2024/08/15: rick rubin - the creative act: a way of being

i bought this book last december, but didn't get around to reading it until after finishing some music and several playlist mixes. looking back, the words made more sense after the work.

it feels like rubin wrote an abstract primer on developing and maintaining mental structures for creativity.

some of the metaphors and analogies used may not make sense without some accrued experience of setting intentions and executing successfully through the arising challenges.

in other words, reading through the text as someone just starting a hobby may evoke feelings similar to reading the bible without historical nor religious context.

due to its structured yet open-ended nature, i suggest treating the book like a mall directory of potential pathways that serve as a guide and occasional reminder that creating art boils down to intentional personal expression.

given rubin's profession and what looks like a vinyl record on the front cover, it's easy to assume the writing is geared towards musicians.

i find the wording allows for a flexible interpretation that can be applied to a variety of practices.

in fact the implications seem to amplify when more creative disciplines are in play.

as a process geek who's been involved in music and writing, reading this book front-to-back re-aligned some creative vision and focus when progress felt vague and stagnant.

with that said, i don't think reading cover-to-cover is absolutely necessary. "the creative act" seems to fulfill its purpose as long as it continues to inspire the next step.

ps if you're looking for another abstract "mall directory" of the creative process, i enjoyed "deep work" by cal newport.