Creativity, Inc.

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Author

Andrew Levine
February 18, 2025

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If you give a good idea to a mediocre team, they will screw it up. If you give a mediocre idea to a brilliant team, they will either fix it or throw it away and come up with something better.

— Ed Catmull, Creativity Inc.

Creativity isn’t magic—it’s messy.

In Creativity, Inc., Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace pull back the curtain on Pixar’s greatest hits (and near disasters), proving that brilliant ideas don’t arrive fully formed—they evolve. With wild stories, unexpected twists, and lessons from the creative trenches, this book is a crash course in thinking bigger, failing smarter, and turning “what if?” into “wow.”

Today’s book was selected by marketing powerhouse, Justin Taylor (formerly of Nike, Twitter, Activision, and WWE). Justin launched The Landing Pad, a free weekly newsletter helping job seekers land safely in their next role. Subscribe for open jobs, tips and tricks, and great interviews.

SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
The Pixar Playbook: Creativity Unlocked

1️⃣ Protect the Ugly Baby: Every great idea starts as something fragile. Catmull calls these early-stage ideas "Ugly Babies"—imperfect, raw, and easily dismissed. The secret? Defend them. Nurture them. Let them grow into something great.

2️⃣ Embrace the Unknown: Creativity thrives in uncertainty. If you want to do something new, you have to be willing to step into the unknown. Great ideas don’t come from playing it safe; they come from pushing past what’s comfortable.

3️⃣ Build a Culture of Candor: At Pixar, no idea is sacred, but every person is valued. Honest feedback isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential. The best teams don’t avoid hard conversations; they lean into them with trust and respect.

Ed Catmull is a computer scientist and current president of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
How a Pixar Classic Was Almost a Disaster

When Toy Story 2 was in production, it was nearly scrapped. The story wasn’t working, the characters felt off, and deadlines were looming. Instead of forcing a broken idea through the pipeline, Pixar leadership made a bold decision: they started over.

It was an extreme risk—but it paid off. With renewed focus, collaboration, and an openness to radical change, Toy Story 2 became one of the most beloved animated films of all time.

The lesson? Creativity isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about using it as fuel to build something even better.

BOOK FACTS
Creativity, Inc.

  • First Published: June 13, 2023 (The Expanded Edition)

  • Print length: 496 pages

  • Listening length: 17:24

  • Ratings: 4.7 Amazon, 4.2 Goodreads

DO YOUR BEST WORK
Creativity, Leadership & Why Storytelling Is King

EDITOR’S NOTE
A Must-Read for Creative Thinkers

I wasn’t the least bit surprised when Justin selected today’s book. I read it a few years ago and it’s just one of those books that stays with you. Here’s what he had to say:

“As someone who runs a newsletter about helping people navigate their careers, I see so many parallels between the lessons in this book and the challenges we face in our professional lives. Whether it’s overcoming fear of failure, learning how to trust your team, or figuring out how to stay innovative in a fast-changing world, Creativity, Inc. offers practical insights and inspiration.

This book changed the way I think about fostering creativity—not just as an individual pursuit, but as something that thrives when people collaborate, communicate openly, and feel supported. It’s the kind of wisdom that sticks with you, and I hope it resonates with your readers as much as it did with me!”

Hope you love the book as much as we do.

— Andrew

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