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  • The Creative Habit

  • Learn It and Use It for Life
  • By: Twyla Tharp
  • Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
  • Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (96 ratings)
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The Creative Habit cover art

The Creative Habit

By: Twyla Tharp
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
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Summary

All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with 32 practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable 35-year career.

In "Where's Your Pencil?" Tharp reminds you to observe the world - and get it down on paper. In "Coins and Chaos", she gives you an easy way to restore order and peace. In "Do a Verb", she turns your mind and body into coworkers. In "Build a Bridge to the Next Day", she shows you how to clean the clutter from your mind overnight.

Tharp leads you through the painful first steps of scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work, and getting out of ruts and into productive grooves. The wide-open realm of possibilities can be energizing, and Twyla Tharp explains how to take a deep breath and begin....

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2003 W.A.T. Ltd. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Creative Habit

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good and bad

As much as I want to give this book a better rating I can't. I started this book in a moment of crisis with a creative project and I wouldn't say it has been a complete waste of my time and money but I really can't recommend this book to many people. The story itself is nice but it is more of an autobiography than it is a self-help book. I feel like a lot of stories and examples could have been cut out and the message she was trying to convey would have been just as clear. Tharp states in the beginning that this book is not just about dancing but I feel a bit cheated - there is an awful lot of talk about dancing that simply does not interest me. I lose focus and really want to skip on those parts. The narrating is ok, her voice is calm and soothing but she simply goes too slow! The combination of the slow narration and the talk about classic music and dance is just not my kind of thing and not what I was hoping for.

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18 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Waste of time (for me).

Feel like this book is an autobiography dressed up as a self help book to sell more copies. Unless you are a dancer, I wouldn’t bother. I have zero actionable takeaways and feel patronised for not knowing as much about classical music as the author. Sorry not for me.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant insight into a creative life

This is without question, a truly great book on creative processes. Twlya shares her own creative processes so that we can learn, develop, extend, enjoy and play with our own creative processes. With plenty of anecdote from a long career, the book is also part fascinating memoir, which holds interest and gives depth to the book. the techniques and habits Twyla Tharp describes are immediately useful and can be applied to just about anything, from cooking dinner to writing a novel. One of the most refreshing aspects of the book is that it is about dance and movement, so she brings an new, fresh perspective. I can't recommend it too highly and also can't believe that someone gave it a one star rating - don't take any notice of that. this is a really great book.

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6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring and practical

This is a book written by someone who has a lifetimes experience of creative work, so I respect the content of the book. Having read it all, I’d recommend it to anyone seeking to develop their creative pursuits and habits.
Fair enough, it contains dance related stories, and being a dancer I related very well to it. However I believe the lessons to learn here are applicable to any creative pursuit. The exercises are helpful, and I’ll be using lots of them for sure. They won’t have as much impact if you don’t listen to the (maybe sometimes too long) personal stories.
I recommend, for the exercises alone, and even for the reassurance of not feeling alone or weird the difficulties that creative types encounter.

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5 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Habits for Creative Dancers

Would you try another book written by Twyla Tharp or narrated by Lauren Fortgang?

I probably wouldn't try another book by this author, but would have no problem listening to Lauren Fortgang narrating other books.

What was most disappointing about Twyla Tharp’s story?

I was expecting a book on creativity and if your interested in Dance then this might be the book for you. However for those of us who practice other arts & crafts, this book has little to offer.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Yet to find one.

What character would you cut from The Creative Habit?

N/A

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • m
  • 28-05-16

interesting and enlightening.

I'm glad I listened to it but she does sound like she's bragging about herself a lot!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mainly a vehicle for Twyla to talk about herself.

Mainly a vehicle for Twyla to talk about herself. Some good bits but couldn't finish it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational and practical advice

Just finished and am considering getting it in print too. I loved the story of Twyla, and her wisdom can be used in all professions, it is about doing what you are doing really well, being a true pro, it is also about living well, "being really interested in life".
My favorite take away from the book is chapter 9 about skills and exercise called 20 questions - about a given topic before starting a project - will definitely use it for myself.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Taught me more about myself than reflection alone.

I often reflect on my work and creative practice. I think it’s one of my strengths. But this book? This book taught me more about what I’m doing as well as what needs improvement.

And it’s not just about habit. It’s about the courage to start, the “scratch” of research, and the courage to let go.

I recommend this book to any creator in any creative discipline.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tharp the well defined creator.

A thoroughly absorbed listen, Tharps voice filled with determination, a real spine strengenthing conversation, really useful for starting out in 2021

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