Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your experience of reading Creativity, Inc.? Did it feel more like a business management guide, a personal memoir, or a behind-the-scenes look at a creative studio?

2. The book offers an intimate portrait of Steve Jobs, focusing on his evolution as a leader. How did Catmull’s perspective compare to other portrayals, such as in Walter Isaacson’s biography, Steve Jobs (2011)?

3. Of all the core Pixar concepts presented, which one did you find most memorable or applicable to your own work or creative life?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The Braintrust is built on the idea of candid peer feedback. What is your own relationship with giving and receiving critical feedback in a professional or creative setting?

2. Catmull argues that getting the right people on a team is more important than starting with the perfect idea. Can you think of a time in your own experience where the quality of the team transformed a mediocre idea into something great?

3. Which of the mental models for navigating creative uncertainty resonated with you the most, and why? 

4. What role does your physical environment play in your ability to be creative or collaborative? Did Pixar’s emphasis on office design make you reconsider your own surroundings?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The expanded edition addresses John Lasseter’s departure and the creation of programs like the Story Artistas to support female filmmakers. What does Pixar’s journey in addressing these issues imply about the broader cultural shifts in the workplace?

2. What does the story of the Disney-Pixar merger suggest about the challenges of protecting a unique, creative culture within a massive corporate structure?

3. How does Pixar’s constant struggle to focus on Fostering Creativity without Sabotaging Production Demands mirror the larger tension between art and commerce?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What role do metaphors play in Catmull’s storytelling and management philosophy? Does his frequent use of this gambit ever derail the broader discussion?

2. Catmull presents himself as a leader who is continually learning, and he candidly highlights his own shortcomings and mistakes. How does his willingness to admit his failures affect his credibility as a narrator? Do his descriptions ever obscure the full truth?

3. How do the mantras “Story Is King” and “Trust the Process” (66) evolve over the course of the narrative? 

4. Catmull admits that when he submitted a draft of Creativity, Inc. to his own version of the Braintrust, one critique labeled the “second act” of the book too abstract and philosophical. Did Catmull’s inclusion of specific stories ameliorate this issue, or does this section of the book still wander off course?

5. To what extent is Creativity, Inc. an advertisement strategy to promote Pixar itself? Does this underlying agenda affect its stated purpose as an earnest guide for managers?

6. Creativity, Inc. blends personal anecdotes, film production case studies, and management theory. Did you find this blend effective in conveying the book’s message about building a sustainable creative culture? Why or why not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Pixar’s Notes Day was designed to generate solutions from every employee. If you could organize a “Notes Day” for your own workplace, community, or family, what single problem would you want everyone to focus on solving?

2. What metaphor would you use to describe your ideal approach to collaboration or creative leadership? 

3. Pixar uses “enabling constraints” like the popsicle-stick visual used during production of The Incredibles, to monitor finite resources. How might this approach apply to a project in your own life?