Awakening Minerva: The Power of Creativity in Women's Lives

Disturbed by what she sees as a lack of resources available to women on creativity, Firestone has set out to remedy the situation. Using ancient goddesses like Minerva as guiding images and repositories of meaning, she frames modern tales with mythological ones. Presenting case studies of contemporary women against this backdrop, she intends to provide insight into the creative possibilities in ordinary life. But Firestone seems to have a loose definition of creativity. She condemns the division that researchers make between ""eminent creativity and everyday creativity"" (what she calls ""big C"" and ""little c"" creativity): ""This distinction has been made to try and differentiate between people who produce grand products, like in the sciences and arts, and those who do not."" Firestone herself favors process over product, though it is unclear what she means by process. She also seems to confuse adaptive behavior, like leaving an abusive husband, with creative behavior. Firestone explores a perennially useful subject here, but readers may hunger for more detail and more clarity. (July)