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Product Details
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; First Edition, Later Printing edition (February 28, 2012)
Austin Kleon writes, “All advice in autobiographical… This book is me talking to a previous version of myself… These ideas apply to anyone who’s trying to inject some creativity into their life and their work. (That should describe all of us.)” The book is thoughtfully written and designed in a creative six-inch by six-inch format.
The idea behind stealing like an artist is that “nothing is completely original… All creative work builds on what came before... If we’re free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it.”
“We learn by copying. We’re talking about practice here, not plagiarism—plagiarism is trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own. Copying is about reverse engineering… Remember: Even The Beatles started as a cover band.”
“You are the sum of your influences… Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by… Seeing yourself as part of a creative lineage will help you feel less alone as you start making your own stuff… You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes… That’s what you really want—to internalize their way of looking at the world… It is the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.”
“You have to be curious about the world in which you live… Always be reading…. Don’t worry about doing research. Just search.”
“You’re only going to be as good as the people you surround yourself with… If you ever find that you’re the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.Read more ›
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I started this book thinking it would be a quick read. I mean, look at it! Well, you can’t see it here. It is tiny. STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST or “10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative” by Austin Kleon. This book is not a quick read for the simple reason that it is stuffed with good ideas that need to be mulled like spiced apple cider. Mulled apple cider is always better the day after. Yes, I said “mulled”. Or steeped inside that steamy caldron of a creative brain you carry on your shoulders. This is a fantastic book.
Also, I can’t believe I read a NYT’s best seller while it was still on the best seller list. That’s a first.
I don’t want to leave you wondering if I’ve lost it. Here are a few tips from the creative master Mr. Kleon: Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started. In other words, waiting for inspiration to hit you may see you old and gray before anything happens. I love his scribbles and multimedia artwork he uses to illustrate his points. He says “Fake it ’til you make it.” Great advice. You have to make some ugly art before the good stuff. If you’ve been to art school as I have and seen what you start with and then see what you end with on your “forced” projects you understand what this means. With writing it translates into the same thing. Some days what I have written is horrible. But Mr. Kleon says over and over – don’t ever throw anything away. He’s right. You never know when that “horrible” will spark something ingenious. All my work comes from ugly.
He quotes from Francis Ford Coppola — “We want you to take from us. We want you, at first, to steal from us, because you can’t steal. You will take what we give you and you will put it in your own voice and that’s how you will find your voice. And that’s how you begin.Read more ›
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Based on the reviews of others, I expected this to be an inspirational master piece. Not what I expected in terms of guidance and depth of content... more of a "coffee table" type book that you'd glance at for visuals/graphics and "cutesy" advice. As an artist, I did not really get much out of it. Had I thumbed through this at a book store, I would not have purchased it.
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This is a short, simple book on creativity and motivation. I read the entire thing in about 30 minutes, but that doesn't diminish the message of the book or make it less worthwhile to read. If you are looking for something in depth, step by step, or detailed, read something else. This is essentially an overview of the author's thoughts on creativity. He has some wonderful pointers and ideas in the book, but the sections are very short and to the point.
If you are looking for a swift kick in the pants, this is a good book. If you are looking for a book that will hold your hand and take you step by step, this will most likely be a disappointment. Personally, I really liked it. I wanted a little more depth, but it was a good motivational read.
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I live that this is a how-to book which reads more like a manifesto. It has so many anecdotes and ideas that your head literally explodes with ideas when you read it. Filled with practical advice on how to become a successful artist - but the advice applies to all facets of life, well beyond artistic pursuits This awesome little book now has hundreds of thousands of copies in print and has been translated into over a dozen languages because it's THAT good!
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This item: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
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