Steal Like An Artist

Steal Like An Artist is a great book and like I said in previous blog posts it's going to be one I'm going to keep on the shelf. I actually have already giving it to my son to read. Everything from creating the book you want to read to playing the music you want to hear this book is really inspirational. Austin talks about using your hands, both in the digital and analog worlds. He also talks about how side projects and hobbies are important. They keep the creative juices flowing. Austin has also shown me throughtout the book how to really dive into something and not only learn the stuff on the surface but to go deeper and learn more than you ever thought was possible. The main feeling of the book is that it is a small world, you need to be nice and of course be boring.

Like the book Steal Like An Artist, Hugh MacLeod's book Ignore Everyone is a great little book about creativity. Hugh talks about how he started in the bustle of New York city and has ended up in a small town in Texas. Hugh is a well known cartoonist that got his start by doodling on the back of business cards in bars. He Says that "Doing something seriously creative is one of the most amazing experiences one can have in this or in any lifetime." Hugh also talks about how you have to put in the hours. Skill and natural talent matters less and less as you work more and more. In the long run, the people who work the hardest in the long run win. There are a lot of comparable ideas in both books. Since the book came out before Steal Like An Artist, I see in chapter nine that Austin completely takes Hugh's thoughts and runs with them. In fact I am now surprised that Austin doesn't directly quote Hugh in his book. There are more similarities between the books as well. "Work hard. Keep at it. Live simply and quietly. Remain humble. Stay positive. Create your own luck. Be nice. Be polite." is something that Hugh said. You can see the inspiration that Austin got from this book. "The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will." this is one of my favorite quotes from Hugh MacLeod.