Imagination First Comes Out in Paperback

June, 03 2011

Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of PossibilityIn their groundbreaking 2009 book Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of Possibility, Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon debunked a few myths, took imagination off its lofty pedestal, and made their premise clear: everyone has imagination! It is an essential cognitive skill that this society needs in large supplies if it is to meet the future head-on, and since it is a skill, it must be practiced. 

Imagination First has just been reprinted in paperback edition. There was a specific purpose to this second edition: to reflect on what had been learned since the first edition, to "enhance" the book with additional texts and information, and, given its original success, to make sure that it reached the widest audience ever.

Besides an updated introduction by Eric (author and founder of Guiding Lights) and Scott (Executive Director of Lincoln Center Institute), the volume offers an impressively expanded information section on media and articles relevant to the subject, and links to websites of people and organizations referenced within. This list includes such names as Geoffrey Canada, the Buckminster Fuller Institute, Tod Machover, Julie Taymor, Walt Disney Imagineering, Twayla Tharp, and the Cloud Appreciation Society.

An added bonus are three new "real-life" practices. All three come from educators, and found their way into the book thanks to an "imagination practice" contest run by Lincoln Center Institute. "Send us your practice, win an iPod, and have your practice featured in a book," ran the Institute tag on its Facebook page, and the readers responded. The three winning practices encompass the unlimited possibilities of imagination in education with depth, practicality, and not a little humor. One takes a philosophical stance within the area of arts in higher education, another addresses educational toys for the younger set, and the third is a story of a teacher whose quick thinking saves the day during a power outage in a classroom full of nervous teenagers.

The Imagination First paperback is now on sale by Jossey-Bass at wiley.com. For more information on the book, visit imaginationfirst.com.

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