The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Rick Rubin, 2023

Explore creativity through attention, experimentation, craft, and release. Rick Rubin offers flexible ways to gather ideas, work through doubt, and keep making.

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4 parts, about 18 minutes to read.

Why read it

Follow the phases of making a work, from seed through experiment and craft to editing, finishing and release
Practice noticing before explaining, and test inherited rules by trying their opposite to see what each one reveals
Use practical moves for stuck moments, such as lowering the stakes, stepping away, comparing two options side by side and cutting deeply before restoring

Who it is for

Writers, musicians and other makers stuck partway through a project
People who doubt their work or hesitate to release it
Collaborators and editors giving or receiving feedback on rough work

What the summary covers

A Practice of Attention5 min
Seeds, Experiments, and Craft5 min
Finishing and Releasing5 min
Working With Others and Continuing3 min

Recommended by

Anne LamottAuthor of Bird by Bird
A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment.
Jony IveDesigner
In this extraordinary book, Rick beautifully captures the sacred but commonplace practice of creating. I find it so powerful when someone gives voice or form to what we know but perhaps don’t understand. Designers from any discipline will find Rick’s words profoundly encouraging and inspiring.
Steven PressfieldAuthor of The War of Art
The Creative Act comes from the pure dojo of Rick Rubin’s heart. A lot of the book is technical, there’s tons of practical wisdom and nuts-and-bolts throughout, but the essence of the work is love
J. J. AbramsFilmmaker
A gorgeous, delicious and wildly practical interrogation of the creative process. A master of his craft, Rubin supplies rich insights, sound advice, helpful suggestions and supreme comfort to anyone living to create, or endeavoring to live creatively.
Seth GodinAuthor of Linchpin
You’ll probably read this extraordinary book four times. The first time, you’ll gobble it up. The second time, you’ll savour it. The third time, you’ll take notes in the margins.
Steve LevittHost of the podcast People I (Mostly) Admire
It really feels to me like the rare book that’s evergreen . . . It’s a book I wish I would have had on my shelf when I was 25. It’s a book I would give to people who are 25. Maybe it will be the ultimate graduation gift.

About the author

Rick RubinRecord producer and cofounder of Def Jam Recordings
- He was born in Long Beach, New York, in 1963.
- He founded Def Jam Recordings while studying film at New York University.
- He helped popularize hip hop by producing LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy and Geto Boys.
- He produced Johnny Cash's American Recordings (1994), which helped revive Cash's career.
- He produced six studio albums with the Red Hot Chili Peppers between 1991 and 2011.
- He won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in the non classical field in 2007 and again in 2009.
- Time put him on its 2007 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
- The Creative Act: A Way of Being, published in January 2023, is his debut book.