Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

What do you do if you are lagging in the morning?

You probably grab a cup of coffee for that extra boost of energy. Throughout the day, you are asked to be creative, to come up with new and better ideas. So what do you do when you need a creative jolt for your brain? Now you can turn to Caffeine for the Creative Mind .

This collection of short, focused creative exercises is just the boost you need get your brain working. Inside, you'll find: Over 250 brain-stretching exercises. The exercises are brief, fun and are meant to evoke creative, thought-provoking responses. Get your brain moving by engaging in an exercise at the start of your day or stop and do one whenever you need a creative jolt. "I Tried It" testimonials. From illustrators to photographers to professors, real people give feedback on specific exercises they've tried. They also offer more suggestions for how the exercises can be used, changed or reworked to become even more useful. Interviews with prominent creative people. See how the people who are in charge of building and maintaining creative environments--studio heads, designers, shop owners, illustrators and animators--view the importance of creativity in their everyday lives. The only thing keeping you from reaching a new level of creative thought is inaction. With this stimulating book, you'll learn how to focus your creative attention in short, definable ways. Caffeine for the Creative Mind is your springboard for coming up with solutions that challenge you to alter your perspective--and begin generating ideas at the highest possible level!

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (p. 16)
• Pimp My Red Flyer (p. 20)
• How'd That Get There? (p. 21)
• I Tried It (p. 22)
• I Actually Have a Need for a Hacksaw at My Studio (p. 23)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup Is Not a Banned Substance (p. 24)
• This Exercise Puts So Much Pressure on Me...HEY! (p. 25)
• Circular Heaven (p. 26)
• I Could Have Sworn That Sign Means "Walk Stiffly" (p. 27)
• Is Anyone Home...? (p. 28)
• Interview: Terry Marks (p. 29)
• I Think My Seven-Year-Old Could Beat Me In a Race (p. 34)
• The Love Bug Returns! (p. 35)
• Rock Star! (p. 36)
• And Your Name Was...? (p. 37)
• Bugs Just Wanna Have Fun! (p. 38)
• Stupid "K" (p. 39)
• That's Not the Words! (p. 40)
• Danger, Will Robinson, Danger! (p. 41)
• I Tried It (p. 42)
• The Ultimate Desk (p. 43)
• What Day Is It? (p. 44)
• Red and Blue Dogs (p. 45)
• Egg Drop Soup (p. 46)
• Don't Underestimate the Power of Example! (p. 47)
• Where Is That "Q" I've Been Saving? (p. 48)
• Dude, C'mon! (p. 49)
• The "Million Dollar Idea" List (p. 50)
• Is That How They Made the Pyramids? (p. 51)
• Interview: Kevin Carroll (p. 52)
• Good Fences Make Good Neighbors (p. 62)
• Shhhh. I'm Hunting Wabbits (p. 63)
• It's Sort of Like Volleyball, But With Joe as the Ball (p. 64)
• That Guy Is the Shape of a Caslon "R," Huh? (p. 65)
• My Words Caught a Fly (p. 66)
• I Was Told There'd Be No Math (p. 67)
• Once Upon a Tune (p. 68)
• Gnome, Gnome on the Range (p. 69)
• My Astro-Toupee (p. 70)
• I Tried It (p. 71)
• No Rules! (p. 72)
• Dude, Nice Koala Pinky! (p. 73)
• Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom! (p. 74)
• What's a "Dot-Com"? (p. 75)
• I Knew He'd Have a Book of Potions, Right? (p. 76)
• Sharpie; Shirt Pocket; Laundry Bill (p. 77)
• Is That a Diamond-Studded Coffee Mug? (p. 78)
• I Tried It (p. 79)
• Hold On, I'm Folding My Quarter (p. 80)
• Take a Seat (p. 81)
• What Is That Thing Dangling From Your Other Arm? (p. 82)
• Three Things (p. 83)
• You Got a "D" In Font Selection? (p. 84)
• Can Anyone Direct Me to the Perfume Aisle? (p. 85)
• Interview: Denise Weyhrich (p. 86)
• What the Heck Is a Quince? (p. 91)
• Survival of the Fittest (p. 92)
• There is Always a Better Way (p. 93)
• Why Can't I Have an Evil Lair, Too? (p. 94)
• If You Cross Your Eyes Like That, They'll Stay That Way (p. 95)
• You Want an Acme What? (p. 96)
• I Tried It (p. 97)
• Where Was This 25 Years Ago? (p. 98)
• Defend Yourself! (p. 99)
• Agency Oz (p. 100)
• Mirror, Mirror on the Desk (p. 101)
• Can You Feel the Love? (p. 102)
• Excuse Me, Your Three o'Clock Is Here (p. 103)
• That Looks Just Like Nothing (p. 104)
• I Tried It (p. 105)
• Nice Hood Ornament! (p. 106)
• Holy Nightmares, Batman! (p. 107)
• White or Wheat? (p. 108)
• Prehistoric Voicemail? (p. 109)
• Et Tu, Rombus 3000? (p. 110)
• Para-Military...Pens? (p. 111)
• Did You Get That License? (p. 112)
• I'll Take a Double Scoop of Pay-Toilet, Please (p. 113)
• Can You Get Curds at the Deli Down the Street? (p. 114)
• Our Janitor Doesn't Look Like That! (p. 115)
• And the Pitch...Touchdown! (p. 116)
• Pimp My Catapult! (p. 117)
• Interview: Brian Sack (p. 118)
• I Think It Needs More (Insert Noun Here) (p. 122)
• Fore! Five! Watch Out! (p. 124)
• Is That a Fire Pole? (p. 125)
• I'm New and Improved! (p. 126)
• Did He Just Tell Me to Steal Third or Is His Nose Running? (p. 127)
• How Do You Say "Red" In Caveman? (p. 128)
• So Should I Stop Where I Am or Run? (p. 129)
• Mmmmm...Cardboard (p. 130)
• It's Even Got Flaps! (p. 131)
• Don't Push That Button! (p. 132)
• An "E" Ticket Ride (p. 133)
• I Tried It (p. 134)
• In a Land Far, Far Away... (p. 135)
• Can Someone Show Me the Door? (p. 136)
• My Totem Is Teetering (p. 137)
• I'll Take the Double Raptor Meal Deal, Please (p. 138)
• I Didn't Think She Could Eat All of That (p. 139)
• I Can't Find the Surprise! (p. 140)
• Sorry, Charlie (p. 141)
• We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do! (p. 142)
• I Wear My Sun-Survivor-Goggle-Glasses at Night (p. 143)
• Mine Has Five Colored Rings! (p. 144)
• Rest In Peace (p. 145)
• Box That Ferret, Please (p. 146)
• I Already Have That One! (p. 147)
• Interview: Steve Morris (p. 148)
• Lets Introduce You to Alex (p. 153)
• Superman's Not Home Right Now (p. 154)
• Back In My Day, the Fans Didn't Have Lasers (p. 155)
• How Do I Get Ink off My Desk Again? (p. 156)
• How Do You Draw Music? (p. 157)
• It Keeps Things Hot And Cold! (p. 158)
• I Didn't Know I Had It In Me (p. 159)
• Top Dog (p. 160)
• Scott "Tired of Bein" Poe Called for You (p. 161)
• Shoot, I Pulled the Door Off Again! (p. 162)
• I Tried It (p. 163)
• Life In the Fast Lane! (p. 164)
• Where's This Going? (p. 165)
• That Penguin Is Throwing Up on My Pants (p. 166)
• A Little Dab'll Do Ya! (p. 167)
• My New Shoes Are Stuck in the ATM (p. 168)
• Is This How Milton and Bradley Started? (p. 169)
• And It Still Staples (p. 170)
• Do These Shorts Make My Line Look Big? (p. 171)
• What Time Is It? (p. 172)
• Where's That Copy of Emoticons Illustrated? (p. 173)
• The Pet Rock Just Got Booted (p. 174)
• I'll Take the Next Catapult, Thanks (p. 175)
• Interview: Mike Dietz (p. 176)
• Does This Dress Make My Brain Look Fat? (p. 181)
• Don't Put This on Your Hood, Though (p. 182)
• Wave 'Em Proud (p. 183)
• You're Fired! (p. 184)
• I Wouldn't Have Chosen Relish for the Carpet, But That's Just Me (p. 185)
• Where'd They Get That?! (p. 186)
• What "Does She Over There Have to Do With That? (p. 187)
• I'm Gonna Need a Bigger Fishbowl! (p. 188)
• The Envelope, Please (p. 189)
• I Never Knew So Much About a Pencil Sharpener (p. 190)
• What Does Melancholy Look Like? (p. 191)
• We Got the Beat! (p. 192)
• Black Eye Bart's a-Lookin' for Ya! (p. 193)
• Poor Hamster...Never Had a Chance (p. 194)
• I Tried It (p. 195)
• I Call It "Helveticaslon" (p. 196)
• How Do You Photograph Smelly? (p. 197)
• Twinkies Count as Two (p. 198)
• Should Bees Wear Kneepads? (p. 199)
• I Can't Come In, I Have the Gout (p. 200)
• I Can't Spell "Abnormal Martian" With Just Seven Characters! (p. 201)
• Like, Ummmm...I Mean, It's Like... (p. 202)
• Yes, Doc, I Think I Broke My Pancreas Sleeping (p. 203)
• Tweety Would Freak (p. 204)
• Trick or Pantone Book? (p. 205)
• Is My Hair Ok? (p. 206)
• We're Gettin' Hitched! (p. 207)
• Did You Just Get Really, Really Mad at That Bank Robber? (p. 208)
• Alohamobile (p. 209)
• Interview: Peleg Top (p. 210)
• Knock Knock! (p. 215)
• Shoot! I Left the Ten Trophy Again! (p. 216)
• Very Green (p. 217)
• Drats (p. 218)
• Oh No, They Didn't! (p. 219)
• Does That Come In Suede? (p. 220)
• I'll Have The BBQ Rack of Vader Please! (p. 221)
• What an Odd Place for a Totem Pole (p. 222)
• Dumb as a Rock (p. 223)
• Have a Nice Day! (p. 224)
• Lick and Stick (p. 225)
• That's Great, Moses Is In Foul Trouble (p. 226)
• Is That a Tailpipe, or Are You Just Happy to See Me? (p. 227)
• Water and Air Are Cold (p. 228)
• I Tried It (p. 229)
• What's Next? (p. 230)
• How Do I Make a Round Chimney? (p. 231)
• Survivor: Madison Avenue (p. 232)
• Oh Say Can You Peep? (p. 233)
• And Then He Said... (p. 234)
• What Happens From Here? (p. 235)
• All Aboard! (p. 236)
• Would You Like Any Fillings or Gold Caps With That? (p. 237)
• Where'd You Get That Hot Chocolate, Dude? (p. 238)
• Is That a SuperSlushee Monument Built Out of Wieners? (p. 239)
• It's Good to See a Happy Potato (p. 240)
• Go Joe! (p. 241)
• What's That Amazing Smell? (p. 242)
• Interview: Jeff Fisher (p. 243)
• I Never Knew a Pencil Sharpener Could Be So Deep (p. 246)
• It's Better Than Cleaning It! (p. 247)
• Is That Chest of Drawers on a Dimmer? (p. 248)
• How Many Ounces of Gold Do I Need to Park Here? (p. 249)
• Mmmm...Lincoln Logs (p. 250)
• That Box Is Looking at Me (p. 251)
• When Egg Noodles Die Young (p. 252)
• Home Sweet Hobo Home (p. 253)
• I Call Him "Upside Down Coffee Cup Man!" (p. 254)
• My Guard Rail Keeps Blocking the Scanner (p. 255)
• I Make a Terrible Clown (p. 256)
• It Looks Like a Scribble (p. 257)
• I Knew That Xylophone Would Come In Handy One Day (p. 258)
• I Tried It (p. 259)
• I Have a Full House, Marketing Directors Over Production Thugs (p. 260)
• Sure Beats Hand Puppets (p. 261)
• Fire In the Hole! (p. 262)
• Doesn't Anyone Wear Yellow Anymore? (p. 263)
• It's Up, and It's Good! (p. 264)
• Haiku-a-Gogo! (p. 265)
• Creatures of Habit (p. 266)
• If You Want to See Your Beloved Pencil Sharpener Alive... (p. 267)
• A Buffalo Would Definitely Destroy an Eagle In a Fight (p. 268)
• Is That for a Dog Food Company? (p. 269)
• Interview: Sayles Graphic Design (p. 270)
• Hey! She Has My Hairdo! (p. 274)
• Dude, Feel Free to Pop a Mint (p. 275)
• Is It a Star? (p. 276)
• Mini-It! (p. 277)
• How Do You Sell "And?" (p. 278)
• I Tried It (p. 279)
• I Changed That...I Think (p. 280)
• We Have So Much In Common! (p. 281)
• I Knew I Should Have Saved That Copy of Ice Fishing Illustrated (p. 282)
• Does This Color Go With My Work Boots? (p. 283)
• How Do You Get Your Lips Way Up There? (p. 284)
• Big Brother Is Not Only Watching, He's Brewing Cups of Coffee for You! (p. 285)
• How About Dessert? (p. 286)
• I Tried It (p. 287)
• Is That Hairnet Real? (p. 288)
• Debate This! (p. 289)
• Extra, Extra! Read All About It! (p. 290)
• Is That a Paisley Screensaver? (p. 291)
• The Wright Bros. Would Be Proud! (p. 292)
• Balder-what? (p. 293)
• Interview: John Foster (p. 294)
• Hi, I'm Fido (p. 298)
• Cool Vanishing Point! (p. 299)
• One Meeelyun Daaaahhllers! (p. 300)
• I'm Flippin' Sweet! (p. 301)
• Retreat! Retreat! (p. 302)
• I Don't Think They Make a Slushee That Big (p. 303)
• I Tried It (p. 304)
• Tag, You're It! (p. 305)
• Did That Guy Just Say "Shucks?" (p. 306)
• Wanna Play Some Mini Desk Volleyball? (p. 307)
• Have You Ever Noticed That Before? (p. 308)
• Desks Ahoy! (p. 309)
• For Sale (p. 310)
• Pablo Is Calling! (p. 311)
• I Can't Hear You, I'm Screaming (p. 312)
• How Could I Live Without My Combination Hot Dog Cooker and Bun Warmer? (p. 313)
• Was That Jeff or Did a Car Just Backfire? (p. 314)
• Where'd the Cork Go? (p. 315)
• Play Ball! (p. 316)
• You Mean There Really Is Truth In Advertising? (p. 317)
• 3, 2, 1, Score!!! (p. 318)
• G.I....Douglas? (p. 320)
• Interview: Von Glitschka (p. 321)
• Batteries Not Included (p. 325)
• Ah, Go Fly a Kite (p. 326)
• Bland No Longer (p. 327)
• How Big Is a Bread Basket? (p. 328)
• I Can't Find "Downsizing" (p. 329)
• Go Fighting Brain Men! (p. 330)
• My Business Helmet Keeps Falling Over My Eyes (p. 331)
• You're Walking on My Line (p. 332)
• Do I Use Ballpoint or Felt Tip on the Inside of My Eyelids? (p. 333)
• Bachelor Number Three... (p. 334)
• I Think That Florist Is a Total "H" (p. 335)
• I'm for It...Wait...I Mean, I'm Against It (p. 336)
• Are Mom's Cookies an "X" or an "O"? (p. 337)
• Blind Man's Bluff (p. 338)
• Coca-Cowpie? (p. 339)
• Doodles from Interviewees (p. 340)
• Index of Exercises by Type (p. 352)
• Contributor List (p. 359)