The Riddle

Where Ideas Come from and How to Have Better Ones

By: Andrew Razeghi

Narrated by: Jim Bond

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs thrive on their ability to be creative. New wealth flows to those who successfully introduce new ideas.

While organizations claim to value creativity, they are often at a loss when attempting to conjure up novel ideas, particularly in a world where technology has made information readily available to everyone. As a result, leaders ask, "Where will the next big idea come from?" In response, they allocate significant resources for innovation; however the source of creative inspiration has remained a mystery.

Science has shown that it's possible to create conditions under which the mind is more prepared to have insights, or "aha! moments". In this fascinating book, Andrew Razeghi examines the precursors to creative insight and offers clear-cut methods for making "Eureka moments" routine practice rather than lucky accidents.

Combining the latest scientific research, interviews with current innovators, and studies of history's most creative minds, he dissects the creative process and presents a practical approach for inspiring innovation.

The Riddle illustrates how replicating these precursors - curiosity, constraints, connections, conventions, and codes - can increase your odds of success at innovation. For example, the author reveals how to inspire creativity through controllable and reproducible thoughts and behaviors, such as altering your mood, changing the context in which you solve problems, creating metaphors, and even simply writing things down. He also explores the role of sleep, memory, and ethnicity as they pertain to creative insight.

The Riddle takes the mystery out of the creative process and plants it squarely in the realm of the scientific. Using the techniques outlined in this audiobook, innovators can draw on the "Eureka moment" again and again.

©2008 Andrew Razeghi (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Professor Razeghi has revealed that creativity is not an art, but a science and skill that anyone can learn. His numerous examples and fascinating anecdotes make this book a must-read for anyone...who wants to problem-solve more effectively." (Jonathan Greenblatt, Founder, Ethos Water; former Vice President, Starbuck's)

Good but not unique

The content is good and somewhat thought-provoking, but is not especially novel. Much of the material is found in other pop-psychology books. The writing style is effective, but not entertaining.

One major caveat- the narrator's voice is solid, but his inflections are off about 40% of the time. He's a good voice, but not a good actor. The book may have been received better had the narration fit the intent of the book more closely.