Book : The Creative Act - Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin, known far and wide from the music industry and beyond, wrote “The Creative Act: A Way of Being,” and I HAVE to talk about it. This book feels like life to me. It feels like the only thing that matters. I know how ridiculously hyperbolic that sounds, but I can’t say it any other way. With every page, I felt validated, like I was reading everything I’ve ever known at my core, but could not put into words.
You know how, as a kid, you have the sense that no one knows exactly how you feel? What is true for you is your own secret, and you have no way to comprehend that thousands of other people feel that exact same truth?
Well Rick Rubin just grabbed all those whispers and gut feelings and just…said it. Out loud, so clearly, so much more simply than I could have imagined was possible.
To say this book is about “The Creative Act,” as the title suggests, doesn’t feel like enough; the subtitle “A Way of Being” comes closer. It is organized into short sections, which Rubin calls “78 Areas of Thought.” This unique set up turns out to be quite necessary, as the subject matter is just so deeply intense, yet warm and comforting. It feels like being knocked off your feet by a bear hug. It requires breathing, pausing, and feverishly writing in the margins.
My copy is full of notes and folded over page corners - marking passages like this:
“When something interesting starts to come together, it arouses delight. It’s an energizing feeling of wanting more. A feeling of leaning forward. Follow that energy.”
YESSSSSS. Yes. I want to feel like that always. And if not always, because…life…well at least once a day. That is why I’m here on the planet, I’m sure of it. And then:
“With the objective of simply doing great work, a ripple effect occurs. A bar is set for everything you do, which may not only lift your work to new heights, but raise the vibration of your entire life. It may even inspire others to do their best work. Greatness begets greatness. It’s infectious.”
Are you not buzzing with aliveness?!! We can’t know everything, we can’t know the perfect path. But we can definitely find that delight, lean forward, and follow that energy.