Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon: On My Christmas List for Everyone

I usually post all of my book reviews at my Discriminating Reader blog site, but today I sat down and read straight through a book that struck so many chords that I decided I needed to share it here. I kept thinking of the quote sometimes attributed to Buddha: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I’ve had Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon sitting on my bookshelf for at least a year now, but something prompted me to pick it up today.

I’ve been bouncing back and forth between projects for more than a week now. (Who am I kidding? I’ve been bouncing back and forth between projects my whole life.) Last Monday, I spent time with my friend Kelly, who shared her collage techniques and materials (as well as a great recipe for pear slaw.) In the days since, I’ve dabbled enough to realize that even though the trend now is coloring books for adults, I’d much rather be sitting with scissors and magazines, cutting things out.

In the meantime, I’m working on a couple (or twenty) poetry projects, some prose pieces, practicing my mandolin, and working through my photos to plan this year’s Christmas card project.

Kleon’s little book is reassuring, practical, and dreamy all at once. He distinguishes between stealing from one person (plagiarism) and many (inspiration). I’ve always loved the line from Lords of Discipline in which Pat Conroy’s protagonist discusses his “great teacher theory”: the best teachers are the best thieves.  This little book proves that the theory extends to all creative endeavors.

At the end of the book, the author provides a “What Now?” list (which includes the advice: Take a Nap) and Recommended Reading, listing Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, the book I was actually looking for this evening when I picked this one from the shelf instead.  The advice he gives I had already decided to do was “Give a copy of this book away.”  I have no doubt I will do just that.