A Review: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Title of Work: The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Author: Rick Rubin
Format:
Published: 2023
Started:
Finished: 2023-12-03\

Posted: Goodreads
Rating: 4/5

---

Felt a little soft at first, a little cliché. I even worried briefly that Rubin might descend into a self-helpification of the creative process. But with time my defenses softened and all of my hopes for this book bubbled into clarity.

This is not a guide but it does convey priceless tips and strategies for creatives and it is not a memoir though it draws directly from the author’s vibrant life. Rubin shares his personal philosophy, a positive and hopeful honoring of the creative life, melded from his direct experiences over many years working with the most innovative artists across decades and genres and various teachings of Eastern traditions and spirituality.

I found myself making mental or inky notes many times, hoping to capture a bit of his virtuosity as it flowed by. So much encouragement, so many little anonymized anecdotes that show how we can channel our art into purer forms, overcome blocks, and generate insight through specific exercises and intentional reframing of our attention and perspective.