Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways book cover

Creative Acts for Curious People

How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways

Sarah Stein Greenberg
3.93(313 Reviews)

Overview of Creative Acts for Curious People

Stanford d.school's groundbreaking creativity manual, endorsed by Instagram's co-founder and Google's CMO, offers 80+ exercises transforming how you solve problems. What creative superpower could you unlock? Porchlight Award-winning guide reveals why design thinking revolutionizes leadership in uncertain times.

Key Themes in Creative Acts for Curious People

  • design thinking
  • creative confidence
  • observational skills
  • ideation techniques
  • overcoming inner critic

Quotes from Creative Acts for Curious People

  • Imperfection doesn't equal failure.

  • Creativity often begins with seeing what others miss.

  • Participants come back transformed-without fail.

Characters in Creative Acts for Curious People

  • Sarah Stein GreenbergAuthor and executive director of Stanford's d.school
  • David KelleyFounder of Stanford's d.school
  • Charlotte Burgess-AuburnContributor and d.school educator
  • Carissa Carterd.school academic director and contributor
  • Guy DebordPhilosopher who inspired the Derive exercise

About the Author

About the Author of Creative Acts for Curious People

Sarah Stein Greenberg, author of Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways, is a leading innovation strategist and Executive Director of Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school).

With over a decade steering the d.school, she has shaped global education through initiatives like “Stanford 2025,” reimagining higher education with concepts such as “missions, not majors.” Her book distills the d.school’s proven methods into actionable exercises, blending design thinking with social impact—themes rooted in her MBA from Stanford and her history degree from Oberlin College. She also serves in advisory roles for organizations like the conservation nonprofit Rare.

A frequent speaker at conferences and universities, Stein Greenberg has appeared on podcasts like People I (Mostly) Admire and You Know How to Live, discussing creativity’s role in solving complex challenges. Her work is leveraged by educators, Fortune 500 leaders, and startups worldwide. Creative Acts for Curious People, published by Ten Speed Press, has become a staple in innovation workshops, translated into multiple languages and adopted by institutions seeking to unlock creative potential.

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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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96
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
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star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
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