Mixed Reviews for 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' by Rick Rubin

This book won't shut completely and there's no ribbon bookmark and it was just alone in a giant box doesn't seem to be like the other's in videos.
However I do enjoy the book and recommend it but Amazon needs to handle their book shipments better.

Wise men are in short supply. When one has wisdom they are revered understandably. His book is timeless and his humility and insight and nascent intelligence are refreshing. He is a seeker who has learned from his efforts. Hopefully many will benefit from his insights and observations. This world is could use more creativity.

Not only was this the best book I've read about creativity and the creative process, it's one of the best books I've ever read! If you're a creative, pick it up. NOW! An inspirational tome.

This is honestly the best book I’ve ever read. So soulful. So useful. So authentic. So meaningful. So practical. So inspiring.
It’s full of guidance and light.

So glad he released this book. I'm also glad he realized we didn't need another tell all celebrity barf session. Great advice from a visionary.

Some great observations about the creative process from an admitted non-creator. Rick Rubin is more of a facilitator, and a legendary one at that. So it's really odd that the book is so prescriptive.

Anecdotes are few and far between, which is disappointing, given the career he's had. But the story about appendectomies should have a disclaimer: remember, in spite of all the prescriptions, he is not a doctor.

Most of his examples take the form of a parable, and the book's format has an almost religious-text feel to it. That whiff of self-importance, combined with the book's premise ("I've got creativity all figured out"), makes any humility he might express seem less than sincere. And that's usually the point in any religious gathering where I turn down any offered liquid refreshment and start eyeing the exits.

But I realized too late into the book that it's more "here's how to do it" than "here's how I did it." I would've enjoyed the latter far more, and I think it would've been more enlightening. If it's one thing creative people hate, it's being told how to do what they do. After all, figuring out your own way is what creativity is all about. Rick Rubin knows this, which is why he doesn't do that in the studio. So it's extra weird that he'd do it here.

There's a well-worn truism, "don't get to know your heroes." Reading this, I felt like I was getting to know Mr. Rubin a little too well. Your mileage may vary, but it made me want to go back to the days when I only knew him by his work and his legendary reputation as a producer. I lost interest about 2/3 of the way through and gave the book away to a friend. Maybe they'll like the Koolaid.