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創造力的修行:打開一切可能

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一個不會任何樂器,也不懂得使用錄音控台的人, 卻能贏得八座葛萊美獎,被歐美音樂界的巨星視為「傳奇」。 我不懂音樂,但我很了解自己要的是什麼。 ────《創造力的修行:打開一切可能》作者 里克・魯賓   紐約時報暢銷書排行榜 第一名 亞馬遜暢銷書排行榜 創意類 第一名 亞馬遜暢銷書排行榜 大眾心理學類 第一名 亞馬遜暢銷書排行榜 全分類 第四名 蟬聯十六週 |天神級音樂製作人,公開自己窮極一生累積的心法| 我的初衷,是要寫一本如何創造偉大藝術的書。 然而它揭露了自己, 變成了一本關於如何「活著」的書。 其中有些想法可能引起共鳴, 也有一些可能不會。 有些可能喚醒你內心原本已遭遺忘的 某種認識。 有益的,加以利用。 至於其他,就放手。
如果世界上的萬事萬物,都是創作的「材料」,我們可以怎麼妥善地運用它們?
在橫跨四十年的音樂製作生涯裡,里克・魯賓不但是葛萊美獎的常勝軍,也是許多知名音樂人心中一等一的大師(guru)。然而,他之所以受到人們的推崇,並不單單因為他能製作風格千變萬化的專輯,而是他有辦法引領與之合作的音樂人,突破自己的界限,感受創作的「本質」。
透過觀察過各種創作者的工作方式與困境,以及他們感知世界的方式之後,里克・魯賓歸納出一種找回原始、純真創作狀態的「修行」──他以輕巧、睿智的筆觸,談論一個人的聽覺、耐性、感知、潛意識、觀察力⋯⋯是如何與一個人的創造力息息相關,而那樣的創造力,又會如何形塑一個人的人生。
《創造力的修行:打開一切可能》是一本關乎創造力的書,卻也不止於此;里克・魯賓是在利用「創造力」這把鑰匙,開啟生命的可能性。
聯名推薦
小湛──Azure Mulo 《靈界運作》作者 小樹──Streetvoice音樂頻道總監 王昱辰──音樂製作人 血肉果汁機──樂團 吳柏蒼──回聲樂團主唱 美秀集團──樂團 陳君豪──音樂製作人 黃少雍──音樂製作人 雷擎──鼓手/創作歌手 韓立康──吉他手/音樂製作人 鐘穎──心理學作家/愛智者書窩主持人 (按照姓名筆畫排序)
各界盛讚
里克美妙地捕捉到了創造力的神聖但又普世的實踐。當有人將我們所知但可能不理解的東西賦予聲音或形狀時,我覺得非常有力量。來自任何領域的設計師都會發現里克的話深深鼓舞和激勵人心。────蘋果公司首席設計長 強尼・艾夫
對我來說,這本書真的像是一本稀有的長銷書⋯⋯這是一本我希望在我二十五歲時就擁有在書架上的書。這是一本我會送給二十五歲的人的書。也許這會是一本最棒的畢業禮物。────《蘋果橘子經濟學》作者 史蒂芬・李維特
這是一本關於創作、創新以及藝術工作的美麗且鼓舞人心的藝術品。它將使各地的作家和藝術家感到欣慰,並以新的意義和方向重新開始工作。這是一本令人驚嘆的成就。────《紐約時報》暢銷作家 安‧拉莫特
對里克來說,藝術是自我實現的最終形式,一種豐富靈魂的高等呼喚⋯⋯那麼,一個藝術家如何從概念走向創作呢?里克有條理地闡述了這個過程,提供了鼓勵、靈感和建議的混合體⋯⋯他寫了一本充滿深度思考、洞見,且充滿創意的迷人書籍。────洛杉磯時報
一本卓越的著作。它給了如此的啟示:即便所有情況都對不利於我們的時候,宇宙依然會對我們展露微笑。────華爾街日報
這本書是對創造過程的美麗沉思。里克透過七十八種思考領域,分享他對創造力的看法;這反過來又反映了他看待世界的方式⋯⋯他以易於理解的方式解釋了這些深奧的哲學理念,寫得非常出色。────潮流雜誌 COMPLEX

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2023

26755 people are currently reading
227662 people want to read

About the author

Rick Rubin

25 books1,193 followers
Rick Rubin is an American record executive and record producer. He is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.

Rubin helped popularise hip hop by producing records for acts such as the Beastie Boys, Geto Boys, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, and LL Cool J. He has also produced hit records for acts from a variety of other genres, predominantly heavy metal, alternative rock, hard rock, nu-metal, and country.

In 2007, Rubin was called "the most important producer of the last 20 years" by MTV and was named on Time's list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".

His debut book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, was published in January 2023.

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5 stars
34,016 (40%)
4 stars
25,086 (29%)
3 stars
15,671 (18%)
2 stars
6,103 (7%)
1 star
3,286 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,915 reviews
Profile Image for Jack Edwards.
Author 1 book300k followers
August 29, 2024
I heard Jacob Collier say "I don't believe [Rick Rubin's] audience is creative people. I think his audience is people who aren't creative, for whom creativity is novel" and now my entire perception of this book is refracted through that lens

Some great one-liners but this reads like a book of quotes and quips with padding around them, and suggests one specific way to be 'creative'. Any truly, innately creative person would not confine themselves to this ideology, and so emerges two different types of people: those who are creative by nature and those who believe creativity is frivolous, the antithesis of work. By pandering to the latter, this unfortunately fails to provide much useful advice. There's a definite disconnect between creative people and the target audience for this book, The Creative Act.
Profile Image for Kaleigh.
265 reviews129 followers
January 28, 2023
For such a beautiful and thick book, the content is surprisingly empty. The chapters are each 2-4 pages and between each one is a one or two line snippet, an ersatz proverb about creativity. For example, I opened a random page and the only text reads, “Sometimes disengaging is the best way to engage.” A lot of the advice is kind of eye-rolling and obvious, like it wants to be a Buddhist text so bad. But it’s not all bad. If you’re down on yourself about creating, I can see it being helpful to flip open to a random page and really remind yourself that creation is a holistic process that ebbs and flows. I would recommend Rob Walker’s The Art of Noticing for more practical advice about getting out of a creative rut while you enjoy this one’s pep-talk to your spirit.
Profile Image for Alice LeFae.
Author 4 books24 followers
July 12, 2023
absolutely insufferable. "my appendix burst but then I flipped a book by a medical quack open to a random page and it said not to get your body parts removed so I still have my appendix" yeah ok buddy.
Skeevy vibes abound. Gave the impression of a man who has been incredibly lucky and now thinks he is a creative prophet.
If you can make it through the nauseating, crunchy granola word salad, you might find a few nuggets but I promise you it's nothing you can't find by simply logging on to Pinterest.
Profile Image for Abiigaiilll.
41 reviews13 followers
July 16, 2023
men who take lsd for the first time and “discover” emotions
Profile Image for Tomes And Textiles.
395 reviews804 followers
February 8, 2023
Rick Rubin stans, let's fight. What was the purpose of this book? Is Rick trying to start a cult and recruit new followers?

The Creative Act was line after line after line of superficial inspirational quotes written by Rubin that were interspersed with *checks notes* inspirational quotes written by others. It's not to say that there weren't really beautiful and inspirational things said, it's that they were said in a vacuum with no reason to exist except that it's author is really famous and given the room to espouse inspirational advice.

For someone with such vastly artistic output across literal decades and genres, this book was hollow and insufferably pretentious. The emotional distance of his written advice greatly differed from the description of his process on 60 Minutes.

I expected more than just a cash grab.

PS--for those who listen on audio: 1.) it's narrated by Rick and 2.) the cult reference above has to do with the chiming bell at every pause in the audiobook.
Profile Image for Michael.
326 reviews19 followers
March 13, 2023
Very few people here (thankfully) have trashed this book as superficial. It isn't. It instead represents a deeply profound and inspirational way of being, especially for those of us who create for a living. Knowing why we do what we do, how we do it, and why it matters is NOT superficial. It's the very essence of us, the truth of us, and Rick Rubin lays it down magnificently.

Let's face it. Anything that delves deep into the ineffable (e.g., what the heart of "creativity" is) is going to be met with some resistance. Mocked for being "hippy-dippy" or some such thing. Bullshit. Because it's the ineffable that makes us human. Feeling something so profoundly that adequate explanations are both impossible and futile.

If you disagree, try explaining to someone why you love a certain person. Or a certain color. Or a certain poem, pet, painting, food, place, or piece of music. Sure, you'll be able to come up with some kind of explanation, though it won't come close to the totality of what you feel for that person or thing. Because when you feel something is true, when you know it's true, no explanation is sufficient. And that, my friends, is what this book taps into. And why I will be returning to it time and time again. Loved it.
Profile Image for Ari Kendra.
54 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2023
Clouds make water, pear trees make pears… and Rick Rubin makes lukewarm watered down parallels between Buddhism, basic psychoanalysis, and the creative process.
Profile Image for Liong.
326 reviews574 followers
December 19, 2024
I chose to read this book after noticing it among the top 10 sellers in a local bookstore.

Yes, I judged it by its cover as I often do. (Don’t follow my advice on that!) 😅

The book inspires readers to embrace creativity as a fundamental part of their lives, not merely as a tool for producing art or achieving specific outcomes.

It helps us see life in a new way, teaching us to enjoy it more, accept our mistakes, and discover all the good things life has to offer.

Remember, creativity is a journey, not a destination.

Embrace the process and, most importantly, have fun with it!

What’s even more impressive? 🤩

The author, Rick Rubin, has won nine Grammy Awards and collaborated with some of the most iconic artists of our time, including Adele, Lady Gaga, Tom Petty, Kanye West, and many others.
1 review1 follower
January 17, 2023
Is this Rick Ruben’s magnum opus; Or, is the best still to come?

The clear message in the Creative Act – a way of being, is; creativity belongs to everyone. It starts with a warning and invitation to a new way of being. Flip to any page for nuggets or full drumsticks of wisdom. Some of the creative mechanisms are familiar and some seem downright nutty, like beating a pillow for five minutes straight. It’s kind of a self-help book that doesn’t read anything like a self-help book. Not a step-by-step recipe, but rather a set of ingredients that one combines for a variety of multi-course meals in creativity. Not something to read once, but to revisit when one is stuck. Imagine if, in notes to friends; arrangements of furniture; holidays; passion projects; family or professional life – the Creative Act was an option. Ruben reminds us that many of life’s moments present occasions for creative expressions. A way of being that can be enhanced by turning into – Source; Not a thing per se, but more of an idea-essence-active-practice. The seeds for creativity exist in abundance if we learn to seek them out. Rick Rubin has produced many of the great musical productions of our generation. In the Creative Act, Rubin has curated experiences and deep knowledge about creative practices into a charcuterie of snacks or meals that require no particular sequence. This book is fun, quirky, and complex with its many patterns, paths, crescendos, and decrescendos that might not hit you on the first read. Look again and you’ll notice there are no numbered chapters, instead 78 areas of thought about creativity. In between most of the areas of thought are pithy quotes that speak as much to sub-consciousness as they do to creativity. It doesn’t need to be read in-order from start to finish, rather each bite can stand on its own. It activates memories, marvels, and even bit of mania about what most of us have been missing. The Creative Act is a seed for more of us to pursue a way of being where creativity is the first option. This book is what many schools have lost – a guide to a way of being that is sure to produce more ways of being - An opus indeed. It will be required reading for my students. *****

Graham Strickert, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Environment and Sustainability
Global Institute for Water Security
University of Saskatchewan
Profile Image for Mariano Avila.
2 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2023
a few good pieces of advice for artists but mostly fake deep bullshit. i expected more
Profile Image for PD Penley.
39 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2023
Fantastic, deep, universal truths when you're ready to hear them. This is an easy read front-to-back, but it doesn't feel meant necessarily to be taken in as a traditional "book". It's more a collection of proverb-like, concise observations about art, creativity, and life in general. The audiobook version read by Rubin is wonderful and meditative. After reading through initially, I plan to return to this book over and again and use it as a background sound to my day-to-day. I expect the lesson I need to hear will find me when it needs to.

If you read one book on creativity, it should be this one.
Profile Image for Lou.
260 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2023
Immediately stopped reading this when the author claims he didn’t have a burst appendix removed because of something he randomly found in an Andrew Weil book.
Profile Image for Lucas.
28 reviews8 followers
March 27, 2023
Not only will it have you roll your eyes at how mundane his “insights” are, his approach to telling you about them will bore you to sleep.

Comically bad.
Profile Image for Meike.
Author 1 book5,070 followers
May 4, 2023
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Music legend Rick Rubin seems to divide opinion with this one - and I can see why. In the book, he explains how he tackles the creative process, and how he has been helping artists to start, develop and finish their works when they encountered roadblocks - and his methods have obviously been excessively effective. But of course, to be open to Rubin's approach, you have to be open to his Buddhist attitude, so meditation, mindfulness, exercises, etc. - and that's not everyone's cup of tea.

I'm also torn, as I'm the kind of person who finds gongs between chapters aggravating (I listened to the audio book). Still, Rubin's book achieves what it aims at: Readers get a sense of the great producer's thinking and work habits. Not all of his ideas are groundbreakingly new, but that doesn't mean they're wrong (the structure is slightly meandering and partly repetitive though).

Now my creativity peaks when I imagine Rubin trying to teach James Hetfield, Julian Casablancas, and Flavor Flav mindfulness. :-)
Profile Image for Howard.
2,142 reviews123 followers
February 5, 2023
5 Stars for The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin read by the author.

This is the techniques that he has developed and used over decades to help musicians be more creative. Ultimately Rick Rubin has been a big part of creating some of the greatest music of all time. I’m kind of confused by some of the poor ratings this book has gotten. I understand that it may be hard for the average person to implement these techniques into their daily lives but these are the ways that really creative people become more creative.
Profile Image for Brett Strickland.
147 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2023
Surprisingly boring. Seemed like something a college freshman would write after discovering Zen Buddhism. Too bad because I’ve always been curious about Rick Rubin. Almost stopped a couple times but then he’d say something halfway interesting and I’d keep going. Feel kind of bad saying that because I can see a certain type of person or a high schooler reading this for the first time and it all sounding new, but it just felt like a lot of empty phrases and basic, recycled ideas dressed up as depth. Not for me.
Profile Image for David Healy.
30 reviews2 followers
January 22, 2023
Don't know why I thought this would be more technical.
I forgot Rubin is more wizard than scientist.
Profile Image for Cristóbal Angulo Rivero.
153 reviews1,651 followers
November 29, 2025
Es un 2/10 y siendo generoso. Es un libro de autoayuda con boina y que bebe cafés de especialidad.
No he visto cosa más vacías en los días de mi vida. Es un compendio de frases medianamente grandilocuentes sobre crear y hacer arte que no sirven para nada. Los ejemplos son lava y mistifica el proceso creativo como si estuviera a punto de fundar una religión. "La Fuente" podría ser un tipo de Investidura de Sanderson, qué me estás contando.
No sé con quién ha empatao este pavo o a quién se la ha chupado para que esto tenga la crítica y las ventas que tiene, pero oye a veces yo no soy tan listo como creía y me como mojonazos de esta calaña. 400 páginas en las que 350 me he planteado dejarlo y no lo he hecho solo por principios. Aporta lo mismo que la clase de Religión en la ESO pero no me lleva a excursiones chulas a final de curso. Es un viaje sideral, sí, porque navegamos el texto inmersos en el vacío más profundo. La definición de juntaletras, espero que produzca bien porque lo que es escribir libros no es lo suyo. Es el mensaje para tazas de mister wonderful más largo que leí en mi vida
Profile Image for #AskMissPatience.
224 reviews29 followers
December 16, 2025
Real work of an artists is a way of being in the world - Rick Rubin

Level up your taste …

What I dig about The Creative Act: A Way of Being so early on is how applicable each comment is in totality. Mr Rubin is speaking to all levels of creativity … even if you’re at the furthest from where you wanna be this book provides applicable starting points. Regardless of where the reader is in their trek.

The difference between this book and The Artists Way is Mr. Rubin’s book does not feel like a chore. As though I need to add one more pile of tasks to the day to stir creativity.

The ideas offered are useful. Stimulating. Tip filled. Less militant compared to how Ms. Cameron’s work came across. Just that, as work.

This said, I’ve met people who swear by The Artists Way.

The largest difference for me, this book feels instantly functional. Practicable. Worth rereading. Which I’m very interested in doing. There’s many points worth revisiting. Practicing. Employing. Sharing.

This first read vibes more of an overview, for me. Due to being SO juicy. Applicable. Tangible while being imaginary at the same time. Stimulating my thoughts into new ideas or fine tuning steps.

Borrowed from the library on Libby audio. It’s very popular requiring waiting a few months. Or, getting a copy for yourself to reread :)

If you’re not a member this is a free 30 day Audible listen. If you’ve got a stack of tokens like me 👇🏼
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0B3L2T9W5...

The author is the narrator. Worth visiting within interviews. YouTube is full of them. Search the authors name for more depth of Mr. Rubin’s ideas worth knowing.

A fun addition on audio, Mr. Rubin using a meditation chime to divide parts of the book. These are a means of supporting a break or pause in thought. Helps one reset mentally for the next chunk of new info. For me, added to the experience listening since I’m familiar with this practice and its helpfulness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for nathan.
692 reviews1,351 followers
July 10, 2024
this is the kind of book a finance bro has on their glass dupe noguchi coffee table to seem "well read" when they actually know absolutely nothing about art, where it comes from or how it's made.

this will also not get you out of a creative slump. if anything, it makes the slump seem murkier in an undefinable magnitude.

i think the major takeaway from this is that Warhol used to create and craft with three different things going on: a TV, a radio, and another form of moving media just to distract him enough to focus on his work which made me lol

for those who actually want to get out of creative slumps, i recommend looking at the love of art like Laing's Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency. there you go you're welcome
Profile Image for Ally Von Wallis.
5 reviews
June 20, 2023
I’m devastated I wasted an audible credit on this pseudo-philosophical garbage. The perfect example of text that literally says nothing - the most empty book I’ve ever read.
Profile Image for madison.
31 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2024
maaaaaaaan, i wanted to enjoy this so bad but these were thoughts i had when i was 13
Profile Image for Joachim Stoop.
954 reviews887 followers
April 27, 2023
I'm sorry but if I would have encountered most of these inspirational quotes -albeit true, motivational and even beautiful- without further context, I would've thought they were from an Instagram-page by an avatar named Buddhism for the West, or Creative creatures or Dialy inspirations.

For example::

"When the listener is totally present, the speaker often communicates differently. Most people aren’t used to being fully heard, and it can be jarring for them."
...
"Formulating an opinion is not listening. Neither is preparing a response, or defending our position or attacking another’s. To listen impatiently is to hear nothing at all."

Duh! It doesn't reach further than the wisdom put on kitchen tiles or google images with sunrise backgrounds. Maybe Rubin can start a cult with Paulo Coelho?
Profile Image for Carter Vliem.
8 reviews2 followers
April 19, 2023
I think this book was just his way of emptying out his tweet drafts.
Profile Image for Larina.
50 reviews6 followers
May 9, 2023
Judging by all the praise this book got, a lot of people would be really angry with my review, but I feel that this work is a classic case of a “naked king”. And I feel that the most appreciative audience for it would be either those who are only starting their creative journeys or those who are establishing themselves is gurus of creativity and are striving to be “meta”.

I can’t imagine it being actually helpful for anyone who’s been in creative fields for a while and are still doing the work daily.

Also: extremely boring.
Profile Image for Courtney.
388 reviews17 followers
June 27, 2024
I stumbled upon this book while scrolling through my library’s reading app. Attracted to the simple cover design and title—and not noticing the name of the author—I borrowed it. I expected to read a few pages and return it, as this is a common pattern with ebooks and me; instead, I was immediately hooked.

Rick Rubin’s short chapters on artists and creativity were truly inspiring. The book was filled with such wisdom, and spirituality while never feeling overly preachy—though maybe that’s because I fully believe in everything he wrote.

I also started listening to the audiobook a couple of days ago, and I slowed down his voice to make it feel like more of a meditation. I appreciate how he uses a singing bowl to end each section. That’s a sound that always puts me at ease.

I am definitely going to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf. I’m filing it in with my favourite books of all-time.

Absolutely beautiful.

Update June 27, 2024: I am now the proud owner of a copy of this book. #WorthTheWait #OnlyBuyMyFavouriteBooks #UseTheLibraryForEverythingElse
Profile Image for Jan Agaton.
1,410 reviews1,602 followers
December 18, 2023
this is exactly the non-fiction i needed at this time in my life & this time in the year where burnout & imposter syndrome are constantly rearing their stupid little heads. at first i will admit i thought it was going to be all "woo-woo" but there were so many lines that resonated with me by the end & i feel rejuvenated in terms of my creativity. some lines made me realize how many things I'm surprisingly doing right but also taught me some new mindsets & techniques to look forward to applying to my personal creative process.
a lot of these sections also reminded me of my favorite college course years ago: art history. i literally want to contact my professor and recommend this book to him.

as a monetized content creator for my full-time job as well as my side gig as a booktuber, this book was incredibly helpful and i will absolutely be looking back at some of my tabs, notes, highlights, AND dog-ears (which is rare for me to do unless a quote reallyyy hits!).
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