Book #7: Imagine: How Creativity Works | 100 Non-Fiction Books | Work In My Pajamas
Read 100 Non-Fiction Books for 2025
- Book 2: Longitude (Science)
- Book 3: In the Heart of the Sea (History)
- Book 4: The Potential Principle (Spirituality)
- Book 5: DK Essential Managers: Motivating People (Business)
- Book 6: Recovery by Russell Brand (Self Help)
- Book 7: Imagine: How Creativity Works (Psychology)
- Book 8: The 5 Love Languages (Self Help)
- Book 9: Facing the Beast (Politics)
By Work In My Pajamas
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Last Updated on July 11, 2025 by Work In My Pajamas
Do you ever feel like your brain just won’t cooperate? That was me with this book. It sat on my table, silently judging me while I scrolled Instagram and convinced myself watching dog videos counted as "mental rest." But I finally cracked it open—and wow—what a gem!
Written by Jonah Lehrer (a controversial author, yes, but let’s focus on the ideas here), Imagine delves deep into the science of creativity. It answers questions we’ve all asked ourselves:
✨ "Where do good ideas actually come from?"
"Why do my best thoughts show up mid-shampoo?"
"Is it normal to get brilliant ideas only after my third coffee?"
Lehrer says yes (kind of). Turns out creativity isn’t some mysterious force but a learnable, trainable process rooted in your brain’s function.
In This Post:
- What I learned while reading Imagine
- My favorite bits from the book
- Why it took me so long to read it
- And my next book pick: Allen Carr’s Easy Way for Women to Lose Weight
So What Did I Learn While Imagining?
- Creativity thrives on contrast: You need both structured thinking and chaotic brainstorming. Think spreadsheets and scribbles on napkins.
- Breakthroughs often come after giving up: That’s right—quitting (momentarily) is productive! Ever solved a problem in your sleep or while zoning out? Your subconscious does the heavy lifting while you pretend to fold laundry.
- Cities breed creativity: Crowded, chaotic places help creative ideas flourish due to the mix of people, problems, and perspectives. So if you’re creatively stuck, maybe you just need a walk through a noisy street…or at least a crowded grocery aisle.
- Failure is the warm-up act: Many creative minds fail a lot before striking gold. The takeaway? Don’t fear flops—just learn to flop with flair.
Favorite Bits from the Book
- Bob Dylan wrote Like a Rolling Stone after storming off the road and locking himself in a house. So if you’re creatively blocked, maybe what you need is more drama.
- The people behind Swiffer created it after watching someone clean with a paper towel taped to a broomstick. Moral of the story: genius hides in lazy hacks.
- Brainstorming as a group? Meh. Lehrer says people generate more ideas solo, then improve them with others. So go ahead—be anti-social for productivity.
Why It Took Me So Long to Read
Honest confession: I was in a reading slump. Some books fly by in two sittings. This one was more of a slow burn—partly because the info is dense at times and partly because my brain was craving naps and Netflix. But once I got into the groove, I couldn’t stop underlining things and mumbling, "That’s so true."
It’s the kind of book that makes you feel smarter while also giving you permission to stare into space and call it "deep creative work."