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The Book of Doing and Being: Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work
With clarity, humor, and insight, award-winning filmmaker Barnet Bain guides readers to unlock the raw power of the creative self. Sharing creativity principles and practices at the leading edge, The Book of Doing and Being offers a life-altering map for stepping beyond what we already know and into a dimension of imagination from which innovation is born.
Known for his inspiring movies and documentaries, as well as his popular creativity workshops, Barnet Bain makes available his teachings for the first time in book form. Discover how will and action come together with imagination and feeling to form the very foundation of creativity by working with this treasury of more than forty transformative exercises. Each one is designed to spark new creative connections by challenging our usual ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving.
These lessons, tools, and techniques serve to unlock great reservoirs of creativity in every individual, whether it’s jumpstarting or completing a project, launching a new business, creating a work of art, experiencing more fulfilling relationships, or making other dreams come true. Bain’s motivational guidance includes: rewiring your brain to unleash ultra-creativity; finding freedom from self-criticism, perfectionism, and other obstructions to productivity and creative expression; harnessing the two forces of creativity: inspiration and action; discovering your emotions as the doorway to creative aliveness and ingenuity; and heeding the call of your Real Work, regardless of age, education, or experience.
Step by step, you will make the discovery of a lifetime: how to stop being ruled by your past and start consciously creating your present and future. You will be surprised and energized—by your next creative impulse, the next idea that excites you, the next experience that moves you—and you will live a creative life.
Known for his inspiring movies and documentaries, as well as his popular creativity workshops, Barnet Bain makes available his teachings for the first time in book form. Discover how will and action come together with imagination and feeling to form the very foundation of creativity by working with this treasury of more than forty transformative exercises. Each one is designed to spark new creative connections by challenging our usual ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving.
These lessons, tools, and techniques serve to unlock great reservoirs of creativity in every individual, whether it’s jumpstarting or completing a project, launching a new business, creating a work of art, experiencing more fulfilling relationships, or making other dreams come true. Bain’s motivational guidance includes: rewiring your brain to unleash ultra-creativity; finding freedom from self-criticism, perfectionism, and other obstructions to productivity and creative expression; harnessing the two forces of creativity: inspiration and action; discovering your emotions as the doorway to creative aliveness and ingenuity; and heeding the call of your Real Work, regardless of age, education, or experience.
Step by step, you will make the discovery of a lifetime: how to stop being ruled by your past and start consciously creating your present and future. You will be surprised and energized—by your next creative impulse, the next idea that excites you, the next experience that moves you—and you will live a creative life.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2015
50 people are currently reading
1621 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 8, 2017
This was a book I went into with high hopes (anything with creativity written on the cover tends to generate high hopes), but ended after four chapters in sad disappointment.
I read the front and back covers and pictured a book full of fun creative exercises to tap into the right brain. Draw a picture of a tree, write a poem, compose a song, etc.
Instead, 'The Book of Doing and Being' proved to be a new age prescription for unlocking hidden energies and trusting the subconscious with abandon. This is not to say I didn't find these ideas appealing, nor that the subconscious is not without power and credibility, but as a Christian I don't believe that mankind simply evolved creativity along with limbs or that I have hidden reservoirs of masculine and feminine energies vying within me that supply me with my writing ability.
I believe that creativity is a gift from God, a gift that, as we use it, allows us to discover His nature. He is the ultimate creative Being, the original artist, author, and thinker. Without Him, mankind still has amazing potential to be creative, but eventually those wells will run dry. Without Him, such effort is futile and ultimately unfulfilling, exactly as this book was.
Aside from its philosophy, the instructions and explanations also proved tepid. Since Bain is not writing specifically to any creative branch (writers, artists, etc.), his advice comes across as bland and flat. He talks a lot about the 'why' of creativity but not the 'how.' And what exercises he offers are not much fun. Getting in touch with my subconscious isn't nearly as thrilling as writing a story or painting.
Final thought: Skip reading this book and just draw a tree.
I read the front and back covers and pictured a book full of fun creative exercises to tap into the right brain. Draw a picture of a tree, write a poem, compose a song, etc.
Instead, 'The Book of Doing and Being' proved to be a new age prescription for unlocking hidden energies and trusting the subconscious with abandon. This is not to say I didn't find these ideas appealing, nor that the subconscious is not without power and credibility, but as a Christian I don't believe that mankind simply evolved creativity along with limbs or that I have hidden reservoirs of masculine and feminine energies vying within me that supply me with my writing ability.
I believe that creativity is a gift from God, a gift that, as we use it, allows us to discover His nature. He is the ultimate creative Being, the original artist, author, and thinker. Without Him, mankind still has amazing potential to be creative, but eventually those wells will run dry. Without Him, such effort is futile and ultimately unfulfilling, exactly as this book was.
Aside from its philosophy, the instructions and explanations also proved tepid. Since Bain is not writing specifically to any creative branch (writers, artists, etc.), his advice comes across as bland and flat. He talks a lot about the 'why' of creativity but not the 'how.' And what exercises he offers are not much fun. Getting in touch with my subconscious isn't nearly as thrilling as writing a story or painting.
Final thought: Skip reading this book and just draw a tree.
July 8, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
The Book of Doing and Being was my first Self-Help read and I am truly grateful for the experience I had while reading this book and I am giving this book a five star rating because of this.
Not having read a Self-Help book before, I didn’t really have any expectations going into my reading of this book. I actually went into this book with a creative project in mind and used this book as a way to get my creative juices flowing on it. I had been forming an idea in my mind of a novel that I wanted to start writing and this book actually helped me tremendously in tapping into my creativity and believing in myself.
My reading experience of this book was a tremendously enlightening and humbling one. It was eye opening and I came face to face with my values, my creativity and my bad habits. This book helped me to realize that oftentimes, I am my own worst enemy and critic. I tend to sell myself short before I even get started by placing limitations upon myself in my writing and potential for greatness. I had never truly realized that until I did the exercise in chapter 7. I know now to be confident in myself and think positively about my work.
I cannot stress how helpful this book was to me. It was uplifting and inspiring and I truly recommend it to anyone who struggles with how to get their creative juices flowing. This book is filled with exercises that stretch the limits of our minds and enable us to tap into amounts of creativity that we know are there but that we just don’t know how to find. I took the advice of the author and started a creativity journal while I read this book and I already see how valuable this journal and the exercises are going to be for me as I journey through writing my first novel. It has been at least a year since I felt this invigorated and inspired. I love that the exercises and wealth of knowledge within this book can be applied to many situations like work, writing and many other things.
This is a wonderful book, highly recommend!
The Book of Doing and Being was my first Self-Help read and I am truly grateful for the experience I had while reading this book and I am giving this book a five star rating because of this.
Not having read a Self-Help book before, I didn’t really have any expectations going into my reading of this book. I actually went into this book with a creative project in mind and used this book as a way to get my creative juices flowing on it. I had been forming an idea in my mind of a novel that I wanted to start writing and this book actually helped me tremendously in tapping into my creativity and believing in myself.
My reading experience of this book was a tremendously enlightening and humbling one. It was eye opening and I came face to face with my values, my creativity and my bad habits. This book helped me to realize that oftentimes, I am my own worst enemy and critic. I tend to sell myself short before I even get started by placing limitations upon myself in my writing and potential for greatness. I had never truly realized that until I did the exercise in chapter 7. I know now to be confident in myself and think positively about my work.
I cannot stress how helpful this book was to me. It was uplifting and inspiring and I truly recommend it to anyone who struggles with how to get their creative juices flowing. This book is filled with exercises that stretch the limits of our minds and enable us to tap into amounts of creativity that we know are there but that we just don’t know how to find. I took the advice of the author and started a creativity journal while I read this book and I already see how valuable this journal and the exercises are going to be for me as I journey through writing my first novel. It has been at least a year since I felt this invigorated and inspired. I love that the exercises and wealth of knowledge within this book can be applied to many situations like work, writing and many other things.
This is a wonderful book, highly recommend!
May 15, 2016
I've read a lot of books about creativity and this one felt like a breath of fresh air. It explores aspects of doing and being such as the 9 muses, life balance and managing emotions. I read it all the way through without doing the many exercises (prompts, visualizations, etc) so I'm going to go back and do those!
October 18, 2015
This is a wonderful little workbook designed to tap into your creative energies. This isn't just for writers are artists, it is for anyone who wants to embrace a new way of thinking to improve themselves. It's full of good, easy journaling prompts and exercises.
May 27, 2017
This is the first time I've ever not finished a book, of any kind. Started it with such high hopes but found it to be pretentious and unhelpful!
April 1, 2018
Introduction
p.xii – Every act is a creative act. A relationship, a business, a screenplay, a dance, an art form, a reality – everything we know and everything we love is a constellation of creative acts.
p.xiii – Creativity is a relationship you nurture – must nurture, or life ceases to delight and surprise.
p.xviii – Imagine there are two kinds of lives: the life we are given and the life we create. The life we are given is the one that is shown to us by our parents and caregivers. They demonstrate how to live, love, and relate to the world. They make the distinctions that determine the boundaries between what is practical and realistic versus what is quixotic and dreamy. We are not specifically schooled in these. We adopt them automatically.
p.xix – Beyond simply setting aside time, you have to create time. Time does not exist unless you create it. Whenever we pursue a creative goal or endeavor with intentionality, with a closeness that generates a different kind of rapport with our experience, magic happens. Our grandmothers knew this when they used to say, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” They understood that busy people are passionate people. “Losing track of time” is a hallmark of passionate action. Time is an ally that can be as slow or fast as you need it to be.
Chapter 1 – Freedom from Conditioning
p.6 – You develop a new talent or skill by focusing attention on it and establishing a practice around it.
p.xii – Every act is a creative act. A relationship, a business, a screenplay, a dance, an art form, a reality – everything we know and everything we love is a constellation of creative acts.
p.xiii – Creativity is a relationship you nurture – must nurture, or life ceases to delight and surprise.
p.xviii – Imagine there are two kinds of lives: the life we are given and the life we create. The life we are given is the one that is shown to us by our parents and caregivers. They demonstrate how to live, love, and relate to the world. They make the distinctions that determine the boundaries between what is practical and realistic versus what is quixotic and dreamy. We are not specifically schooled in these. We adopt them automatically.
p.xix – Beyond simply setting aside time, you have to create time. Time does not exist unless you create it. Whenever we pursue a creative goal or endeavor with intentionality, with a closeness that generates a different kind of rapport with our experience, magic happens. Our grandmothers knew this when they used to say, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” They understood that busy people are passionate people. “Losing track of time” is a hallmark of passionate action. Time is an ally that can be as slow or fast as you need it to be.
Chapter 1 – Freedom from Conditioning
p.6 – You develop a new talent or skill by focusing attention on it and establishing a practice around it.
November 21, 2021
This is a wonderful resource that gets at the heart of where creativity comes from. Neuroscience shows us that the brain is divided into two halves. On the left, the logical, sequencing, and facts-driven side. On the right, the part responsible for feelings visualization, intuition, art, and "dot connecting". While we know that it's a myth that we are right-brained or left-brained dominant (the halves work together to process information), we know that the stores of our creative and logical faculties are divided down the axis of our body.
Daoist and yogic philosophies also refer to this model of energy, or aspects of being, as two halves. Solar/yang/masculine vs. Lunar/yin/feminine. The theory the author is presenting on masculine vs. feminine energies is rooted in ancient wisdom. I found his application of these simple differences to creative work to be especially refreshing. The more I could shift my engineering brain's habitual gear in logic and process mode to the realm of feeling and sensing, I was able to tap into entirely new ways of seeing and describing the world. I used the activities inside to guide my creative process in creating my business branding and website design, inspired by listening to a favorite soundtrack in nature one day.
I recommend this book for anyone, like me, who is in a technical field and feels the nudge to nourish their naturally sensitive soul.
Daoist and yogic philosophies also refer to this model of energy, or aspects of being, as two halves. Solar/yang/masculine vs. Lunar/yin/feminine. The theory the author is presenting on masculine vs. feminine energies is rooted in ancient wisdom. I found his application of these simple differences to creative work to be especially refreshing. The more I could shift my engineering brain's habitual gear in logic and process mode to the realm of feeling and sensing, I was able to tap into entirely new ways of seeing and describing the world. I used the activities inside to guide my creative process in creating my business branding and website design, inspired by listening to a favorite soundtrack in nature one day.
I recommend this book for anyone, like me, who is in a technical field and feels the nudge to nourish their naturally sensitive soul.
April 1, 2022
My passion is the field of creativity and healing. I found The Book of Doing and Being to be rich in ideas and inspiration. It fits in with the genre of Lucia Capacchione, Peter London, as well as Michael Gelb.
I appreciate the exercises that support moving beyond that which stops creative engagement.
Because I thrive on discovering and uncovering fresh ways to ignite change this book offered consistent guidance for being new by getting on with the doing...in the studio, in relationships, and while mapping out the next important project.
My takeaway: As a Creative, it is imperative that I become skillful in creating an expanded image of my contribution.
I appreciate the exercises that support moving beyond that which stops creative engagement.
Because I thrive on discovering and uncovering fresh ways to ignite change this book offered consistent guidance for being new by getting on with the doing...in the studio, in relationships, and while mapping out the next important project.
My takeaway: As a Creative, it is imperative that I become skillful in creating an expanded image of my contribution.
March 30, 2020
I may or may not be able to take action on the creativity tips and exercises provided by Bain but I will definitely come back to the book when I feel the need to meditate. Bain uses a direct voice to transport the reader into a different dimension where ideas are available for those who are ready. One needs an open mind to understand some of the creativity tips introduced by him and that itself took me to a state of focus and meditation.
February 14, 2021
Self help books are very subjective imo. The author's way of rediscovering creativity may not be yours. Unfortunately this book doesn't inspire me and his methods are actually rather difficult for me. But at the same time I know a few people who would benefit from this. It's not a bad book, I enjoyed his writing, but objectively it didn't do well for me.
October 3, 2017
Instructional read on how to tap into your creativity in every aspect of your life. This is one to revisit when going through a trough or when stuck on something and looking for inspiration.
January 11, 2020
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it weren't 90% workbook. Not really what I was looking for.
May 18, 2020
Depth. That's one of the qualities Bain's, The Book of Doing and Being, exemplifies. Encouraging all of us to reach beyond what we thought was possible, both in our creative endeavors and in our life as art.
Balance. With the right balance of doing and being, yin and yang, masculine and feminine, Bain challenges us to find alignment and embrace paradox, producing new pathways to a rich and fulfilling way of living, with purpose, innovation, and joy.
Commitment. Shines through the care in which the book was constructed, but also what Bain asks of us, through writing and breathing and creative exercises to move us past our daily trance. He nudges us off the edge we have been teetering on, out into the unknown. It is up to us to make those changes, to grasp our grandest life, and he paves the way.
Love. Fragrant and alive, Bain's words embody what we all want more than anything, passion and love. He is clearly living his joy, teaching and sharing insights to all of us to elevate our one precious life. And love, that is what I will think of when I reflect on this book.
Balance. With the right balance of doing and being, yin and yang, masculine and feminine, Bain challenges us to find alignment and embrace paradox, producing new pathways to a rich and fulfilling way of living, with purpose, innovation, and joy.
Commitment. Shines through the care in which the book was constructed, but also what Bain asks of us, through writing and breathing and creative exercises to move us past our daily trance. He nudges us off the edge we have been teetering on, out into the unknown. It is up to us to make those changes, to grasp our grandest life, and he paves the way.
Love. Fragrant and alive, Bain's words embody what we all want more than anything, passion and love. He is clearly living his joy, teaching and sharing insights to all of us to elevate our one precious life. And love, that is what I will think of when I reflect on this book.
September 15, 2016
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book opened my eyes to things I feel may have been holding me back. I really enjoyed this book, as it contained valuable information on how to stop being haunted by the past. Plus it has useful tools and techniques on how to create a more fullfilling future. This is one of the best self help books I have read in a long time.
This book opened my eyes to things I feel may have been holding me back. I really enjoyed this book, as it contained valuable information on how to stop being haunted by the past. Plus it has useful tools and techniques on how to create a more fullfilling future. This is one of the best self help books I have read in a long time.
August 5, 2016
Book did what it advertised! Leads you to rediscover creativity in your life, offer new ways of approaching creating etc. Encouraging and helpful, especially more so if you actually try out the exercises. Helps me keep things in perspective and stay on track. Thank you, Barnet Bain!
October 28, 2015
There are some useful things in this, but I just felt it was not a good fit of a read for me. I did like the use of the greek muses, however.
October 5, 2015
Good, practical tips for thinking outside of your own box. I will using this book often as a reference
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews