will continue, to recommend this to friends, family, and peers.

Great Big Theme

I am thankfull for Ken Robinson and his message to the universe. I just hope more people will listen, and that enough people will be persuaded to think differently about how we craft our education, society, and the next generation. We need people who are autonomous, creative, self directed, and responsible to approach the problems of the future. We need to change how we approach education if we are ever going to foster these attributes and encourage rather than squelch the innate creativity that we have as human beings. 1 point for humanity over AI.

Critically important

This is a thorough and thoughtful discussion of education and creativity worth digesting and understanding.

Simply fantastic

What made the experience of listening to Out of Our Minds the most enjoyable?

The narrative was wonderful. It was such a nice surprise to hear an english accent.
So many of the narrators of these books are Americans.

The information could have been dry and hard to swallow, instead I found the way it was offered enlightening and entertaining.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Being Australian I am not partial to most American accents often they can sound quite harsh, so it was with great pleasure that I could listen to an English accent.

This audiobook was great, but I feel even the most dullest of books could be brought to life by John Lee's voice.

It is the first time that I have actually listened to an audiobook twice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The text is not really meant to move you. However it did give you the desire to start a revolution to change how we educate our children.

...Excellent Content....

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

A voice I could hear and understand as he was reading the narrative. Unfortunately there were some areas where the narrative became difficult to understand, fortunately these passages were short and rarely occurred...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Because it totaled nearly 10 hours it would be difficult to listen in one sitting but there were several passages I did not want to take a break from...

The Bible for all teachers

The answers for our future is being revealed. Reasons for the matter of education, as our only sustainable world wide resource is being put in to a fact! We have to get out of our minds, and make stars around us!