Embrace the rut

[EvaH]

Hello,

I read an annotation of the book Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer. In this review the author describes what the book is about: "Shattering the myth of muses, higher powers, even creative "types", Jonah Lehrer demonstrates that creativity is not a single "gift" possessed by the lucky few. It's a variety of distinct thought processes... Lehrer reveals the importance of embracing the rut, thinking like a child, and daydreaming productively..."

Could someone explain to me what "embrace the rut" means in this context?

Thank you very much.

 

[sdgraham]

The sentence is not particularly straightforward, so I can see the problem.

See definition 2 below.

rut1
▶noun

• 1 a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles.

• 2 a routine or pattern of behaviour that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change.

And No. 2 below

embrace/ɪmˈbreɪs/
▶verb

• 1 hold closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.

• 2 accept or support (a belief or change) willingly.

• 3 include or contain.

So, the author seems to be saying that children's thinking is a typical pattern that people ought to follow.

But others might find something else here.

 

[Parla]

I respectfully disagree with Mr Graham. I do agree completely with the definitions he cites, but I don't think that "embracing the rut" means "thinking like a child". I think the three things listed in the quote (embracing the rut, thinking like a child, and daydreaming productively) are three different things the author is advising the reader to do.

In my opinion:
"embracing the rut" = accepting the (possibly dull) job or position you find yourself in
"thinking like a child" = discarding mental inhibitions you may have acquired as an adult
"daydreaming productively" = letting your imagination wander