This was a very unique graphic novel. I loved the art style, and overall it was just extremely cute. I recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, fun read in comics. 4/5 stars

Each concept was really neat and very inspirational. I really liked the art work in this one.

A lovely and poetic graphic collection on the creative process. Would definitely recommend to any writers or artists currently in a creative funk and in need of some reassurance and inspiration.

Ever wonder where ideas come from?

Interested in how to catch them?

Don’t wish to read too many words on how ideas are shaped?

Then great. When I downloaded Snider’s Shape of Ideas, I was pleased to see cute pictures illustrating the many aspects and processes of generating ideas and entertaining inspiration.


“With every new thing I make I think I’m getting closer to whole.”(The Shape of Ideas p.45)

As a writer and creative thinker, it was pretty cool to have a visual of the process of forming an idea.

The drawings are simplistic enough, but with a tad bit of humor as you journey through sections such as:
•Inspiration
•Perspiration
•Improvisation
•Aspiration
•Contemplation
•Exploration, etc.

The book’s goal is to mirror what happens when we think about creating.

The book even poses poignant questions and offered up sage advice within the art.


“You can be anything you want to be… but can you be everything you want to be.”(p.57)

In sum, The Shape of Ideas had some timeless, sage advice- most we identify with on a day to day basis but it was still a neat illustrative book.

About Grant Snider

You can find Grant Snider on incidentalcomics.com. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Kansas Star, and The Best American Comics 2013. He lives in Wichita, Kansas with his wife and 2 sons. More examples of his illustrative genius can be seen in Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts.

One more way to stretch your brain can be found in THE SHAPE OF IDEAS by Grant Snider (published by Abrams). This book is full of illustrations that explore questions about creativity and what makes an idea. Snider divides his drawings into sections with titles like Perspiration, Improvisation and Daily Frustration, ultimately ending with Pure Elation. He notes that since 2009 his goal has been to create at least one full-page comic strip per week. His drawings are definitely entertaining and thought-provoking; they frequently involve wordplay. For example, there are pages on phrases like "Trains of Thought," "Opportunity Knocks" and "Negative Thinking." I also especially liked "Monday Morning" which visually tells a story of taking a dip in a cup of coffee and re-emerging ready for the work week. This is a fun book to pick up to get your brain moving in a new direction.

Actual rating: 3.5/5

A truly unique book with lots of great ideas and beautiful illustrations. I have never seen any work of author [author:Grant Snider|5198410] before. I went to reading this without too much expectations. But it was too good for the first time read of the author.

The books has been divided into 10 different categories: Inspiration, Perspiration, Improvisation, Aspiration, Contemplation, Exploration, Daily frustration, Imitation, Desperation and Pure Elation. Each part has its own set of comics to illustrate ideas. My favourite was <b>The nature of ambition</b> under Aspiration.

Each concept has been depicted very clearly and cleverly. This is really an inspirational book for all the creative people. They can get very much from it. The illustrations are too effective and they got you thinking that even illustrations can be so effective.

This is a little graphic novel type book on creativity from the perspective of an artist. Its pretty clever, using different ideas, stereotypes, etc. of art to convey a message. The artwork is really well done with a pretty distinct style that I enjoyed. Some sections were more enjoyable than others, but if you enjoy art or other creative end overs, it may be worth checking out. Its quick to get through and it made me smile.

Fantastic, well structured and intriguing. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone. The book was addictive, fantastic and awesome at the same time. I hope to have more books like this from the author.

This book helps you to see ideas and the creative process through new, fresh eyes. Use it - as often as possible -
as a healthy brainstorming or just as a source of inspiration when even creativity can be too much to cope with on a daily basis!

The Shape of Ideas was an interesting and unique book. This would be good for a recent graduate or a coffee table book. As an elementary librarian, it's not for my library. Neat to browse through though.

Quirky, thought provoking, and motivating
Snider’s collection of one and two page illustrations offer a meditation on finding, keeping and exploring ideas—really on creativity in general. It’s a fun quick read that I could see myself referring back to when I’ve hit a brick wall in any endeavor. The book is divided into 10 categories including “Inspiration” and “Desperation” and the walks through resolutions, fears, dreams with fun and funny creative comic pairings. His messages are largely in verse spread through the panels and they all made me smile. This is a book for everyone. Creativity ≠ Artistic Ability. Everyone is creative in some way and everyone runs into the same feelings shared in this collection.

Simple illustrations bring to life the obstacles we face and hopefully overcome throughout the creative process.

I absolutely love Snider's work. I've seen some of his art before on social medias and I always thought it was very interesting, so I'm glad I had the chance to read this book. His comics are extremely relatable and inspiring! I believe we can all take something from it. I'd recommend this book to everyone.

This could be a nice gift for any creative types, people in need of inspiration and/or fuel to keep their creativity going.

Some concepts I personally thought he depicted brilliantly. For example nocturnal ideas and inspiration and "How to Climb a Hill". Some comics I thought were a missed opportunity, like "Message to a Graduate". And many I thought were just cute, quirky, won a giggle from me just because of their simple punnyness (see "The Art of Living"). Unfortunately, even more of the comics I felt just didn't have much point, or I just confused me.

Again, a nice gift for those in the creative field, they likely would get more from it then I did.

This is a collection of cartoons by Grant Snider, which you can see on his website at <a hre="http://www.incidentalcomics.com">Incedental Comics</a>. If you like the sort of humor he exhibits there, then this is definetly a good collection to pick up and have in one place.

I found, however, never having read him before, that it seemed a little much to have it all at once, that yes, I get what you are saying, and what you said three pages ago, and yes you were amusing, but what a long book of cartoons. There were a few that I laughed at, or felt the pain of.

Would recommend this to be people who are fans, or become fans after visiting the site.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

What a wonderful book! I loved the creativity of each page and seeing ideas take shape. This is a great read for artists of all types and those who are interested in the creative process. Each page had me smiling and nodding in understanding of the joys and struggles of trying to move ideas from mere thought to something visual.

I will post a review to Amazon when it releases.

Very interesting book with lots of food for thought.

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to explore the cartoons and ideas within the pages. I could quite easily see this being used with high school students to look at where ideas can come from and the value of different ideas. Visual literacy is very important as another aspect of how we see the world and this book gives a strong insight into how effective an illustration can be in conveying 'ideas'.