Scan barcode
A review by richardrbecker
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin can be divided into three parts beautifully braided throughout his work: What most artists know, what some artists know, and what he, as an artist, has come to know. All of it will resonate with seasoned creators, and I expect new creators might find some insight and wisdom to help them along on their unique journey.
Specific to the three parts, I suspect all artists know what riding a lightning bolt is like or that breaking the sameness (once you know them, anyway) is the only path to a breakthrough. Some may know that both constriction and freedom can be their friends, that failure is merely a stepping stone, or that you don't have to suffer to be an artist. You can still find enlightenment by living a peaceful life. And then there are those notes that feel fresh from Rubin, like the idea that being an artist is not about creating as much as living in the world a certain way. What a uniquely novel way to say it.
Rubin is also very adept at introducing concepts with a single line before each riff, reminding us that he knows something about lyrics. These one- or two-line thoughts are often compelling in a Warholian way, succinctly foreshadowing everything he is about to cover...
"However you frame yourself as an artist, the frame is too small."
"A work of art is not an endpoint in itself. It's a station on a journey."
"Sometimes the mistakes are what makes a work great. Humanity breathes in mistakes."
There are so many—along with more than 80 mini-essays on being a creative — musician, artist, or writer. Some of it is worth writing down, even when it feels inspired by someone else. Some of it feels a little repetitive at times, prompting a desire to skim that last quarter of the work. Try to resist the temptation to rush the read at that point. You never know if you will miss something worthwhile to you.
All in all, it's a good enough book to pass along to my daughter, who is about to attend college to study art. It's good enough to deserve 4 1/2 stars. And it would have, had Rubin continued to add more expository material on outside influences and trends (including AI). Regardless, it's still a great read, and that might even help someone set their mind right for the next project.
Specific to the three parts, I suspect all artists know what riding a lightning bolt is like or that breaking the sameness (once you know them, anyway) is the only path to a breakthrough. Some may know that both constriction and freedom can be their friends, that failure is merely a stepping stone, or that you don't have to suffer to be an artist. You can still find enlightenment by living a peaceful life. And then there are those notes that feel fresh from Rubin, like the idea that being an artist is not about creating as much as living in the world a certain way. What a uniquely novel way to say it.
Rubin is also very adept at introducing concepts with a single line before each riff, reminding us that he knows something about lyrics. These one- or two-line thoughts are often compelling in a Warholian way, succinctly foreshadowing everything he is about to cover...
"However you frame yourself as an artist, the frame is too small."
"A work of art is not an endpoint in itself. It's a station on a journey."
"Sometimes the mistakes are what makes a work great. Humanity breathes in mistakes."
There are so many—along with more than 80 mini-essays on being a creative — musician, artist, or writer. Some of it is worth writing down, even when it feels inspired by someone else. Some of it feels a little repetitive at times, prompting a desire to skim that last quarter of the work. Try to resist the temptation to rush the read at that point. You never know if you will miss something worthwhile to you.
All in all, it's a good enough book to pass along to my daughter, who is about to attend college to study art. It's good enough to deserve 4 1/2 stars. And it would have, had Rubin continued to add more expository material on outside influences and trends (including AI). Regardless, it's still a great read, and that might even help someone set their mind right for the next project.