Creativity in simplifying complexity

From my Readwise highlights.

At its core, creativity is about “making the complicated simple, awesomely simple”—a process Charles Mingus famously described as true creativity and not mere cleverness. This is echoed elsewhere as recognizing that "making the simple complicated is commonplace," but the real act of creativity lies in awesomely effective simplification here.

Techniques like the Feynman Technique exemplify this principle. Richard Feynman observed that jargon and unnecessary complexity often cover up a lack of true understanding. The technique encourages us to strip away needless layers, insisting that “if you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old, you don’t really understand it” here. In other words, the depth of understanding is directly reflected in the simplicity of your explanations.

This philosophy also drives creativity in communication. Whether you're explaining data, writing, or leading, models such as KISS (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”) and Occam’s Razor reinforce the idea that starting with the simplest explanation or solution is often best. Simplicity is not a reduction of value but a focusing of it—much as great advertising distills a message to a single, compelling point rather than piling on features or jargon (“the one magical bit” principle).

More practically, creativity as a simplifying force relies on intense effort and deliberate practice: “Creativity is a function of the previous work you put in,” as Robert Greene describes, suggesting simplification emerges not from shortcutting, but from grappling with complexity until clarity appears.

Finally, one of my highlights beautifully observes that “the more you know, the less you need.” Simplicity born from mastery means living and creating with only what is essential—every removal of excess becomes an act of creative generosity towards your audience.

If you’re exploring how to practice this: capture raw ideas, write to clarify and condense, and always aim for relatable, direct explanations—stripping out what’s unnecessary, so what’s left shines with both elegance and utility. That’s the creative path to turning complexity into something powerfully simple.