Book Title: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Author: Austin Kleon
Genre: Self-help, Creativity
GoodReads Rating: 3.91/5
Best Selling List: New York Times Bestseller
Introduction:
Steal Like an Artist is a book that challenges the myth of originality and encourages readers to embrace their influences, remix ideas, and discover their own creative path.
It is a short and easy read that offers practical and inspiring advice for anyone who wants to be more creative in their work and life.
Summary:
The book is based on a talk that the author gave at a community college in 2011, where he shared 10 things he wished he had known when he was starting out as a writer and artist. These 10 things are:
- Steal like an artist. Nothing is original, so learn from the best and copy what you love.
- Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started. Just start making things and figure out who you are along the way.
- Write the book you want to read. Make the art you want to see, the music you want to hear, the movie you want to watch.
- Use your hands. Get away from the screen and use analog tools to spark your creativity.
- Side projects and hobbies are important. They can lead to your main work or even become your main work.
- The secret: do good work and share it with people. Find your audience and connect with them.
- Geography is no longer our master. You can work from anywhere and find inspiration everywhere.
- Be nice. The world is a small town and everyone is connected. Be generous and respectful to others.
- Be boring. It’s the only way to get work done. Have a routine and stick to it.
- Creativity is subtraction. Focus on what’s important and eliminate the rest.
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Key Takeaways:
The book is full of engaging anecdotes and helpful tips taken from the author’s experience and the works of other creative people. Some of the key takeaways are:
- You are a mashup of what you let into your life. Choose your influences wisely and curate your own collection of inspiration.
- Don’t be afraid to steal from others, but don’t plagiarize. Steal the structure, not the surface. Steal the thinking, not the thing.
- Don’t be paralyzed by perfectionism. Start with a bad idea and make it better. Iterate and improve.
- Don’t be a hoarder. Share your work and your ideas. Feedback is fuel for your creativity.
- Don’t be a loner. Surround yourself with creative people and collaborate with them. Learn from them and teach them.
- Don’t be a workaholic. Have a life outside of your work. Have hobbies, interests, and passions that feed your creativity.
Strengths:
The book is a quick and enjoyable read that can motivate and inspire anyone who wants to be more creative.
The book is full of illustrations, quotes, and examples that make it visually appealing and easy to digest.
The book is also very accessible and relatable, as the author speaks from his own experience and shares his struggles and successes.
Weaknesses:
The book is not very deep or original, as it borrows heavily from other sources and does not offer any groundbreaking insights or techniques.
The book is also very general and vague, as it does not provide any specific or actionable steps or exercises for the reader to follow. The book is more of a pep talk than a guide.
Conclusion:
Steal Like an Artist is a book that can help anyone unlock their creativity and find their own voice.
It is a book that celebrates the power of influence, imitation, and iteration.
It is a book that encourages readers to steal like an artist, but also to be themselves.
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