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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
If you're a creative person -- in any field -- or if you want to be a more creative person, this book will boost your mojo and get you excited about writing/painting/composing/whatever-your-discipline again. People seem to either love or hate Gilbert, and I am one of the former. I find her writing voice inspiring, funny, self-deprecating, curious, and full of wonder at the world. Her seemingly unorthodox notion -- that creative ideas latch on to us like succubi -- is actually quite an ancient concept. By the end of the book, she gets you believing it, too. I'm recommending this book to all of my friends who are seeking to live creative lives.
This book came in at the right time. I am on my, what I would call, creative pursuit of purpose (a metaphysical pursuit that has been ongoing since I fell into the notion of I knew I'm destined to be something extraordinary.) Big Magic is like a guidebook of that personal notion of mine, and it speaks to me like a mighty being of inspiration supervisor or an old friend who just wants me to be happy with creativity.
'Big Magic' begins with the concept of ideas being invisible entities, travelling endlessly for a host (humans) to execute it's goal (which is to exist, physically and spiritually). Coincidently, it didn't happen to Liz alone. 'Zodiac' lingered in my head fourteen years ago before Romina Russell decided to put them on the global bookshelves. And that's what draws me to read more of what Liz has to say about the relationship of humans and muses, and how to react to it.
'Big Magic' reminded me to revisit my old abandoned novel projects (and good Lord heaven they're a lot of them) and hopefully finish them one way or another. But it's not just because Liz spoke like a motivational speaker, "go, do it, doesn't matter if it's good or bad, just do it". And so, I will.
If you're seeking some formal guidelines or in this book, you won't find it. Don't treat this book as an instruction to live your life creatively. Treat this book as a letter from a friend who wants share you her stories and struggles in creative living, tell you you're capable of living creatively, you're a marvellous human being, and you should believe in yourself and the universe.
'Big Magic' begins with the concept of ideas being invisible entities, travelling endlessly for a host (humans) to execute it's goal (which is to exist, physically and spiritually). Coincidently, it didn't happen to Liz alone. 'Zodiac' lingered in my head fourteen years ago before Romina Russell decided to put them on the global bookshelves. And that's what draws me to read more of what Liz has to say about the relationship of humans and muses, and how to react to it.
'Big Magic' reminded me to revisit my old abandoned novel projects (and good Lord heaven they're a lot of them) and hopefully finish them one way or another. But it's not just because Liz spoke like a motivational speaker, "go, do it, doesn't matter if it's good or bad, just do it". And so, I will.
If you're seeking some formal guidelines or in this book, you won't find it. Don't treat this book as an instruction to live your life creatively. Treat this book as a letter from a friend who wants share you her stories and struggles in creative living, tell you you're capable of living creatively, you're a marvellous human being, and you should believe in yourself and the universe.
In this adventurous book, Elizabeth Gilbert encourages readers to pursue creative endeavors, make art, write their story, and grasp onto ideas that enter their heads. Her notion is that ideas are their own entities, floating around in space and looking for a human to embody them: "I believe that our planet is inhabited not only by animals and plants and bacteria and viruses, but also by ideas. Ideas are a disembodied, energetic life–form." I was pretty blown away by this concept, that an idea isn't something that a human develops on his or her own, but its own force, just looking for a human mind who can make it into a tangible reality. Similarly, Gilbert argues that a "genius" is an external construct that someone can HAVE but not BE.
Humans are made for creative expression. Art existed long before technology and business models. Art, music, writing, creativity, sharing ideas, these are the things that make us human and make life meaningful, and I believe in this. Gilbert reminds us that anybody can pursue a creative endeavor, and that you don't need a formal education or the right surroundings. You don't need permission. And you definitely don't need emotional distress or suffering to produce important art or express your ideas. "Your creative work is not your baby; if anything, you are its baby. Everything I have ever written has brought me into being. Every project has matured me in a different way. I am who I am today precisely because of what I have made and what it has made me into." Gilbert also reminds us to pursue creative endeavors not to help people or benefit others, but instead for our own benefit, and if it touches other people then that's just an added bonus.
Passion is great, but so is just a little bit of curiosity, and leading an inquisitive life, because that may lead somewhere big. I really believe in the idea of "Combinatory play," as Einstein called it, which is the "act of opening up one mental channel by dabbling in another." A writer can benefit from doing art; a musician can open up channels by writing some poetry; and all of us can explore new areas of our minds by dabbling in creative expression.
"And you have treasures hidden within you – extraordinary treasures – and so do I, and so does everyone around us. And bringing those treasures to light takes work and faith and focus encourage and hours of devotion, and the clock is ticking, and the world is spinning, and we simply do not have time anymore to think so small."
"The fun part the part (where it doesn't feel like work at all) is when you're actually creating something wonderful, everything's going great, and everyone loves it, and you're flying high. But such instants are rare. You don't just get to leap from bright moment to bright moment. How do you manage yourself between these bright moments, when things aren't going so great, is a measure of how devoted you are to your vocation, and how equipped you are for the weird demands of creative living."
After reading this book I feel inspired to create, to make time to do something artistic and enjoyable even if it doesn't pay off, but also to find ways of incorporating creativity and authenticity into my day-to-day work in healthcare and as a mother. I don't think you have to be a writer or an artist or musician to live a creative life, but all of us need a reminder from time to time about the importance of creativity in making life meaningful. I also laughed out loud at times because of the honesty of Gilbert's words. I am rating this book 5 stars for the originality of her ideas.
I once heard in yoga practice at the moment in which you are ready to be done with the pose and move to the next is when the pose itself actually begins, and maybe that's true with creativity at times. When it starts to get interesting or uncomfortable that's when transformation can take place.
"In conclusion, then, art is absolutely meaningless. It is, however, also deeply meaningful."
Humans are made for creative expression. Art existed long before technology and business models. Art, music, writing, creativity, sharing ideas, these are the things that make us human and make life meaningful, and I believe in this. Gilbert reminds us that anybody can pursue a creative endeavor, and that you don't need a formal education or the right surroundings. You don't need permission. And you definitely don't need emotional distress or suffering to produce important art or express your ideas. "Your creative work is not your baby; if anything, you are its baby. Everything I have ever written has brought me into being. Every project has matured me in a different way. I am who I am today precisely because of what I have made and what it has made me into." Gilbert also reminds us to pursue creative endeavors not to help people or benefit others, but instead for our own benefit, and if it touches other people then that's just an added bonus.
Passion is great, but so is just a little bit of curiosity, and leading an inquisitive life, because that may lead somewhere big. I really believe in the idea of "Combinatory play," as Einstein called it, which is the "act of opening up one mental channel by dabbling in another." A writer can benefit from doing art; a musician can open up channels by writing some poetry; and all of us can explore new areas of our minds by dabbling in creative expression.
"And you have treasures hidden within you – extraordinary treasures – and so do I, and so does everyone around us. And bringing those treasures to light takes work and faith and focus encourage and hours of devotion, and the clock is ticking, and the world is spinning, and we simply do not have time anymore to think so small."
"The fun part the part (where it doesn't feel like work at all) is when you're actually creating something wonderful, everything's going great, and everyone loves it, and you're flying high. But such instants are rare. You don't just get to leap from bright moment to bright moment. How do you manage yourself between these bright moments, when things aren't going so great, is a measure of how devoted you are to your vocation, and how equipped you are for the weird demands of creative living."
After reading this book I feel inspired to create, to make time to do something artistic and enjoyable even if it doesn't pay off, but also to find ways of incorporating creativity and authenticity into my day-to-day work in healthcare and as a mother. I don't think you have to be a writer or an artist or musician to live a creative life, but all of us need a reminder from time to time about the importance of creativity in making life meaningful. I also laughed out loud at times because of the honesty of Gilbert's words. I am rating this book 5 stars for the originality of her ideas.
I once heard in yoga practice at the moment in which you are ready to be done with the pose and move to the next is when the pose itself actually begins, and maybe that's true with creativity at times. When it starts to get interesting or uncomfortable that's when transformation can take place.
"In conclusion, then, art is absolutely meaningless. It is, however, also deeply meaningful."
inspiring
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I have wanted to read this book for a couple years now because so many super talented photographers that I admired would rave about it. I didn’t realize it was written by the author of Eat, Pray, Love until she mentioned it in the book (obviously I didn’t look closely at the cover
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A wonderful guide for people who don’t think of themselves as creative to get into the creative mindset. Really wonderful!
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced