The Artist's Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an i...
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Dec 17, 2009
Lena
rated it: 
This is a really difficult book for me to rate. At the time I first read it fifteen years ago, it did wonders to open me up creatively. I was still struggling to slough off some negative parental programming about being a writer, and this book (along with a good friend) helped give me permission to explore that side of myself.
Since that time, however, my belief system has changed so radically that I no longer agree with a number of the book’s fundamental premises. For this reason, More...
Since that time, however, my belief system has changed so radically that I no longer agree with a number of the book’s fundamental premises. For this reason, More...
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Sep 28, 2007
Kathleen
rated it: 
A book to cheer you on when you feel like you can only look longingly at your passion (writing, painting, drawing...) because the dog needs a walk and the kids need a bath, and you've bills to pay so you've just come home from a job that took you from the house and back to it without a glimpse of the sun.
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Jan 19, 2009
Jerome
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My New Year's resolution for 1998 was to finally actually DO the Artists' Way. I had given it to several people close to me for the last three holidays, but I had never actually done the process. This is not a book to read. It is a book to do and it promises major life changes in 13 weeks. I was desperate to find a new way to make a living and decided to give this my best shot. 13 weeks later there was no epiphany. I still didn't know where to go, so I started over from the beginning. Two
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Jul 08, 2007
Bonita
rated it:
the perfect 'bible' for any creative soul.
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(6 people liked it)
May 04, 2007
Rosie
rated it:
I read and did the exercises in this book during the most intense professional and personal time in my life. It was a life-changer because it allowed me to articulate my life purpose which is fundamentally about using my voice and helping others to find theirs. I recommend this book often.
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Feb 13, 2009
Kate
rated it: 
Julia Cameron works my last nerve. She's always talking about looking out at the sun-dappled mesas of New Mexico, or using some other affected, high-falutin' lingo about her gloriously new age, trendy life. Meanwhile, I look out at the cracked concrete of my driveway in the Chicago drizzle and wonder how us normal people ever survived without people like Julia Cameron telling us about their fantastically charmed lives. However, I like the little mind toys in this book. I did the morning pages, a
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(18 people liked it)
Mar 27, 2008
i'm just randomly pulling these off my shelf, literally, i didn't even know i had this still but it's what helped me get back to writing when i did my first book eight thousand years ago, the one everyone says WHY CAN'T YOU WRITE ANOTHER BOOK LIKE THAT??? book.
i always give "the morning pages" exercise to my students. (that makes it sound like i have students hanging around me and in my life at all times instead of twice a year.)
but here it is, a teaser for this fine More...
i always give "the morning pages" exercise to my students. (that makes it sound like i have students hanging around me and in my life at all times instead of twice a year.)
but here it is, a teaser for this fine More...
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Mar 16, 2008
Tj
rated it:
A friend told me she was doing the 'Artist Way', and asked me to do it with her. I figured, why not.
As an aspiring writer, the book, definatly had some appeal, but kind of lost me as I progressed through it. It's obviously written for people who are not 'artists' per say, but would like to be. The first chapter was about overcoming mental obstacles (like being afriad that you'll become poor and get AIDS from being an artist...).
It's also a very kind of spiritual 'new a More...
As an aspiring writer, the book, definatly had some appeal, but kind of lost me as I progressed through it. It's obviously written for people who are not 'artists' per say, but would like to be. The first chapter was about overcoming mental obstacles (like being afriad that you'll become poor and get AIDS from being an artist...).
It's also a very kind of spiritual 'new a More...
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 15, 2008
Erin
rated it:
I took the plunge into this book and, like several of my friends, did not make it all the way through (the closest I came to finishing was chapter 10 ... even when i revisited the book a few years later). However, the ground I did cover helped me get more honest with myself about my creative interests. I think I've made some choices in my life that, in hindsight, I might not have made had I not had experience with this book.
I think that's what is great about this book. Whether you ma More...
I think that's what is great about this book. Whether you ma More...
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(3 people liked it)
Apr 07, 2008
Annie
rated it:
Another book that has changed my life! (See also: The Runner's Handbook!) I have started this book many times and not finished my 12-week (or more) commitment, but this time, when I got to the point where I wanted to give up, I kept on going, and let me tell you where I am now, as a result of this:
I pitched my memoir to agents in February.
I am taking acting lessons.
I have started wearing clothes I like every single day!
I am planting a garden.
I have taken up kn More...
I pitched my memoir to agents in February.
I am taking acting lessons.
I have started wearing clothes I like every single day!
I am planting a garden.
I have taken up kn More...
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Jan 06, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
I worked through this book from the beginning of September till now. For me, it was helpful. I liked how Cameron was able to illuminate in a gentle, eloquent way, how an artist can become blocked. Some of her concepts such as "nervous-reading" (a word of my own coining), were surprising, but I can see how mindless consumption of information--of anything at your fingertips--can create difficulties.
I haven't read other reviews, but I imagine that they are probably pretty bru More...
I haven't read other reviews, but I imagine that they are probably pretty bru More...
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(3 people liked it)
Mar 05, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
I started this book back in January 0f 1994 with good intentions to finish it, but only got about half way through before I got busy with other things. It would be the perfect book to use as a guide for a group of like-minded individuals. Perhaps I'll take it up again.
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Sep 08, 2007
Jean
rated it:
First read this book with a class in 1997. Oh, the disgruntling over morning pages. Oh, the looks of sheer hatred I got when I announced I'd given myself permission to write morning pages at the end of the day because I knew I wouldn't get them written otherwise. Re-read in 2006 with GB to get ready to facilitate an expressive writing support group. Those pages are now lovingly known as the whatever pages. This book gives permission, and I think we all need a lot of that in order to take cr
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Jan 08, 2008
Adam
rated it:
Look, for writers and artists whatever inspires you to create is a good thing. However, I found this book (For me) to be too "I am an artist, I am bohemian, I create" attitude. Writing (or any of the arts) has a greater verity for my when it's a little less "GIFT OF THE GODS" and a little more "craft." The most successful creators view their work as a craft in the same manner that a furniture maker or a bricklayer would, in my experience. Also when one focuses m
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 28, 2009
This has been an important book in my life for the past 10 years. I have gone through the process 4-5 times.I believe the book is extremely valuable for anyone who wants to have more creativity in their life, including such non-"artistic" pursuits as creative problem solving, creative parenting, etc. I have experienced and seen others experience great results.
There are some very difficult moments, especially in Chapter 8-9 when the rubber hits the road and you are asked t More...
There are some very difficult moments, especially in Chapter 8-9 when the rubber hits the road and you are asked t More...
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Sep 08, 2011
Sara
rated it:
I picked up this book from the library when a friend of mine asked a group of us to go through the book with her. The Artist's Way is designed to be worked through over 12 weeks. Because it was a library book, I did it in six. My friends had started the book a few weeks before me but I still think I finished first.
The concept is to learn how to nurture your creative side and avoid creative blocks. I had picked up the book years ago but it didn't make an impression. I don't think I took it More...
The concept is to learn how to nurture your creative side and avoid creative blocks. I had picked up the book years ago but it didn't make an impression. I don't think I took it More...
Nov 03, 2010
Kitsune
rated it:
The Artist's Way is a wonderful book filled with brilliant suggestions and insight. However, the person reading book has to dig through hippie-dippy narrative to get to the meat of the ideas. A perfect example of this, is the "morning pages" exercise. Hello, this is called journaling back in the "old days". I already do it but I kept to the rules of the book to try it out the way it's supposed to be done. I saw no improvement compared to the way I've been doing it. In f
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Aug 26, 2010
k.wing
rated it:
I recently completed the 12-week book on my own, and I think that it was very well put together. I was already on my way to discovering a few of the main drivers in the book, but it would have taken me many years to collect them. I have been inspired by this book, and it has helped me work through things, instead of ignoring big problems with my creative process and trying to push them aside.
A few of the reviews haven't been so kind for this book, which is okay. It is really har More...
A few of the reviews haven't been so kind for this book, which is okay. It is really har More...
Apr 29, 2010
Satia
rated it:
I read this ages ago when my mother gave me a copy for my daughter. I read it before I gave it to her and I credit the practice of Morning Pages with giving me the strength I needed to get a divorce. I definitely needed the emotional push.
Years later, I led a book group on this book and we had a wonderful time working through the book, growing closer as a group and feeling stronger in our individual ways of being artistic.
Years later, my mother suggested we read through More...
Years later, I led a book group on this book and we had a wonderful time working through the book, growing closer as a group and feeling stronger in our individual ways of being artistic.
Years later, my mother suggested we read through More...
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 13, 2009
White
rated it:
My incredible daughter and son-in-law gave me this book very recently. It requires much discipline and time to conquer the instructions in it. I put it on the shelf until this summer when I had the energy to do something for myself.
I thank them, in my head and my heart every day. It is a work toward bringing out the creative "genius" in all of us. I got some connections to Jungian theories, which I appreciated very much, since I respected it as I was raising my children. More...
I thank them, in my head and my heart every day. It is a work toward bringing out the creative "genius" in all of us. I got some connections to Jungian theories, which I appreciated very much, since I respected it as I was raising my children. More...
Aug 25, 2009
Marko
rated it:
Well, what can I say about this book? It’s awesome. And I bought it by accident. It was in a bookstore, watching me from the shelf, and attacked me when I passed it by. And I can say that this is one of the best books I’ve read, til now, dealing with creativity and how to systematically unlock one’s creative mind.
What’s it about
In my opinion, it’s really a comprehensive guide to yourself, not just another one of those 12 steps programs you see in millions out there. Although th More...
What’s it about
In my opinion, it’s really a comprehensive guide to yourself, not just another one of those 12 steps programs you see in millions out there. Although th More...
Jul 06, 2009
Mrs_M
rated it:
My incredible daughter and son-in-law gave me this book very recently. It requires much discipline and time to conquer the instructions in it. I put it on the shelf until this summer when I had the energy to do something for myself.
I thank them, in my head and my heart every day. It is a work toward bringing out the creative "genius" in all of us. I got some connections to Jungian theories, which I appreciated very much, since I respected it as I was raising my children. More...
I thank them, in my head and my heart every day. It is a work toward bringing out the creative "genius" in all of us. I got some connections to Jungian theories, which I appreciated very much, since I respected it as I was raising my children. More...
Apr 13, 2009
This book is a 12-week, self-taught course on nurturing your creative side by overcoming ingrained fears and practicing creativity and self-love daily. The author created this program after teaching herself how to maintain the creativity required for her career as a writer without relying on mood swings and alcohol to get her there.
I will refrain from giving it a star rating until I've successfully finished the 12 weeks, but reading the book instantly gave me new insight on creativit More...
I will refrain from giving it a star rating until I've successfully finished the 12 weeks, but reading the book instantly gave me new insight on creativit More...
Sep 19, 2011
Byron
rated it: 
On the whole, the key to the Artist's Way is selfishness. That is something I fundamentally disagree with. You should not skip your child's soccer game to paint your masterpiece. Your kid is the masterpiece. All of the relationships in your life are masterpieces. I use that as an example but there are other moments in this book where self-indulgence at the expense of others is encouraged. This is loathsome.
So why didn't I just give the book and the program a 1-star rating? Bec More...
So why didn't I just give the book and the program a 1-star rating? Bec More...
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Sep 16, 2011
John
rated it:
The target audience for The Artist's Way is "blocked creatives", people who at some point in their life felt a creative desire in some form or other, but have not been able to act on it, or to act on it the way they would ultimately (or secretly) like to.
As such, I may not be quite the target audience, since I've already claimed the identity of artist (in the general sense) and, far from struggling to do the actual work of my art (screenwriting), I'm driven to do it.
More...
As such, I may not be quite the target audience, since I've already claimed the identity of artist (in the general sense) and, far from struggling to do the actual work of my art (screenwriting), I'm driven to do it.
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Jan 21, 2011
Ed
rated it:
Not exactly a waste as it has a good selection of quotes, and I agree that there is a creative force (in my opinion) inside of yourself that you can plug into, I didn't find this too helpful.
I have noticed that the preponderance of books on creativity are focused on getting unblocked. This is extremely helpful for those who are. However I think such books to be worthwhile to a general audience need to dig a little deeper and go into ways to sustain creative growth once you get star More...
I have noticed that the preponderance of books on creativity are focused on getting unblocked. This is extremely helpful for those who are. However I think such books to be worthwhile to a general audience need to dig a little deeper and go into ways to sustain creative growth once you get star More...
Feb 22, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
This book is super-inspiring. While doing the exercises I came up with a stand up comedy character--a super-materialistic psychic with a strong NY accent named Medea Leibowitz. I soon signed up for a stand up comedy class and she came to life. Something I never thought I'd do in a million years. What a hoot. For graduation, we performed at the Hong Kong in Harvard Square.
The one downside I see with this book are the morning pages. I disagree that one should just write a bunch of jun More...
The one downside I see with this book are the morning pages. I disagree that one should just write a bunch of jun More...
Sep 06, 2011
Terry
rated it:
I saw this book on the shelves at Borders for many, many years. Each time I picked it up and thumbed through it, I thought it was too hocus pocus for my taste. Then, recently, someone asked if I'd read it. "No," I said," but I'm willing to try it."
Though very basic, in terms of generating ideas, getting one's self "unblocked," identifying the "crazymakers" in your life, etc, it's okay. Maybe helpful for people who want to inject a little bit of c More...
Though very basic, in terms of generating ideas, getting one's self "unblocked," identifying the "crazymakers" in your life, etc, it's okay. Maybe helpful for people who want to inject a little bit of c More...
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Jun 16, 2011
I started reading this book back in 2010. It too me some time to settle down from everything that was going on in my life and start reading it. I right away was hooked and actually followed along with it. I then got distracted and walked away from this book; which is okay. The author of the book even said that it could happen every once in a while. She also wrote that this isn't the kind of reading that needs to be finished by any particular deadline.
While cleaning and organizing my t More...
While cleaning and organizing my t More...
