Thursday, April 17, 2014

Book Review: Stephen

Today we have a book recommendation from blogger Stephen! Check it out and put it on your summer reading list! 
 
A book I would highly recommend is Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

What especially attracted my attention is the section on what the concept of "difference" is.

The author explains that if you substitute the word "not" for difference, then it helps define what difference is and how it applies to our lives.

Here's an example:  
Four (4) people share the same LIKE for Pizza and one does NOT.  The one who does NOT would be called "different" by the other 4.  The 4 might inquire as to why this person does NOT like Pizza.  BUT, by the answers given and the conversation between individuals, even the people who like Pizza might find out more about themselves which would deepen their own experience in enjoying Pizza (and understanding those who don't).

So if you list the NOTs, then it describes the difference:
Not the same age.
Not from the same school.
Not working.
Not exercising.
Not riding the bus.



By overtly clarifying what is different, the focus can shift on to what is the same about the people in the group. 

For more informative thought exercises, check out the book: Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi 

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