Have you ever tried to learn something, realize you’re not that good at it, get embarrassed and then just give up?
If you answered yes (which is more common than you think), you might wanna check out ‘Show Your Work!’ by Austin Kleon.
This book challenges the common myths involving creativity, highlights the importance of documenting every step, and paves the way to one of the most daunting parts of the creative process: showing your work to other people.
It debunks the misconceptions about the ‘lone genius’ trope, which is when people think that geniuses just pop out of nowhere without trying – naturally impressing everybody with their awesomeness. Instead, it encourages us to find our own ‘scene’ – a place where we can meet people with the same interests and join each other in our own journey.
Having an online space to express yourself, dealing with criticism, and finding your voice are some of the helpful topics in this book which can help you build on the things you want to pursue. If you share what you love, you have the chance to connect with people who love those things as well.
The book also conveys the importance of becoming an amateur – a word people usually don’t like to associate with. However, in one of the chapters here, it states that having a beginner’s mindset can actually help us get the perseverance we that need to keep going.
‘Show Your Work!’ touches on the misconceptions of ‘selling out’ and how it might not mean what we think it means. It explains why such a negative connotation has been associated with the pursuit of livelihood, and what we can do to shift the perception.
Austin Kleon also explains how luck can play a part in success (alongside hard work), and what successful people can do to give back to the ones who helped them get there.
Most importantly, the book highlights how each of us are unique and that we all have something within us – something we can share with the world.
Maybe we can even take the first step now, and show our work.
Want more insights? Check out our book reviews and let’s explore the wonderful world of books together!
