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Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Paperback – 1 May 2012

by Austin Kleon (Author)

4.5 17,170 ratings

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Unlock your creativity.

An inspiring guide to creativity in the digital age, Steal Like an Artist presents ten transformative principles that will help readers discover their artistic side and build a more creative life.

Nothing is original, so embrace influence, school yourself through the work of others, remix and reimagine to discover your own path. Follow interests wherever they take you—what feels like a hobby may turn into you life’s work. Forget the old cliché about writing what you know: Instead, write the book you want to read, make the movie you want to watch.

And finally, stay Smart, stay out of debt, and risk being boring in the everyday world so that you have the space to be wild and daring in your imagination and your work.

“Brilliant and real and true.”—Rosanne Cash

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Print length

160 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Workman
Publication date

1 May 2012
Dimensions

15.29 x 1.43 x 14.99 cm
ISBN-10

9780761169253
ISBN-13

978-0761169253
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From the Publisher

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. He lives in Austin, Texas, and online at austinkleon.com.

Works by Austin Kleon


Show Your Work! Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive.	Steal Like an Artist Artist Austin Kleon’s beautifully illustrated bestseller teaches readers how to use their surroundings and their own creativity to discover their own artistic paths. Filled with clever infographics and words of wisdom from Kleon, and peppered with quotes from other successful artists, Steal Like an Artist, is an inspiration for both veteran and aspiring artists everywhere.	Keep Going Keep Going shows you how to stay true to and focused on your own creative vision when the world seems out of control.In ten heavily illustrated, inspiring chapters, bestselling author Austin Kleon offers advice, stories, and anecdotes that teach you how to persist in doing work that helps make a world worth living in.

Product description

Review

“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.com

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

"This fast read is for anyone who’d like to be more creative." – Tim Ferris

“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.com

“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.

Steal like an artist.
Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.
Write the book you want to read.
Use your hands.
Side projects and hobbies are important.
The secret: do good work and share it with people.
Geography is no longer our master.
Be nice. (The world is a small town.)
Be boring. (It's the only way to get work done.)
Creativity is subtraction.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0761169253
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Workman; 1st edition (1 May 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780761169253
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0761169253
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.29 x 1.43 x 14.99 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 5,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 8 in Graphic Design Techniques
- 9 in Arts & Photography Study & Teaching
- 12 in Psychology of Learning

Customer Reviews:
4.5 17,170 ratings

About the author

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Austin Kleon

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Austin Kleon is a writer and artist living in Austin, Texas. He's the author of two bestselling books: Steal Like an Artist, a manifesto for creativity in the digital age, and Newspaper Blackout, a collection of poetry made by redacting newspaper articles with a permanent marker. He speaks about creativity for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. Visit him online at www.austinkleon.com.

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4.5 out of 5

17,170 global ratings

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Top reviews from Australia

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Lesley Thornton

Great Expectations honoured...

Reviewed in Australia on 20 June 2023

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I had great expectations about this book when I first heard about it and its been definitely worth buying pronto. The delivery was really quick as always - love Amazon Prime delivery - and the book is really well designed and not obtuse. In fact very economical in the way it gets the message across. Concise and clear and so very helpful. LOVE it. Thanks.

Reviewed in Australia on 8 July 2023

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A great book to read, inspires your creativity and drives critical thinking towards your own life’s experiences

A concise set of insights

Reviewed in Australia on 18 September 2017

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Good book. Shorter than I would've liked but as long as it needed to be, and refreshingly direct.

Parts of it seemed like they were stating the obvious, but other parts gave me exactly the insights I needed. My "obvious bits" are almost certainly another reader's insights and vice versa.

There's nothing completely original in this book but that's kinda the author's point. The author has brought together a bunch of useful insights in his own way.

It will be new to the people it needs to be new to and I'm pretty sure almost everyone will get something out of it, whether that's a new insight or just reinforcing key stuff you already knew.

One person found this helpful

Simply Brilliant!

Reviewed in Australia on 29 January 2021

Verified Purchase

When my package arrived I admit I was initially disappointed. The book was so small! But the contents are enormous. It is just the best book - crammed with great quotes and useful and inspiring information/advice written in a style that "normal" people can understand and put into practice. Just love it. Simply brilliant and brilliantly simple.

Do not leave your longings unattended!

Reviewed in Australia on 12 January 2022

Verified Purchase

Loved this! On the surface, it looks like a simple book. As often happens, looks can be deceptive. The pages of this book contain deep insights, including do not leave your longings unattended:-) that one hit me like a ton of bricks! I've already purchased and I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series. I highly recommend this little cache of wisdom.

One person found this helpful

Good and interesting

Reviewed in Australia on 16 February 2020

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I liked this book, it brings me good reflections bit I think I was expecting a little more. Some good tips and advices about creativity.

Way better than I thought - took lots of notes

Reviewed in Australia on 12 November 2022

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I bought this book because it was recommended by someone who I think knows their stuff, but to be honest - the title makes me uncomfortable and I really didn't think I'd like it. There's enough stealing creative ideas and we don't need to encourage it. But this book is hits the nail on the head to what's true and ethical.

Again I was skeptical on opening the book. It looked small, fun and arty, surely there couldn't be much depth to it. But boy does it give you a lot to think about. There's so much value in this small book. I took many notes and I know I'll come back to this book again and again.

In retrospect, someone else might have taken the same book and fluffed it up to 250 pages of fine print. Thanks to the author for distilling all those great ideas into an accessible book.

Buy it.

simple and creative

Reviewed in Australia on 17 December 2020

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many good tips, simple and easy to read with a touch of creativity which makes it beautiful ....
highly recommended

Top reviews from other countries

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K Torres

Funny read, easy read for Artists

Reviewed in the United States on 16 May 2024

Verified Purchase

Loved the Authors humor, the lightness and ease of read. Short book many good points. Bought with the journal. Good information FOR creative souls that might need a little jab to get moving. Fun read. Would recommend. I'll be re reading this one when I've got a block to get through. Nice quotes.

One person found this helpful

Daniel

absolutamente fantástico

Reviewed in Mexico on 11 January 2024

Verified Purchase

Un libro que te provoca e inspira a cada página. Un libro que te invita a leer una página y parar a pensar. Un libro que leerás decenas de veces y cada una te dirá algo distinto. Un libro fantástico.

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Julie

Thinking outside of the box!!!!

Reviewed in Canada on 16 November 2023

Verified Purchase

I not sure stealing is a great to place in a title!!! Thieves don’t make the greatest neighbors. Anyways the book is so insightful and borrowing ideas is a great idea. I think it’s a great book to give as a gift. It’s well done and makes us think outside the box.

2 people found this helpful

Ricardo

A must to read

Reviewed in Brazil on 7 September 2022

Verified Purchase

É um “classic”. Ten que ser lido. Precisava em idioma inglés e consegui com esse fornecedor um preço menor do que na livraria. Chegou em boas condições e no tempo certo sem pagar taxa extra.

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Jaime Eduardo Sauret Fagre

This is the book to bring your creative idea to life!

Reviewed in the Netherlands on 4 June 2024

Verified Purchase

Austin is a great inspirational author who doesn’t care about sharing his secrets!

After reading “Show your work” from Austin a while back I had “Steal like an artist” on my list and finally read it, and the only thing I can say is… WHY I HAVEN’T READ IT SOONER?

This book not only encourages you to work on your thing (whatever it is) but gives a clear way on how to do it and makes you feel that you can.

If you have a creative idea in mind but haven’t started waiting for the perfect time or the muse to feel inspired, shake those feelings and get this book. If after you wonder how to share what you do, get the “Show your work” book from Austin and you’ll have the perfect combo to out your work out in the world!

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