Every Idea Is a Good Idea

August 4, 2014
Veteran music producer Sturges (Parking Lot Rules), former president of Chrysalis Music Publishing Group and EVP and head of creative for Universal Music Group, waxes enthusiastic about the power of creativity. It’s a concept he’s clearly excited to relate; unfortunately, the conceit of the book serves as scaffolding for stories about the author’s career—and the iconic musicians with whom he’s worked, such as Carole King and Babyface—under the guise of sharing secrets of creative people. Though it supposedly discusses all kinds of creativity, the book is heavily focused on music, as seen in the artists profiled, such as Paul Simon, Dr. Dre, and songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman. With quick breaks for musings on the neuroscience and history of creativity, the bulk of the book is a meandering ode to the power of the imagination, with some tips thrown in, rather than a play-by-play guide to being creative. Though the book offers an engaging look at major songwriters of the last 30 years, the presentation as a whole is slapdash. Agent: Susan Raihofer, David Black Literary Agency.