The Gift is a unique book that examines the relationship between creativity and our increasingly money-oriented society. The central questions that Hyde raises are:

• What is the nature of creativity?
• How can creativity survive in a market society?

The book provides an interesting theory of creativity, drawing a correllation between the concept of gift-giving and creative talent and the 'gift' we associate with genius'. By looking at the exchange of necklaces between the island peoples in Polynesia Hyde shows an excellent example of how these gifts that cannot be consumed are able to enrich society and strengthen the bonds between peoples.

Hyde's ideas definitely resonate with me and predict much of the vibrant creative activity that exists outside the marketplace. New communications technology has allowed new models for funding and sharing work to evolve Wikipedia for example provides a freely available Encyclopedia edited entirely by volunteers, Linux and other Open Source applications show how volunteers and foundations can work together to create great software. The internet also provides examples of businesses that gain popularity by giving a lot of free content away for free but selling only a profitable core.

Although Hyde does a good job of explaining what art and creativity is, he largely fails in providing a solution of how to foster it's survival in market society. However, think there is a tremendous amount of value in opening the debate about how to give gifted people the space to develop their ideas. If you think of yourself as a creative person I think that it is definately worth a read.