The Creative Act: A Way of Being - Rick Rubin
Hardcover | Penguin Press | January 17, 2023
The Gist
A titan in the music world passes on sagely wisdom about the creative process.
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Books about the creative process
The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
The Verdict: Good Gift Idea for Artists
With nine Grammies under his belt and years of experience bringing top-selling albums into the world, it’s fair to say that Rick Rubin knows more than a thing or two about the creative process. But for all the big names he has worked with Rubin doesn’t reveal specifics or drop names. Instead, he’s careful to keep his advice broad, for his belief is that creativity is a fundamental part of being human. From putting an album together to writing a book to drawing to keeping a marketing campaign, the process of creating is constantly around us. The Creative Act: A Way of Being offers insights and advice on tuning into the world inside and outside ourselves. As Rubin puts it, it’s all about finding, listening, and refining the rhythm. The Creative Act is a thick, but quick read. The chapters (thoughts as Rubin calls them) are short and to the point. There are hints of Stoic philosophy throughout in addition to practical advice on how to nurture new ideas, push past creative blocks, and more, but Rubin never gets too preachy. The book can be read in one go or one thought at a time.
