Creative Quest by Questlove—Book Overview and Lessons

A creative man reading a book on a couch with a guitar leaning against a shelf behind him

How do creative geniuses come up with their groundbreaking ideas? How can you better navigate the successes and failures that come with creative work? In Creative Quest, Questlove, a musician and producer, explores the creative process, arguing that creativity isn’t an innate talent. He provides tips and strategies to access your creativity, collaborate with others, and overcome obstacles, so you can create work that you and others enjoy. Continue reading for a book overview of Creative Quest.

How to Navigate Creative Success and Cope With Failure

A stressed out artist leaning on his art table with his head in his hands because creative success is stressful

What are the downsides of creative success? How can you find a middle ground between staying confident and being humble? Questlove, musician, producer, and author of Creative Quest, explores the successes and failures that come with creativity. He writes that there’s a lot to learn from each and that creative success can come with some downsides. Keep reading to learn how to handle creative successes and failures.

Why You Should Be Selective About Artistic Influences

A girl looking at a painting on an easel to draw artistic inspiration from

Do you draw inspiration from many artistic influences? Why does Questlove think that you should limit your influences? Questlove, a four-time Grammy winner and The Roots co-founder, writes in his book Creative Quest that you should cut down on the noise and limit your creative influences. He shares two tips on how to select the right ones. Continue reading to learn how to narrow down your influences.

The Imporance of Creative Collaboration, From Mentors to Partners

A man and woman in an office, sitting at a desk together, participating in creative collaboration

In what ways can creative collaboration be beneficial? What are the different types of creative relationships? In Creative Quest, Questlove encourages you to not only spend time with other creators but to work directly with them. He recommends working alongside other creative people in two ways: finding mentors who can teach you basic skills and partnering with other artists on joint projects. Here’s a look at each recommendation in detail.

4 Ways to Be More Creative (+ What It Means to Be Creative)

A fantasy image of a woman sitting in flowers while journaling, thinking about ways to be more creative

What does it actually mean to be creative? Is creativity something you’re born with or something you need to practice? In his book Creative Quest, four-time Grammy winner and The Roots co-founder Questlove discusses four ways to be more creative. His list includes keeping an open mind, being mindful, planning your work, and changing your mindset about creativity. Here’s a look at each creative method in detail.

Jellyfish Age Backwards by Nicklas Brendborg—Overview

An artistic image of a jellyfish swimming in the ocean

Why do people get sick and die from old age, while some other organisms don’t? Is there a way to prevent aging in humans—or even to reverse it? In Jellyfish Age Backwards, biotech researcher Nicklas Brendborg uses Turritopsis dohrnii—the immortal jellyfish—as an entry point to explore the latest research on longevity. Brendborg weaves together cutting-edge science, evolutionary biology, and practical insights about the topic. Continue reading for an overview of Jellyfish Age Backwards.

How and Why We Age: The 2 Top Scientific Theories

An elderly man sitting in a rocking chair, pondering the question of why we age

Why does human health decline as we age? Do all creatures age in the same way? Biotech researcher and author of Jellyfish Age Backwards, Nicklas Brendborg, explains the top two theories on human aging: genetic wear-and-tear and planned obsolescence. However, he notes that these aging patterns don’t hold true across all of nature. Read below to learn more about human aging process theories.