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sarahnielsen's review against another edition
1.5
Could have been summarized into a podcast episode.
bimmbles's review against another edition
4.0
A little cheesy and a lot helpful. Reading Liz Gilbert always feels like chatting with a friend, and this definitely made me reframe/rethink how I approach my writing work, what drives it, and how I think about inspiration.
varijoan's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting ideas about how to practice creativity, but very ableist and heteronormative and focused on a capitalist society so that’s no good
cooperca's review against another edition
3.0
Ms. Gilbert's feel good book focusing on creativity was a pleasant surprise. I'm not a big fan of Eat, Pray, Love, but a friend recommended this uplifting book.
It's a quick read filled with personal stories and reflections on her life as a writer. My takeaways from Ms. Gilbert is that 1) we're not perfect, 2) write, not everything is going to be perfect, but better to have written than not have written at all, 3) stop comparing yourself to others, not everyone can write like Plato, 4) don't let others define you, if you're a writer, painter, photographer, etc, own it...stand up and say 'I'M A WRITER!', and 5) take a que from Tristram Shandy (fictional character)...act, dress, behave like the creative person you are and your mind will pick up the fact that you are that creative person...aka, fake it until you make it.
PS -- loved the Elk Talk story LOL!
Some of the great quotes from Big Magic:
'Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them.'
'Life is short and rare and amazing and miraculous, and you want to do really interesting things and make really interesting things while you're still here.'
'Perhaps creativity's greatest mercy is this: By completely absorbing our attention for a short and magical spell it can relieve us temporarily from the dreadful burden of being who we are.'
'Pursue whatever fascinates you and brings you to life.'
'I knew that conventional success would depend upon three factors-talent, luck, and discipline-and I knew that two of those three things would never be under my control.'
It's a quick read filled with personal stories and reflections on her life as a writer. My takeaways from Ms. Gilbert is that 1) we're not perfect, 2) write, not everything is going to be perfect, but better to have written than not have written at all, 3) stop comparing yourself to others, not everyone can write like Plato, 4) don't let others define you, if you're a writer, painter, photographer, etc, own it...stand up and say 'I'M A WRITER!', and 5) take a que from Tristram Shandy (fictional character)...act, dress, behave like the creative person you are and your mind will pick up the fact that you are that creative person...aka, fake it until you make it.
PS -- loved the Elk Talk story LOL!
Some of the great quotes from Big Magic:
'Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them.'
'Life is short and rare and amazing and miraculous, and you want to do really interesting things and make really interesting things while you're still here.'
'Perhaps creativity's greatest mercy is this: By completely absorbing our attention for a short and magical spell it can relieve us temporarily from the dreadful burden of being who we are.'
'Pursue whatever fascinates you and brings you to life.'
'I knew that conventional success would depend upon three factors-talent, luck, and discipline-and I knew that two of those three things would never be under my control.'
elsadavinroy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
tjbryant519's review against another edition
3.0
Big Magic started strong for me as an inspiring read that pushes me to embraced creativity more. For me, it lost steam mid-way through the book; it didn’t feel like many new ideas/content were being introduced, though that wasn’t necessarily the point. Gilbert’s a good writer, but I’d have done better with the abridged version.
lauragessert's review against another edition
4.0
Stalled by your creative process ? What about stalled as a human ? Great book to get you motivated to get back to what makes you YOU! This was a very fun and funny book as well I loved her stories .
I am not a fan of best selling popular novels do so stayed away from “ Eat spray Love” but I am glad I tried this one . A great life coaching session reading this .
I am not a fan of best selling popular novels do so stayed away from “ Eat spray Love” but I am glad I tried this one . A great life coaching session reading this .