Steal Like an Artist - 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

You don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be yourself. That’s the message from Austin Kleon, a young writer and artist who knows that creativity is everywhere, creativity is for everyone. A manifesto for the digital age, Steal Like an Artist is a guide whose positive message, graphic look and illustrations, exercises, and examples will put readers directly in touch with their artistic side.

When Mr. Kleon was asked to address college students in upstate New York, he shaped his speech around the ten things he wished someone had told him when he was starting out. The talk went viral, and its author dug deeper into his own ideas to create Steal Like an Artist, the book. The result is inspiring, hip, original, practical, and entertaining. And filled with new truths about creativity: Nothing is original, so embrace influence, collect ideas, and remix and re-imagine to discover your own path. Follow your interests wherever they take you. Stay smart, stay out of debt, and risk being boring the creative you will need to make room to be wild and daring in your imagination.

Brand: Workman Publishing

Published on: 2012-02-28

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Dimensions: 6.06" h x .56" w x 6.00" l, .37 pounds

Binding: Paperback

160 pages

Features

- 10 Things nobody told you about being creative!

- A collection of positive messages and exercises to realize your artistic side

- An inspiring and entertaining read

- By artist and writer Austin Kleon

- A New York Times Best-seller

Review 

"Brilliant and real and true."

- Rosanne Cash

"Austin Kleon is positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet... Kleon makes an articulate and compelling case for combinatorial creativity and the role of remix in the idea economy."

- The Atlantic

"Breezy and fun and yes, scary. Scary because it calls your bluff."

- Seth Godin

"A quick, easily digestible read that is particularly relevant in today's digital world."

-School Library Journal

"Filled with well-formed advice that applies to nearly any kind of work."

- Lifehacker

“The book is filled with engaging anecdotes and helpful tips taken from Kleon’s experience learning to walk on his own creative feet, as well as quotes and stories from big names, ranging from Gide to Goethe to Questlove. - Fast Company co.Design

 

“Immersing yourself in Steal Like an Artist is as fine an investment in the life of your mind as you can hope to make.” - TheAtlantic

 

“Steal Like An Artist is an actually readable manifesto on how to properly squeeze your brain-juices and unlock your potential.” - Thrillist

From the Back Cover 

Unlock your creativity.

1- Steal like an artist.

2- Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.

3- Write the book you want to read.

4- Use your hands.

5- Side projects and hobbies are important.

6- The secret: do good work and share it with people.

7- Geography is no longer our master.

8- Be nice. (The world is a small town.)

9- Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)

10- Creativity is subtraction.

About the Author 

Austin Kleon is a writer who draws. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! His work has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. He also speaks frequently about creativity in the digital age for such organizations as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist.