Comments on: Review: Imagine: How Creativity Works, Jonah Lehrer

By: CreativeGuy

CreativeGuy — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 03:31:20 +0000

The Bob Dylan quotes are not the only fabrications in the book, search Google, there is more than that. Outside and before that book, Lehrer also got caught recycling for the New Yorker material he had previously written for other publications, and that was a breach of contract.

I guess he got caught getting creative (or lazy). And it’s really not a good example of how creativity works – hence it’s a good idea to pull the book, and anything else he wrote.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:59:41 +0000

Wow, talk about arrogance. At least the book was pulled, I suppose. It’s hard to imagine that you wouldn’t be able to find quotes to support a thesis on creativity, no matter what it was.

By: jessicabookworm

jessicabookworm — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:04:55 +0000

Now this may be because I haven’t read a huge amount of non-fiction since leaving university..but I haven’t heard of anyone making up details like this before! I agree with you and I would probably have chosen not to post the review as well.

By: zibilee

zibilee — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:01:01 +0000

Like Kathy, if I found out that some of the details were falsified, I would not believe anything else the author said. I actually took A Million Little Pieces back to the book store when that scandal broke. I told my husband that anyone could make up stories and sell them, but a memoir shouldn’t do that! I agree with your decision not to post this review.

By: bermudaonion(Kathy)

bermudaonion(Kathy) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:30:46 +0000

Wow, if I found out some of the details were made up, I would doubt everything the author said.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:06:19 +0000

You could perhaps review it in the knowledge that it was untruthful? In a way it’s worrying it might be completely forgotten, because it was still published and out there. Bob Dylan though, did he really think no one would notice? So much non-fiction seems to be half made-up, and whilst it’s understandable sometimes, it’s silly. Personally I’m all for fully-backed up statements, and it’s worrying when you’re made to believe that the statements have been backed up.

By: Ana @ things mean a lot

Ana @ things mean a lot — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:25:45 +0000

I read quite a few articles about this scandal when it happened (my favourite is probably this one) because the whole thing is so baffling it's almost fascinating. I wouldn't have noticed either, but Bob Dylan is not exactly an obscure musician. He has people who did PhDs on his work, and the sheer arrogance of imagining you can pull something like this off and not get caught is something I can't even begin to grasp. PS: I see you're reading Among Others! Can't wait to hear what you think.