Okay, I don't remember how much I paid for this, because it was so long ago! This was one of the first books I read, along with Bird By Bird, that changed my view of creating, especially where it concerned my writing. We're always taught that creative pursuits are just "hobbies", and should be forgotten about in favor of "real" work.

For someone creative, this can stick with you for a long time, and certainly make you feel guilty when you decide to pursue a creative project. It's hard to get over this mentality and get back on track to what you're really passionate about. For the longest time I kept my writing secret, like it was something shameful. This book really helped me to see that creativity is an essential function in life. This book also helps you break down those negative, self-defeating habits and thought patterns. A necessity for anyone who is creative.

It's hard to believe that this book is now over thirty years old. Well, hard to believe if you don't judge a book by its rather misleading cover, that is. A quick glance at the front of this book might lead you to chalk it up to the dollar-bin cast-off self-help guides that your local used book store offers. But here's my advice: don't do that.

This book is a classic. If you're at all interested in the psychological components not just of individual creativity, but also in the relationship between individual and group creativity and the world as we see it around us, you should be reading this book. In a time when we hear so much about change, about the importance of meeting the challenges of the future head on, this little book from decades ago outlines exactly what sort of courage is necessary to confront a shifting, uncertain world. May examines both why creativity is difficult- the fear that may come in never knowing if what we're doing is worthwhile, the temptation to hold on to what is known and true, and why it is absolutely essential- we can not expect to confront, much less conquer the demands of coming days without it.

It's a small volume, so let yourself read it slowly. Savour it. Learn from it. You won't regret it.