The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

My husband, who owns his own business as a woodworker, came home with this book the other day and I knew right away I wanted to read it, too. I’ve always considered my work as a therapist to be an artwork, but also view my writing, which I really stepped into a little over a year ago, as a creative outlet, too. In therapy there is always a multitude of responses I could have to what my client brings up and it is an intricate, creative dance to choose which path to take. And with writing, I always find a welcome challenge to take what I know in my head and translate it into an understandable, engaging format for readers.

So, with all of that in mind, I was excited to see what Rick Rubin had to say about being acreative. Most of the book is written in a format that you could pick it up, open to any chapter, and start there and still understand what you are reading. There are just a few chapters that all tie into one major thought, but other than that the chapters are all stand-alone.

I appreciated that Rick mentioned in the beginning that not everything he writes in this book will resonate with you, and that’s okay. Read through his chapters, lean into what does resonate with you, and keep reading when something doesn’t. I can confidently say that a creative reading this book will certainly walk away with at least a few lessons to carry with them.

I also appreciated how much thought and work very clearly went into this book. He covers a multitude of topics but presents them in an understandable, but no less profound manner. While each chapter is standalone I still felt an overall cohesion in the book. It didn’t feel choppy and segmented, rather it had an enjoyable and engaging flow to it.

I can also affirm that the topics he covers on mental health, mindfulness, and self-work are all well-researched and presented. I was surprised to come across some of these mental health topics in the book but it was affirming to the work I do as a therapist to see that Rick incorporated them.

As with almost any non-fiction book, I did hit a bit of a wall just over halfway through but I don’t know that the authors are to blame when this happens, it’s just something I noticed I always encounter when reading nonfiction. Nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

If you are a creative, which I would argue just about anybody is in one form or another, I encourage you to read this book. I found it helped ground me in appreciation for the work I do, invigorated my excitement for what I do, and reminded me of the immense beauty and honor that comes with creating.