Steal Like an Artist
10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
by Austin Kleon
Synopsis
Austin Kleon collects ten short essays for creative people: nothing is original; school yourself; write the book you want to read; use your hands; side projects matter; do good work and share it where people can see it; geography is no longer destiny; be nice; be boring; creativity is subtraction.
Editorial review
A small, beautifully designed book that reads in an afternoon and stays in the head for years. Kleon's argument — that originality is mostly remix done with care — is liberating for anyone stuck waiting to be 'truly original.'
Key takeaways
- 1
All advice is autobiographical, including this advice.
- 2
Originality is influence absorbed and recombined.
- 3
Side projects and hobbies often turn out to be the main thing.
- 4
Share your work where it can be found; obscurity is a slower death than failure.
The right reader
Designers, writers, founders, students. Often given to graduating college seniors.
What it touches
How it reads
Punchy, designed, generous.
Reading difficulty: Accessible
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