In this provocative collection of essays, eminent thinkers and writers offer their thoughts on how embracing creativity--tapping into the originality of everyday life--can lead to improved physical and mental health as well as new ways of thinking and experiencing the world.

Though active in the arts herself, Dr. Richards (psychology, Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco; psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts) views creativity more broadly and as essential to survival. As someone who helped break new ground in the assessment of creativity in the general population, she introduces 13 chapters in which interdisciplinary thinkers probe the "originality of everyday life" in individual and societal contexts. Perspectives range from Piaget's developmental stages and the more positive aspects of television viewing to chaos theory and Zen Buddhism. In integrating these views, the editor enumerates the benefits of living creatively. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)