Creative Thinking Takes Time: Lessons from John Cleese’s Creativity

Book Review: Creativity by John Cleese

A brief, warm, and surprisingly practical look at how creative thinking really works

There’s a quiet confidence that comes through when someone has spent a lifetime wrestling with the creative process. In Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide, John Cleese does not try to be profound. Instead, he offers something more rare: a light-handed, down-to-earth reminder that creativity is not a gift or a mystery. It is something anyone can nurture, if they are willing to protect time, create space, and stay open to a slower, more unconscious kind of thinking.

At just under 100 pages, this slim book can be read in one sitting. But don’t mistake its brevity for simplicity. Cleese draws on decades of experience as a writer, performer, and collaborator to explore how ideas emerge, how they evolve, and how we can best support the conditions that help creativity unfold. The tone is gentle, smart, and never pretentious. It feels like a conversation with someone who has seen it all, and still believes the best work begins with curiosity and play.

What the book sets out to do

Cleese opens with a clear invitation. He is not here to define creativity in grand terms. Instead, he offers a straightforward perspective: creativity means finding new ways to think about something. It is not limited to the arts, and it is not reserved for a gifted few. It is a mode of thought that anyone can access, especially when we stop trying to force results and start learning to pay attention.

The book promises to help readers create the conditions for creative thinking to arise. Cleese does not believe creativity can be taught in the traditional sense, but he does believe it can be supported. What follows is a thoughtful and often humorous collection of reflections on how that happens.

What the book delivers

The book is built around one central idea: that creative thinking comes from the unconscious, and the unconscious needs space and safety to do its best work. Cleese draws on the work of psychologist Guy Claxton, who coined the terms “Hare Brain” and “Tortoise Mind” to describe two distinct types of thinking. The fast, logical, conscious mind is useful for analysis. But the slower, less structured mind is what allows creativity to surface.

Cleese shares examples from his own writing life, including collaborations with Graham Chapman and his work on A Fish Called Wanda. He describes how ideas would often arrive not when he was forcing them, but after he had allowed himself to rest, play, or step away. These moments of insight, he argues, are only possible when we resist the urge to decide too quickly.

Later sections of the book focus on the practicalities of the creative process. Cleese offers guidance on how to work through fear, how to use structure without becoming rigid, and why deferring decisions often leads to better outcomes. He touches on iteration, collaboration, and the art of balancing discipline with spontaneity.

Although the ideas are not new, the way Cleese delivers them is fresh. His tone is self-aware and kind, with just enough humour to keep things moving. He respects the reader’s intelligence and never oversells his perspective. The effect is both encouraging and calming.

Style, tone, and structure

The tone of this book is exactly what the subtitle promises: short and cheerful. Cleese avoids jargon, resists grand statements, and instead builds trust through modesty and experience. He is comfortable admitting that creativity is unpredictable. Rather than offering formulas, he offers patterns, insights, and questions.

The writing is conversational without being loose. Each chapter is brief, focused, and clear. There are no wasted words, but there is room for warmth. Anecdotes are shared not to entertain but to illustrate, and they always serve the larger point. The structure flows well, with early chapters establishing key concepts and later sections offering personal examples and specific techniques.

This tone will resonate with thoughtful readers who appreciate honesty over hype. It will also appeal to those who want permission to slow down and rediscover their own way of working.

Strengths of the book

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. It doesn’t try to impress. It tries to connect. Cleese writes with the tone of a generous mentor, someone who understands how strange and frustrating the creative process can be and who is willing to talk about it without trying to make it sound heroic.

Another strength is the emphasis on patience. In a world that often rewards speed and certainty, Cleese makes a case for waiting, for playing, and for being confused. His reflections on unconscious thinking, decision deferral, and playful exploration are grounded in both research and lived experience. These sections serve as a powerful counterpoint to the pressure many creatives feel to be productive or inspired on command.

The book also acknowledges the emotional dimensions of creativity. Cleese names the fear that often shows up at the beginning of a project, the discomfort of sitting with uncertainty, and the tendency to panic when ideas feel slow to come. Rather than trying to eliminate these feelings, he encourages readers to accept them as part of the process.

Light limitations

Because the book is brief and informal, it is not a deep instructional guide. Readers looking for detailed frameworks, step-by-step exercises, or case studies may find the book too light. That said, this is not a flaw in execution. It is a deliberate choice in scope.

Some of the advice may also feel familiar to seasoned creatives. Ideas like “kill your darlings,” “get your panic in early,” and “write what you know” are staples in creative circles. However, Cleese brings a personal touch that keeps even well-worn advice feeling relatable.

Final thoughts

Creativity is a kind and thoughtful book that encourages readers to return to what they already know deep down. That creativity is not something to chase or force. It is something that arrives when we make space, allow time, and trust that our unconscious is doing more than we realise.

This book is especially useful for artists, writers, and problem-solvers who are feeling stuck or over-pressured. It is a balm for those who have been trying too hard and wondering why they feel disconnected from their work. It will resonate with people who know they are creative but feel out of step with their own process.

Cleese does not offer shortcuts or secrets. Instead, he offers reminders. And sometimes, that is exactly what we need.

Highly recommended for busy professionals, educators, and creatives who want to protect time for deep thinking and discover why unstructured space is essential for original ideas to take shape.