The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

by Julia Cameron

book data

2,307 ratings, 4.03 average rating, 440 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		40%
4		32%
3		19%
2		5%
1		2%

edit

published

March 4th 2002 (first published 1992) by Tarcher

binding

Paperback, 272 pages

isbn

1585421464 (isbn13: 9781585421466)

description

With the basic principle that creative expression is the natural direction of life, Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan lead you through a comprehensive twel...more

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | compare prices…

new topic
discuss this book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Chicks On Lit: A quick opinion please, if you will...	16	58	1 day ago, 05:06PM
Chicks On Lit: Journals	132	165	4 days ago, 04:07AM

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 3,788)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

07/26/07

Lena rated it:

bookshelves: writing

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 reaso...more

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

24 comments

09/28/07

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.

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

add a comment

01/19/09

Jerome rated it:

Read in April, 1998

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 ...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

add a comment

07/08/07

Bonita Rose rated it:

bookshelves: empowering, inspiring, nonfiction

Read in January, 2006

the perfect 'bible' for any creative soul.

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

add a comment

05/04/07

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.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

add a comment

02/13/09

Kate rated it:

bookshelves: desperate-attempts-at-self-improvem

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...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

03/27/08

Dakota Lane added it

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

03/12/08

Tj rated it:

bookshelves: informative

Read in April, 2007

recommended to Tj by: Alice
recommends it for: Anyone who wants to be an artist but doesn't think they can be

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

01/15/08

Erin rated it:

bookshelves: own

recommended to Erin by: John B.

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

04/07/08

Annie rated it:

Read in January, 1999

recommends it for: dreamers, artists, people with secret passions, people in recovery or who want to recover

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

01/05/09

Elizabeth rated it:

bookshelves: nonfiction, reference

Read in January, 2009

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

5 comments

03/05/09

Nancy rated it:

Read in January, 1994

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.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

09/08/07

Jean rated it:

bookshelves: readandfrequentlyvisit

Read in January, 2006

recommends it for: All Artists, so Everyone

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...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

01/08/08

Adam rated it:

Read in January, 1997

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...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

03/28/09

Paula added it

Read in February, 1999

recommended to Paula by: Elizabeth
recommends it for: anyone with the desire to have more creativity in their life

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

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

04/13/09

Elaine added it

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

Like this review? yes

add a comment

04/23/09

Sherri rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-read-list, essay_thought, nonfiction

Read in April, 2009

Do not read this book if:

1) You have difficulty with anyone using the word God, especially if that word either makes you feel nervous or tends to lead you to feeling offended or affronted;
2) Think that books talking about spiritual paths to anything are so much hooey, or crystal crunchy, feel good, granola sprinkled nonsense;
3) Believe that an Artist is some special, gifted being blessed from birth and special beyond special.

Because this book will do you no go...more Do not read this book if:

1) You have difficulty with anyone using the word God, especially if that word either makes you feel nervous or tends to lead you to feeling offended or affronted;
2) Think that books talking about spiritual paths to anything are so much hooey, or crystal crunchy, feel good, granola sprinkled nonsense;
3) Believe that an Artist is some special, gifted being blessed from birth and special beyond special.

Because this book will do you no good at all. However, if you aren't likely to get hung up on those points, and you feel that your creative life is blocked, stopped, or never quite existed, give it a read.

The author does use the word God quite a bit and that's offputting for many people for many different reasons. For me, I just translated it in my head to my word of choice and kept going. The rest of it -- the idea of play-as-work, of dealing with one's past honestly, of digging up and rooting out the "lessons" about art we've been drenched in since childhood -- are useful to me.

I bought this book some 13 years ago, when I was taking a college writing workshop. I read only the pages assigned by my professor then, and I didn't think much of the morning pages or the exercises. I shrugged my way through them and forgot all about them. Now, 13 years later, I've done other study, read other books, attended lectures and gone through life experiences that gave the ideas in the book fresh purpose for me. Now I can use them to get back what used to come so easily, to get through the things that are blocking me and making me significantly unhappy.

It's not a "one time" read. This is a book that will take a while. Some parts of it are relevant to me and others are not -- I feel I can use what I need and skip the rest. I don't think this book is a one-size-fits-all prescriptive took to artistic greatness, and it doesn't pretend to be. It's a set of tools anyone can use if they want. It promises that, if you use the tools and keep up with the practices, your life will change. It can't help but change. It's going to make you nervous -- Cameron knows this and says this. You'll think it's stupid -- she says this, too. But if you do it honestly, even if doubtfully, you'll find something worthwhile.

This isn't a book for everybody, really. It wasn't even a book for me until this year, this month, when someone reminded me it existed and I hunted my shelves for it. Which, in my mind, is proof of what the book itself says -- with some faith, what you need will show up.(less)

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

3 comments

02/22/09

Lisa Tener rated it:

Read in January, 1998

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

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/12/09

Kerri rated it:

Read in December, 2008

This book started out good and not cheesey, but as I read on, it felt like the book I was hoping it wouldn't be.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

04/17/09

Abigail rated it:

Although many people still think that the artistic impulse resides only in a select few, the author, a screenplay writer, poet, and workshop leader believes that everyone can harness this energy. The first step is to find ways to support and nourish "the inner artist." Cameron has plenty of suggestions in this "spiritual chiropractic" designed to help readers "achieve alignment with the creative energy of the universe."
I found this book suprisingly nice to hav...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment