Creative Quest

By: Questlove

Narrated by: Questlove, Fred Armisen, Tariq Trotter, Dion Flynn, Robin Thede, Norm MacDonald

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

Grammy Nominee

This unique, boundary pushing audiobook features original music by Questlove and members of The Roots with vocal guest appearances from Fred Armisen, Tariq Trotter, Dion Flynn, Robin Thede, “Suga” Steve Mandel, Norm MacDonald, Ludo Lefebvre, and Molly Kelley.

Questlove - musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore - shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life. 

In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he's heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise listeners and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics - what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture - all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story. 

Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he's learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D'Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Quest is many things - above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity. 

©2018 Questlove (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"[Questlove] produces a quirky audiobook, which he delivers in a lively baritone voice. He doesn't hesitate to break into song, act a part, or, if the situation calls for it, pull out his cell phone and call a friend for the correct pronunciation of a name - while still recording. He even does what most audiobooks fail to do, include sound clips of the music or sounds he discusses. Both a solid guidebook on creativity and a memoir on Questlove, this audiobook is also a lot of fun." (AudioFile) 

Questlove once again is my fairy godmother

No matter what kind of creator you are, or even if you think you aren’t one at all, this audiobook will be an absolute joy from start to finish. Questlove is engaging and beautiful spoken, and really puts words to so many concepts you’ve probably attempted to understand but have never written down in any way. It’s beautiful, concise, researched, and cause for real thought and pause. It’s not a shitty self help book, it’s like a massively life changing conversation with a really damn smart friend.

54 of 56 people found this review helpful

Just finished it. About to hit play again.

Loved everything about it. Well thought out and well executed.. its a joy to listen to. Quest Love puts his thoughts and experiences out there in a way that felt like I was having a conversation with a fellow creative (albeit more experienced and more thoughtful than most). I really liked the personal experiences he cites and didn’t find it difficult at all to make connections to my own creative endeavors. The book is honest and personal and simultaneously full of useful tips that any creative will be able to make use of.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Creativity"taught" in a creative way

I will definitely be listening to this multiple times. It's a journey with a mentor, a fun cool mentor, who drops truth along with classical references and a soundtrack! I have read/listened to a lot of books on creativity. This is unique. Don't miss it. Thank you Questlove wish I was on the east coast and could also take a class in person.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

A Creative Experience

I have read other creativity books but nothing quite like this. At least not in this perspective. Quest delivers real life experiences, challenges & scenarios which he encountered in his personal life and his career as a musician. Quest using these stories to help you develop a tool to think outside the box when we tend to stay within the lines of our own better judgments when it comes to creativity. The bonus of this book is that its flooded with stories of some of your favorite musicians, producers, actors, etc. Overall a great read and absolutely a must read if you're looking for another point of view on how creativity works. Great Job Quest!

21 of 22 people found this review helpful

Creative Quest

The book is mostly Questlove talking about some of the things he has witnessed during his lifetime that have inspired him, with some bullet points here and there on how to maintain a creative lifestyle. Overall it was enjoyable, but not exactly what I was expecting.

19 of 20 people found this review helpful

Impressed!

this is the first review i am writing, although ive listened to hundreds of audiobooks, by artists, about art, life, experiences and such.

first, i am not a fan of Questlove, or the Roots, so i am not familiar with their work, and am not biased in my review. i am a New York City career artist (art-jewelry and sculpture), one of the few around these days, so i know how hard it is to be a pro artist, and continue to thrive and love the work you do. Questlove's insight-fullness, and awareness to his and others' work, and work habits/rituals/lifestyle, and most importantly MINDSET, really resonate with my own experiences in the creative arts. good, solid advice, that any creative, or non-creative person could learn from. i highly recommend the read, for anyone who has art, or an artist in their life.

i was supposed to be introduced to Questlove some years back from a friend in the music industry, because in his words, "Questlove is prolific in his vision and creativity, so you guys would collaborate well". now, after this book, i completely understandwhy my friend said what he did, and regret not being able to meet him based on my timing at that point in time.

as im sure Questlove would agree, we will meet when the time is right, and the most important thing is to continue creating, sharing, and doing what you do, and enjoying it! from there, the people who matter and appreciate the work and the vision will find you somehow. the universe has a way of making things like that happen!

bravo, to Questlove, for opening up and sharing such personal and profound words of wisdom, regarding art and creativity with the world!

now i will go and listen to some of the music, as i did not want that to influence my thoughts on the book.

26 of 30 people found this review helpful

For those already in the creative realm I could not recommend anything better

Hey, yeah first time reviewer yada yada
This book deserves the full five star, Questlove might not put full weight in the star ratings but he deserves them.
First off he read it, you might not think that’s a big deal but means more to me coming from him. It’s read well and at great quality
The content is superb, I’m not a new guy just getting into the creative world, so many of the concepts and ideas I’ve come across from one mentor or another, but he has put them together for you right up front with stories and experience to back them. I certainly wish I had all of this years ago! And I hope others can take a listen, learn and grow from it as well.
Keep up the great work Questlove, now off to find more if your books!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great and Boring

think it was a good listen overall. some tools and stories were excellent listen and overall the book was motivational too. but the narration was boring at times. it was interesting to hear the writer read it out and seemed raw and real but that very reason caused it to be cumbersome and monotonous to listen to

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

An inspiring & thought-provoking look into the creative process

Creative Quest is a comprehensive and inspiring look into the creative process. Questlove guides the reader/listener with valuable insights — both his own and from others — that provoke self-reflection and new ideas. At the same time, he courageously exposes his own vulnerabilities, reminding us that even those we look to as role models or place upon pedestals are, themselves, imperfect. His approach is both humbling, and encouraging. You don’t need to be a “creator” to derive value from Creative Quest. We’re all creators in our own way. Questlove: simply, thank you for giving this to the world. It could not have come at a better time for my own personal creative quest!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I wasn't expecting this!

I love Questlove and had no idea I would be getting a kick in the seat of pants along with this audio book. It's the first time I have read or listened to anything "inspirational" that gave me tools to create that I didn't know I had. The little exercises he uses to get the mind out of a rut where exactly what I needed! From breaking down how to define creativity, and exercises to get the mind working, I found this book motivating and entertaining.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I'm not qualified to leave feedback but

It doesn't feel right leaving a review for this book, and even worse, a star review, but I was so inspired by this book, and can see how it can be applied even to a career-- not necessarily a creative one. Thanks, Questlove.

A bit rambling

Oh wow. I wanted to like this SO much. But it didn't do anything for me. Questlove is a great narrator but I didn't feel he was saying anything very interesting or useful. Apart from the humorous asides and sound-effects it's a fairly rambling account of everything Questlove likes doing and all the cool famous people he's met. It doesn't say much about creativity beyond some superficial attempts. I admit I only got about halfway through and gave up.