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How Art Can Make You Happy
Why is art magical? How can it make us happy? How Art Can Make You Happy offers the keys to unlocking a rich and rewarding source of joy in life. This easy, breezy handbook is full of insight that will help regular people begin a more inspiring and less stressful relationship with art. With tips on how to visit museums, how to talk about art at cocktail parties, and how to let art wake you up to the world around you, this little guide makes it possible for anyone to fall in love with art, whether for the first time or all over again.
112 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2017
49 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 10, 2017
This little book arrived a short time ago- I won it as part of Early Reviewers for Librarything. What a delightful little book. I'm not sure I'd title it How Art Can Make You Happy , b/c I see it mostly as a little guide about how to incorporate art in your every day life. Payne talks about scheduling time to visit museums, to create your own art, to check out art books from the library and look through them, or just to go outdoors and observe nature. I love her approach here- her stance is clear- anyone and everyone can create and appreciate art. I also like her section on empathy- how art can introduce you, can challenge you to think of other people's perspectives, and how it can stir up imagination, not just to create art but to reflect in deep ways- it can stir up wonder in our minds, thinking about people in the past and how they viewed life. I loved the little appendix too at the end, where she includes a time line chart of historical periods and their corresponding art style.
Perhaps the one thing I would change about this book is the layout. For a book about art, it has surprisingly few colors in it. It's all in yellow, gray and white. And the font was a bit small. Otherwise, it's great little book and can be easily read in one sitting.
This great little book is for everyone, especially people who think they know very little about art or feel too busy for art appreciation.
Perhaps the one thing I would change about this book is the layout. For a book about art, it has surprisingly few colors in it. It's all in yellow, gray and white. And the font was a bit small. Otherwise, it's great little book and can be easily read in one sitting.
This great little book is for everyone, especially people who think they know very little about art or feel too busy for art appreciation.
September 24, 2022
A quick, easy read with some nice tips (if you're not already well-versed or feel insecure about yourself as an art viewer) about how to enjoy art and develop trust in your responses.
It seems more like a young adult read but since she refers to "if you have children of your own," I'm thinking not.
I enjoyed this little book and it could be helpful I think to someone who wants to appreciate art more but doesn't know how to begin.
It seems more like a young adult read but since she refers to "if you have children of your own," I'm thinking not.
I enjoyed this little book and it could be helpful I think to someone who wants to appreciate art more but doesn't know how to begin.
May 3, 2017
This book is brilliant. At first I was a bit thrown off by the informal writing style, but it is so effective in serving the book's purpose that it's actually kind of genius; Bridget Watson Payne's voice is that of an insightful, comforting, and hilarious friend that knows just what to say to make you feel soothed and inspired. (I hope she writes a thousand books because I want to come to her with all my problems) In this case, her words casually yet powerfully subvert everything that kind of sucks about the culture around art and get straight to what is actually important—experiencing the magic of art.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants to spend less time fretting about the details of the art world—like what work is cool or important, how to buy the right art, how to walk into a fancy gallery even if you feel like you don't belong, and so on—and more time simply being moved by art.
A quick, easy, and delightful read, full of great advice.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants to spend less time fretting about the details of the art world—like what work is cool or important, how to buy the right art, how to walk into a fancy gallery even if you feel like you don't belong, and so on—and more time simply being moved by art.
A quick, easy, and delightful read, full of great advice.
November 28, 2017
Woke up at 2:30am from vivid dreams. Previous 2 days I had been depressed, thinking of how I haven’t made things in years. How looking at contemporary art sometimes makes me feel worse for not having done much myself. So tonight, when I woke up at 2:30am from vivid dreams, I picked up this book from my bookshelf and read the whole thing.
Reading it was like having an articulate conversation with myself that was well organized, compassionate, direct and simple. Simple as in, “let the guilt and bad feelings go and keep it moving”, all said in an understanding and factual manner. All said so that we can get back to giving art a chance to make us happy.
Highly recommend this book for everyone.
Reading it was like having an articulate conversation with myself that was well organized, compassionate, direct and simple. Simple as in, “let the guilt and bad feelings go and keep it moving”, all said in an understanding and factual manner. All said so that we can get back to giving art a chance to make us happy.
Highly recommend this book for everyone.
July 9, 2017
"One of the greatest properties of art is that it's not for anything. It's not there to make you feel better. Indeed, it may unsettle you, make you feel worse. But it will almost always make you feel. And, if you let it, it will almost always make you see. And seeing is what it's all about." - Bridget Watson Payne
January 31, 2025
Loved this book and it has given me a new direction.. to visit more museums.
September 1, 2017
This adorable, quick little volume done in bright yellow is filled with quotable quotes. The "What is art" section is wonderful. I could read a whole book delving into these ideas of empathy and art. The "Make your own art" section is brief but fun. Teachers might find the middle sections helpful; "How to find art you like" "How to talk about art", "How to visit art galleries," "let's talk about Museums". I found them helpful in talking to my 15 year old who is "not so into art." But I walked away with the impression that there are, apparently, hosts of people out there with art complexes, biting their nails about how they should appreciate art but don't or don't know how to. . .and voila, this book. I guess something about the tone bothered me.
December 21, 2021
The format is cute but the yellow on silver print was hard to read. The whole thing was going for a vibe I just didn't quite catch. Silly? For children? Whimsical? Tongue in cheek? It really says to wear a black shirt with your worst jeans and the most expensive thing you own to go to a gallery. If you think that advice is helpful, then maybe this is for you. I think by the title I thought this was going to be backed by a little more science and thought provoking. It would have been better to just fill the book with art centric quotes. This was just...odd.
July 6, 2022
Ok so someone thought "hey, art is cool ! Let's write a very short book about why art is cool!". Then it tells you art is cool in a rather boring fashion.
I honestly don't get the point of that book. If you just really wanted to convince your friends to appreciate art more, an Instagram story would have done the trick.
I honestly don't get the point of that book. If you just really wanted to convince your friends to appreciate art more, an Instagram story would have done the trick.
July 31, 2018
I had high hopes for this book - the blurb sounded interesting, and exactly what I was looking for - but the content was thin and basic. It felt more like a blog series turned into a book than a true book based on research or meaningful action items.
July 25, 2017
You know, it's short and sweet and I hope if you're feeling even the slightest bit intimidated or intrigued by art you'll check it out.
May 31, 2018
A short but a fun read, and yes art does make you happy.
October 21, 2021
It’s a quick read about art. I don’t feel like it addressed the title of the book though. How art can make you happy...
October 27, 2024
прочитала і прочитала
December 13, 2017
A charming essay for those who love art presented in the form of a book. However, it is marred by its presentation ... yellow ink on gray pages and gray ink on yellow pages and text in small print which at times makes it difficult to read the book, and its lack of illustrations to drive home the author’s points to the audience to whom she supposedly directed this work, those who are intimidated by and/or scared of art museums and galleries.
One cannot assume that the reader is familiar with the names and/or works of the artists whose names are dropped in this book designed to encourage people who are not knowledgeable about art or who are intimidated by it and those who visit museums and galleries to do so and enjoy the art that s/he sees. Therefore, illustrations of the referenced artists works would be a great way to show that the author recognizes that some people are not knowledgeable about art or its history, and help them overcome their fears about visiting venues where they may view it. The failure to include them as well as a list of resources from which readers can obtain further information such as museum websites risks adding this to the shelves of books that one may argue look down upon people due to their education and background rather than helping them to self-educate and uplift themselves.
Therefore, this book rates 2.5 stars.
One cannot assume that the reader is familiar with the names and/or works of the artists whose names are dropped in this book designed to encourage people who are not knowledgeable about art or who are intimidated by it and those who visit museums and galleries to do so and enjoy the art that s/he sees. Therefore, illustrations of the referenced artists works would be a great way to show that the author recognizes that some people are not knowledgeable about art or its history, and help them overcome their fears about visiting venues where they may view it. The failure to include them as well as a list of resources from which readers can obtain further information such as museum websites risks adding this to the shelves of books that one may argue look down upon people due to their education and background rather than helping them to self-educate and uplift themselves.
Therefore, this book rates 2.5 stars.
March 20, 2018
Well, the only reason it took me so long to read this book is that many an evening I sat down to open it on my living room sofa, which doesn't have the best lighting due to the seeming American fascination for dim yellow lit interiors, and couldn't really make out the words which are printed in a small, grey hairline font on bright yellow paper or in yellow on shiny silver paper, which, although pleasing to the eye aesthetically, simultaneously give the eye extra work to do. I got more out of the first half than the second, the overall information not going into much depth. perhaps me buying this book was unnecessary since I already got a more thorough understanding and food for thought from Alain de Botton's Art as Therapy. Overall, the general manifesto of giving yourself permission to learn more about what you like, enjoy it un-selfconsciously, and not beat yourself up about the rest is of course a moto to live by beyond art. Or, you could say, its the art of living.
June 22, 2022
A book about why you shouldn't feel guilty about like art and enjoying it on your own terms is up my alley. But that is preaching to the choir in my case. It is unclear who this book is written for. It seems to be a gift book (pocket-sized, quick read, cutesy formatting), but I wouldn't know who to give it to. Art lovers will have bought in, art haters won't be convinced, and I think those in the middle might want more than the platitudes in this book. Having some actual art in the book would help.
Finally, I agree with the reviewer who said "the small gray print on yellow pages and the small yellow print on gray pages was difficult to see." Not great from a usability perspective.
Finally, I agree with the reviewer who said "the small gray print on yellow pages and the small yellow print on gray pages was difficult to see." Not great from a usability perspective.
January 9, 2021
Fun little read with some nice parts. I specially liked the test to find what kind of art you might be into and I found the instructions on how to dress like an art snob amusing.
On the flip side, I expected it to be more insigtful on the psychological effects art can have on us. Rather than explaining how art can make you happy, this book is a sort of basic manual on how to start naviganting museums, art galleries, etc.
Plus, I found the book's generally condescending, poor-little-reader-let-me-enlight-you tone quite off-putting.
On the flip side, I expected it to be more insigtful on the psychological effects art can have on us. Rather than explaining how art can make you happy, this book is a sort of basic manual on how to start naviganting museums, art galleries, etc.
Plus, I found the book's generally condescending, poor-little-reader-let-me-enlight-you tone quite off-putting.
February 4, 2023
This is a very quick and easy to digest book. I’m referring to the content, not the yellow and gray alternating pages. I finished it in about 1.5 hours. It’s fun, it’s silly, it doesn’t cover any dense subject matter. It’s just a lighthearted read about deciding you want to look at art.
This book was assigned to me in college for a Gallery interactions class. That was 5 years ago so I thought I’d revisit it. I can’t say there’s much I got out of this book, but I can say it was quick and had some fun moments.
This book was assigned to me in college for a Gallery interactions class. That was 5 years ago so I thought I’d revisit it. I can’t say there’s much I got out of this book, but I can say it was quick and had some fun moments.
August 1, 2017
I adored this little book! The author succinctly talks about what viewing or learning about art does to your mind and body, and that its purpose is to make us FEEL. We may not always like what we see, but that's not the point. She reiterates that art is for EVERYone - you don't need to be extremely knowledgeable in regards to artists or art history in order to enjoy art and peruse museums. Great book! Go enjoy some art!
August 25, 2017
Everything about this little book, from the color palette to the warm, welcoming writing style made me smile throughout the whole thing! The comforting buttery yellow and silver pages are full of advice, tips, and ideas to carry with you as you explore the art world. Encouraging without becoming pushy, I think seasoned gallery-goers and newbies alike can glean something useful and practical from this book: forget all the pretense and just let art make you HAPPY!
September 17, 2018
This book is brillant. It was given to me by a very good friend. She knew that I loved art and crafts and making things. I really got into it and understood why I was attracted to art in general. This book does what it says on this cover. Art really makes you happy. For me it changed my life and it makes me realise how to appreaciate beauty in everyday life. And I discovered that I really love painting !
December 8, 2020
This is a fun little book with artful wisdom. Maybe a better title would have been incorporating Art into your life. There’s more of a focus on “Capital A” art and not on just finding art anywhere. But it has great tips of it you want to discover artists and art in a more formal setting.
I didn’t check the publication date but it seems like a section on what’s available online would have been noteworthy.
I didn’t check the publication date but it seems like a section on what’s available online would have been noteworthy.
June 10, 2021
Bella introducción a la experiencia artística, este libro podría ser un gran obsequio para alguien que sepamos tenga algún interés o una minima sensibilidad por el arte, pero que viva ajeno a ese mundo. Cabe aclarar que el contenido esta enfocado en las artes visuales (pintura, fotografía, exposiciones, etc) y mayormente en la contemplación más que en la creación artística. Aunque hay un pequeño guiño que invita no solo a observar si no a atreverse a crear.
September 5, 2017
Cute little book that cuts through pretension to help anyone interested in art learn more about art in general, and how to hone their personal preferences. Great quotes, and interesting takes on just what it is about art (any art that moves us in any way) that adds joy and quality to our lives. I really enjoyed the sections, the brevity, the honesty, and the humor.
May 31, 2019
This short book for anyone wishing to connect (or reconnect) with art isn't ground-breaking in any sense, but does remind the reader that art is for everyone, connects us all and that there are no right or wrongs when it comes to what you like. For all its simplicity, it has encouraged me to delve deeper to discover what floats my arty farty boat.
March 18, 2022
Korte introductie over wat kunst kan betekenen in je leven. Het is echter ook een kunst om een vorm te zoeken die ook gelukkig maakt. Dat is met dit boek niet helemaal geslaagd. De inhoud is OK maar niet spectaculair. Een verzameling korte beschouwingen die je vooral als "down to earth" zou kunnen betitelen. Het leest vlot weg en legt het juiste verband met de persoonlijke beleving.
September 26, 2018
Самая бесполезная книга во вселенной.
Если очень хочется потратить 15 баксов на 100 страниц неочевидных советов типа "ходите в галереи по утрам" и "поймите, что вам нравится", то можно конечно это сделать.
Если нет, то лучше на те же деньги действительно пойти уже а галерею.
Если очень хочется потратить 15 баксов на 100 страниц неочевидных советов типа "ходите в галереи по утрам" и "поймите, что вам нравится", то можно конечно это сделать.
Если нет, то лучше на те же деньги действительно пойти уже а галерею.
July 21, 2018
Thumbs up & cheers for this little 100 page quick read, filled with good quotes, advice & perspectives. Of course, Bridget Watson Payne was 'preaching to the choir' with this reader, but her thoughts on the value of Art in life held a special sweetness.
👍🏽🎉🎉
👍🏽🎉🎉
August 12, 2024
Fantastic message, terrible embodiment as a physical book. Who thought reflective gray ink in a tiny font on bright yellow pages was a good idea? The yellow-on-gray chapter headers are nearly unreadable.
Highly recommended, but get the ebook.
Highly recommended, but get the ebook.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews