内容简介
Is the ability to creatively tackle problems innate or can it be learned? Like most human traits, both answers are correct. Some people are inherently more innovative than others. But, just like maths, or writing, everyone can improve with practice.
Tina Seelig, PhD teaches creativity every day in her courses on innovation at Stanford School of Engineering. After ten years of experience, she confidently asserts that not only can creativity be taught but that there are a clear set of tools, skills and approaches that can unlock anyone's creative potential. In InGenius, Seelig reminds us that creativity is not just something that you think about - it is something that you do. It is as natural as breathing, and just as necessary for leading a successful and fulfilling life. Creative solutions are required because the status quo is never good enough, and our goal should always be to push beyond the limits of what seems possible.
Great ideas are needed to solve all the problems we face and to enrich our lives. Whether it is in the conference room, classroom or kitchen, new ideas open up a world of wonderful possibilities. With the tools presented in this remarkable book, we will learn how to pull out all stops to take on the challenges, big and small, that come our way, and to see that every word, every idea, and every moment provides an opportunity for creativity that will enhance our lives.
InGenius is filled with concepts, tools, techniques and stories that reveal ways you can increase your creativity quotient, and that of your groups and organizations. The first half of the book focuses on the inside out - what you can personally do to increase your own creative aptitude and attitude. The second half deals with the outside in - how you can change the local and cultural environment to increase the creativity quotient of your community. InGenius reveals one of the great truths about ideas: it costs nothing to generate amazing ideas, and yet the results have the potential to be priceless.
——This text refers to the Paperback edition.
作者简介
Tina Seelig has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University Medical School.
She is the executive director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, the director of the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation, and is the author of the international bestseller What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20. In 2009, Seelig was awarded the prestigious Gordon Prize from the National Academy of Engineering for her pioneering work in engineering education.
精彩书评
“Tina invites us inside her Stanford University course to reveal that we all have creative potential waiting to be unleashed.” (Ori Brafman, coauthor of Sway and Click )“In a world that’s in constant flux, creativity and innovation are essential qualities for successful executives and industry-leading companies.
Tina has shown that we all have the ability to mobilize our creative spirit.” (Chip Conley, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and Author of Emotional Equations )“Who said creativity can’t be taught? It can, and Tina Seelig has done it! She has created a new model, the Innovation Engine, that will change the way you think.” (Steve Blank, entreprenuer and author of The Startup Owners Manual )In this groundbreaking work, Tina has codified her years of teaching at Stanford and proves that anyone can be creative. (Nancy Duarte, CEO and author of Resonate )Tina has shattered the misconception that you can’t increase creativity.
In this book, she presents breakthrough ideas on how to understand and boost your ability to innovate. (Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment and former chief evangelist of Apple )Tina Seelig has written a provocative field guide to 21st century creativity, with her energy and enthusiasm bursting through on every page. We all could use a little extra spark of creativity, and this book helps show the way. (Tom Kelley, author of The Art of Innovation )
“Few people have done as much to champion innovative thinking as Tina Seelig.” (David Kelley, Founder IDEO )“Tina Seelig is one of the most creative and inspiring teachers at Stanford.” (Robert Sutton, Stanford University Professor and author The No-Asshole Rule )“Tina is the most inspirational creativity voice I know.” (Geoffrey Moore, Author, Crossing the Chasm, Dealing with Darwin )“Seelig is a sharp observer and a gentle and thoughtful writer.” (Miami Herald )“Tina Seelig has written a powerful and practical book, jam packed with keen insights for unleashing creativity in yourself and others.” (Peter Sims, author of Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries )“inGenius is a fascinating blueprint for any company that’s serious about creating an environment where new ideas can thrive, and many of Seelig’s students doubtless go on to do precisely that.” (Fortune Magazine )Seelig demonstrates that creativity and experimentation are both personal mindsets and values in organizations. inGenius acts as a spark plug for managers and entrepreneurs who want to capitalize on the creativity in their organizations. (Library Journal )
前言/序言
《思维的炼金术:探寻人类想象力的奥秘》 引言:看不见的疆域 人类心智的疆域,广袤无垠,其中最令人着迷的莫过于“创造力”这一核心驱动力。它不是遥不可及的灵感闪现,而是深植于我们认知结构中的一种强大能力。本书并非旨在提供一套立竿见影的工具箱,教你如何“制造”出惊世骇俗的作品,而是致力于深入探究创造力本身——它的起源、运作机制、以及如何在日常生活中被系统性地培养和释放。我们将穿越心理学、神经科学、哲学乃至艺术史的迷雾,描摹出人类心智如何从既有元素中提炼出全新价值的复杂过程。 第一部分:心智的构造与潜能 创造力的基石,首先在于我们如何感知和组织世界。本部分将从认知科学的角度,解构心智处理信息的基本模式。我们探讨“心智模型”的形成,这些模型既是我们的认知框架,也可能成为创新的桎梏。 一、认知的双重奏:系统一与系统二的交锋 借鉴当代决策理论的框架,我们细致剖析大脑中两种主要的思维模式——快速、直觉的系统一,以及缓慢、审慎的系统二。创造力的诞生往往发生在两者的微妙平衡之中:系统一提供丰富的联想和非逻辑的跳跃,而系统二负责评估、提炼和实现这些飞跃。本书将详述如何训练系统二去“捕捉”那些由系统一孕育的、稍纵即逝的洞察火花,并警惕过度依赖任何一方可能带来的局限性。 二、记忆的重塑与联想的编织 创造力并非凭空创造,而是对现有知识和经验的重新排列组合。我们深入探讨“语义网络”和“情景记忆”在创新中的角色。关键在于如何打破既有的知识壁垒,促进远距离联想(Distant Association)。我们将通过对人类学习机制的剖析,展示如何通过主动的知识涉猎和刻意的交叉学习(Interdisciplinary Learning),构建更庞大、更灵活的联想图谱,从而为“灵光乍现”准备更肥沃的土壤。 三、心流状态的神经学基础 “沉浸感”或“心流”,被公认为高效率创造的温床。本章将不再停留在现象描述,而是追溯其背后的神经化学机制。我们分析在深度专注状态下,前额叶皮层活动的变化,以及多巴胺系统在维持注意力和激发探索行为中的作用。理解心流的生理开关,能帮助我们设计出更利于深度工作的环境和节奏。 第二部分:环境、文化与创造力的土壤 个体的潜力需要适宜的环境来激发。本部分将目光投向外部世界,审视社会结构、文化氛围和物理空间如何塑造或抑制我们的创新能力。 四、摩擦与冗余:安全与风险的辩证法 一个真正鼓励创造力的环境,必须在“心理安全”与“必要的认知摩擦”之间找到平衡。我们研究为什么“过度舒适”反而会扼杀探索欲。真正的突破往往需要在一定程度的不确定性和轻微的失败风险中进行。本书探讨了如何构建一个“容错文化”,使得尝试新事物的成本在心理上降至最低,从而鼓励高风险、高回报的思维实验。 五、工具、媒介与表达的约束 我们使用的工具和表达的媒介,深刻地影响着我们的思维方式。从雕塑到编程语言,从文字到数字图像,每一种工具都附带着一套固有的逻辑和限制。我们将分析这些“技术约束”如何通过“反作用力”激发创造者寻找替代性的、非传统的解决方案。这是一种“以退为进”的策略,即承认工具的局限性,并将其转化为创意的催化剂。 六、跨界对话的力量:他者的视角 伟大的进步往往发生在学科的交界处。本部分侧重于“异质性群体”的协作效能。我们分析了来自不同背景、持有不同世界观的个体,如何通过观点碰撞,打破“集体思维定势”(Groupthink)。如何有效地引入“他者视角”进行批判性反馈,是实现从个人洞察到集体创新的关键路径。 第三部分:创造力的实践与精进 创造力并非一次性的爆发,而是一个需要持续维护和迭代的过程。本部分着眼于将理论转化为可操作的日常习惯。 七、发散思维的陷阱与聚焦 传统的创造力训练常强调“头脑风暴”的发散阶段。然而,本书提出,仅仅产生大量想法是不够的。我们必须精通“创意筛选”和“概念深化”的技术。我们将引入结构化的评估框架,教导读者如何区分“新颖性”(Novelty)与“价值性”(Utility),以及如何运用“逆向工程”的方法,从一个模糊的目标反推所需步骤。 八、原型制作的艺术:从概念到具象 许多想法在口头表达中显得完美无缺,但在实际构建的早期阶段便会瓦解。本章强调“快速、低保真”原型制作的重要性。这种实践不仅是为了测试可行性,更重要的是,物理化的反馈循环能激活我们更深层次的感知系统,帮助我们发现隐藏的逻辑漏洞和未曾预料的应用场景。 九、创造者的耐力:应对“中间的低谷” 每一项重大创造都必然经历一个漫长而艰苦的“中间低谷期”——此时初始的热情已消退,而最终的成果尚未显现。本书提供了一种关于“韧性”(Grit)的实践性理解,它并非盲目的坚持,而是对目标进行阶段性重定义和对过程进行精细化管理的结合。我们探讨了如何通过设置微小的、可实现的里程碑,维持长期的内部驱动力,对抗创造过程中的倦怠和自我怀疑。 结语:创造力是选择,而非天赋 最终,本书试图传递一个核心观点:创造力不是少数天才拥有的魔法,而是一种可以通过理解、实践和持续反思来培养的、人人可及的心智能力。它关乎我们如何选择去观察世界、如何选择去组合经验,以及如何选择去面对未知的挑战。释放你的想象力,即是选择一种更丰富、更具探索性的生存方式。