This was such a phenomenal and much needed read for me. It's just hard to pack away the awareness that while you're reading about creating art, you could spend that time creating art. It's good to read motivational stuff, especially because creating art can be a pretty lonely process. I'm not saying there's no place for these types of books, and this one is smart because it's a quick read and it sticks pretty well to the motivational side of things as opposed to the nuts and bolts. A how-to book about painting is probably of less use than a book of paintings you enjoy. In other words, a book ABOUT writing is probably less helpful to a writer than a book that's just plain good. The inherent problem in any book that's a how-to for something artistic, whether it be writing or painting or making music or the artistry in tailoring a custom Voltron costume, the problem with the how-to book is that when you're reading the how-to book you're not doing the actual thing you're being taught to do. They make me feel better in the moment, but ultimately don't do much towards building a full picture of happiness. (It’s the only way to get work done.These kind of books are like candy. The secret: Do good work and share it with people.īe boring.

This 10th anniversary edition includes a new afterword by the author, discussing the book’s influence and how “stealing” has been misunderstood, and offering a unique, personal perspective on a book that’s touched so many.ĭon’t wait until you know who you are to get started. And above all, find the space you need to be wild and daring in your imagination and your work.

Ten years after its initial publication, the message of Steal Like an Artist remains powerful: embrace influence, follow interests wherever they take us, forget old clichés like writing about what you know – instead, write the book that you want to read, make the movie you want to watch. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (10th Anniversary Hardcover)Ĭelebrate the 10th anniversary of a groundbreaking book on creativity with this limited edition hardcover, with a new afterword, color endpapers pulled from Austin Kleon’s sketchbooks, and a ribbon marker.

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