We Inspire Me: Cultivate Your Creative Crew to Work, Play, and Make

by Andrea Pippins

The best thing a creative person can have is a crew of friends, allies, and mentors to support them. Packed with inspiration and ideas from author-illustrator Andrea Pippins, this is a one-of-a-kind handbook for doers and makers looking to expand and nourish their creative community. Drawing on her own network of talented artists, designers, and friends, Pippins offers tips on how reach out to your heroes; use your art or work to empower your community; learn about a new culture and shake up your perspective; take a class, join a team, plan brunch—have fun! And she delivers her advice in style. Colorful pages feature patterns, portraits, and hand-lettered quotes alongside tips for fostering genuine connections and supportive relationships.

Genres: Creative, Nonfiction, Art

152 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2018

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Pippins shares tips, essays, stories, illustrations, and advice centering on building and caring for one's creative community. It's a beautiful and thoughtful look at nurturing one's creativity by surrounding oneself with helpful others.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy from a LibraryThing giveaway.

A cheerful, positive book chock full of tips on how to foster creativity and build community around yourself. I requested this because I've been interested in how to foster creativity lately, plus building a social circle after years of moving around left me with few local friends. When I saw this book up for review, it seemed right up my alley. The fact that it draws on a diverse talent pool in its advice was also great.

This is a collection of advice from the author and people she knows (artists, entrepreneurs, activists, you name it). It's loosely organized by topic and then within topic, by contributor. The book has artwork and graphic design throughout in an inspiring way.

I think the book oversells itself a little, claiming that you'll learn how to do X, Y, and Z, when in most cases, it simply says "do X, Y, and Z!" That's good advice but not quite the same as teaching you how to do it. As one of those people for whom networking really doesn't come naturally, I would have appreciated more of the how. It can also be a little repetitive in some places. Still, it's full of good ideas even if some are short on specifics and repeated more than once.

This book is approachable and creative, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to build their creativity, learn to network (build a network of people with purpose in a mutually beneficial way), or both. I'm going to share it with friends or pass it on to a Little Free Library.

[Crystal Ellyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through Librarything.com Early Member Giveaway for an honest review of the book. I have enjoyed this book a lot! It was great and amazing! I found this book inspirational and informative with a lot of different tips and advice!

[Julie Bouchonville · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Useful tips and a great big morale boost

[Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The people around you should inspire you and vice versa 😉

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[lisaloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read as it features compact information in vibrant illustrations. This could serve as a great coffee-table book and conversation starter. As I was reading it, I found myself Google-ing those people that were mentioned in the book and did extended search on their stories and causes.

If you are in need for a boost of inspiration, this is it!