The Philosophy of Improvisation

"The Philosophy of Improvisation" articulately explores the nature of improvisation through a detailed, meticulous, and contemporary observation by Gary Peters who draws on modernist perspectives from Heidegger, Hegel, and other fastidious accounts from various philosophers to formulate an original ensemble of food for thought. This arduous work offers the reader a strenuous and rather puzzling experience working to dissect the analogies, metaphors, and parallels only to arrive at a humble and complacent sense of accomplishment and attainment, realizing that the struggle endured during the reading is the very nature and essence of improvisation in which Gary Peters culminates his position. He wittingly has the reader "working" at finding meaning within his carefully structured piece, only to find that the very meaning and essence of improvisation is the working embedded within - the experience that one has endured in reading this piece is the necessary component Peters purposefully has us cope with to arrive at a state of humbled satisfaction. A bit dry at times with a heavy emphasis on certain philosophical ideas (do your research!), I think this book is definitely something to get the clocks ticking upstairs and get that electricity working if you're concerned with improvisation. I read this book in 2 weeks for a course entitled Philosophy and Creativity, and I'm looking forward to delving deeper into it a second time to see what I've missed the first time.