A Book By Its Cover: Steal Like an Artist

I'd like to think someone somewhere was looking out for me when they abandoned a little black book in the magazine section at Barnes and Noble.

Like they thought to themselves: "You know, I liked this book. Maybe some girl will come by here who will need to read it."

Boy, did I.

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon: the closest thing I've ever found to a tourist's guide out of artists' block- the object of many a long search through many bookstores. It reads like a manual on how to keep the creative juices flowing. Which is fantastic.

And there's some great advice in it- some that I've heard before, like keep a paper and pen with you at all times. Others not so much, like keeping a logbook or having two different work areas.

There were plenty of ways in it to keep inspired, which I struggle with a lot, personally, and more than a few ways to get back on track when things burn out. Not to mention a few "so there is someone else" moments.

And those are always lovely.

Read on.

-Riley