The instant #1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller“A must read for anyone hoping to live a creative life… I dare you not to be inspired to be brave, to be free, and to be curious.” —PopSugarFrom the worldwide bestselling author of Eat Pray Love and City of Girls: the path to the vibrant, fulfilling life you’ve dreamed of. Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from … life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.
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I’m adding this to my list of my top recommended books for creative people, joining The Artist’s Way (Julia Cameron) and The War of Art (Stephen Pressfield). Deals effectively with demolishing many of the myths of what it takes to live a creative life and be a creative person, in a supportive, encouraging, and informative manner. Simply excellent.
It’s all in the title. It’s generous of Elizabeth Gilbert to share her experience with fellow Earthlings–with how to access our own unique creativity. Easy read, highly recommend!
I’ve really enjoyed Big Magic. As a writer, it is so important to take a step back from your work and examine how it makes you feel? Do you actually enjoy it? Do you love what you do? Big Magic provides a new perspective on giving yourself permission to create for the pure enjoyment of it, whether it provides value outside of that or not.
Focused, yes I was totally focused when I was listening to this audiobook.
Subconscious mind meets subconscious mind in just a greeting or in Elizabeth case with Ann Patchet “a greeting kiss”. I was so fascinated by the whole scenario over the Amazon jungle novel. It does makes sense,and I have it seen it myself, writer to writer, writer to book, reading authors books … facinating stuff.
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This is totally an inspirational book, Elizabeth Gilbert actually reads the book herself and talks about many issues dealing with not being inspired in some way, the mental road blocks creatives encounter, the dreaded worry and fear that’s a death sentence to any creative person.
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Alot of inspirational quotes sprung up, infact this is definitely a one to read if any writer is feeling a writers block comming on, this will definately unblock the system, but not only writers, but any creative person.
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Because I was listening to this, I could only catch a few and jot them down, but it will give you an idea of what you are in for.
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Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you.
A creative life is an amplified life.
My fear became boring.
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5 star rating
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Recommended genre – Lifestyle/wellbeing/self- improvement
You guys. I recommended this book because it changed my life, and it will never be the same. Must read!
As a creative person, I turn to Big Magic for inspiration. It encourages me to continue to pursue my passion.
Excellent!!! Very inspiring especially for people in the arts
This audiobook is going on my yearly re-listen list.
One of my favorite books ever! If you want to be a writer, this book has inspiration and humor to propel you on your journey.
Big Magic hit a big home run with this girl.
First of all, I’ll start by saying that I’m a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert. I read and watched Eat, Pray, Love when I had just gone through my divorce and I felt like she was writing every single emotion I was feeling in that moment. She beautifully captured what I could not put into words no matter how hard I tried. Honestly, with the way she talks about big magic and creativity and inspiration, I’m convinced the universe told her to write that book so that someday I would read it and feel whole again.
But, back to the subject at hand.
I picked up Big Magic at the end of 2019 because a lot of my colleagues had been recommending it. I am SO glad I did. I read part of it and listened to part of it in audio. (her voice is SO SOOTHING, btw)
This is one of those books that reached deep down inside of me, grabbed me by the heart, and shook me until I woke up and paid attention. I will never forget reading it, nor will I forget the lessons it has taught me. One in particular that I will take with me forever is to “treat writing like an affair.” I absolutely LOVED that chapter!
The advice in this book is critical, honest, and pure. Gilbert doesn’t shy from the hard-to-hear and, even better, she doesn’t hold back on the inspiration we all need to keep going and creating.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to write a book, who is writing but struggling, who feels like they aren’t enough, or who is struggling with creation. It has changed many of my habits and ways of thinking, and for that, I am forever thankful — and forever in Gilbert’s debt.
Fantastic!
Wow, I did not expect to find myself as engaged or as touched by this book as I did. I must admit, I’ve never read anything by Elizabeth Gilbert before – I somehow managed to miss the Eat Pray Love train as it came roaring by – but I’m putting her fiction on my TBR list immediately because I’m now fully in love with her voice and her perspective. She speaks about creativity in a way I’ve never heard before, and it resonated so strongly with me, both as a person who is tangibly creative in my writing, and as a person who hopes to live creatively and fearlessly in all aspects of her life. Gilbert speaks about confronting fear and uncertainty head on, reminds you not to take yourself too seriously, and gently offers that life is, more than anything, beautiful and light and worth exploring, even if it leads to failure and mistakes. “We are terrified and we are brave”, she says, and I love that concept so very much.
Elizabeth Gilbert beautifully captures the fear and desire of creative endeavors, the need to step up and into one’s artistic being. So magical and inspiring.
Love her take on the creative process. I found it inspiring and plan on reading it many more times in the future
Absolutely essential for every creative out there (that’s you!!)
Read it! Deeply inspiring with truths that resonate.
Yes, just yes. Read it.
An inspirational book about the magic in creativity. All those aspiring to create whether it be writing or the arts should read this book.
This book completely changed my perspective on creativity! I was so in need of a new, healthier, lighter way of taking on this path, and this book gave me that at the exact right time. Big Magic indeed!
I really loved Gilbert’s insight into creativity. Some things I wildly agreed with, so much so that I felt I needed to get out some pompoms and cheer on the sideline. (Example: her recommendation to find ways to “fold in” creativity and making it a daily practice.) Other things I fervently disagreed with. (Example: her take on passion and its roll in creativity.) Despite this, I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone looking incorporate creativity into daily living.
Devoured this book on a “reset” vacation and it was exactly what my creative, entrepreneurial spirit needed. Underlined more passages than I can count! Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert for your words of encouragement and for sharing your take on inspiration.