Make a Living Living

by Nina Karnikowski

Make a Living Living is for anyone who has ever wished they could build a successful career doing something they love. Structured around the stories of inspiring individuals, from a vegan chocolatier to a nomadic photographer and a tiny-house builder, the book explains how they achieved their ideal existence, and the challenges they faced along the way. A set of practical exercises helps readers learn how to trust themselves, take risks, and develop the skills needed to achieve their ideal life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2020

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

…find that thing you love, you’re good at, you get paid for and that the world needs.

This slim volume spotlights 26 creatives from around the world, highlighting their path to designing lives built on the premise of making a living from their passions. People who are following their dreams and stepping outside of their comfort zones with a clear vision and a dedication to that path. This is both an inspiring book and one with practical tips and exercises for those who wish to look at success in a different light.

Several themes run throughout most of the stories--simplicity, learning, experimentation, sacrifice and perseverance--to name a few, but the overarching message is that following your passion won’t necessarily make you rich, the end goal for the featured artists is to live authentically and with joyful purpose.

High marks for the structure, brief profiles, quotes and three tips from each creative about their lifestyle. Interspersed throughout the author also provides exercises from mind mapping your life to crafting a creative practice. There are also the more mundane elevator pitch and mood board exercises, but she does provide a more creative approach to even these. Where this fell a bit short is in the photography, they lacked vibrancy, and in the lack of age diversity. Can you only follow your passion in your 20s & 30s?

I recommend this for inspiration and a starting point to dreaming about a work life that feels less like work and more like, well, a life.

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly short book of the authors road to self employment mixed in with other stories from people who make a living doing the things they love. It has a very beautiful design to it and the stories are quite nice. None of the careers appealed to me so it didn't quite feel like it was written for me. It is very thought provoking though and I do feel quite inspired to continue on my own journey and see where it leads

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is made up of a collection of inspiring stories of individuals who made what they love their job. You will find a chocolatier, a potter, a freelance writer and photographer next to a knitter, a horticulturalist and many other creative heads in there. They each got four pages of photos and text about their path and their work. What I enjoyed most is the little box of advice from each of them as an overview as well as the exercise pages that are scattered throughout the book. They made me think and want to explore what exactly my passion is and how I can work for my goal. Will definitely come back to this and do the exercises or look for inspiration.

I would have liked there to be some more order, like sections for certain job areas like writing, painting etc with specific advice but the exercises can be applied to everyone as they are more of a foundation for creative people and you can gain inspiration from the individuals' stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make a Living Living is something of an odd bird. A beautiful coffee table book that showcases the alternative lifestyles of several people who have made a living from living their best creative life. At first blush I was immediately cynical about it — counter culture being turned into over-the-counter culture — but upon reflection and further reading I realised that this was a cheap shot and unfair. Not only is the book beautiful — with photographs and illustrations aplenty — but it also really does showcase a wide range of creative people who have found a way to live their lives beyond the nine to five. This book isn't just for hipsters; it's an antidote to the fake lifestyle content of Instagram influencers. The people in this book are actually living their lives and each person's success looks different to the next. So, yes, it is still a coffee table book. But hopefully one that will inspire you to get up and go do something. What would your best creative life look like? Start today.

[Anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully edited book and the stories and photographs were definitely inspiring and didn't shy away from writing down what sacrifices they have to make and what they're missing out on, like money, stable income, family gatherings, a house, car or other things. Most of the books that I read about this topic romanticise the "do what you love for a living". This has been the most honest view about and should give everyone good for thought before making any decisions.
I'd recommend this book to everyone who is thinking about making changes to their lives to shift from their full jobs or just do what they love part-time.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

26 stories of people finding their passion and following their dream, doing what they love for a living.

[Ana Leite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slowly, I read Make a Living Living by Nina Karnikowski (published in march 2020) with my girlfriend over the last few weeks so we could relax a bit during our thrillerathon (which has been making scaredy-cat me very tense). I don’t usually read non-fiction, and when I do those books aren’t a priority, but just somewhat of a distraction for which I have low expectations. But this book exceeded my tiny expectations. It’s well-structured, well-written and it’s not tiring, repetitive or aggressive like many self-help books are.
I believe Make a Living Living owes its quality to the fact that Nina Karnikowski was already a professional writer (with a degree in journalism), unlike many authors of these kinds of books. This is her first book, but she’s a freelance travel write: she runs her blog Travels with Nina and writes articles for other websites, magazines and newspapers. Nowadays, most of her travels around the world are sponsored by traveling companies.
With a title such as this one, it’s clear that this book is a guide to those who want to make a living doing something they love, but it’s not just that. Instead of telling step-by-step what to do, Nina interviewed 26 creative professionals who are their own bosses and love the work they do, just like she is and does. They’re designers, photographers, painters, builders, weavers, planners, founders of retreats, hotels, social networks and other businesses, etc.
Nina tells us about how each of them achieved their dreams (How long did it take them? How much money did they invest? What did they sacrifice?) e, besides that, she finds a specific lesson in each of these narratives. For example, a tiny house builder explains how you can simplify your life; a florist teaches you to fake it till you make it; and a weaver helps you use the internet properly. This book is equally inspirational (because you’re given access to these success stories) and educational (because each story teaches you something).
Nina also included a few pages of exercises throughout the book, which are inspired by these 26 people’s tips. You can do these exercises right now to develop the mentality of someone who’s sure they can achieve their goals. These exercises include detailed instructions and they help you, for example, create a mind map of your life that states your priorities, be your own tutor (someone who can learn anything on their own and mostly for free), write your elevator pitch explaining why what you do is so unique and create a mood board to stay focused on what you want to achieve.
This book is special because it’s just not more content telling you you suck and that other people have what you want because you’re too lazy to do anything about it. Make a Living Living gives you some of the tools you need to change your life without strict rules and especially without making you feel poorly about who you are. There’s no crap about becoming a millionaire boss babe who works 16-hour days “like a man” and claims sleep is for the weak. This book is honest and it gives you hope. It’s full of possibility. You don’t need to stay stuck in a 9-to-5 if that’s not what makes you happy. But it takes time and there’s no magic formula.
Laurence King Publishing gifted me a digital galley of Make a Living Living in exchange for an honest review.

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually, this book is stunning. The writing style is also very readable, and the stories themselves have a great amount of diversity. The author literally spoke to people all over the world, many of them people of color. Practically speaking, the book is more of a jumping off point, not a step by step blueprint. But dreaming has value, too. This is a great source of inspiration and was very soothing to read.

That being said, I did have two problems with the book. One is that many of the creatives profiled already started off from a point of privilege and stability, which will definitely be a sticking point for some readers. The "plan a trip" spread was a real WTF moment for me. The other was that I was leery of the profiles of white American or European creatives that began with them moving or traveling to less developed countries to pursue whatever endeavor and ended with them saying, "I'm hiring a poor person in this country with bad labor law practices!" as if their reasons were purely for their new employees' benefit without acknowledging that they were probably profiting off the situation as well.

In the end, the stories that spoke most deeply to me were the ones where creatives found solitude and self-sufficiency while trying different things to find out what worked for them, and not focusing on expansion or high profits.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're planning on starting your own business, I recommend you to read this book. There are simple tips and tricks from fascinating people who went before you. This book really inspired me to put even more time in my own business!

[Mikayla Upcott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free digital galley copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a fun, uplifting, inspiring, and short read with a lot of beautiful pictures. I especially liked the fact that this book mentioned the fact that being an entrepreneur comes with some lifestyle sacrifices. Too often, books paint a rosy, inspiring picture of entrepreneurial life, encouraging everyone to follow dreams without a much-needed dose of reality. This book gives the reality.
This book is a collection of short bios and interviews with entrepreneurs in various niche markets all over the world. Nina Karnikowski does an excellent job of picking up tidbits of advice along with the background from these creative entrepreneurs and does not spare us the sacrifices that come from choosing to follow your dreams (such as spartan lifestyles, financial insecurity, and working even longer hours than in a traditional career).
My only complaint is likely due to the formatting I received (although I really can't complain, since I received a free copy). This would make an excellent coffee table book with its beautiful bold photo spreads. It does not come across well in e-book format, and I definitely don't recommend trying to read this book on your phone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Laurence King Publishing for my digital galley copy. Make a Living Living will be released on March 24th, 2020!

[Kirsten Lost 2022 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This feels extremely advertisey and really, really rubbed me the wrong way. I'm sure if you can engage with it you'll get something out of it, but my brain is just screaming at me while trying to read this.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slim book featuring short profiles of people who have income from doing something they enjoy, a creative outlet. Most look to be in their 20s and 30s, several are couples. While there are some tips from each profile on what worked for them, the gist of the book seems to say, "I did it, so can you. Here is what worked for me." However, the "what worked for me" items aren't plentiful, nor are the exercises. It's an attractive book, with its contents displayed in an easy-to-read manner.

The author is based in Byron Bay, Australia, and is a surf town. It seems to have influenced the author in her selections.

I thought all the exercises were good, and things that have been around for a long while in some form or fashion. I enjoyed the final exercise, "Choose Your Journey" as a way of getting travel ideas.

I like the intention of this book, but if you want to provide an income for yourself by doing something you love that's creative, you are going to want to read more than this book. Use this to inspire.

It would have been a stronger book had it featured people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. I would like to see those over 40 who chose early on to live a creative life or those who made a career change after 40 to live a creative life.

The thing is... healthcare. Depending upon where you live in the world, you may be tied to a "regular" job to secure health insurance and quality healthcare, especially if you live in the USA. If you're young and healthy, it's less of an issue. However, in the USA, if you don't have health insurance, and you have a health setback (accident or illness), it can bankrupt you.

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to social media, the freelancer/self-employed lifestyle has been glamorised and most 9-5ers yearning for the freedom that it provides. According to Nina Karnikowski, that's just one half of the story. In this short book, she shares her own self-employment journey alongside other creatives from all over the world.

This simply written and beautifully designed volume showcases creatives in diverse crafts and trades and how they are balancing working with their hands and building an online presence to market their merchandise across the globe. All the artistes seem to emphasize the importance of just starting with their interests and with what you have, exploration and discipline.

Making a Living Living is a great coffee table book that one can steadily read when in need of inspiration or a gift to a person seeking to pursue their passions.

P.S. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC via Netgalley

[Nina Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make a Living Living looks like just another coffee table vanity project book. A collection of beautifully styled Instagram images which can be admired for their own merits as well as the context each connects to.
But there is a lot more to this book than at first glance.
The millennial goal of being authentic/freelance/living where you want and doing what you want has become a cliché for a group of disenchanted young people who believe that they can do whatever they want, follow any interest they like and be paid for it.
The interviews and stories in this book clearly lay out the tough choices, hard work and sacrifices that have to be made in order to achieve that lifestyle.
Not everyone can learn the skills needed to achieve their goals but this book is certainly an inspiration to start trying.
Study. Emulate. Make it your own.

[eclecticbookcorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book and was excited to read it at the beginning of the year. It reads a bit like a magazine in terms of text structure and lots of beautiful high quality photographs. It also includes exercises and reflection questions through out the book. The reason I’m docking 2 stars is because I do think the title is a liiiiiiittle bit misleading, as the book certainly does not go deep enough to touch base on a lot of the things you need to do when starting up your own thing. It’s very surface level.

It was a very easy one sit read that’ll be sure to motivate you if that’s what you’re looking for!

Would I recommend this to someone? Yes.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read. The individual stories from people that love their careers and had tips from them as well. I thought that the varied selection of positions highlighted was great! It was nice to read about all different kinds of positions versus just the typical ones that people start up on their own. For example, a vegan chocolatier is something that I never heard of and it was interesting to read someone's story that does that work. The exercises sprinkled throughout the book were relevant and helpful, as well. Overall, this is a great book!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make a Living Living is just mainly a book of interviews with 26 creatives from around the world on how they achieved their ideal existence be that a chocolatier, photographer, knitter and many more. All followed a dream in someway and made a living from it.

It does contain lots of colour photography about each of the creatives. There are a number of exercises throughout the book that may help you along the same journey.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

[The Suburban Eclectic · Rating 1 out of 5]

Make a Living Living sounds aspirational and inspirational and the collection of short stories of career changers/seekers is interesting. However, the anticipated big moment of how people followed their dreams to become a chocolatier, tiny house builder, photographer, and florists are overshadowed by the vague tips of self-discovery. (i.e. mind maps, mood boards, and elevator pitch practice). Make a Living Living might have worked as short stories or even personal travel logs from the author, instead it's rehashed photo journal with some generic to-do lists. Disappointing

[Nez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this book it meant to encourage and inspire readers, but it just annoyed me. Not everyone can be a photographer. 🙄 The world functions when most people do a bunch of uninteresting and repetitive, uninspiring jobs to survive and make society function. I think some of these people live in fairy land.
One of the annoying suggestions : “be the most authentic, inspired, love-filled version of yourself”. What does that rubbish even mean! What I have learnt in life - follow your own path and stop following wankers who live in Byron Bay.

[Mukesh Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a digital review copy of this book via Netgalley.

What I loved about the book:
- Simple, straight and good advice from various people who are living their dreams
- Great design of the book. The photographs and the layout of the book made for an interesting and intimate reading. It felt as if I knew these artists whose advice was being shared.

If you always dreamed of being a full time artist and are looking for good advice, this book certainly does it for you.

[Andjelka Jankovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. It looks like a deceivingly quick read, unless you do it twice and actually take on board the potentially life changing advice like: “stop saying yes to things you don’t want to do” and “building a creative career, one outside of societal norms, takes intention, tenacity, and most importantly, a crystal clear vision.” Wish this book was 4x longer as I loved pouring over the vignettes of people’s lives and propeling me to make some changes of my own.

[Yenifer Canelón · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book !
Thanks Nina for sharing the story of Salti Hearts and also other 25 creatives from around the world.
Im writing this while seen the book inform of me !

Amazing... Hope a to of people get inspired by all this wonderful humans that are making a living doing what they love.

Yeni x

[Marius CEO · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great title. Inspiring and thought-provoking.

The book is a collection of stories from various people who managed to make a living living.

It's not amazing by any means, however, the author's approach will let your mind wander... and it's exactly that which matters.

It inspires you. It pushes you forward.

And it teaches you how to think differently.

[Susan]

I liked the actual concrete steps they had, which were only like 5 or 6 pages of the book. I do usually like people's stories to illustrate ways something possibly could go, but most of these didn't feel realistic to people I know or the life I live so they didn't seem to apply. Surely you can make a living doing what you love without traveling to India or buying a winery in France.

[Stella Carruthers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book showing real life people living their creative dreams.
Structured with interviews and reflective activities this book felt both like a friendly guide and a road map towards living more authentically.

[Raimonda | knygoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Išsikvėpusiams freelancer'iams į(si)kvėpti.

Viduje — dirbančių sau kūrybininkų istorijos + keli pratimai, ieškantiems savosios darbo ir laisvalaikio pusiausvyros.

Lėtam savaitgaliui pats tas pasirinkimas! 🤍

[Inês Gonçalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro inspirador com dicas para vivermos a vida com que nós sonhamos. A cada três histórias de vida diferentes existe um exercício para pormos em prática e refletirmos sobre o que aprendemos.

[Claire Coupland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautifully presented and full of great advice. I really like the images and top tips section. The activities are also really helpful.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and inspiring read for the conscious, creative, entrepreneurial souls of the world.

[Aimee-Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a beautiful collection of short stories on the success of others and what their takeaways from their experience has been. Beautiful to read and very inspiring.