A Curious Mind (36 page)

characteristics of good,
35

curiosity conversations as,
91

emotions and,
83

engaging,
80

Grazer's passion for,
86
,
87
,
161

as inspiring curiosity,
79
–84,
109

as inspiring and entertaining,
189

learning from,
81
–84,
91
,
96

public speaking and,
115

purpose of,
115

questions and,
137

reality in,
76
–79

as shared knowledge,
82

sharing your own,
261

Teller's views about,
66
–67

and telling stories to self,
74

types of,
34

and uses of curiosity,
34
–37,
62
,
79
–84,
132
,
191

strangers:

curiosity conversations with,
262
–64

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI),
64

Styler, Trudie,
71

surfing:

Grazer's interest in,
124

surprise:

relationships and,
160
,
161

survival:

curiosity as essential to,
82

De Negri story of,
73
–76

Sutherland, Kiefer,
48

Sylbert, Anthea,
105
–6,
109

Tartikoff, Brandon,
29

taste,
177
–81,
182
–83

Taylor, Tate,
137

television.
See
entertainment business; specific person or program

Teller, Edward,
24
–25,
50
,
63
–67,
90
,
106

Ten Commandments
(TV miniseries),
29
,
103

terrorism. See
24
(TV series)

thank you:

for curiosity conversations,
201
–2,
262
,
264

Thriller
(video),
215

Tootsie
(movie),
157

torture: in Chile,
70
,
71
–76

Touchstone Pictures:
Splash
and,
107

Towne, Robert,
106
,
107

traditions:

for Hollywood/entertainment business,
122

of Howard and Grazer,
108
,
218

trust,
133
,
144
,
152
,
189

24
(TV show),
48
,
49
,
132

Twitter,
81
,
83
,
146

United Artists,
105

Universal Studios,
51
,
112
,
128
,
130
,
131
,
138
–39,
226
–27

University of Southern California (USC):

Grazer as graduate of,
1
–2

values:

questions as transmitting,
144
–45

Vanguard Press,
113

Vanity Fair
magazine,
125
,
163

Video Music Awards,
47

W
magazine:

Grazer's profile in,
118
–19

Wal-Mart,
55
–56,
59
,
278
–79

See also:
Walton, Sam

Walton, Sam,
55
–56,
57
,
59
,
62
,
278
–79

Warhol, Andy,
124
,
179
–80,
215
–19,
220

Warner Brothers:

Grazer overhears conversation about,
1
–3

Grazer's law clerk/courier job with,
2
,
3
–6,
16
–19,
20
,
21
–22,
26
,
50
–52

Grazer's office at,
16
–19

movies in the 1970s,
275

“royal offices” at,
16
,
17

See also:
specific person

Washington, Denzel,
143
,
285

Wasserman, Lew,
5
,
22
,
50
–52,
53
,
62
,
103
,
106
,
128

Waters, John,
174

web pages: designing,
146
–47

Wells, Frank,
17

White House:

Apollo 13
screening at,
129
–31

Cinderella Man
screening at,
207
,
212
–13,
221

Wiatt, Jim,
125
–26,
202
–3

Wilson, Rita,
130

Winfrey, Oprah,
223
–25

workplace:

and asking questions of the boss,
150

and benefits of curiosity,
133
,
182

connections in,
133
–45

curiosity as unwelcome in,
14

differences in,
112
–13

job hierarchy in,
150

questions in,
134
–37,
144
–52,
161
,
193

Wyeth, Andrew,
179

Yablans, Frank,
22

yin-and-yang of curiosity,
190
–93

Zellweger, Renée,
207

Zuma Beach
(TV show),
103

Simon & Schuster

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright © 2015 by Brian Grazer

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition April 2015

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.

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Interior design by Joy O'Meara

Jacket design by Jason Heuer

Jacket image by Jeff Koons

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grazer, Brian, 1953–

 A curious mind : the secret to a bigger life / Brian Grazer, Charles Fishman.

  pages cm

 Summary: “From Academy Award–nominated producer Brian Grazer and acclaimed business journalist Charles Fishman comes a brilliantly entertaining peek into the weekly “curiosity conversations” that have inspired Grazer to create some of America's favorite and iconic movies and television shows—from
24
to
A Beautiful Mind
. For decades, film and TV producer Brian Grazer has scheduled a weekly “curiosity conversation” with an accomplished stranger. From scientists to spies, and adventurers to business leaders, Grazer has met with anyone willing to answer his questions for a few hours. These informal discussions sparked the creative inspiration behind many of Grazer's movies and TV shows, including
Splash
,
24
,
A Beautiful Mind
,
Apollo 13
,
Arrested Development
,
8 Mile
,
J. Edgar
, and many others.
A Curious Mind
is a brilliantly entertaining, fascinating, and inspiring homage to the power of inquisitiveness and the ways in which it deepens and improves us. Whether you're looking to improve your management style at work or you want to become a better romantic partner, this book—and its lessons on the power of curiosity—can change your life”—Provided by publisher.

 1. Curiosity. 2. Creative thinking. 3. Self-actualization (Psychology) I. Fishman, Charles, 1961– II. Title.

 BF323.C8G73 2015

 153.8—dc23

2014032967

ISBN 978-1-4767-3075-2

ISBN 978-1-4767-3079-0 (ebook)