01/01/2018
Questlove, music director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and author of Mo’ Meta Blues, recounts his own musical journey in these spirited reflections on the elements of creativity. Questlove defines creativity as the “personality that makes it possible” to produce art; he discusses the creative process, the value of mentors, and the usefulness of collaboration. Questlove suggests that the best way to engage in the creative process is what he calls “micromeditation,” or taking a few seconds to pause and let one’s mind settle. When one has trouble thinking of new ideas, he recommends going back to an older idea and reworking it, similar to how George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic incorporated the doo-wop sound of his early works into his albums of the 1970s. Questlove champions collaboration, reflecting on his own work with his Roots partner Tariq Trotter, and advises readers to be curious and open to ideas. Since creativity often grows when encountering the work of others, Questlove encourages artists to work with those who have different approaches, as he did with rapper and producer J Dilla and Talking Heads founder David Byrne, among others. Questlove’s generous, provocative guidebook offers experienced wisdom about tapping into the creative process. (Apr.)
I read so many books, and I have time for so few of them. This book paid off every minute: I loved keeping company with Questlove’s agile mind as he worked through the problems and promises of creativity.
Creativity presents an opportunity for people from all walks of life to be heard. Questlove brilliantly delivers a must-read guide for all creatives, who desire to define and cultivate their own, unique voice.
[Questlove’s] mind is literally a galaxy of stars. In this book, we witness the astronomer mapping the constellations, reminding us to keep our heads to the sky and remember that our greatest gifts are hiding in plain sight.
Think of this book as a remix that might help you tap into your own creativity and trust your intuition.
2018-01-23
The drummer and co-founder of the Roots unpacks the creative process.Questlove's Mo' Meta Blues (2013) was an uncommonly incisive, reflective, and engaging musical memoir. If that was the author's masterpiece, this is more like the previously unreleased bonus cuts; it lacks the focus and cohesion of the earlier work, mixing the enlightening with the banal. "Early in this book," he writes in conclusion, "I also said that I don't know exactly what the goal of a book about creativity should be. My method has been to share stories from my life working on and around many different projects filled with many different ideas, and the goal of that method is to pass on some of that momentum to you." The author goes behind the scenes of the Tonight Show, where the Roots are the house band, describes the elation that he feels from receiving a good review and the deflation from a bad one (he seems more attuned to reviews than many other artists), and relates the experiences and influences that have impacted his musical development. Unlike Mo' Meta Blues, this book is presented and organized like a self-help book, one that doesn't offer readers much help. "We're going to need a definition of a creative person to go forward," he writes. "Here's a first stab at it: a creative person is a person who creates." The author moves beyond tautology in the most interesting part of the book, in which he explores how the internet has transformed our culture and the very notion of creativity, making us all curators, even of our own identities. "Our brains are changing," he writes. "They used to be containers. Now they're retrievers. It's a fundamental shift." Questlove is also interested in artists working across platforms and on chefs and food in general (see his previous book, somethingtofoodabout, for more information).More dross than expected but plenty of genuine gems of insight as well.
[Creative Quest] is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to understand the impulse, psychology and spark behind creative ideas.” — Rolling Stone
“Powered by the pistons of Questlove’s ever-curious mind and his decades of experience in varied artistic projects with top entertainers, thinkers and creators, this book feels fresh and personal. Credible research is buttressed by “here’s how it played out for me” stories, and his humor and geniality shine through” — BookPage
“Creative Quest is a comprehensive, funny, and honest exploration of artistic process. My favorite read this year.” — Donald Glover
“I read so many books, and I have time for so few of them. This book paid off every minute: I loved keeping company with Questlove’s agile mind as he worked through the problems and promises of creativity.” — Issa Rae
“Creativity presents an opportunity for people from all walks of life to be heard. Questlove brilliantly delivers a must-read guide for all creatives, who desire to define and cultivate their own, unique voice.” — Lena Waithe
“[Questlove’s] mind is literally a galaxy of stars. In this book, we witness the astronomer mapping the constellations, reminding us to keep our heads to the sky and remember that our greatest gifts are hiding in plain sight.” — Hank Willis Thomas
“When Questlove says he’s going to do something, he will find out how to do whatever that is, and become a master at it. I can’t think of a person more suited to write a book about being creative.” — Jimmy Fallon
“Questlove’s generous, provocative guidebook offers experienced wisdom about tapping into the creative process.” — Publishers Weekly
“Think of this book as a remix that might help you tap into your own creativity and trust your intuition.” — Esquire
[Creative Quest] is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to understand the impulse, psychology and spark behind creative ideas.”
Creative Quest is a comprehensive, funny, and honest exploration of artistic process. My favorite read this year.
When Questlove says he’s going to do something, he will find out how to do whatever that is, and become a master at it. I can’t think of a person more suited to write a book about being creative.
Powered by the pistons of Questlove’s ever-curious mind and his decades of experience in varied artistic projects with top entertainers, thinkers and creators, this book feels fresh and personal. Credible research is buttressed by “here’s how it played out for me” stories, and his humor and geniality shine through
“Questlove is a powerful, slightly nerdy seeker, a repository of curiosity, depth, and soul. Read this book—you can’t go wrong spending time with this guy.
The founding member of The Roots, Questlove shares his insights about the creative process through a discussion of his own idiosyncratic methods, plus those he has learned from others. He takes his own advice and produces a quirky audiobook, which he delivers in a lively baritone voice. He doesn’t hesitate to break into song, act a part, or, if the situation calls for it, pull out his cell phone and call a friend for the correct pronunciation of a name—while still recording. He even does what most audiobooks fail to do, include sound clips of the music or sounds he discusses. Both a solid guidebook on creativity and a memoir on Questlove, this audiobook is also a lot of fun. L.E. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
