(Image from Books Depository)
Should you buy Change Your Mind: 57 Ways To Unlock Your Creative Self at Singapore (ie, more expensive) prices? Yes.
Should you buy Change Your Mind: 57 Ways To Unlock Your Creative Self at US (ie, cheaper) prices? Yes.
“Change Your Mind: 57 Ways To Unlock Your Creative Self” by Rod Junkins is a coffee table book about creativity. True to its name, it contains 57 nuggets of advice about creativity, each accompanied by a quote.
I picked up a copy of “Change Your Mind” at Books Actually on a lark – it was a small, hardcover book that caught my eye when I first entered the store and lingered all the way until I exited, re-entered, exited, and finally re-entered to buy the book. I didn’t pick it up for a few months after that.
Then I did. I’m not sure why I’m so affected by the book – perhaps it plays to my desire as a creative. Or perhaps it’s bright yellow and white. Nevertheless, I didn’t regret it.
I liked “Change Your Mind.” It’s not philosophy for sure, but it was a positive read and I came away richer for it. Shouldn’t all books do that?
Let’s take a look at why you should be reading “Change Your Mind.”
(Image from Lionheart Magazine)
Easy Reading
“Change Your Mind” is a coffee table book. Each nugget of wisdom is only two pages long, in large font, accompanied by a quote and illustration. It’s really a picture book for creative adults, but I wouldn’t give it to children because some of the issues inside it might not be fathomable to them. Pick it up, spend a minute or two, put it down. It’s that easy to read this book.
It’s Inspirational
It really is. It shows you several stories of famous underdogs, and subtly encourages you to go on, no matter how much you think you’ve failed and underachieved. And since we’re all insecure as creatives, you know how much we need support like this.
Good source of quotes
Not all the quotes are thing you’d like to pin up at your desk, but I assure you at least 60% of the quotes are worth sending as gifts, e-cards, or a random scribbling for a friend.
(Image from Lionheart Magazine)
Much as I like this book, I do have two issues with it.
Lack of actionable advice
The advice given isn’t the practical, do-it-now, exercise type – more of a motivational guide. So you have to adapt it to yourself and judge whether the advice works for you or not – definitely, not all 57 ways are applicable to every person, or even 57 people for that matter.
Not particularly insightful
I wouldn’t say it’s an excellent thesis on creativity, and if you’re looking for some hitherto unseen insight into being creative, you’d be disappointed. Then again, it’s a coffee table book.
Still, these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise an excellent book to leave lying around (for yourself to read, for others to read, and for others to see how creative you are).
Locally, you can pick it up at Books Actually (though the webstore is currently sold out, the brick and mortar outlet might have it), or at Kinokuniya.
If you don’t mind waiting for shipping (but would like it a bit cheaper), try Books Depository or Amazon (free shipping for orders of $150 and above!) (that’s USD).
And yes, I felt creative enough to write this review after reading the book!
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