best book i've ever read.
polycounter lvl 18
i've stumbled across a really great book called The War of Art.
It's a really good book that is very insperational. Unfortunately for the book it would probably fall into the self help section, but my local bookstore had it next to the art section for some reason and it was recommended by the staff. Good thing too or i would never have stumbled on it.
I recommend you read the excerpt from the book at the bottom of the page i linked. It's unnerving how close to home this book hits.
i can't recommend this book enough. I'm already reading through it a second time.
edit: lol, can't believe I wrote it wrong.
It's a really good book that is very insperational. Unfortunately for the book it would probably fall into the self help section, but my local bookstore had it next to the art section for some reason and it was recommended by the staff. Good thing too or i would never have stumbled on it.
I recommend you read the excerpt from the book at the bottom of the page i linked. It's unnerving how close to home this book hits.
i can't recommend this book enough. I'm already reading through it a second time.
edit: lol, can't believe I wrote it wrong.
Replies
It's a great book, I bought it when I was freelancing and having a tough time making ends meet. Pressfield's blue collar, lunchpail approach really made so much sense and helped me keep cranking through some lean times. Good stuff.
Thanks for the recomendation!!
in fact i think some of his paintings are pretty well done
You're never going to eliminate resistance so why not learn to flow around it? What if fighting your resistance actually makes more resistance? What if flowing around it and leading a balanced life actually removes more resistance?
Does he speak about balance at all or does he just try and sell people on declaring war on their friends, family, job and bank account as they chase down a near unattainable goal?
I believe the point he was making with hitler is that he was never famous for his art, and he gave it up. Of course it's only speculation as to why he gave it up, but it makes you think, which is a good thing.
Rawkstar/ Blenderhead: I think your taking that a little wrong. It's not the act of the vocation that you fear, but the dedication, the commitment, and being unsure of what the outcome would be. Brain surgery would sure be up there. not sure how many years of school that requires, but the book isn't for people who don't know what they want to do. Most people who pick up the book probably already know what they want, and just lack the will and motivation to follow through. And no, the humor isn't lost on me.
Vig: The book is broken into 3 parts. The first is part is about resistance and the many ways that it can show it's self. It's really strange reading this first part as it personifies fear as an evil being but says it's part of you. and it's 50 odd pages long. so the entire excerpt is from this part.
the second part of the book is all about how to combat resistance. I dont want to go into detail about all the methods he gives but they are all very reasonable and not too hard to work into your life. He doesn't say anything that would make me declare war on friends, family, jobs or bank accounts.
The main thing he emphasizes about doing art is that the work is more important than the outcome. It's the thought of sitting down and doing the work that brings on resistance, and overcoming that and actually doing the work day after day is what it's about.
The third part of the book is a bit strange. talks about muses and inperation. Has lots of stories of his life and other people that emphasize points he is trying to make.
This book is more for people who are struggling to start or struggling to keep at it.
sometimes its something that not everyone can take something from- i sort of agree with vig about flowing with resistance- or I think rather I bargain with it
a couple of books I've been reading recently have given me some epipheny-like moments- a theory of fun, and the art of game design. The latter, specifically, when it begins to talk about listening to your subconscious- treating it as another person or entity entirely. I used to do this when I was a kid, but i never thought about it much until now- and sure enough I found it really works for me.
maybe other people already do this consciously or intuitively (and I think I have intuitively) but I found thinking about it in the way the book described to be very helpful. it even advises you to thank your subconscious for good ideas, since the more you recognise it's value the more it pipes up when you need it (so goes the theory
Don't sniff paint kids.
Roo, ha, yea bargaining, especially with your subconscious. I do this a lot too. Sometimes it goes as far as giving personalities to some of the objects or a scene I'm working on. It helps to build some of the scene history when I ask them "what are you doing here? How old are you? Why don't you get along with the other crates?" It sounds insane but it helps. Especially with the point and click adventure games I work on when a big chunk of the game is having players answer some of those same questions.
Yeah, what's with all the Hitler bashing lately?
Just kidding!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090423/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_hitler_watercolors;_ylt=Apkpj6EZ1tsoq0y2.8CeqASs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFpMjRkMDE4BHBvcwMyOARzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDcmVwdXRlZGhpdGx
You would think that a guy that had achieved world wide fame, was eccentric, and committed suicide would be able to get a higher price for his artwork. Seems that mass murder/world war thing came back to bite him.
Ok, enough thread derailing...
Arrived three hours ago and I just finished it.
Excellent read. I've always been a bullshitter and this was a good kick in the pants.
He does go a bit loopy towards the end but brings it back together in the end. If the thread has peaked even a nugget of interest pick a copy up.