IMAGINEERING: How to Think and Act Creatively

Michael LeBoeuf (Management, Univ. of New Orleans) has come up with a creativity crash course that sounds a lot like his management aid (Working Smart, 1979): for most purposes, too much. After debunking our myths about the subject (e.g., ""Only a gifted minority of people are creative""), he goes on to show us the ropes: a five-step process stretching from very first insight (basically, that there's a problem) to that light-bulb moment we all long for (""illumination"") to verification of said light-bulb flash. Along the way, we're treated to anecdotes about creative geniuses--many of whom made a fortune by following the LeBoeuf rules--like chemist John Albert, who answered the question ""what's being wasted that can be put to use?"" by devising ""a system for heating buildings with elephant dung and whole-wheat flour."" Many times, too, LeBoeuf speaks only for himself--as when he insists that trying to compose a report and watch TV at the same time will make us ""uptight."" Not surprisingly, the sections on brain-storming and time management are some of the most authoritative; so for those who want to be creative within corporation channels, a possibility. Others will have to create their own rules and systems.