As a writer, I came to Rick Rubinâs The Creative Act for the same magic he imparted to the late Johnny Cash, and I was not disappointed.
Rubin wants artists to drop their agendas and expectations and just focus on their work in an open channel sort of way. Keep the inputs coming. Sort out what helps the work and discard the rest. If you are like me, interested in creating the best art in this singular moment, then read Rick Rubin, the guy who brought new life to Johnny Cash by just lying down on a couch and closing his eyes.
From the legendary music producer, a master at helping people connect with the wellsprings of their creativity, comes a beautifully crafted book many years in the making that offers that same deep wisdom to all of us.
"A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment.â âAnne Lamott
âI set out to write a book about what to do to make aâŠ
As a writer, I came to Linda Lappinâs novel Loving Modigliani because I am fascinated by Modigliani and his art, and, yes, this book is a meticulously researched fictional biography, but itâs also a depiction of the business of art and a fable about the artistic impulse for eternityâcomplex to say the least.
Her book is a series of discrete scenes arranged roughly in time order. Her description of people, events, and feelings is immediate and honest. When she relates a scene with her Aunt Frances, I believe she is six. Through reading her book, I better understand that she was a simple soul with complex psychology, a paradox.
In Radio Free Olympia, Washingtonâs wild Olympic Peninsula is embodied through a captivating circle of visionaries and characters. Embark on a riveting journey into this untamed region, where folklore legends and historical icons come to life in this complex ecological tapestry.
Follow the enigmatic Petr, a foundling whose path leads him deep into the heart of the majestic mountain rainforest. Armed with nothing but a pirate radio transmitter, Petr fearlessly broadcasts the forgotten and untamed voices that echo through the wilderness. Venture deeper into this mystical world and encounter Baie, the founder of Wildsisters, a roadhouse monastery for lost women infused with the essence of cranberries, who offers solace to the lost and wayward souls who cross her path.
