Book Review: “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin
Yeah… so, I’m way late to this party… past the casually late, into the party is already over and no… it’s not better late then never…
But, if we went for a coffee today, this title might come up.
How Did I get it?
About two years ago, I received a $500 gift card to Barnes & Noble. That’s how I got this book.
Why? Well, I read recently that a man moves through three stages in his life. In his early years it’s about competency, learning his trade and becoming proficient at it. In his middle years, it’s about connecting with others, building his network, making contacts, meeting people and conferring based on his competency. In his final years, it’s about creativity, where competency moves into its natural next step of innovation and the network allows the ideas to spread.
I think I’m on the cusp of the creative stage. Or, maybe I’m preparing for it. Anyway, I’m intrigued by the process of creativity, especially in its intersection between the physical and the spiritual.
For me, I have a high regard for Rick Rubin as a creative as I recognize that he has made combinations in music that are stunning. Let me tell a story to illustrate.
Years ago, my friend Bruce M. shared how much he resonated with Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt.” When I heard the song it was in the context of Bruce’s long struggle with addiction. It struck me profoundly. Here’s this unlikely combination of Johnny Cash with his iconic yet tired voice, singing the lyrics of a song from Nine Inch Nail that resonated with my Canadian friend, Bruce. All of this was possible because of the creative influence of Rick Rubin.
A couple years ago, I listened to a podcast of Malcolm Gladwell conversing with Rick Rubin. My wife is a singer-songwriter and has had the privilege of recording and touring. It’s a window into that world and the amount of creativity is staggering.
Pull all this together, and this is why I sacrificed the full price out of the precious gift card funds for this book.
What is it about?
Rick’s thoughts in very short chapters about the creative process from the spark of an idea, stewarding it through execution, how to process it when it’s received by others and then how to keep going.
There’s 78 thoughts. Some are long. Some are short. Some are straightforward and practical. Some are the exact opposite idea of what was shared in the preceding thought. Some are ethereal and he’s stretching for words to describe. Others include stories of moments with artists. Some are ideas for how to get unstuck. Some are encouraging. Some inspirational. Some are a warning. Some are costly lessons offered for free.
Here’s some excerpts that I noted:
“You exist as a creative being in a creative universe.”
“At noon, the sun is high in the sky, regardless how light or dark it is outside. In the same way, regardless of how much we’re paying attention the information we seeK is out there. If we’re aware, we get to tune in to more of it. If we’re less aware, we miss it.“
“Ultimately your desire to create, must be greater than your fear of it.“
“Art is a reflection of the artist’s inner and outer world during the period of creation. Extending the period complicates the artist‘s ability to capture a state of being. The result can be a loss of connection and enthusiasm for the work over time.“
“in the recording studio I occasionally suggest exercises to an artist… to rekindle excitement and access new ways of performance. Several of these exercises follow. Whether or not you find yourself at an impasse, perhaps they can inspire similar experiments in your chosen field: small steps, changing the environment, change the stakes, invite an audience, change the context, alter the perspective, write for someone else, add imagery, limit the information.”
“A river of material flows through us. When we share our works and our ideas, they are replenished. If we block the flow by holding them all inside, the river cannot run and new ideas are slow to appear. In the abundant mindset the river never runs dry. Ideas are always coming through. And an artist is free to release them with the faith that more will arrive. If we live in a mindset of scarcity, we hoard great ideas… The more we share, the more our skills improve.“
“Wanting to outperform another artist or make a work better than theirs rarely results in true greatness. Nor is it a mindset that has a healthy impact on the rest of our lives. As Theodore Roosevelt pointed out, comparison is the thief of joy. Besides, why would we want to create with the purpose of diminishing someone else? When another great work inspires us to elevate our own, however, the energy is different. Seeing the bar raised in our field can encourage us to reach even higher. This energy of rising-to-meet is quite different from that of conquering. When Brian Wilson first heard the Beatles Rubber Soul, his mind was blown. “If I ever do anything in my life, I’m going to make that good an album,“ he thought at the time. He went on to explain, “I was so happy to hear it that I went and started writing ‘God Only Knows.‘“ Being made happy by someone else’s best work and then letting it inspire you to rise to the occasion is not competition it’s collaboration. When Paul McCartney heard the resulting Beach boys album Pet Sounds, he too, was blown away and reduced to tears, proclaiming “God Only Knows“ was to his ears the best song ever written. Bouyed by the experience, the Beatles played Pet Sounds over and over while creating another masterpiece Sergeant Pepper‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “Without Pet Sounds, Sergeant Pepper never would have happened“. Beatles producer George Martin said, “Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds.” This creative back-and-forth wasn’t based on commercial competition. It was based on mutual love and we are all the beneficiaries of this upper spiral toward magnificence. No system exist that can rank which work is most reflective of the maker. Great art is an invitation to creators everywhere to strive for still higher and deeper levels.“
“Works that attempt to overly preach a message often don’t connect as hoped, while a piece not intended to address a societal ill may become an anthem for a revolutionary cause. Art is far more powerful than our plans for it.“
“There are sides of ourselves that aren’t welcome in polite society, thoughts, and feelings, too dark to share. When we recognize them expressed an art, we feel less alone. More real, human. This is the therapeutic power of making and consuming art.“
“When I work with artists, we make an agreement: We continue the process until reaching the point where we are all happy with the work. This is the ultimate goal. If one person loves it, but another does not, there’s usually an underlying issue worth paying attention to. It likely means we haven’t gone far enough and the work hasn’t reached its full potential.“
What did I think?
This was wild.
It was wild to read someone that’s not a Christian grope at trying to describe how the “universe” helps them create things. It would have been so much easier to just recognize the Creator God and the Created World that we inhabit, and the invitation to create that He’s given us.
It was wild to read all these forays into the creative process, what I thought were very helpful tips and suggestions and encouragements into the creative process. It was also inspiring to pursue pure art.
It was wild to read of his experiences in the creative processes. Illustrations and examples are always the best to remember a suggestion or an idea.
Conclusion:
As a Christian, this is one of those resources where you eat the meat and spit out the bones. Without a doubt, much of the creativity in our society is fuelled by mind-altering substances that help inhibit the normal mental processes and open people up to spiritual experiences.
I remember reading an interview with a famous Canadian folk singer-songwriter. He had given up marijuana and now felt like he couldn’t write anything.
As a Christian, we are connected to creativity itself, the source of all creativity, the spirit of creativity, the Holy Spirit. Some of these tips and ideas can be helpful, but let’s not forget where the stream of creativity comes from.
How about you? Have you encountered great art in your life? Has it altered you? How has it altered you? Have you made any forays into the creative process and made art?
soon!
andy
