Creative Acts for Curious People: How To Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways

Stein Greenberg’s (executive director, Stanford Univ. Hasso Plattner Inst. of Design, also called the d.school) debut addresses workplace and management skills, including effective communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and decision-making. Using personal anecdotes and lots of graphics and illustrations, Stein Greenberg provides insights on working well with others, taking control of one’s own learning, and working toward equity. Helpfully, she also reminds readers of the importance of rest, with advice on slowing down to focus and ensuring an aspect of fun and creativity when embarking on a new project. Current and aspiring managers will appreciate the advice on providing feedback and evaluating results. The book’s lessons are reinforced with 80-plus assignments and exercises from the d.school’s curriculum that can be adapted for personal or professional use. Some take less than an hour to complete, while others are several weeks long.