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Using the creation of the periodic table as a framework, journalist Epstein proposes that carefully selected limitations often spark more creativity and lead to a better product. When someone is prompted to "draw anything,” for example, they tend to rely on past experiences. If instead they are asked to draw something specific, their creativity expands. The author explores research and examples in technology, music, and literature, among other fields. From UPS routes to early computers to Bach’s strictly structured musical conventions to Michelangelo’s David, set limits and sharper focus produce the best results. While the tendency is to add more people and more projects to find a solution, Epstein demonstrates that often progress is made by cutting back the distractions and using available knowledge to solve the key problems that slow production. We live in a world of information overload, and Epstein talks about the need for silence amid the onslaught of updates, unlimited choices, and the perils of multitasking. This is for anyone who has ever been overwhelmed in a grocery aisle.

Publishers Weekly
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“Total freedom... is the enemy of creativity, and constraint its companion,” asserts journalist Epstein (Range) in this counterintuitive and groundbreaking exploration. While individuals and organizations often yearn for more freedom, time, and money, Epstein explains that because the human brain is inclined to default to familiar patterns rather than engage in high-effort thinking, complete freedom leads to unoriginal ideas. Constraints, however, “push the brain beyond its default tendencies, forcing it to engage in deeper problem-solving.” He draws on research and historical examples, including the story of Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami’s breakthrough. Frustrated with his early, unoriginal attempts at writing, Murakami imposed a constraint on himself and wrote in his limited English, which he then translated to Japanese. The result was a simple and effective style that Murakami called “a creative rhythm distinctively my own.” Elsewhere, Epstein explains that the idea that creativity is synonymous with originality is a product of the Romantic period. Before that, creativity was associated with improving on something that already existed. Shakespeare, for example, based classics like Romeo and Juliet and King Lear on prior works by other writers. Through captivating case studies, Epstein reveals the transformative power of obstacles. It’s a game changer. (May)