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)

The change we so desperately need!!!

Sir Ken Robinson is the true north as far as the direction we need to go in order to transform education and the future for our children!

Terribly Disappointed

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, the narrative is dry and hard to follow and does not provide justice to the work

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The words of Sir Ken Robinson

What didn’t you like about John Lee’s performance?

It was extremely monotone and robotic. Sir Ken's work should be engaging. This was not.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

lacking a plan

while its accurate in the critique of the status quo and entertaining to hear, the writer remains abstract in how to enhance creativity in subjects, schools and society. there is not one sentence to which i would disagree, which is a critique by itself.

insightful text

this book was very insightful when it came to matters of creativity. the one critique that I have about this book is that the author has a roundabout way of making his point which can lose my attention at times. other than that I greatly admire this author and his work in this book. His values align with my own as far as imbuing education with more creative outlets

Amazing and well researched!

Great resource! I am sure I'll listen to it again... And again...
I highly recommend anyone to listen to this book.

A great explanation that things need to change

We still repeat the past expecting different outcome. Here is a way to change that.

Change

A must read and put into practice right away. Stop limiting creativity by implementing Mister Robinson strategies.

Needs a different narrator

Any additional comments?

Am on my second listen and am still struggling to get through this. Sir Ken Robinson's work is fascinating as usual, but I am totally put off by the narrator. The narration is flat and clinical. I find my mind wandering when I listen to this narrator. He reads with all the feeling of the electronic voice in the Atlanta airport trains. I am sure this book has much to offer, but the narration makes it seem more like a text book ... and we all know how fascinating those are. In light of the narration, I would recommend the print edition.

Disappointing

Would you try another book from Ken Robinson and/or John Lee?

I would think twice about trying another book by either the author and/or the reader. The content was too lightweight and general and the reading did not capture the spirit of the author, his style, or humour.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator mispronounced too many words and also misunderstood the rhythm and stress of the author's speech style.

Do you think Out of Our Minds needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, I'm afraid the content was too general to be engaging. It took a long time to develop towards the deeper ideas that emerged towards the latter sections of the book. Too much trivia and google-search facts in the early stages.

Any additional comments?

Quite frustrating if you appreciate that creativity is a serious topic that can be explored at depth. This was a popularised conception that actually clouded the subject as much as shed light on it. A missed opportunity at so many levels.

Good, but longer than it needed to be.

This was a good book, but longer than it needs to be. If you've seen his TED Talks, you've gotten half of what this book has to offer. If you have the opportunity, get an abridged version instead.