“Stephen Nachmanovitch has produced a celebration of human uniqueness. What it amounts to is a guide for gettingthe most out of whatever is possible“
—Norman Cousins, author of The Anatomy of an Illness
“This is an unusually intense, packed, thought-through book on the most difficult subject in the world: mystic creativity. If you wantto be intellectually informed about how people actually craete things, then you should read it at least once.”
—Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
“Would that Free Play found its way into every school, office, hospital, and factory. It is a most exciting book and a most important one.”
—Yehudi Menuhin, violinist
“Nachmanovitch tells it like it is in the most important book on improvisation I’ve yet seen.”
—Keith Jarrett, pianist
“Free Play is a superb guide for anyone who aspires to create, whatever medium.”
—New Woman
“This book is important not only because it delves into the creative process, but also because Nachmanovitch creates the opportunity for the reader to get in touch with her/his own creative possibilities and abilities.”
—Harvard Educational Review
Free PlayPrologue: A New Flute
Introduction
The Sources
Inspiration and Time’s Flow
The Vehicle
The Stream
The Muse
Mind at Play
Disappearing
The Work
Sex and ViolinsPractice
The Power of Limits
The Power of Mistakes
Playing Together
Form Unfolding
Obstacles and Openings
Childhood’s End
Vicious Circles
The Judging Spectre
Surrender
Patience
Ripening
The Fruits
Eros and Creation
Quality
Art for Life’s Sake
Heartbreakthrough
Notes
Bibliography
Illustrations
