Wired to Create by Gregoire and Kaufman: Book Overview

A young woman wearing overalls in an art studio reading a book

How is creativity defined? What are the most common creative characteristics? What can you do to boost your creativity? According to Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire in Wired to Create, creativity isn’t a characteristic itself, but rather the effect of a collection of different characteristics. By encompassing the 10 characteristics, you can maximize your creative potential. Keep reading to learn what the 10 characteristics are in our overview of Wired to Create.

AI Awareness: Does Artificial Intelligence Know Where It Is?

a robot about to walk off a cliff illustrates the limitations of AI awareness of their physical environment

What are the challenges of AI awareness in robotics? How do we ensure AI can safely navigate the real world? In Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis explore the limitations of AI systems in understanding and interacting with physical environments. They discuss why traditional programming and machine learning fall short of equipping robots with the skills needed to function in complex, real-world scenarios. Read more to understand why strong AI is crucial for safe and effective real-world interactions.

How to Fire a Customer as Nicely as Possible

A man waving goodbye at a customer outside a building, showing how to fire a customer

What makes a customer bad? Can you get rid of customers that are doing more harm than good? Mike Michalowicz says you need to fire bad customers because they can harm your business by wasting time and resources. Bad customers don’t share your values, aren’t financially trustworthy, and aren’t cooperative. Keep reading to learn how to fire a customer and cut ties with them once and for all.

The Top 10 Characteristics of Creative People

A person jumping out of a plane to go skydiving, displaying a creative characteristic

What are the most common characteristics of creative people? Is there truth to the lonely artist trope? Why should creatives try new experiences? In their book Wired to Create, Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire say that creatives possess 10 characteristics that encompass these traits and result in their heightened creativity. By embracing these characteristics, you too can maximize your creative potential. Continue reading to learn about each characteristic.

Onward by Howard Schultz: Book Overview & Takeaways

A woman reading a book at a coffee shop

What’s Onward by Howard Schultz about? How did Schultz turn Starbucks around during the 2007-2008 financial crisis? In Onward, Howard Schultz highlights the obstacles he faced as the CEO of Starbucks at a time of worldwide instability. He further explains how he managed to save the company while preserving its unique value. Read below for a brief overview of Onward.

AI Standards: Holding Machines to Human-Level Expectations

a graphic designer working at a computer with several electronic devices on her desk depicts the importance of AI standards

Are you concerned about the performance of AI systems in our daily lives? How can we ensure AI meets the same safety standards as other critical technologies? In their book Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis explore the current state of AI standards and performance. They discuss the challenges of measuring AI capabilities and propose minimum requirements for AI reliability before we entrust it with crucial responsibilities. Read on to discover why high AI standards are crucial for our future and what steps experts suggest we take to improve them.

How to Improve Customer Experience: Fix Their Problems

An employee helping a customer at the store to make her happy and improve customer experience

What do you do when a customer is unhappy with your service? Do you know how to improve customer experience at your business? A crucial part of ensuring your company’s success is improving your most valuable customers’ experiences. This will further increase their value and help your company succeed. Let’s focus on Mike Michalowicz’s method for turning customers’ dissatisfaction into delight.

Why Adults With Childlike Imaginations Are More Creative

A woman in fantasy clothes in an enchanted forest expressing her childlike imagination

Why is it beneficial to have a childlike imagination? How can adults participate in the act of “play”? In their book Wired to Create, Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire explain that adults with childlike imaginations are more likely to be creative. In many cases, this is a mindset that’s developed during childhood and evolves. Here’s a look at this important characteristic of creativity.

Kathryn Schulz’s Being Wrong: Book Overview & Takeaways

a young man with dark hair and a beard and mustache reading a book in an atrium of a building

Do you laugh at your mistakes? Even more important, do you leverage your mistakes? Kathryn Schulz’s book Being Wrong encourages readers to view errors as opportunities for growth rather than sources of shame. The book examines how perceptions of reality become distorted and offers strategies for gracefully accepting your fallibility. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will help you enjoy, as Schulz puts it, “adventures in the margin of error.”