Book Review: Big Magic

I’ve known about Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest book Big Magic since it was released last fall. It was quickly purchased and added to my bookshelf, but sat there for a few months. Then I stumbled upon the author’s Magic Lessons Podcast, and let me tell you, it’s amazing. I actually listened to the entire podcast before starting the book.

Gilbert explores many themes related to creativity through 5 different parts—courage, enchantment, permission, persistence, trust and divinity. She includes personal stories to make it clear why you need to understand each and its relation to creativity. Gilbert explains that creativity is not a step by step formula. You can’t follow a series of steps, and BOOM, your artistic dreams will happen. She reminds us that maintaining artistic innovation is a full on battle, something requiring persistence. By the end of the book, I felt like I’d had a great awakening, of sorts, and Gilbert was my guru.

Pros:

• I got a well-needed, tough-love talking to—time to stop waiting to reach perfection before putting my work out there.
• Gilbert’s sense of authenticity is inspiring. For me, it’s about getting past the insecure crap we fill our heads with and continuing to make the work no matter what.
• The organization of the book works well. It’s not about reading a series of personal essays, but focusing on the 5 themes and there manifestation in Gilbert’s artistic practice.

Cons:

• At points, the text rambled on. I then would miss the point of the story and have to re-read the passage again.

Bottomline: I think everyone will learn something from this book, even if you don’t consider yourself an artist. We all create things after all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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