El arte de crear / The Art of Creating

by Joseph Nguyen

Every person is born a creator, but the world has conditioned us to believe that we are not. Most of us are not fulfilled because we have forgotten who we truly are and what we were created to do — create.There is a reason that one of the most fulfilling, expansive, and healing actions we can do as humans is to create using our gifts.The reason many of us do not create is not that we don’t know how, but simply that we are afraid and think ourselves out of it, even though we know deep down it is what we want to be doing every single day.This book was designed not to help you learn how to create, but to help you unlearn and let go of everything that’s preventing you from freely creating art that is deeply healing, profound, and true to you.You already have this ability within you, and it is only a matter of time until you realize it. To live a creative life full of abundance, fulfillment, and joy, you don’t need to know everything.You don’t need to wait “until the time is right.” You don’t need to have it all figured out.You just need to start. Follow what feels expansive and aligned with you, and take the next step that you can see in front of you.This creative journey into the unknown completely transmutes your life into something beautifully unrecognizable.If this resonates with you at all, I’d truly be humbled and honored to guide you along the way to help you create art that is authentic and transformative for you and anyone who has the privilege of witnessing it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Writing, Audiobook

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Francisco]

The Art of Creating tries to offer ideas about creativity, but it feels vague, and the advice is obvious. Some quotes are good, but the analysis is not deep. It may help, but it's not for me. If you're looking for something to have on in the background (I tried it as an audiobook), it works, but it lacks substance.

[Marko]

Vjerujte sebi i svojoj intuiciji. To je najveća prednost koju imate kao umjetnik.

[Tina]

Bas i ne mogu reci da mi se svidjela, a ne želim biti gruba pa reci da je knjiga losa, jer nekome će sigurno koristiti.
Ne znam zašto, pri kupnji sam pogriješila misleći da je Nguyen neki monah i da ću pročitati nešto duboko i produhovljeno.

Kad je pisac počeo govoriti o materijalizaciji i pokazivanju stvorenog kroz društvene mreže, meni se sve ovo skupa srozalo u da ne kažem sto.

Ipak, dajem četvorku, jer današnji čovjek, plitak i glup kakav ipak jeste, može ovakvu knjigu iskoristiti kao odlično oruđe, da ispolji kreativnost i samog sebe, a tko sam ja da pljujem na to. Nek cvjeta tisuću cvjetova…

[Mp]

I enjoyed this as an audiobook I used my Audible credits for however would have been disappointed if I bought it. While the quotes and advice are inspiring and helpful, there weren’t enough examples or any evidence to support what he was claiming. Also, not a full guide, but I am using it as a place to start. My favorite part and what really spoke to me and my struggles to create is it’s less about learning the rules of creating something and more about unlearning the thoughts and beliefs about creating. He does mention he has the steps outlined on his website, but I don’t know if there’s more information there or the same information that’s in the book. Very introductory book.

[Paulina Alvarado]

Este es un libro muy lindo para ayudarte a encontrarte a tí mismo y desprenderte de cualquier pensamiento o limitante que te impida crear, a palabras del autor.

Me pareció una guía muy buena y muy acertada en cuanto a la publicación de tu propio arte (llamando así a cualquier tipo de creación) sin las limitantes que normalmente uno se pone por miedo a la aceptación social.

Sin embargo, me pareció que gran parte de esta información es muy lógica (al menos para mí), pues hubo momentos en los que sentía que era un tutorial de cómo subir un tiktok (por mencionar un tipo de publicación).

Es lindo porque motiva a creer en uno mismo a pesar de la poca o mucha confianza que uno tiene en sus creaciones. Pero si no tienes ya un proyecto en mente que puedas ir visualizando mientras avanzas en la lectura, te va a resultar un poco aburrido el contenido. Es bueno para visualizar, pero no para crear algo.

Reflexiones que me dejó este libro:
- Sufrimos cuando no somos capaces de ser y expresar nuestro verdadero yo.
- Muchos de nosotros creemos de forma errónea que carecemos de dones cuando en realidad simplemente no hemos regado la semilla lo suficiente y le hemos dado el tiempo necesario para que crezca y se convierta en un don que dé frutos.
- Lo importante no es conseguir que a todo el mundo le guste tu trabajo sino que sigas creando y compartiendo arte desde la versión más auténtica de ti mismo posible.
- Debes distinguir entre compartir tu trabajo porque quieres atención y elogios y compartir tu trabajo sin esperar nada a cambio (desde el amor incondicional).
- El mayor reto es el miedo a crear o pensar que tus creaciones no son lo suficientemente buenas.
- Si divides el proceso creativo en la acción más pequeña posible te liberas de la presión y puedes ponerte el movimiento.
- No puedes mejorar si estás muy ocupado preocupándote de lo que piensen los demás de tu arte.
- No necesitas validación externa para confirmar tu propia verdad y lo que sientes.
- Mantra o afirmación: Sigo mi intuición, creo para mí, aprovecho la inspiración y las ideas lo antes posible. Estoy muy en sintonía con mis emociones, mi energía y mi entorno.

[Adri Bolaños]

Sinceramente, este libro no me terminó de cerrar y me dejó pensando bastante. Es corto (se lee en una hora), y normalmente no soy tan exigente con libros cortos porque, si no te gustan, al menos no perdiste tanto tiempo.

Mi sensación es que está más pensado para personas que quieren dedicarse al arte de forma más “tradicional” (dibujar, pintar, etc). Aunque menciona que todos tenemos creatividad, hace mucho énfasis en que el arte no tiene que ser perfecto, sino que debe transmitir un sentimiento. Suena lindo, pero a mí me generó ruido.

Porque si todo arte tiene que tener un significado o emoción detrás, entonces deja de ser tan accesible como el libro plantea. Me hizo cuestionarme: toda creatividad es arte? Por ejemplo, si decoro mi agenda con colores de frutillas porque están en temporada, eso es creativo... pero ¿es arte? Según la lógica del libro, parecería que no, y ahí siento que se contradice un poco.

Además, tampoco me gustó que empuje bastante la idea de publicar tu arte en redes o pensar en venderlo. Entiendo el enfoque si querés dedicarte profesionalmente, pero siento que agrega una presión innecesaria para alguien que solo quiere crear por gusto.

En resumen: si querés dedicarte al arte, capaz te aporta. Si no, yo no lo leería.

[Bibliophile Bliss]

Just finished reading The Art of Creating by Joseph Nguyen and I honestly really enjoyed it. It’s not a big or heavy book, but somehow it says so much in such a calm, simple way. It really made me think about how we often hold ourselves back from creating, just because we’re scared we won’t get it “right.”

The book doesn’t try to teach you how to be creative or give you step by step advice. It’s more like a soft nudge, reminding you that you’ve always had it in you. It touches on things like fear, overthinking and that inner doubt we all deal with sometimes.

There were quite a few parts where I just stopped reading for a bit to let it sink in. It’s definitely the kind of book I’d pick up again when I’m feeling a little lost or stuck. A quiet, comforting read if you’re trying to find your creative flow again.

[Alexander]

Helpful book on connecting (or reconnecting) with your creative self

This is probably more useful than taking a class on art or writing. Nguyen presents a guide to overcoming creative blocks and reconnecting with the joys of creativity. Give this book a try if you’re an artist or writer struggling to gain momentum.

[Fabian Vazquez De La Tejera]

Este libro es ideal para quienes quieren comenzar en el arte. Muchos por intuición nacidos en una era de redes sociales ya han iniciado a publicar constantemente y por la afamada recomendación de las 10,000 horas o cantidad y luego calidad ya están en ese camino pero en sí Nguyen define excelentemente las ventajas de crear y compartirlo.

[Jane E.]

Just what I needed.

I loved that this book is short and to the point. Realizing that using my creativity is self care and taking incremental steps to include 'creating" every day will help me
develop a consistent creative practice. Thanks, Joseph!

[Garima Chhikara]

It is a breezy, easy-to-digest read that really taps into that creative spark which we all have inside. I particularly liked the exercises that help you figure out your creative niche and keep the momentum going. Definitely a motivating little book to help you get your art on without feeling overwhelmed.

[oopsie daisy]

It’s a simple and easy read. A lot of what he says makes sense but is also very generic and can be found in many other books. It’s a classic self help book, some parts are helpful others are overly spoken off.

[Grace Seabrook]

It’s not a big or heavy book, but somehow it says so much in such a calm, simple way. It really made me think about how we often hold ourselves back from creating, just because we’re scared we won’t get it “right.”

[Hakeem Ali]

Excellent book!

For me, reading this book was very timely. This book was both motivational and to the point. I am sure I'll read this book a few times to absorb its content.

[Ola]

create 🔨

Great book about creating whatever you want to create. It is easy to follow with step by step guidance. I finally got my creating juice back tjavks to this book.

[Bejinha]

Great on creativity and art.

[Nadia P Hassan]

Each one of us is a creator if you know... go read it amazing.

[Cruz Zamora]

wow! this literally SPOKE to me, it was gentle and firm all at the same time. thank you for this guide book filled with affirmations, platitudes, and reminders.

[Erika Rodriguez]

SO GOOD WOW

Read this and go forth feeling inspired!!! who needs the artist’s way when you have this quick and approachable push to creativity?

[glory.reads]

Could have gone my whole life without reading. Nothing notable. There are much better books on this topic out there.

[Rubina G Gomes]

A sweet, gentle motivating read for all creatives.

[María José]

Bien concisa la información

[Petricia]

Super knjiga, nije predebela, sadrži sve najvažnije o poticaju kreativnosti a spominje se i kreativna blokada, kao i rješenje za nju. Uglavnom, skupina natuknica kako postati kreativniji, odnosno, probuditi svoju umjetničku stranu i zadržavati ju, kako ispoljavati svoje osjećaje kroz umjetnost, kako se nositi s kritikama publike te kako predstaviti svoja djela, kako se nositi s kreativnom ("spisateljskom") blokadom i slični savjeti. Svakako korisna knjižica, makar bi služila i kao podsjetnik. Laka je za čitanje, može ju se pročitati u 1 dan.