The Artist's Way

A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

By: Julia Cameron

Narrated by: Julia Cameron

Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The Artist's Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international best seller, millions have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist's life. Still as vital today, or perhaps even more so, than it was when it was first published one decade ago, it is a powerfully provocative and inspiring work.

In a new introduction to the book, Julia Cameron reflects upon the impact of The Artist's Way and describes the work she has done during the last decade and the new insights into the creative process that she has gained. Updated and expanded, this anniversary edition reframes The Artist's Way for a new century.

©1997 Julia Cameron (P)1997, 2005 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"This book has been around for a long time, and I hope it sticks around forever. It guides the reader through a fascinating (and fun) 12-week-long program of exercises and explorations that help loosen up one’s artistic self. It takes you on a journey that will cost you nothing (aside from the guidebook) and it brings much insight, gently helping you see what is holding you back, and showing you how to move forward. Three times in the last decade I've committed to doing The Artist's Way's program, and each time I've learned something important and surprising about myself and my work. Just to show how influential it's been to me - the first time I did the program, I had decided by end of it that I wanted to 1) travel to Italy and learn Italian, 2) Go to an Ashram in India, and 3) Return to Indonesia to study with the old medicine man I'd once met there. We all know what THAT decision led to.... Without The Artist's Way, there would have been no Eat, Pray, Love.” (Elizabeth Gilbert)

“The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is not exclusively about writing - it is about discovering and developing the artist within whether a painter, poet, screenwriter or musician - but it is a lot about writing. If you have always wanted to pursue a creative dream, have always wanted to play and create with words or paints, this book will gently get you started and help you learn all kinds of paying-attention techniques; and that, after all, is what being an artist is all about. It’s about learning to pay attention.” (Anne Lamott, Mademoiselle)

“The premise of the book is that creativity and spirituality are the same thing, they come from the same place. And we were created to use this life to express our individuality, and that over the course of a lifetime that gets beaten out of us. [The Artist's Way] helped me put aside my fear and not worry about whether the record would be commercial.” (Grammy award-winning singer Kathy Mattea)

For the blocked Creative

I did not expect this book to resonate the way it did. I felt like Julia Cameron was peering into my soul. Required reading for any aspiring artist. And any artist not yet brave enough to call themself aspiring.

Very Helpful

Would you listen to The Artist's Way again? Why?

The methods in The Artist's Way are worth revisiting many times.

What did you like best about this story?

Julia Cameron's daily work was described clearly and the results were awesome!

Great

love this very helpful for struggling artists and creative types and anyone who needs focus

Great and disappointing at the same time

3.5 stars for the audiobook
5+ stars for The Artist’s Way itself


The concepts and tasks in the Artist’s Way worked wonders for me. Hearing Julia Cameron teach the course on the audiobook is a wonderful experience.

However, I dislike two things about the audiobook.

One: the audiobook is an abridgment. Having read the text and listened to the audiobook, the missing parts seem to consist of the anecdotes. I found the anecdotes useful and was sorry they were excluded. But I’d also say their absence would not prevent anyone from using the audiobook to go through the course and get something out of it.

Two: I disliked the format of this audiobook. Rather than consisting of one chapter for each week, the audiobook consists of three chapters. So if you’re on Week 6 and want to revisit Week 2, it’s not easy to jump back to it. This is a minor thing and does not lessen the impact of the content.

Inspiring

I will have to give it another listen but overall Julia points things out in a perspective that I never really thought of. Definitely will get you thinking. I see why this has been popular since the 90’s.

Great, but really needs to be broken down by weeks

The audio version is fantastic. I’m glad I finally read this book. However, it really, really needs to be broken down in chapters by week. There’s no easy way to go back and find the week you need. The 3 chapters they use to separate are random and not spoken in the text, so you have no idea when you’ve gone into a new chapter, but you do know when you’ve gone from week to week.

All of that being said, the information in here is amazing and spot on. I’m grateful this book was made and the method is timeless.

so helpful to any creative spirit

I loved it. this book helped me to dive back into my art in a healthy and meaningful way.

Amazing!

I truly truly love this book! it was so inspiring and informative! Amazing strategy and insight! Thank you! Namaste!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

thank you, just thank you. She is a beautiful writer, so it’s easy to listen to and so, so grounding. Like an educational lullaby!

Absolutely Love This Book!

I learned so many things while listening to this amazing book. I will be listening to it again, when I need inspiration or lose my way. I listened to it super slow so that I could absorb every magical word. So thankful for this author. Bravo!!!