About this Item
Third printing of the true first edition, published in 1965. The book was first published in 1964, with a reprint in 1965 before this printing. ***Very good in brown woven cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright. The boards are clean, with just a small mark on the back board. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Top corner of front board creased. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Top edge of page block stained red by the publisher - still clean but now faded. Page block edges clean. Internally near fine, with no ownership inscriptions. No foxing - clean pages. No creases or tears. ***In a very good illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 50s. net, and with 3rd impression correctly stated. The dustwrapper is complete, with no chips or tears, but with some rubbing and creasing at the top and bottom of the spine. There is also some light rubbing to the corner tips (Please see scans). The spine of the dustwrapper is unfaded. Dustwrapper bright. ***217mm x 145mm. 751 pages. ***'"The Act of Creation" is a study of the processes of discovery, invention, imagination and creativity in humour, science, and the arts. It lays out Koestler's attempt to develop an elaborate general theory of human creativity. From describing and comparing many different examples of invention and discovery, Koestler concludes that they all share a common pattern which he terms "bisociation" - a blending of elements drawn from two previously unrelated matrices of thought into a new matrix of meaning by way of a process involving comparison, abstraction and categorisation, analogies and metaphors. He regards many different mental phenomena based on comparison (such as analogies, metaphors, parables, allegories, jokes, identification, role-playing, acting, personification, anthropomorphism etc.), as special cases of "bisociation"'. (Wiki) ***'"The Act of Creation" presents a single, integrated psychological theory and follows it in its varied ramifications. Mr. Koestler's theory proposes that the conscious and unconscious processes underlying artistic originality, scientific discovery and comic inspiration have a basic pattern in common, which he attempts to define. ***"A tremendous book both in quantity and quality. Mr. Koestler has an encyclopedic mind and he not only enjoys using it but he communicates his enjoyment. gMoreover he has an excellent intellectual digestion --- immensely creative and fertilising." - Kathleen Nott, Observer' (Quote and review quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A third printing of the true first edition of this monumental work, in very good condition, in the original dustwrapper. The book is a large volume, and early printings are now hard to find now in collectable condition in a complete dustwrapper. Of interest to collectors of Arthur Koestler's literary works. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
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