Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Very well written, inspiring book for all creative heads.

I can't remember another book which has influenced me so much recently. It's a must read. The way Elizabeth Gilbert talks about creative living is worth the read .

I think that as creatives we're pressured to find success and basically, make a living out of our creative passions.It isn't pressure created by outside forces but rather, we put these pressures on ourselves.For no damn reason.And then, that the love and passion we have turns into hate.This has happened to me.But when you have a calling, and I know it's as cheesy as the contents of its books which is probably why I ended up liking it, it's going to keep coming back to you and keep chasing you.It's why I'll always come back to writing fiction.This book was probably one of the final steps in a journey to understanding that writing stories is going to be a life-long thing, irrespective of what success I find and if my stories never get published. I'll probably end up being a 100-year-old woman with two cats, but I'll probably be a happy 100-year-old woman with two cats who still loves writing.And that imagery makes me very happy.If you're as cheesy as I am and relate to any part of this review, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The best thing about this book is that it busts the myth of the struggling artist who is always penniless and suffers in her or his painful albeit admirable obsession for perfection. We put artists on a pedestal for sinking into melancholic lives of broken relationships, substance abuse, mental illness, and even suicide. From van Gogh to Robin Williams, our hearts go out to artists who met bad ends. We have subconsciously been led to believe that to be genuinely artistic is to suffer in the most horrid ways. A side-effect of propagating that myth is that we don't see the playful risks artists take to create their art. We don't associate serious art with fun. We don't see that if you can find ways of keeping at it, continuing to have fun, you get better at it. This book brings back the fun and play and joy of making art, even serious art. It tells you what you need to remember if you don't want to suffer, but still do art that is meaningful to you. in short, it helps you unlearn a lot of unnecessary stuff. It removes a lot of perceived obstacles that lie between you and the art you want to make.

EDITING THE TITLE: This book isn't for those who wish to live a creative life. It if for those who wish to LIVE. (Because really, what is life without creativity?)This book is all of life! Really. All big questions that have ever raised themselves in my head- most of them are answered in here in a very fun Liz-Gilbert-Only way. The book is not like EAT PRAY LOVE. But I don't think anyone other than Liz Gilbert can write it. It doesn't have any practical 1-2-3-4 step by step guidelines. But it is very much applicable in everyday life.Read it if you are afraid of new things.Please read it if you wish to do any creative-projects in life.Please please read it if you are looking for a mystic creativity mentor.Please please please read it if you are a suffering creative. (You don't have to suffer to be creative.)All I know is that this book is going to be my long-term companion.

this book is easy to read for beginners and really applies on practical knowledge... I am just of 13 and really found it useful. it isn't a story but experiences of a great writer and conclusions. but you must read it if you wanna add something to your personality

Coffee book with short stories and Expressions of creativity is imp which she continues telling till the end of the page .The writer is simple in writing which is what connect many around.

A book which will be close to my heart and to which I will return again and again to seek advice when needed. I was a bit skeptical before buying this book 'cause very few self help books could actually glue me to them till the last page, but this journey was absolutely fascinating. learnt the positive and disheartening bit of a creative mind parallely. The points mentioned by Elizabeth Gilbert is so much real and relatable to all of us. Yet she begins her book by stating that everyone in this world is creative on one way or the other. It's just that some find their path before while others later in their lives or maybe not. What stops us at the very basic stage is 'Fear'. Overcoming fear and accepting defeats is the first step towards free flowing nature of creativity.I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Creative or not but you can definitely give it a shot and buckle your seatbelts before paving on this beautiful journey called 'Big Magic'.

I am no stranger to self-help books, so believe me when i say this one really taught me something different and profound. Gilbert really hits the nail on the head, addressing every single one of my hold-ups when it comes to Creating. I've even considered tattooing some of her quotes on my arm so I never forget her wisdom.

I loved Elizabeth's 2009 TED talk, and this book is exactly what I needed to read at this rocky, uncertain stage in my career as both a musician and author. It's like having a friend in the room with you, full of support and insight without being insipid or cloying or any of the other pitfalls some self-help books can fall into. Highly recommended.

muy buen libro por si no sabes que hacer con tu vida o si estás pensando cambiar de profesión

No he tenido tiempo de leerlo, así que no puedo opinar sobre el contenido.

Elizabeth Gilbert nos ensina que ser criativo nada mais é do que praticar, ser paciente, estar disponível e atento as oportunidades e inspirações.Não se espante se a sua ideia aparecer através de outra pessoa. Se você se distraiu e não a segurou, ela vai sim buscar alguém que cuide dela com carinho. E que saber o melhor? Tudo bem! Não podemos ser egoístas sobre as ideias que não ficam conosco e sim enxergar que desde que você continue trabalhando e atento ao seu interior, assim como aberto ao exterior, novas ideias irão surgir. Elas têm vida própria, mas gostam de quem as acolhe, o que é retribuído com a plenitude do seu conteúdo. Sim, todos podemos ser criativos!