Friday, August 9, 2013

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by: Austin Kleon

   Whoever ever said "big things come in small packages" must have been referring to this gem of a book. Austin Kleon (author of Newspaper Blackout and Steal Like an Artist ) has written, by far, one of the most creative writing handbooks books I've ever read.
    Kleon knows that he's not the first person to write about the fact that all ideas grow from other ideas. He quotes a wide range of artists who share the same view point, including Picasso and Jay-Z, and offers a unique perspective on how to pull inspiration from other artists in order to create original art, whether it be writing, painting, or music.
    There's a fine line that separates stealing ideas and plagiarism and Austin Kleon manages to address that  point (along with many others) in an entertaining and cohesive way. All of his ideas are presented in short, visually appealing chapters full of valuable creative advice.
    Don't let the small size fool you- Steal Like an Artist is a wonderful guide for the modern day artist.