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Summary: Buy this book! Get unstuck!
Review: From Marisa D'Vari, author, Script Magic. Having first contacted Mark for a new book I was writing, I was prepared to be dazzled with Accidental Genius -- but this book exceeded my expectations. This is the *Four Seasons* and *Ritz-Carlton* of creativity books in that it addresses the needs of real people in the realm of business and commerce, and helps them tap into their subconscious mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Good bones
Review: How many times have you looked at a new idea or invention and said "I thought of doing that once..." How many times have you forgotten things because you didn't write them down? Answers: lots of times, lots of times.Now ask yourself "How many good ideas have come to me pure, shining forth with no clutter around them, precisely when I needed them?" The answer is likely to be "Never." Accidental Genius tries to capitalize on these truisms by suggesting that the mechanism of writing can liberate the mind and allow the good ideas to pour forth - amid lots of debris, even nonsense. "Write fast, as close to the speed of your thinking as you can," says Levy, and with a timer (one that doesn't tick). And be relaxed while you do it. The private writing log, which is Levy's main tool, can contain a journal, jottings on a problem or a wish, conversations with self or imaginary interlocutors, fantastic scenarios ranging from phenomenal strokes of good luck to horrifying catastrophe. During the time you assign yourself you pour it all into your log, which only you will see and use. Later, perhaps much later, you will look over what you've written and try to extract the gold nuggets. For the price of a pencil and a pad of paper, you have built yourself a personal brainstormer. Thought-logging has a long tradition among writing; many writers cannot survive without a notebook. Too many character sketches, images, details, dialogue and states of mind would be lost forever. However, the stated purpose of Levy's method is not to become a great or even a publishable writer but to keep a record of your thoughts for revisiting and future profit. The book is aimed at businesspeople but, at least in theory, anyone could benefit from the Levy method. First, the method, which seems inspired by meditation techniques -- paradoxically, it replaces mind-quieting with page-filling --, requires a relaxed state of mind before starting a thought-logging session. Thus, the practice will be much easier for experienced meditators than for people who constantly carry unacknowledged tensions, fears, or other obstacles. Someone capable of quieting his mind and relaxing may find it disconcerting to subject himself to a fast-paced exercise in free writing. Indeed, such a person may not want to get good ideas in this seemingly crass and haphazard way. Yet, in principle, the Levy exercises are no more absurd than practicing archery or repeating mantras. True, the tone of the book is boosterish, the author being almost too eager to tell you his secret recipe -- but as in food recipes, literary polish matters little and the results are everything. Wonderful things can be done with cabbage, raw fish and snails (ants and cockroaches, too). Despite its rough surface, this brief book has the bones of a fine meditation manual for businesspeople and a possibly useful tool for removing mental obstructions and even promoting a degree of self-knowledge in the age of commodity and show -- Levy's tacitly assumed and accepted scenario (whether the acceptance is reluctant or not, we don't know). Talking to yourself in writing cannot be a substitute for the lost art of civilized conversation, but it will likely be a useful exercise. At worst, the technique can work as a placebo or not work at all, in which case you have lost nothing (think homeopathy). At best, it can inspire you to pay attention to your thoughts and to develop an eye for good ideas, as well as good work habits. And if it teaches how to be comfortable in your own company, this book will have been not just a good buy but a steal. Good bones.
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Summary: It Worked For Me
Review: I read Accidental Genius in a single sitting -- because I was so utterly *inspired* that I couldn't put it down! Mark Levy is as good as it gets: he writes in a fun and engaging manner, while providing creativity-enhancing techniques that will instantly boost your ability to think your way through any project you may be working on. I was so enchanted by this book that I hired Levy as a consultant for a project that was instrumental to my business. Using the techniques he teaches in Accidental Genius, he proved to me just how "ingenius" he really is. Levy's input has brought my business venture to a level that I never would have attained alone. And it all started with this book.
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Summary: There's nothing accidental about Levy's genius!
Review: I was sceptical when a friend recommended this book. As a rule, I generally avoid books in the business genre, but, my friend assured me, this one was different. Well, she was right. Mr. Levy's private writing exercises are a great way to jump-start a bogged down brain. Everyone has an internal editor that usually gets in the way of good ideas; these exercises remove those barriers and show anyone willing to try how easy it can be to have a 'genius moment.' As a professional in a creative field, coming up with unique, fresh ideas is my bread and butter. Now I have another very valuable tool in my arsenal. Thanks, Mr. Levy!
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Summary: 50 years too late
Review: I've made my living soley by writing for 50 years. Every decade or so, I've accidentally written something I was pleased with, something that came out on the paper the way I wanted it to. Now, thanks to Mark Levy's book, I've learned how to be accidental on purpose. Had Mr. Levy written this little gem 50 years ago, I might today be rich beyond the dreams of avarice and famous beyond all imaginings. And, more important, a lot less frustrated. This book is a triumph. Indeed, it's even inspired me to write a poem‹ Attack the problem digitally With pen and paper and ink. A link exists 'tween the fingertips And the mind's desire to think.
Rating:
Summary: It Worked For Me
Review: If you think it's been a long time since your last spark of creativity, gift yourself a copy of Mark Levy's Accidental Genius. This book was specially crafted for all of us who may have the makings of a great insight or business idea glimmering but, for some reason, have been woefully unable to give these worthy (and often bankable!) gems a chance to shine. Why? Because of all the undue pressure we place on ourselves to make them come out whole and flawless the first time around. Accidental will give any frustrated, would-be 'genius' a refreshing change of perspective. First, this book tells you how to dissolve the barriers that can hold your creativity back, how to tap your own original notions, and write what you think. Mark Levy's easy--and at times very humorous--writing style will speak to you like the insightful coach you wish you always had, rooting for you at the sidelines--or, if you like, the margins of your page. Then, when you are all loosened up, Levy gives you the best of his successful writing techniques, developed from years of experience in publishing, marketing, and sales. These techniques enable you to do one better than simply 'work' with your concepts. Mark Levy incites you to play with them, turn them upside-down, grow from them (and sometimes away from them!),and delve deep into ideas that you may have previously accepted too easily at face-value. The chapter on 'Extracting Gold from a Business Book' was especially cool, and its usefulness extends to books and articles of any topic. And,without forgetting his purpose, Levy provides you with real-life exercises so that you can produce those rare and elusive creatures known as Solutions. Click yourself a copy. Accidental is a gem of a writing book.
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Summary: Get Those Ideas Out of Your Head!
Review: In the ACCIDENTAL GENIUS, Mark Levy does not want to become your judgmental English professor, intimidating you into writing that perfect essay. Those experiences likely lead you to view writing as an unpleasant undertaking, not soon to be repeated. Yet how many of us still hanker to be writers? If you've taken the time to search this book out this probably applies to you. Instead of the critical teacher, Mr. Levy wants to become your personal psychologist guiding you towards getting past the damage that may have been done and allowing you to once again tap into that inner creativity that I'm told is part of our birthright.
There are many techniques presented in this book to get past the "internal censor" that keep many of us from taking the steps necessary to getting things out of our heads unto paper. Eventually we may actually convert these ideas into something that may actually benefit others and ourselves.
The point is to write often and quickly, literally against a timer set for about ½ hour. This, with repeated practice, will short-circuit the internal censor that tends to want to judge creative ideas as unworthy of being born in this world. Will everything that comes out of our heads be worthy of Einstein? Of course not...not everything that came out of his head was worthy of him. Like sifting for gold, one has to go through a lot of dirt(and BS) and eventually there will be a nugget. The big point is to go for quantity over quality; the refinement process is the next step before public consumption. Still a little sensitive to how good or bad your writing may be? Simply keep it private! The author shares these and other techniques and approaches. He covers everything from writing a book to solving a business problem.
After several weeks of practicing with his suggestions, I found that writing became more automatic and easier. I also noticed that the internal sensor was playing less of a role in the production of my output. I was asked to help write a major proposal for my company, a task that I normally would have agonized and plotted through. Instead, much to my surprise, it was.... dare I use the words.... somewhat effortless and even pleasurable.
This is a great book for getting started on harvesting ideas. For the next step, which is the refinement of raw ideas, I suggest the Gregg Guide. It deals with the rules of grammar, punctuation and other formalities.
P.S. Please be kind when reviewing this entry. I did it to give interested parties a glimpse of what I thought this book was about and also to practice writing. I sincerely hope that I have achieved this. I did not write it as a class assignment or to please the grammar police.
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Summary: Does Writing Have To Be like Sweating Blood? No...
Review: Many people have preconceptions about how the writing process goes. Grueling, frustrating and aggravating are just a few. This book shows you how to let go of your inner editor using private writing to let those unpolished gems come to the surface. Writing is work, but there are ways to make it easier and this book gives numerous useful strategies for moving past writing blocks and barriers when you have to write. It is very clearly, creatively and humorously written. Leavy illustrates many of his concepts with examples from his own writing. The most useful thing about this book is that it demystifies the process of writing and shows you multiple ways to create new ideas, strategies and perspectives. These are real, useful strategies, not "learn our new system and you will be successful" systems that are so complicated that you never use them after you read the book. I started using them when I was a quarter of the way through the book and produced 20 pages of single space material in one day. Not all that was great, but I was surprised at how good some of it was. It turned out there were a lot of good ideas in my head just waiting to get out. We are moving toward a knowledge society and most companies get their best value from ideas. This small, potent book will pay you back many times over by helping you get your ideas onto paper and into the world.
Rating: 
Summary: A Solid Effort!
Review: Mark Levy's short, snappy guide teaches you private writing, which opens the door to expressing, exploring and playing with your thoughts freely - without showing them to anyone else. This ongoing exercise is valuable for sparking creativity, imagination and problem solving. Levy's ideas are presented directly and humorously, with plenty of examples. The author has an extensive background in publishing, particularly sales, which comes through in his style - part sales team rally, part lingo-ridden pep talk. This approach, however, works. We [...] recommend this book to anyone who would like to explore idea-generating methods, or to apply some structure and purpose to all those notes you've been writing to yourself.
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Summary: The power of an amazon search pays off
Review: Serendipity - and amazon's powerful search engine - led me to this excellent effort by Mark Levy. I'm a big fan of Blue Man Group, and they quote a "Mark Levy" in their promotional material. That book - "Technicians of Ecstasy : Shamanism and the Modern Artist" (1993) - is quite probably written by a different Mark Levy. But amazon's search engine popped 'Accidental Genius' to the top of the list. I was intrigued, especially due to the more-frenetic-than-usual ravings of Tom Peters. I bought it, and was not disappointed. I suffer from many of the problems Levy describes. Foremost, these seemingly great ideas in my head tend to get self-edited and written in an odd, foreign voice by the time they make it down onto paper. Levy's 'private writing' technique is a usuable, practible method that can be employed straightaway. Its power is to allow your voice on paper become the same as the voice you have in your head. It's disarmingly simple, but powerful stuff. Chockful of examples and exercises, you can start using Levy's techniques for immediate results.
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