Great books are the ones that make you think. Even better are the ones that make you act.

Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon is exactly that kind of book. You can’t call it a “classic motivational book about productivity”, because it isn’t one. The format is compact, and it is written and designed so that it reads quickly and easily. But the best things come in small packages, don’t they?

I have always believed that books find us, not the other way round, and this book proved it once again.

At the moment I’m spending a lot of time on myself: I read and watch content about personal growth and productivity, especially when it comes to creativity and writing. Since I have a job that doesn’t fulfil me in any way, apart from the fact that, well, at the end of the month I get a certain amount of money so the bills can be paid, I realised this is the ideal time to use this period productively. Not professionally, but personally. And so, by a series of intentional coincidences, I came across this book.

Black-and-white photo: Mima typing on an old typewriter

Photo: @dragicevicc.ph

Using his own example, but also very striking examples of famous authors, the author focuses on the premise that each of us is an amateur in some field that interests us, that this is more than ok, and that as such we should show what we are working on and share it with the world, no matter what it is.

Without spoiling the whole book: through clear examples and guidelines, the author shows us how to do exactly that, how to do what we love and share it publicly, show our working process and connect with people who share our interests, because that is how we keep learning and improving not only ourselves, but also our work.

At first glance all of this seems like common sense, and maybe it is, but that is exactly the trick. Because sometimes you need to stop and remind yourself of the basics, since all too often we can’t see the wood for the trees. And no, nothing goes without saying, and nothing is too “silly” to be clearly repeated.

Perhaps the best way to sum up this book is its subtitle: 10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered.

I read it as an e-book, but I think it’s worth having in print too, because it’s one of those books you should come back to from time to time, even just to leaf through. The ideas are so simple and compact that you don’t need to read the whole thing again; instead, mark the passages that relate to your creative process and come back to them whenever you hit “a crisis”.

As I said at the beginning, a great book is one that inspires action. And this one did exactly that: Marko and I are actively working on him showing you his work too (since my work has been on show through this blog for years, and I keep doing it). I won’t tell you exactly what it is yet, but when it’s official, believe me, you will be the first to know. All I can say is that I can’t wait.

Some of the ideas that made the strongest impression on me (in my own words):

  • We are all amateurs, says Charlie Chaplin, because none of us lives long enough to become anything else. (Kleon 2014, p. 16)
  • The best way to start sharing your work is to decide what you want to learn and to learn it in front of others. (Kleon 2014, p. 18)
  • The only way to find your voice is to use it. (Kleon 2014, p. 19)
  • Don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed of the things you genuinely enjoy. Celebrate them. (Kleon 2014, p. 57)
  • According to the painter Ben Shahn, an amateur is an artist who supports himself with other jobs so that he can paint. (Kleon 2014, p. 107)

And you, what are you waiting for? Show your work!

Warmly,

S-Mama