Complete Bibliography & Further Reading
The science behind creative flow and navigating creative challenges
Navigate-Creativity is built on decades of creativity research, flow psychology, and the documented wisdom of working artists and writers. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research that inform the product's 6 creative situations and 22 modules. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links.
The foundational research and practitioner wisdom upon which Navigate-Creativity is built:
1996 • HarperCollins
The definitive scientific study of how creativity works, based on interviews with 91 exceptional creators. Csikszentmihalyi reveals the conditions that enable creative flow and how to cultivate them—foundational for understanding the creative process.
2002 • Black Irish Entertainment
The classic exploration of creative Resistance—the invisible force that opposes all creative work. Pressfield identifies Resistance, explains its many disguises, and offers strategies for defeating it daily.
1992 • Tarcher/Penguin
The twelve-week program that has helped millions recover their creative selves. Cameron's practical tools—morning pages, artist dates, and weekly tasks—form the foundation of creative practice for countless artists.
Essential texts from creativity researchers and practitioners:
2015 • Riverhead Books
Gilbert shares her wisdom on creative courage, demystifying the creative process and giving permission to create without needing external validation. A compassionate guide to living a creative life.
2014 • Random House
From the co-founder of Pixar, lessons on building and sustaining creative culture. Catmull reveals how Pixar navigates creative challenges, embraces failure, and maintains excellence.
1990 • Harper Perennial
The foundational work on flow states—those moments of complete absorption where time seems to stop. Essential reading for understanding how to achieve optimal creative experience.
2012 • Workman Publishing
A modern manifesto for creative work in the digital age. Kleon offers practical, inspiring guidance for finding your voice while learning from others.
Books from working artists and writers on navigating creative challenges:
1994 • Anchor Books
Lamott's beloved guide to writing and life, including the famous chapter on "shitty first drafts." Honest, funny, and deeply practical wisdom for any creative practice.
2000 • Scribner
Half memoir, half masterclass—King shares his journey and offers practical advice on the craft of writing. An essential guide from one of our most prolific storytellers.
2014 • Workman Publishing
The follow-up to "Steal Like an Artist" focusing on sharing creative work. Essential reading for creators navigating visibility, criticism, and public creative practice.
2003 • Simon & Schuster
Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp shares 35 years of wisdom on creative discipline. Practical exercises for establishing and maintaining creative practice.
Peer-reviewed research underlying Navigate-Creativity's evidence-based approach:
Amabile, T. M. (1983). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(2), 357-376.
Teresa Amabile's foundational paper establishing the componential model of creativity—intrinsic motivation, domain-relevant skills, and creativity-relevant processes working together.
Feist, G. J. (1998). Creativity Research Journal, 11(2), 83-96.
Comprehensive review of research on creative personality traits, identifying key characteristics associated with creative achievement across domains.
Shah, C., et al. (2013). Human Brain Mapping, 34(10), 2403-2414.
Neuroscience research examining brain activity during creative work, providing insight into the neural basis of creative flow states.
Stoeber, J., & Eismann, U. (2007). Journal of Research in Personality, 41(6), 1159-1173.
Research on how different dimensions of perfectionism relate to creative output—distinguishing healthy striving from paralysing perfectionism.
Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.
Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.
Use Google Scholar when you want to:
Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.
Transform creativity research into daily inspiration with Navigate-Creativity's 22 modules and 2,200+ curated quotes.