The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” —Rick Rubin

Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn’t, he has learned that being an artist isn’t about your specific output, it’s about your relationship to the world.

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is inspiring in countless ways. Rubin beautifully articulates the inner world of creatives, capturing feelings and experiences many of us share. With clarity and depth, he offers fresh perspectives that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and remind us why we create in the first place. We highly recommend this book to anyone, not just those with a creative mind.