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PDF Version << Syllabus Home Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5 Page6 Page7 Last >> Creativity and Personal Mastery Course Outline Prof. Srikumar S. Rao
Supplementary Reading:
Management in Small Doses; John Wiley, 1986 Pretty much the same comments as above. Both books are at reading level 1.Adams, James L. - Conceptual Blockbusting; Addison-Wesley, 1987 The author has a background as an engineer and Stanford professor. He defines various "blocks" to creativity such as stereotyping, judging etc. and suggests strategies to overcome them. The best parts are the exercises peppered throughout the various chapters. Be sure to try these. (Sample: Imagine the sensation of a long attack of hiccups). Reading level 1. DeBono, Edward - Lateral Thinking; Harper & Row, 1970 Vertical thinking, according to DeBono, is digging the same hole deeper. Lateral thinking is digging someplace else. Junior is bothering his aunt who is knitting a sweater. He feels constricted by the playpen and howls. Solution: put the aunt in the playpen where she can knit undisturbed while junior romps outside. Several sets of exercises are included. Reading level 1 with gusts of 2. Six Thinking Hats; Little, Brown & Co., 1985 DeBono specifies hats of six colors, each associated with a different thinking mode. Putting on the white hat requires you to present facts and figures in a neutral, objective manner. The red hat requires you to present how you feel about "the proposal" emotionally, the black hat what your negative assessments are, and so on. The method is designed to switch thinking away from arguments into collaboration. Widely used techniques. Reading level 1. Serious Creativity; Harper Collins, 1992 Prolific as he is it is easy to understand how DeBono can afford to live on his own private island. This book summarizes his other works and gives new anecdotes, business examples and exercises. Reading level 1. Isakson, Scott G. and Donald J. Treffinger - Creative Problem Solving: The Basic Course Bearly Ltd., 1985 This is a workbook that comes in a three hole binder and provides detailed instructions on data finding, problem structuring, idea and solution finding etc. The checklists of questions are quite helpful though the text is somewhat boring. Reading level 1 but goes to 2 quite often. Miller, William - The Creative Edge; Addison-Wesley, 1987 A consultant to major corporations, Miller does a fine job of showing how to enhance creativity in individual and group settings. His discourse on intuitive methods is good, as is his discussion of human values. Methods of achieving "win-win" solutions in the workplace are neat. Reading level 1, very occasionally 2. Parnes, Sidney J. - The Magic of Your Mind; Creative Education Foundation Another book that talks about the creative process, what blocks it and how we can overcome the blocks. Many standard exercises are presented. The sans-serif type is none too easy to read but, to compensate, there is a profusion of cartoons most of which are very, very funny. Reading level 1. von Oech, Roger - A Whack on the Side of the Head; Warner 1983 - A Kick in the Seat of the Pants; Harper & Row, 1986 Nobody would publish his first book so von Oech did it himself and created a block-buster success that is still being touted by purveyors of manuals on self publishing. It also established his reputation as a creativity consultant and he picked up many prestigious Silicon Valley clients including Apple Computers. Oversize and easy to read. Good graphics and pictures. Fun exercises. Reading level 1. The New Physics and readings from science: Quantum Physics has turned topsy turvy all of our cherished notions of how things work. In this world time can flow backwards with particles dying before they are born. Space is curved and exists in an infinite number of dimensions. Space and matter are inexplicably linked, neither can exist without the other. The type of our measuring instrument determines the nature of our observation, change one and so does the other. The act of observation alters that which is observed. A number of thinkers have raised the possibility that quantum phenomena have their counterparts in the "real" world, that too many of our assumptions are untested and probably false and have drawn strong parallels between the world views of Eastern philosophy and quantum mechanics. Be aware that others vociferously oppose the implications of such comparisons and there are scientists of Nobel Prize winning caliber on both sides of the argument. Leonard Shlain expresses it beautifully: "The new physics presently rests like a pea under the collective mattress of humankind, disturbing tranquil sleep just enough to begin to change how people think about the world." What is indisputable is that there are few exercises more capable of stretching your mind than pondering the status of Schrodinger's cat or the implications of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment. Welcome to the mysterious world of Physics! And let us not forget other branches of science - pure mathematics, chemistry, biology and biochemistry, genetics and many more. All these fields are in ferment and the distinctions between functional areas are breaking down. Complex linear programming problems have been solved by DNA computers leading to speculation that organic computers, vastly more powerful than their silicon based counterparts, may soon be among us. Quantum computing is looming in the background. Even the merest exposure to what is happening "out there" in different fields will cause you to gape with wonder. Hold on to that feeling of awe, that amazement at where human thought has reached. You too will push the boundaries. That is what this course is all about. Bohm, David - Wholeness and the Implicate Order; Ark Paperbacks, Boston 1983 A renowned physicist and collaborator of Einstein, Bohm makes the point that scientists are too hung up on a fragmented world view in which thought and matter are separate and distinct and the thinker is different from what he thinks about. He postulates that the universe is an unbroken whole in which any element contains within itself the totality of the universe. He also explicitly discusses consciousness which is a subject most scientists shy away from. Reading level 2 with frequent jumps to 3. Capra, Fritjof - The Tao of Physics; Shambala, 1975 With the cult success of this book imitators swarmed in and there is now a "Tao" of everything from leadership to cooking. The author, a scientist in his own right, gives an overview of quantum physics and muses philosophically on its implications. It is well written and you do not have to possess much of a scientific background to understand it. He is particularly good at drawing and explaining parallels between Eastern mysticism and modern physics. You may also wish to explore his co-authored book, Belonging to the Universe. Reading level 1 to 2. Casti, John L. - Paradigms Lost: Images of Man in the Mirror of Science William Morrow, 1989 Casti, a mathematician by training, discusses deep questions such as "What is the true nature of mankind?" He considers quantum reality, extraterrestrial intelligence and the origin of life. In each case he presents opposing viewpoints and the evidence for each and then puts on his judicial hat and plops on one side or the other. A particularly neat feature of this book is that Casti presents the social context in which many famous scientists worked and shows how their political and other beliefs contributed to their findings. Reading level 1, occasionally 2. Dyson, Freeman - Disturbing the Universe; Harper & Row, 1979 A physicist at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, Dyson worked with many of the most famous names in the field including Oppenheimer and Feynman. The title of the book comes from a T. S. Eliot poem and serves to illustrate the breadth of the author's interests. He muses on many topics from inter-galactic colonization to nuclear and biological weapons and has a keen feel for political reality. His description of war years at Bomber Command in England is particularly worthwhile. Reading level 1 to 2. Greene, Brian - The Elegant Universe; Vintage Books, 2000 A marvelous exposition of the unexplained mysteries of physics with an especially lucid discussion of relativity. If Einstein's famous discovery still leaves you bemused, this book will give you understanding. The author is a strong proponent of String Theory and he explains how this may well be the theoretical underpinning for the much sought after 'theory of everything'. Reading level 1, very occasionally 2. The Fabric of the Cosmos; Space, Time and the Texture of Reality Alfred A. Knopf, 2004 A phenomenal book that gives you more insights into modern science and specifically quantum mechanics and astrophysics. He shows you how small anomalies in the real world have led to new theories that completely overthrew old scientific paradigms. This is a book that will make you gasp with awe at the power of the human mind, and the wonder of the universe. Science, especially physics, has never been so enthralling. Reading Level 1, sometimes 2.Gribbin, John and Martin Rees - Cosmic Coincidence: Dark Matter, Man and Anthropic Cosmology; Bantam, 1989 A science writer and a physicist take you on an intriguing tour of some of the most revolutionary ideas to emerge from science: the particle zoo; black holes; cosmic strings; gravitational lenses; Copenhagen and Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics; and much more. Clear writing. Reading level 1 to 2. Heisenberg, Werner - Physics and Beyond; Harper & Row, 1971 The debate is raging again about whether Heisenberg, head of the Nazi equivalent of the Manhattan Project, was a courageous scientist who sabotaged the effort or an incompetent manager who fell on his face. There is no doubt that he was one of the greatest physicists of all time and his uncertainty principle is a cornerstone of our understanding of the universe. He muses on politics, history, religion and other topics and reports on his conversations with other scientific greats like Einstein, Bohr and Schrodinger. Reading level 2. Jahn, Robert G. and Brenda J. Dunne - Margins of Reality; HBJ 1987 A former Dean of the School of Engineering at Princeton University and a NASA consultant Jahn had a towering reputation which did not prevent vociferous attacks when he chose to investigate, using rigorous scientific methodology, subjects which were taboo then and are still largely so. The subtitle of the book is The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World and he documents the results of his experiments showing that consciousness and matter interact in measurable ways. Reading level 2 with gusts of 3. Morowitz, H. - Cosmic Joy and Local Pain: Musing of a Mystic Scientist Charles Scribner's Sons, 1987 A Yale professor of biophysics muses on his field during a sabbatical and while on his sailboat in Hawaii. Many simple, and some quite complex, topics in science - the importance of water in organic life, energy flow and entropy - are made clear in simple language. Reading level 1. Newberg, Andrew, Eugene D'Aquill and Vince Rause - Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief Ballantine, 2001 Mystics in many traditions speak of powerful experiences of unity, of merging with the universe, of becoming one with the cosmos. Most persons dismiss such descriptions as metaphorical. But what if they are not? Modern science has provided us with ever more powerful tools to map the brain's neuronic activity. The authors report on studies that show that there is, indeed, such a state of merging and it is associated with a unique brain map. Neurotheology is a new discipline and it poses interesting questions such as "Did God create the Brain or did the Brain create God?" Reading level 1, sometimes 2. Pagels, Heinz R. - The Cosmic Code: Quantum Physics as the Language of Nature Simon And Schuster, 1982 Pagels, former president of the New York Academy of Sciences, does a pretty good job of explaining how quantum physics evolved from Newtonian physics. He clearly explains the experimental anomalies of the latter, which forced the "creation" of the former. He also does an excellent job of describing the individual contributions of the great physicists who flourished in the 1920s and how the theoretical work of each tied in with that of others and cumulatively evolved a fundamental shift in physics. Reading level 1, frequently 2. Penrose, Roger - The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe Alfred A. Knopf, 2004 A great physicist and professor of mathematics at Oxford, Penrose provides a panoramic view of the evolution of physics and mathematics. He shows you the subtle interplays between the disciplines and puts historic rivalries between scientists into context. It encompasses everything from quantum particles to multiple universes. The author does make heavy use of mathematics and his language is not always lucid. The book is more than a thousand pages long. Much of it is reading level 3. Schrodinger, E. - What is Life? And Mind, and Matter? Cambridge University Press, 1969 A Nobel Prize winning physicist ponders on the implications of his discoveries. Fate and free will; science and religion; the physical basis of consciousness; subject-object differentiation; and more. Reading level 2, sometimes 3. Schwartz, Jeffrey M. and Sharon Begley - The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity And the Power of Mental Force HarperCollins 2002 The mind can shape the brain. What you intensely, deeply visualize can leave a permanent imprint on your brain. Many traditions say this, but until now you had to take it on faith. Now there is proof. Brain maps reveal that thinking does indeed create changes in brain waves. Also, the brain can rewire itself. The implications are profound and provide scientific rationale for the mental exercises propounded by religious teachers, sports coaches and many, many others. Reading level 1. Talbot, Michael - Beyond the Quantum: God, Reality, Consciousness in the New Scientific Revolution; Macmillan, 1986 Well written book that explains recent scientific experiments and why they are important. True, he selects only experiments that further his point of view, but they are fascinating anyway. His thesis is that science will one day explain, or at least accept, mysticism and the paranormal and explores why so many scientists oppose them viscerally. Reading level 1 to 2. Wilbur, K (editor) - Quantum Questions: Mystical Writings of the Worlds Great Physicists; New Science Library, 1984 Collection of writings from a pantheon of Nobel Prize winners: Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Einstein, de Broglie, Pauli, Planck and others. The book makes the case that, contrary to New Age thinking, contemporary physics does not "prove" mysticism. Nevertheless, every one of these giants was a mystic. It attempts to explore why. Fascinating reading as the towering figures of modern science reveal their personal beliefs and world views. Reading level varies from 1 to 3. Zukav, Gary - The Dancing Wu Li Masters; William Morrow, 1979 Wu Li is supposedly the Chinese word for physics. This is in the same tradition as Capra's Tao of Physics and is very readable. The discussions of philosophical quandaries like whether Schrodinger's cat is alive and the implications of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment are well done. The last chapter, which deals with the limits of science, is fascinating. Reading level 1 to 2. Business and Management: The business world we live in is changing and the pace of this change is accelerating. The multi-layered corporation with its autocratic hierarchy is unsuited to the new information era spawned by cheap computing power. People, and not machines or structures, are the key to an organization's long-run prosperity. Jack Welch, former chairman of General Electric, puts it as well as anyone, "The only way I see to get more productivity is by getting people involved and excited about their jobs. You can't afford to have anyone walk through a gate of a factory, or into an office, who's not giving 120%." His particular solution, which involves relentlessly raising the bar and subjecting employees to sometimes brutal treatment, may or may not be the best one, but it certainly has gained widespread attention and approbation. There are other companies that are also changing their organizational structures and processes to take account of the new reality. They are grappling with the problems of how, exactly, do you empower workers and what should you do to get them to take ownership of problems. Consultants and academics are documenting the physical and psychic costs of continuing with "old" ways. Just emerging is the recognition that there are physical and psychic costs of doing things in "new" ways. Herewith a small sampling of business and management books that you might find worthwhile. If you find any book particularly appealing, be sure to look up others by the same author. You will notice that I have an expansive notion of what constitutes a business or management book. Albrecht, Karl - The Only Thing That Matters; HarperBusiness 1992 Albrecht has written or co-authored many books on customer service and this is one of his better ones. The consumer seeks the best "value" not quality or low price. He explains how to ensure that you get and remain close to the customer. Illuminating anecdotes that make points very clearly. Reading level 1. Alexander, Col. John B., Maj. Richard Groller and Janet Morris - The Warrior's Edge Avon, 1990 Alexander is a former Special Forces commander who led hundreds of search-and-destroy missions in Southeast Asia. He also studied meditation at Buddhist monasteries and helped bring visualization and mental techniques into the training programs of the US Armed Forces. He is now a consultant to the Army and a leading proponent of non-destructive warfare. The book teaches you how to get a mental edge and trust your intuition. Reading level 1. Alsop, Ronald J. - The 18 Immutable Laws of Corporate Reputation; Free Press 2004 Alsop is a veteran Wall Street Journal reporter who begins with the unarguable premise that an impeccable reputation is an invaluable corporate asset. He then talks about how to establish and sustain such a reputation. There is a lot of usual stuff such as great customer service, fixing problems right the first time and so on. What makes it valuable are the innumerable anecdotes that come from Alsop's day job. The examples make his points come alive and are useful guides to both what you should do and should not do. Reading level 1. Argyris, Chris - Flawed Advice and the Management Trap Oxford University Press, 2000 The subtitle of this book is How managers can know when they're getting good advice and when they're not and that is what the book is about. Argyris always has penetrating insight - if you have not read his other books, do so now - and he is superb at uncovering hidden agendas. He clearly demonstrates the true feelings behind what is said and done and how the discrepancy affects organizational effectiveness. He also points out that there is more chaff than wheat in most consultant recommendations. Reading level 1. Autry, James A. and Stephen Mitchell - Real Power: Business Lessons from the Tao Te Ching; Riverhead Books, 1998 Autry was the CEO of the magazine division of the Meredith Corporation which consisted of several powerhouses such as the Ladies Home Journal. Since retiring, he has become a thoughtful exponent of the softer side of management focusing on such themes as fulfillment, creation of a healthy work environment and spiritual development. He writes simply on important topics such as what is "control" and do you really need to do it. Good stuff, good quotes. Reading level 1. Badaracco, Joseph L., Jr. - Defining Moments: When Managers Must Choose between Right and Right; Harvard Business School, 1997 Ethical dilemmas in business do not always involve clearly right and wrong paths. They are frequently choices between principles, which are both "right". A single mother with an ailing child is forced to leave work early on numerous occasions. Is it "right" to cut her some slack? Is it also "right" to fire her because her already overworked team mates are having to pick up that slack? Badaracco gives a framework to analyze such conflicts and talks you through its implications. Reading level 1. Baker, Wayne E. - Networking Smart; McGraw-Hill, 1994 I have already described my views on networking earlier in this syllabus. This said, this is one of the better books on the subject. Baker analyzes and categories the types of networks that exist in organizations, their usefulness in different situations from providing support to members in trying times like downsizing to promoting team work and shared responsibility. He also has excellent tips on how you fit into networks and how to create personal ones at your place of work. Reading level 1. Bennis, Warren - On Becoming a Leader; Addison-Wesley 1989 A professor of management and a former university president Bennis has written many books on leadership and I am not sure that this is the best one. He asserts that leaders are made, not born and that leadership cannot be taught, it has to be learned. He dissects the modern business environment and lists the essential qualities a leader has to have (integrity is one of them). Reading level 1 to 2. Bianco, Anthony - Rainmaker: The Saga of Jeff Beck, Wall Street's Mad Dog Random House, 1991 Investment bankers, of course, have been known to stretch the facts. In fact, I am amazed that no 'fairness opinion' has yet won an award for creative fiction. Even in this milieu, Jeff Beck stood out by fabricating everything from educational credentials to an exemplary, if totally fictional, war record. Bianco is a Business Week writer who does a superb job chronicling Beck's rise and fall. The bigger value is in the peek this book gives into what life is really like in big prestigious banks. Dated but still accurate and very well written. Reading level 1. PDF Version << Syllabus Home Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5 Page6 Page7 Last >> |
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