Steal Like an Artist – Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist is an inspiring guide to creativity, emphasizing that no idea is entirely original. Kleon encourages readers to embrace influence, remix existing ideas, and develop their own creative voice.

I’ve read this book every year for almost a decade. It’s the handbook on finding your influences and using them in your creative work. The passages on using both digital and analog technologies are worth the price of admission alone.

I highly recommend his other books, Show Your Work and Keep Going. His newsletter is fantastic as well.

During COVID, Austin did a virtual book tour for Keep Going, and I got to meet him. His insights changed the way I approach creative work.

He also has a new book coming out: Don’t Call It Art.

The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Back in 2017 I wrote my first manuscript about the first born child on Mars. I don’t tell many people about it. I lovingly refer to it as hot garbage. After I finished the first draft I put it away and said enough of that. Steven’s book helped me finish that draft, what I learned in that book motivated me to wake up early and write. Something I now do today.

Steven would also say that Resistance is the reason I never went back to it. He would be right about that too.

Now I am re-reading the book again, applying what I am learning to finish my second draft of the Protector. Writing is such a different thing for me now that it was in 2017. I will finish the Protector this year and have will have a first draft of the Diary of Luke Gunn also complete. I couldn’t get there with out this book.

The War of Art is a powerful guide to overcoming internal resistance—the force that shows up as procrastination, fear, and self-doubt.

• Defining Resistance – identifying what holds us back
• Turning Pro – showing up with discipline
• Higher Forces – embracing creativity as something deeper

At its core: success isn’t about talent—it’s about showing up consistently, even when it’s hard.

The Creative Act – A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

If you’ve never heard of Rick Rubin, you’ve definitely heard his work. From Def Jam Records to producing legendary artists across genres, his influence is everywhere.

When I picked up this book, I expected behind-the-scenes music stories. What I found was something much deeper.

Unlike other books on creativity, this one approaches the subject from a deeply spiritual perspective, exploring how creativity is accessible to everyone and how it can be found in unexpected places, like the natural world. The Creative Act is more than a guide for artists, it’s a philosophical exploration of how creativity enriches every aspect of life. Rubin offers a deeply philosophical perspective, encouraging readers to view creativity not just as an act of making but as a way of engaging with the world.

By adopting Rubin’s principles, you can unlock a deeper connection to your own creativity and approach the world with an open, inspired heart. These takeaways remind us that creativity isn’t just about making things; it’s about how we live, how we see, and how we connect.

This is a book I’ll return to again and again. It’s truly transformative.