An unconventional book about creativity. Créativité is a book that will take you into Philippe Petit’s mind and straight into his creative process. Expect nothing ordinary.
Philippe Petit is a French high-wire artist who does not have ordinary acts. He is most known for his unauthorized high-wire walks between the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Throughout his life, he also took up equestrianism, juggling, fencing, carpentry, rock climbing, bullfighting, and just about anything you can imagine.
Who is this book for?
Everyone! But it is mostly a great book for those who have tried creative methodologies and it just doesn’t feel right, or it isn’t getting the desired results. This book will immerse you into the mind of a highly creative person, teach you how he views life, how he overcomes obstacles, and how he develops his nerve-wracking, out-of-the-ordinary feats. It’s a truly inspiring book that will (hopefully) help you find the creative process that works best for you.
Why do I recommend it?
Mainly, because it’s a fun book to read. But, another way of finding what works for you when trying to find your creative process is learning how other people do it and how they have developed it.
No spoilers! But here are the three short extracts that I absolutely loved.
1. The invitation to discover your own intellectual “crime”
Considérez donc cet ouvrage comme une conspiration – ou, si vous préférez, un manifeste. Et considérez-vous, cher lecteur, comme un complice invité à découvrir, explorer, et maîtriser le périmètre de son propre “crime” intellectuel ou artistique.
Consider this introduction like a conspiracy, or if you prefer, like a manifest. And consider yourself, dear reader, like an accomplice invited to discover, explore, and master the perimeter of your own intellectual or artistic “crime”.
Philippe Petit
This is the end of the introduction. We love it because, unlike so many other creative books that dictate a process to follow, this book invites you to discover and explore. Isn’t that what creativity is all about? Throughout the book, you’ll find exactly that, examples of what Philippe Petit did and some things he constantly does to enhance his creativity. Let’s just say it’s like a magician showing you how he does his magic tricks.
2. Practice
Je m’entraîne tous les jours.
I practice every day
Philippe Petit
Even the best have to practice, or perhaps that’s what makes them close to perfect. This is something that Philippe mentions over and over again, demonstrating how has a
3. Unconventional ideas to “force” creative thoughts
Me surprendre, je trouve, est un moteur de créativité très puissant. Essayez. Si vous travaillez dans un bureau, ôtez vos chaussettes, et vos chaussures et marchez pieds nus!
Surprising myself, I find, is a very important motor for creativity. Try it. If you work behind in an office, take your shoes and your socks off and walk barefoot!
Philippe Petit
Maybe you won’t follow this advice, you don’t need to walk barefoot in front of your colleagues to get new ideas, but maybe you try it at home. Try it! It might help you look at your problem from a different perspective and find the most adequate solution.
Créativité is a great, entertaining book that we highly recommend for creative inspiration.
The Creative 
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