Flummoxed by an intractable problem? You probably just need to work harder, right?

Actually, you may try taking a walk instead. Thanks to how we're hardwired, insight tends to strike suddenly—after we've stopped looking. In this entertaining plunge into the science of creativity, Jonah Lehrer, a young writer beautifully mingles with a wide cast of characters—inventors, educators, scientists, a Pixar cofounder, an autistic surfing savant—to deconstruct how we accomplish our great feats of imagination. Notable themes emerge out of this book: Failure is necessary. He says that the more people you casually rub shoulders with—on and off the job—the more good ideas you'll have.

So my take from this wonderful book is:

For more creativity in your own life, concentrate and work hard, relax, and then concentrate again and work harder.

For more creativity in your business or organization, make room for random interactions, assemble teams with the right EQ score, and then set these teams to work in a manner that relies on constructive criticism.

For more creativity in your city, aim for high density and mixed-use neighborhoods.

For more creativity in your society get education right, welcome immigration, encourage risk-taking, and strike a balance between protecting intellectual property rights and allowing people the freedom to borrow old ideas for the purpose of new innovations.