Each of the seven chapters in this book was structured to uncover the kernels of truth underlying seven myths about the creative brain, as well as the chain of events that led to specific narratives being propagated. In adopting this approach, my direct aim was to inform readers about the bigger and—dare I say—more exciting stories surrounding these dominant ideas.
This book is much better than I think the blurb gives you to understand. Abraham explores the different ways in which the brain might support creative endeavour, and debunks even more.
Key lessons here include that a lot more is being claimed than is known; that creativity has a wide range of causal factors, which also have a wide range of brain functions, and my favourite because it is so rarely understood in this field, that you also can’t ignore the impact of socioeconomic factors. In talking about the association of mental illness with professional artists and writers, for example, Abraham tartly points out that the association of professional artists with poverty, insecure employment and denial of health care definately has a bigger impact than any question of associated brain wiring.
Recommended.