A Whack on the Side of the Head by & Roger Von Oech & Imagination First by Eric Liu and Scott Noppe Brandon. A Whack on the Side of the Head seemed initially a more entertaining read versus an educational experience.After reading though many of Von Oech points of suggestion in how we relate to the world around us in terms of creativity I found that he puts forth a lot of very profound ideas. Von Oech discusses how our minds conceive and deal with a particularly interesting subject "as he puts it" entitled Mental Sex. His discussions are somewhat comical however he is emphatic that anyone can overcome the phenomenon of a mental lock and blockages in reference to the creative process. ." His advice in chapter eight I found the best served for anyone who is seeking to improve their creativity not just artistically speaking but for life in general. Here he deals with the concepts of avoiding ambiguity through by not thinking in ambiguous terms and the paradoxical consequences of consulting an oracle. One of his last points of interest that every artist, teacher in the arts, and student should take to heart is this statement. Please remove this statement from your vernacular "I am not a creative person." This statement is the killer of all good ideas, dreams, and especially the creative mindset.Teaching your students to dream and imagine a limitless frontier in non-binary terms just might be the keys to unlocking the next dimensional levels of creativity.

Liu, Eric and Brandon, Scott Noppe (2009)

     Imagination First by Eric Liu and Scott Noppe Brandon. This book examines beliefs about Art and teaching imagination. This book offers a blueprint for tapping into the power if imagination, which is at the core of innovation, and makes a powerful case for how much we owe to imagination. The authors are based out of the Lincoln Center Institute for the Performing Arts in New York City. You can learn more about Eric and Scot at www.imaginationfirst.com. Imagination First introduction starts with an introperspective disclaimer that asks the reader to imagine you’re an eight year old girl growing up in Washington State on a clear night constructing a lofty vision of you living amongst the stars. When you arrive back at the house, you tell your father when I grow up I am going to become an astronaut. He snorts, and says with a killing chuckle, "That’s no life for a lady." Here is where this book begins "At the Scenes of the Crime" There are a couple more examples like this within the introduction that gives classic examples of when and where dreams and imagination become asphyxiated or killed off. So it looks like teaching to the ideas of imagination first through one or more of Liu, Eric & Brandon’s inspiration sparks is a good start on the road to creativity. Although I would reframe from giving your students a physical whack on the side of the head, make it a mental whack.