positivelybooks's review against another edition
3.0
"Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?" Gilbert asks her readers to ponder this question in "Big Magic." Whether you think that you hold creative treasures or not, Gilbert argues that we all have creative treasures that are hidden within ourselves and that it is up to us to push through our creative fear and let those treasures shine.
"Big Magic" has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. After months of adding it to my TBR, I finally got a chance to listen to the audiobook this month, and I'm so glad that I did. Through honest and engaging prose, Gilbert provides insightful wisdom on how to embrace creative living through five essential ingredients: courage, enchantment, permission, persistence, and trust. She explores each of these ingredients by sharing stories that demonstrate both her successes and failures while incorporating lessons, habits, mindsets, and approaches that any reader can use to harness their courage and embrace creativity. This includes all aspects of creativity, not just artistic creativity.
If you're feeling in a creative rut or are looking to add more creativity to your life, I recommend this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read! Especially the audiobook. I loved listening to Gilbert narrate her own book. It brings the stories, experiences, and advice that she shares to life in an honest and humble way. While a quick read, this book packs so many insightful lessons onto the pages that encourage readers to live a life that is "driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear."
"Big Magic" has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. After months of adding it to my TBR, I finally got a chance to listen to the audiobook this month, and I'm so glad that I did. Through honest and engaging prose, Gilbert provides insightful wisdom on how to embrace creative living through five essential ingredients: courage, enchantment, permission, persistence, and trust. She explores each of these ingredients by sharing stories that demonstrate both her successes and failures while incorporating lessons, habits, mindsets, and approaches that any reader can use to harness their courage and embrace creativity. This includes all aspects of creativity, not just artistic creativity.
If you're feeling in a creative rut or are looking to add more creativity to your life, I recommend this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read! Especially the audiobook. I loved listening to Gilbert narrate her own book. It brings the stories, experiences, and advice that she shares to life in an honest and humble way. While a quick read, this book packs so many insightful lessons onto the pages that encourage readers to live a life that is "driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear."
lily5678's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I read the first half in one sitting, but then it got repetitive. Gilberts views on creativity seem almost religious, which gets weird at times. But it's definitely inspiring!
kirstenvt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
rebecanunez's review against another edition
3.0
Me encanta la visión del libro. Derriba un montón de prejuicios falsos. Es genial como uno puede identificarse con un montón de las inquietudes de la autora. No se asusten, no es un libro de autoayuda. Recomendado!
emilykathleenwrites's review against another edition
5.0
"Upteenth." A made-up word my mother used to signify an uncountable number. "For the umpteenth time, Clean up your room!"
I have read Big Magic an umpteenth number of times.
I have it on audio and a heavenly highlighted hardcover.
Stories of painted oxes, bicycles, and artists showing up to a fancy aristocratic ball dressed as lobsters pop into my head when I need them. They remind me to take my art seriously, but not SERIOUSLY.
I turn to this book at the start of each new project to remind me not to quit before things get interesting.
I have read Big Magic an umpteenth number of times.
I have it on audio and a heavenly highlighted hardcover.
Stories of painted oxes, bicycles, and artists showing up to a fancy aristocratic ball dressed as lobsters pop into my head when I need them. They remind me to take my art seriously, but not SERIOUSLY.
I turn to this book at the start of each new project to remind me not to quit before things get interesting.
golis's review against another edition
4.0
I love when I finish a book that leaves a good vibe, this was like having a long chat with a very interesting friend, full of entertaining stories and encouragement to everyone with a creative itch, so everybody.
“Don’t quit when it starts to get interesting” Big Magic
“Don’t quit when it starts to get interesting” Big Magic
kandisteiner's review against another edition
5.0
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.
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.
nancyinoregon's review against another edition
4.0
I don't really believe in fate, but I pretend to myself I do, because it's often easier than making choices and taking responsibility for every last detail of my life. If making a change feels right and falls into place without much effort, hey! It was meant to be.
Similarly, I don't believe Elizabeth's Gilbert's claim that ideas have a life of their own, that there are external geniuses and muses that we should try to enlist as allies to make us creative. But it's a wonderful way to remove your own ego from the creative process, and everything that goes with the ego--fear of failure, fear of not getting another good idea, obsession with success, being uncomfortable with becoming successful, being able to let go of ideas that don't seem to work out, what have you.
I do believe in the sociology of knowledge--that novel ideas and theories in science and elsewhere are often thought up at nearly the same time by more than one person because the body of shared knowledge has reached the right point to trigger them. I'm not sure this applies to areas such as plots for novels. But I'm happy to believe in it, because it frees me up to work creatively and enjoy it without nagging doubts and fears.
So I don't agree with the reviews that claim Elizabeth Gilbert is on another ego trip writing about herself. Rather the opposite--she is showing how she has managed to keep her ego out of it and stay creative. The book is written in a very conversational and engaging tone, though at some point the "trust me" and "believe me" phrases started to pop out--there are a lot of 'em.
Similarly, I don't believe Elizabeth's Gilbert's claim that ideas have a life of their own, that there are external geniuses and muses that we should try to enlist as allies to make us creative. But it's a wonderful way to remove your own ego from the creative process, and everything that goes with the ego--fear of failure, fear of not getting another good idea, obsession with success, being uncomfortable with becoming successful, being able to let go of ideas that don't seem to work out, what have you.
I do believe in the sociology of knowledge--that novel ideas and theories in science and elsewhere are often thought up at nearly the same time by more than one person because the body of shared knowledge has reached the right point to trigger them. I'm not sure this applies to areas such as plots for novels. But I'm happy to believe in it, because it frees me up to work creatively and enjoy it without nagging doubts and fears.
So I don't agree with the reviews that claim Elizabeth Gilbert is on another ego trip writing about herself. Rather the opposite--she is showing how she has managed to keep her ego out of it and stay creative. The book is written in a very conversational and engaging tone, though at some point the "trust me" and "believe me" phrases started to pop out--there are a lot of 'em.
lorelrea's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this and felt so called out by it. I read this at the perfect time in my life and I am so inspired.