The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

The Element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. In this groundbreaking book, world-renowned creativity expert Ken Robinson considers the child bored in class, the disillusioned employee and those of us who feel frustrated but can’t quite explain why - and shows how we all need to reach our Element.

Creativity expert Ken Robinson believes that we are all born with tremendous natural capacities, but that we lose touch with them as we spend more time in the world. Too many people don't know what they are really capable of achieving. Education, business and society as a whole are losing out. The Element draws on the stories of a wide range of people - from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons; from actress Meg Ryan to Broadway choreographer Gillian Lynne; and from writer Arianna Huffington to renowned physicist Richard Feynman and others, including business leaders and athletes - showing how all of them came to recognize their unique talents and were able to make a successful living doing what they love.

With a wry sense of humour and a sense of optimism, Ken Robinson looks at the conditions that enable us to find ourselves in the element, and those that stifle that possibility. He shows that age and occupation are no barrier and he argues that there is a urgent need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about ourselves.

Review

"Robinson (Out of Our Minds), renowned in the areas of creativity development, innovation and human resources, tackles the challenge of determining and pursuing work that is aligned with individual talents and passions to achieve well-being and success. The element is what he identifies as the point where the activities individuals enjoy and are naturally good at come together. Offering a wide range of stories about the creative journeys of different people with diverse paths to the element-including Paul McCartney, The Alchemist author Paulo Coelho, and Vidal Sassoon as well as lesser-known examples-he demonstrates a rich vision of human ability and creativity. Covering such topics as the power of creativity, circles of influence, and attitude and aptitude, the author emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent along with developing an understanding of how talent expresses itself differently in every individual. Robinson emphasizes the importance of mentors and reforming and transforming education, making a convincing argument bolstered by solid strategies for honing creativity. Motivating and persuasive, this entertaining and inspiring book will appeal to a wide audience." Publishers Weekly

Author Biography

Ken Robinson is an internationally recognised leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He has worked with national governments in Europe and Asia, international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, national and state education systems, non-profit organisations and some of the world's leading cultural organisations. He was knighted in 2003 for his contribution to education and the arts.