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ellenmrozek 's review for:
Big Magic
by Elizabeth Gilbert
I'm not usually a fan of hippy-dippy self-help books, but there's a lot to be said for how calm and in control of my creativity BIG MAGIC made me feel. I took several more days than I needed to finish this book, just because I wanted some extra time to mull it over.
Although I felt like Elizabeth Gilbert over-simplified some of the solutions for the struggles that creative types face, I appreciated her focus on the importance of changing your response to your creativity rather than obsessing about process. Besides, the central theme of BIG MAGIC is, at its core, pretty simple: Creativity doesn't need to be about anything more than enjoyment and pleasure.
As someone who tends to take their creative work far too seriously and needs constant reminders to relish the highs and the lows inherent in making art, I know that BIG MAGIC is a book I'll refer back to for years to come whenever I feel anxious or stuck. Say what you will about Gilbert's creative philosophy or her occasionally patronizing comments--there are more than enough gems in this text to make up for them.
Although I felt like Elizabeth Gilbert over-simplified some of the solutions for the struggles that creative types face, I appreciated her focus on the importance of changing your response to your creativity rather than obsessing about process. Besides, the central theme of BIG MAGIC is, at its core, pretty simple: Creativity doesn't need to be about anything more than enjoyment and pleasure.
As someone who tends to take their creative work far too seriously and needs constant reminders to relish the highs and the lows inherent in making art, I know that BIG MAGIC is a book I'll refer back to for years to come whenever I feel anxious or stuck. Say what you will about Gilbert's creative philosophy or her occasionally patronizing comments--there are more than enough gems in this text to make up for them.