This book uncovers a transformative period in the history of creativity studies, tracing its emergence as a distinct field of inquiry during the pivotal decades from 1950 to 1970. Building on the foundation laid by The Creativity Reader (2018), which explored creativity research from 1850 to 1950, this new volume turns to the mid-20th century to recover the voices, ideas, and debates that helped shape creativity as we know it today. The book includes 27 never-before-published speeches delivered by pioneering scholars and practitioners at the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI), an annual conference hosted by the Creative Education Foundation. In addition, a number of speeches were drawn from a special creativity program hosted by Cooper Union Forum. These archival recordings, now transcribed for the first time, feature seminal figures such as Alex Osborn and J.P. Guilford whose work laid the intellectual and practical foundations for contemporary creativity research, training, and assessment. The volume also includes views on creativity by other notable mid-century intellectuals such as Joseph Campbell, Moses Hadas, and Gardner Murphy.
Complemented by commentary from today's leading scholars across psychology, education, design, business, and engineering, these primary texts are illuminated through interdisciplinary perspectives that connect past insights to present-day challenges. The volume not only revives foundational creativity theories and methods but also invites readers to rediscover forgotten or overlooked contributions with renewed relevance for the future of creativity and innovation.
This book serves as both a historical recovery and a forward-looking resource. It captures the moment when creativity became a serious subject of academic and practical interest, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the origins of a field that continues to grow in importance. For scholars, educators, and practitioners alike, this collection is an essential reference--one that honors the legacy of creativity's early architects while equipping a new generation to carry their ideas forward.
About the Author :
Gerard J. Puccio is a State University of New York Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Center for Applied Imagination at Buffalo State University. He is a renowned thought leader in the field of creativity and innovation, and has made a lasting impact on the study of creative thinking with a prolific body of work that includes more than 70 articles, chapters, and books. He has provided consulting and training services to organizations in more than 20 countries, helping them leverage creative thinking for success. Additionally, he serves on the advisory selection committee for the Strong Museum's Toy Hall of Fame, contributing his expertise in recognizing creative excellence. Vlad Glaveanu is a Full Professor in the School of Psychology at Dublin City University, Ireland, and an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for the Science of Learning and Technology at the University of Bergen, Norway. He is a leading international expert in the fields of creativity, culture, wonder, collaboration, imagination, social media, creative education, and possibility thinking. He founded the transdisciplinary field of Possibility Studies and serves as the president of the Possibility Studies Network and Director of the DCU Centre for Possibility Studies.
Jo A. Yudess is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Center for Applied Imagination, Buffalo State University. She has received the Chancellor's Medal for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching, five Faculty Appreciation Awards, six Outstanding Service-Learning Class Awards, and the Mid-Career Faculty Award for Community Engagement. For eleven years, she was the managing editor of The Journal of Creative Behavior, a publication of the Creative Education Foundation for which she is a Colleague and has received the Distinguished Leader Award.
Matei Schwartz is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Buffalo State University and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is a leading practitioner of creative problem-solving, brand, and innovation strategy and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning at FCB Health New York. He is originally from Bucharest, Romania, where he co-founded Crea-Est and Rebranding Creativity. He also served on the international advisory board of World Creativity and Innovation Day and Week, representing Europe.
