This post is from a series where I review products during the week
The title totally caught my attention with this one.
I stumbled across this book while trying to find something about honing your own creativity. In case you didn’t know, there’s pretty much a ton of books about that on Amazon. The only problem was that most of them looked like required reading for college courses. I remember thinking how funny it was that books about creativity didn’t look very creative, then I found Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.
The cover was simple but unique. It looked very interesting so I gave it a shot. I’m glad I did.
The author, Austin Kleon, developed this book out of a speech he gave for college students. It tackles ten bits of advice he wished someone would have given him as a young artist. It’s full of simple but significant advice such as “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” or “Write the Book You Want to Read.” For someone interested in beginning to grow their own creativity, these simple breakdowns are perfect.
As I said before, there are a ton of books about creativity. They all seem to be full of plans or exercises to bring out your inner “van Gogh” while showing you ways to keep both your ears. That’s where this book is different.
People just assume that creativity is something inherent. We say things like, “Oh she’s just so creative” in the same way we say, “That guy has huge feet!” We say it like it’s something that just happens – you’re either born with it or
you’re not. This book shows you that that’s not the case. Some of the greatest artists were people that fed their own creativity by appreciating what had been done by others. Then Kleon goes on to discuss how you can do the same. He shows how he found his own creativity and how it’s a continued process to make sure he’s constantly growing. He shares amazing quotes of others while offering his own first-hand advice. The combination is something that will have you highlighting as much as he uses his markers. (I know that sounds kind of weird, but after you’ve read the book it will totally make sense.)
Here’s some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“When people call something ‘original,’ nine times out of ten they just don’t know the references or the original sources.” -Jonathan Lethem
“You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences.” -Austin Kleon
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” -Salvador Dali
“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.” -Conan O’Brien
“The trick is to find a day job that pays decently, doesn’t make the vomit, and leaves you with enough energy to make things in your spare time.” -Austin Kleon
And my favorite . . .
“Draw the art you want to see, start the business you want to run, play the music you want to hear, write the books you want to read, build the products you want to use-do the work you want to see done.” -Austin Kleon
Pick up a copy here in eBook or paperback.
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