The Habit of Noticing: Using Creativity to Make a Life

by Darden Smith, Warren Zanes (Foreword)

The concept of work-life balance is anything but foreign in today’s hyperconnected society, but what if finding the elusive balance lies not in tuning out, but instead bringing one more key element into our lives? In his new book The Habit of Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living), slated for release on Thursday, September 13 at the Business Innovation Factory (BIF) Summit in Providence, R.I., Austin-based singer-songwriter Darden Smith says the secret lies in embracing and using your creativity every day.. Now, in his most adventurous and deeply personal project to date, The Habit of Noticing is Smith’s collection of stories that serves as a personal manifesto on the value of art and creativity in daily life. A guidebook for those seeking to bring more creativity into their daily life, Smith dives deep into his inspirations and influences, the importance of commitment and endurance in tough times, and the beauty that comes from finding meaning in your work and your life “From my experience, working artists are people with heart and passion; hard workers, self-starters, doers,” says Smith. “They wake up in the morning looking for a way to make a difference, to tell a story. They follow their words and dreams with action. They create.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Music

226 pages, Hardcover

Published August 21, 2018

Reviews

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Darden Smith before listening to this audiobook. I was just looking for something to listen to on Storytel when I came across this title, The Habit of Noticing, and I thought it was interesting.

Despite the fact that he subtitle of it is Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living) it is not really a regular how-to book. It’s part memoir, part advice to people starting out in the music business, and part music. It is one of the more creative nonfiction audiobooks I’ve listened to in ages. It pushes the form a bit, in a good way.

I’m not trying to make a life in the music business. I tried once for about half a year to learn how to play the guitar, and when I gave up on it for photography I think it came as relief to anyone who listened to my attempts. I was in short time a better photographer than I ever would have become as a musician.

But I still liked this book, much for the same reason I liked Ray Bradbury’s The Zen in the Art of Writing. I like to listen to passionate people talking about passions. Listening to people that manage to sweep one along for the ride. Darden Smith talks about music, and creating music with that kind of passion.

Even though it is aimed at musicians, there are good advice for people in other creative fields too. One that sticks to mind now is You can’t eat the art burger. That is to me a good way of saying that how much you like to create, you still have to get money for it if you’re going to make a living doing art. Artists are often too eager to give their stuff away.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all about money for him. There is a balance. The passion for creating on one side, and the money to actually make a living on the other. All in all, I enjoyed this short book on the creative life.

[Douglas Cosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a normal 3-star book if it weren't for the foreword by Warren Zanes. I have been searching for years, trying to figure out where the magic in art comes from: why some some songs aren't just chords and lyrics and give you chills, why some novels are more than well-written stories and change the way you feel about the world, and why some paintings can haunt you forever. I have called it "magic", "a turn", I even came across the term "rasa" in Hindi that means the essence or juice of something, many times used to describe art. These are all close to the same idea, but not quite right. However, Zanes nails it in the foreword of this book when he talks about how good art needs a sense of not-knowingness, how magic appears when the artist is searching within the work of art, adept at his/her form but not exactly sure how it is going to turn out, everything not planned out and thought through. It's this vague waywardness that gives the art its magic. You can't pin it down, so it grabs you. If you understand exactly what the art is doing and how the artist did it, there is no magic. This is it; this is the definition of art that I have been looking for. Thank you so much, Warren Zanes, whoever you are.

As far as the rest of this book goes, I don't read poetry, so I am not sure how people read poetry books. Do they read one poem and stop to let it sink in, think about it, ruminate, make its meaning important to them, and then read the next one? Does that mean one poem a day? I don't think this book is a poetry book -- it is more like "Darden Smith's Advice to Himself". I decided to read it as a bathroom book, to naturally kind of enforce the stop/think/ruminate/glean process. It worked. Warning: In the wrong mood, this book could be a 1 or 2, but as I get older and more sentimental, I get less critical of corny platitudes. Oh yeah, and it has the best foreword of all time.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are any kind of an artist but especially if you are a songwriter I highly recommend this book and would encourage you to get the audio version of it. It is filled with original music throughout which makes it have the feeling of an extended spoken-word piece and it’s just awesome! Tons of great insight and overall just a really enjoyable listen.

Favorite Quote: “The real accomplishment is to write a love song and to never say the word. The suggestion of a line is often more powerful than the line itself.”

[Megan Moir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea who Darden Smith is. I’m not even sure how I came across this book. But, damn, I’m so glad I did! Filled with his songs, photographs, drawings, and poems, this book is a treasure of inspiration. Written almost as a reflection of the artist’s life and how he has kept plugged into his outlet of creativity for so long. Such a unique insight into the mind of a man who wholly sees himself as an artist, something I am just discovering for myself. Read it if you need to feel inspired, empowered or if you are ready to lean into that side of yourself that wants to be creative.

[Martin Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having seen Darden read from the book at one of his concerts with Boo Hewerdine, I could hear his voice as I read through this book.

Part self help, part inspirational, and part biographical this was a lovely book to read through, tough it was over much too soon. If you like Darden Smith as a singer/songwriter, you will like this too.

[Sarah Rooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened on Audible. I loved hearing Darden reading his own words. It's not your ordinary songwriting manual type book. It's filled with wisdom and artful writing presented in short essays. Enjoyable if you like beautiful words, the music of language, and want to be a better writer, of any genre, not just songs.

[Kerry Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most inspiring book I've read in ages, I'm {this close} to giving up my job and committing myself to a new path as a folk singer...or...more likely...finding ways to bring inspiration into the path I'm on. It's all about paying attention...and about art that is more than just entertainment.

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lotta wisdom in this book. Darden's been around.

[Tamsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great short collection of vignettes for listening while driving downstate. Loved Darden’s voice as well as what he had to say.

[Desiree Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this on audibles and it was so good with so many great and inspiring quotes that I bought the hard copy.

[Emma Dresser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into an artist’s inspiration and what they can teach us all about being creative. Not my usual choice of book, but really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.