Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
58th out of 154 books
—
205 voters
Letters to a Young Artist
From the most exciting individual in American theater” (Newsweek), here is Anna Deavere Smith’s brass tacks advice to aspiring artists of all stripes. In vividly anecdotal letters to the young BZ, she addresses the full spectrum of issues that people starting out will face: from questions of confidence, discipline, and self-esteem, to fame, failure, and fear, to staying he...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
January 24th 2006
by Anchor
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
410)
This was a challenging, motivating book. Smith has written it in the form of a series of letters to an imaginary young artist named BZ, who ostensibly won her mentorship in an auction. The letters are meant to offer BZ encouragement to pursue a life in the arts. Smith offers inspirational advice about the civic applications of art, and how it can reveal to audiences a new way of dealing with their own emotions and therefore viewing the world, as well as practical advice about staying hydrated, l...more
Actress, MacArthur fellow and Professor Anna Deavere Smith's performance at the North Carolina Literature Festival was one of the most astonishing I have ever seen. She has interviewed hundreds of people, famous and not, who do meaningful work with their lives or who have lived through life-changing or life-shattering experiences or both--a privileged white doctor witnessing the humanity and inhumanity at Charity Hospital after Katrina, a victim and survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Texas Govern...more
Anna Smith's book, written to the young artist reader, is engaging and easy to read. Her style is simple, to the point, and eloquent. She has some excellent chapters on determination, procrastination, developing presence...etc. which are thought provoking and inspiring. She has relatively good insight into the deeper workings of the artistic mind and helps the reader to become more intentional with their lives as artists, as well as more aware of the artist's place in this world. Nonetheless, he...more
Nov 24, 2009
Julene
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
writers & artists of all kinds
Shelves:
creativity
I'm a fan of Anna Deavere Smith. I enjoyed this book and would rate it 3.5 if I could, it's a quick read with each chapter a written response to a young artist (it is called fiction, but it sure feels real reading it). The information in it is not new, but I like how she puts pieces together and throughout the book she gives the reader ideas to keep one's spirit up about the work of creating art. One section titled Find Your Twin, she gives the task to do this very thing and says, " These are th...more
view all 3 comments
An absolute confirmation of what any artist with a shred of sincerity knows to be true. Stated in warm, human letters written to a teenager. these short chapters are affirming and enlightening at any age. After 20 years as a professional musician, working often in experimental areas, I can say this all applies to us too. Certain issues return at every stage: searching for a balance of paying the rent and taking risks, managing authority, and staying on track with just doing the work, to name a f...more
I saw this book in Borders last night and read half of it in one sitting. (I'm going to have to go back and read the other half soon). It would make a great bathroom book beacuse it is organized as a series of short letters, some no more than a few words. Parts that jumped out to me: ADS talks about presence and what it is to have it. In her opinion it means being aware and engaged. People who are the most compelling are the ones who are interested in other people. This seems counterintuitive to...more
This is one of the best books I have ever read on preparing for and working in the arts. Anna Deavere Smith tells us such perfectly fundamentals things for living that we have completely forgotten, having presence, paying attention, developing discipline and listening to those around you. The thing I learned that I most appreciate - be prepared. Read it whether you work in the arts or not.
Very good advice for creative people. Anna Deavere Smith has pithy observations about life, great stories about her life as an artist, and sets forth a very clear idea of what it means to be an artist and interact with the world.
This book was recommended by Jodi, a fellow Goodreads participant who is also an artist. Anna Deavere Smith writes to a fictional young artist regarding issues relative to working in the arts. Affirming and helpful.
This is a mixture of practical advice and personal reflection on being an artist in the world. Anna Deavere-Smith is insightful and honest about what it means to be an artistic person trying to make a living and what it takes to be successful. This isn't a pep talk or one of those personal growth books that pretend to solve all your problems in eight simple lessons. It is more in keeping with Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, using personal experiences as starting points for rich meditations on a...more
did the audio version, read by the author. she is brilliant. good book for everyone, not just artists
I liked what she had to say about stamina. That is what I sorely lack. So hard to maintain an even pace in the "biz" when your body is holding you back.
This book got me through my college auditions. I will never be without it.
Dec 16, 2008
Beth
marked it as to-read
needed words
i mostly bought this to help raise funds for the local femenist bookstore. but then i started reading it...
this is a good antidote to the romantic solitude you find in rilke's "letters... (see my review of rilke in my booklist)" ADS is very refreshing and i did come away with some practical advice. although i have to say that a good bulk of what she writes seems like something i would have needed to read five or ten years ago.
this is a good antidote to the romantic solitude you find in rilke's "letters... (see my review of rilke in my booklist)" ADS is very refreshing and i did come away with some practical advice. although i have to say that a good bulk of what she writes seems like something i would have needed to read five or ten years ago.
Some of the letters didn't speak to me, some felt like I'd need to return to them in a few years or a dozen, and others lit me up. At the moment I am living by this line from one of the last letters in the book: "You have an invisible badge of freedom, an invisible passport that says, 'Go—move, gather, be bold, be brave, see, take, absorb.'”
i loved 'fires in the mirror' and perhaps approached this book with too high of expectations. the introduction was absolutely inspiring and there were some good sound-bites throughout- but i just couldn't get into it.
I love the structure of this book; it is really quite clever. What I've read so far has been inspiring. I look forward to see where the rest of this book leads me.
started this for inspiration. some of it i agree with, some i'm like, woh that is totally out of left field. taking it with a grain of salt.
May 27, 2007
Meg Cain
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
artists of every kind
Shelves:
fiction
Never in my life have I read a more inspiring book. I was left each page with a strong desire to do anything and everything I've ever wanted to do.
i like this book. there are small gems and it can be the pep talk when you can't give it to yourself.
loved her letter about stage fright... it is a must read before taking the stage.
i read this as the art on paper in magazine special. would love to read it again.
Great advice for all ages, all disciplines not just "young artists"
Dec 29, 2006
citizen kerry
added it
fun, she supposedly taught at my school but i NEVER SAW HER
what an interesting actress and author
May 18, 2013
Mackenzie Divine
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Jesalyn B
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Ben B
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
