The #1 New York Times bestseller.
“A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment.” —Anne Lamott
From the legendary music producer, a master at helping people connect with the wellsprings of their creativity, comes a beautifully crafted book many years in the making that offers that same deep wisdom to all of us.
“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” —Rick Rubin
Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn’t, he has learned that being an artist isn’t about your specific output, it’s about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone’s life, and everyone can make that place larger. In fact, there are few more important responsibilities.
The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments—and lifetimes—of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.
Review
‘A gorgeous, delicious and wildly practical interrogation of the creative process. A master of his craft, Rubin supplies rich insights, sound advice, helpful suggestions and supreme comfort to anyone living to create, or endeavoring to live creatively’ JJ Abrams
‘You’ll probably read this extraordinary book four times. The first time, you’ll gobble it up. The second time, you’ll savour it. The third time, you’ll take notes in the margins. But the fourth time, the fourth time it will be part of you as you create the work you were ready to ship’ Seth Godin
‘A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment’ Anne Lamott
‘Rick Rubin created genres. He is like Oppenheimer; a destroyer and creator of worlds, a true genius. Read this fantastic book’ Russell Brand
‘In this extraordinary book, Rick Rubin beautifully captures the sacred but commonplace practice of creating. I find it so powerful when someone gives voice or form to what we know but perhaps don’t understand. Designers from any discipline will find Rick’s words profoundly encouraging and inspiring’ Sir Jony Ive, designer of the iPhone and iPad
‘I am reading The Creative Act and truly loving it. I want my kids to read it. I want everyone to read it. It is a manual for creativity and creative thinking. A reference book for now which will continue to be of service in the future. Much needed’ Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Beastie Boys
‘The legendary producer of artists from Adele to Black Sabbath, Johnny Cash to Jay-Z, distils the insights of a glittering career to reveal how to get the best out of musicians — and offers useful lessons for the rest of us in the process’ Financial Times
‘An existential enquiry into the nature of creativity, art and being part of the human race . . . a deep look at the most fundamental of human impulses’ Big Issue
‘Full of advice and aphorisms’ The Sunday Times
‘[Contains] valuable words of wisdom that really do intensify and aid creative thought, methods and processes: not solely inward-facing, but also in relation to our surroundings and the ever-changing, challenging world in which we live. The Creative Act is worthy of being a bible for creative souls’ Buzz Mag
‘A distillation of the wisdom Rubin has accrued over decades of bringing records to fruition . . . Seductive’ The Guardian
‘Rick Rubin has broken the literary mould with his inspirational book . . . Fascinating . . . profoundly insightful, to the extent that practically every sentence on each of its 400 pages feels earned and honed for maximum impact’ Australian
‘[The Creative Act] distils the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments – and lifetimes – of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.’ Irish Times
‘A work of transcendent literature, one that suggests the universe still smiles upon us despite all indications to the contrary’ The Wall Street Journal
‘The ultimate graduation gift…It’s a book I wish I would have had on my shelf when I was 25. It’s a book I would give to people who are 25’ Steve Levitt, People I (Mostly) Admire
‘To Rubin, art is the ultimate form of self-actualization, a noble calling that enriches the soul . . . So, how does an artist move from conception to creation? Rubin methodically lays out the process, offering a mixture of encouragement, inspiration and tips . . . Rubin has written a fascinating book infused with deep thoughts, insight and, yes, lots and lots of creativity’ Los Angeles Times
Profile
Rick RubinRick Rubin is a nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer, named one of the '100 Most Influential People in the World' by TIME and
'The most successful producer in any genre' by Rolling Stone. He has collaborated with artists from Tom Petty to Adele,
Johnny Cash to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys to Slayer, The Strokes and System of a Down to Jay-Z.