7 Non-fiction bibles for Creative People

Dear readers,

I truly believe that creativity is a way of life and not something that belongs to writers, musicians, designers and artists of any kind.

I believe all artists need some chess in their lives. Whether it's meticulous editing after free writing or copious plot planning chapter to chapter, there is balance. If you delve into the lives of most creative people who were able to make it work and not lose themselves to the 27 club, they would have achieved a yin-yang of some kind.

Likewise, I know having a business or being in sales and marketing or a social media marketing can be the most creative of things. Even otherwise, office-goers find solace in their daily workout or a game of golf. Even the yearly holiday is some semblance of a balancing of things.

If you're a creative being looking to balance things out or even the other way round, here are some books to help you get started:

This beautiful book on ikigai explores well-researched concepts which help us live a happy and meaningful life. Its cover makes it a work of art to have lying around.

The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma changed my life. I have gained 3+ hours everyday. Ready to plunge in?

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

A course you do yourself, with the book to guide you. Also an online course now.

Focus Free by Leo Babauta, all about minimalism. Here is a free version of the book. Click the title to read it online and the author to read his personal blog which I religiously follow.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – for a brute force solution, when the deadline looms and no creative hacks work. Do The Work, also a book by Pressfield about fighting creative resistance.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – an Eat, Pray, Love journey within. Here is a Ted talk by Gilbert in the same vein.

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

I envisioned this post before reading Austin Kleon and having read this book, it is amazing how much synchronicity I found between his ideas and mine. A short fun book, read it while on a break.