Will I love The Creative Act?

I recently saw a clip of Rick Rubin talking about art and AI. To paraphrase, he explains that he’s interested in artists because of their point of view. AI has no point of view. I watched him speak so eloquently (and so simply) about something I have tried to put words to for months. 

Creativity is akin to magic. It’s what sparks joy. It’s what makes you remember the details you do. What makes creativity powerful isn’t polish, but presence. Part of that story is the ability to notice, to feel, to pay attention to what most people rush past… show more.

This book seemed to come to me when I needed it - I was trying to finish writing one of my own books and really struggling with it. Rubin's book reminded me of why I write and inspired some discipline in me to keep going. It is a simple, easy book yet beneath its simplicity is deep, practical wisdom that is applicable to so many fields of life, not just that of art or creating.

I am a creative person, and I value my ability to share with the world what inspires me. I love how this book argues for the inherent creativity within everyone, even for people who don’t see themselves as writers, artists, or creatives.

Because I agree with this point, and it is something I teach when speaking to people in community groups or my students in the classroom. I believe we all have special gifts, and with peace and quiet, it is easier to hear our own authentic voice and the message we have to share with the world.

The most important music producer in this country talks about creativity. I didn't know how much I needed this book until I read it. This is the only book that, as soon as I finished, I immediately read again. Almost everything he says applies to writing!

Rubin showed me fears I had buried and gave me ways to cure them.

Worth the price of 10 copies! He is staggeringly intelligent, so experienced, and so kind. In any creative business, a guiding hand on the shoulder from a knowledgeable guide can mean the difference between agony and life. This is that… show more.

This nonfiction book is more of a meditation on creating art than a guide. Each short chapter invoked inspiration that led me to want to create.

I started flipping through this book in a bookstore, admittedly with a certain amount of skepticism about another trendy tome on how to be more creative, this one by a well-known music producer. To my surprise, I could not put this book down. There is a great deal of wisdom in these pages.

This is a book that teaches one how to be, not specifically how to create art. But being comes before creation, and I found many ideas that have stayed with me as I pursue my passion for creating beautiful imagery.

Rick Rubin is the prototype for my perfect man. Since I have a huge crush on his brain and voice (I could listen to him have a conversation all day), it is no surprise that I love his book outlining the creative process. It feels like it was channeled.

I use it as a daily reader, selecting a page for the day to contemplate during my morning meditation. I love the bite-sized wisdom, which feels like I could have thought of or written it myself—universal truth nuggets. 

Here is yet another great book worthy of space on your bookshelf. Rick Rubin is one of the most sought-after musical producers globally, and he weaves his observations and insights into this brilliant book.

It goes much deeper than a “how to” book; it is more about how to tap into the higher potential within us. As Rick states (and I agree), we are all creative; it is a fundamental aspect of being human. Inspiration for our work surrounds us at every turn. If one is open and attuned to what is happening, answers will be revealed. There is a… show more.

I love this book for many reasons, but the first is that you can pick it up and open to any page to find inspiration. It is full of motivation and provides clarity to the roller coaster that is the creative process.

Rick Rubin has a way with words, and with just a few, he can get you to make your art, music, writing, etc, and enjoy the process.  

This book reads like poetry. I highlighted entire passages to reread and read to others.

Rubin dispels many myths about being creative, explores how to work as and work with an artist, musician, or others in the 'creative' fields, and includes a few stories of artists he has worked with without naming names.

As a productivity coach, speaker, and consultant, I appreciated his approach to discipline and routine, often shunned by those in the arts. His point is to create a routine in areas of your life that you can, opening up your time and energy to be more creative.