"Gripping . will open you up to the possibilities of your own mind. It is a beautifully measured, eloquent book, one designed to help us to 'get away from algorithms' and the monoculture they inspire."-- Vogue "[Read] argues that imagination itself is a muscle that needs to be trained and used regularly, and that doing so can result in a fuller, more creative life. He delves into the history of great imaginations from around the world and offers practical advice for expanding our own--the results could be, well, unimaginable."-- Town and Country magazine, "The 39 Must-Read Books of Summer 2024" "Beautiful, moving, profoundly imaginative in itself--this book is as entertaining as it is relevant and practical."--Alain de Botton, bestselling author of The Course of Love "An extraordinary book - an elaborate cabinet of curiosities."-- The Spectator "Buoyant, beautifully distilled.

Consistently entertaining."-- The London Times "The perfect book for your weekend. In [Read's] fascinating new book, he explores how ideas have developed over thousands of years, across art, science, film, and literature, and explains how you can start find more of them."-- The Independent "A moving hymn to creativity." The Economist "A sparkling romp through all the sunniest and most positive-feeling corners of the mind. A guidebook to free-thinking [and] a hymn to the capacity for delight."--Adam Nicolson, bestselling author of God's Secretaries "Anyone who has an imagination--that is, everyone--should read this book."--Edward Enninful, author of A Visible Man.