Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives Reviews

• 
  Adam

  i wrote this book i think it is very nice i like that the author doesn't try to act like he's the expert or better than anybody else, he's just really honest about what life is like for people who try to make things. <3 also he seems very handsome and tall <3
• 
  Dani

  I'm a fan of pretty much everything Adam does, so I'll admit that I went into this expecting I'd like it, but it was even better than I expected. As he always does, Adam provides the perfect mix of wit and inspiration. If you're a creative person (or just a person in general...), you'll wanna read this book!
• 
  Emma Sea

  very very short. these were probably more awesome in their original blog form than as a book
• 
  Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com

  This book is just what I needed because I realized a while ago that I was becoming a negative person overcome by all the bad things happening around me and in the world. It was hard to see the goodness day-to-day and I did not like the person I was becoming. I have been practicing re-framing and my life is looking a whole lot more positive. This book was the perfect companion to my new outlook on life. I loved it cover to cover and have reread it several times, took notes and shared it with those hold most dear. This is a must to kick start a more positive outlook on life and will certainly make your days so much better! LOVED THIS BOOK!
• 
  Marianne

  (ARC from publisher)
  
  I found the advice mostly obvious, and the voice a bit too jargon-y/commercial-art-y for my tastes. YMMV. But since what I want from self-help-y books is novel insight and/or eloquent prose, I wasn't thrilled with this one.
• 
  Thị Lệ Gạo Đen

  [REVIEW SÁCH]
  SÁNG TẠI VÔ BIÊN PHẢI ĐIÊN MỚI CHẤT – ADAM J.KURTZ
  Một cuốn selfhelp điển hình cho dân làm sáng tạo, mình được sếp lì xì cuốn sách này dịp đầu năm nay, và nó khá mỏng nên mình đọc 1 lèo hết luôn.
  Làm sáng tạo, nếu các bạn còn mù mờ thì chính là những người làm các mảng cần sáng tạo ý tưởng kiểu Design, R&D, Youtubers, Artist, ... miễn là họ luôn phải làm ra cái gì đó mới mẻ. Cuốn sách này là dành cho họ.
  Ở trong này sẽ có những điều dân làm sáng tạo cần biết như “Làm thế nào để bắt đầu?” “Làm gì khi thất bại?” “8 điều dân làm sáng tạo nên biết” với những tips hay ho có thể ứng dụng trong công việc í. Ngoài ra nó còn đề cập những vấn đề điển hình mà người làm sáng tạo CHẮC CHẮN sẽ gặp phải, kiểu như việc so sánh mình với đồng nghiệp (hoặc người cùng làm mảng tương tự với mình), làm việc với bạn bè người thân thì nên làm thế nào, làm việc tại nhà sao cho hiệu quả, làm gì khi mình chưa ưng sản phẩm cuối cùng của mình?! Mỗi mục lớn sẽ có những gạch đầu dòng nhỏ, và mỗi gạch đầu dòng đó sẽ có những câu chỉ dẫn ngắn gọn cho chúng mình làm theo.
  Cá nhân mình thì thích cuốn này đầu tiên là ở mặt thiết kế: màu sắc sặc sỡ rất truyền cảm hứng, nhìn đã thấy muốn đọc. Chỉ dẫn rất ngắn gọn, đọc rất nhanh và mình cũng biết thêm những điều khá quan trọng trong việc làm sáng tạo. Mỗi tội chỉ dẫn ngắn gọn quá lại còn không có ví dụ dẫn chứng cụ thể nên nhiều khi mông lung vl, kiểu qua loa quá, nó chưa “tới” ấy. Mình đã hy vọng nó sẽ đào sâu hơn một chút cho mỗi mục, để người đọc hiểu rõ ràng ngọn ngành hơn vấn đề và cách giải quyết nó. Nhưng cuốn này thì nó gần như một cuốn tiêu ngữ tổng hợp ý, mang đúng tính chất “kêu gọi” người đọc hãy làm cái này cái kia theo kiểu người đọc họ đã biết làm những cái đó rồi ấy. Thế nên nó chưa đủ với mình.
  Tuy nhiên mình cũng khá ấn tượng vì cuốn sách này có ngôn ngữ khá “ngông” :3 đúng kiểu dân sáng tạo bất cần đời ấy mà.
  Đánh giá: 3,75/5. Nó sẽ giúp ích cho công việc của mình nhiều đấy, nhất là những lúc chán hoặc bí ý tưởng. Ổn phết.
  #2minutesbookreview #bookstagramvn #bookstagram #bookreview #sángtạovôbiênphảiđiênmớichất #sangtaovobienphaidienmoichat #thingsarewhatyoumakeofthem #adamjkurtz #bookreviewvn #bookstagramvietnam #books #thilenghiensach
• 
  Frances Thompson

  Wanted to love it but found it a bit underwhelming with nothing startling or new (as a freelance creative writer for 6+ years), but it was easy to read and will look forward to passing on to someone new to the game!
• 
  Sara

  Always read a creative self-help zine thingie at the beginning of the year as a recharge. Some good stuff and delightfully messy.
• 
  Rebecca

  2018 Read Harder Challenge: A one-sitting book. I get so much out of reminders like these. And although I still look askance at the word "creative" used as a noun, a lot of this advice really spoke to me, especially "be more of your own best" and "maybe try trying." I really liked the Acknowledgments, the "Working with Friends & Family" section, and of course, the colorful design. Consider this a great little gift book. The pages are even perforated so you can put your favorites in a visible place.
  
  You may know Adam J. Kurtz from Design Sponge:
  http://www.designsponge.com/author/adam
  
  Favorite quotes:
  
  “Umm, failure is totally an option. It’s actually one of two main options in most scenarios. Instead of lying to yourself about the possibilities, choose instead to brace yourself for any outcome & be ready to learn from the experience. Your creative life is a journey and every step is moving you forward.”
  
  “Being genuinely kind is not a sign of weakness.”
  
  “I Can’t Do This: This might be the most basic of all fears? Also the easiest to conquer. How do you know you can’t do it if you haven’t actually, fully tried? You can’t win a race you don’t run & it’s not really running if you didn’t train beforehand. Maybe try trying.”
  
  “Rip Out Your Eyeballs!!!: If all else fails, stop looking! Take a break from obsessively checking follower counts and client rosters. Look inward instead. What are you working on now? New business? Personal projects? Everyone shares their best self. Be more of your own best.”
  
  “Create & Meet Goals: Having something positive to look forward to is important. We no longer have the structure of childhood to keep us motivated & subsequently rewarded. So set goals for yourself, big or small. Then meet them. Then set new ones & keep on going (forever).”
  
  “Remember that when your power is specifically rooted in communication, your silence speaks volumes.”
  
  “What can you offer that you don’t see represented?”
  
  “Be Accountable: …Don’t let planning the thing trick your brain into thinking you’ve done it. Try trying??”
• 
  Maria

  "Sometimes, some of us, maybe, possibly, talk about doing things & then don't do them. Hold yourself accountable for your fresh start. Don't let planning the thing trick your brain into thinking you've done it."
  
  There are lessons we've known by heart for years and end up forgetting when needed the most due to frustration. "Things Are What You Make of Them" by Adam J. Kurtz is the perfect companion for those moments when the 'end of all things' seems ominously inevitable.
  
  Straightforward yet thought-provoking, upbeat yet realistic, it's the kind of book one should have within reach at all times. The fact that it's visually appealing, and quite uplifting, doesn't hurt either. We can do this!
• 
  Mugren Ohaly

  Creativity “self-help” books are the new poetry anthology, everyone is writing one and they’re almost all the same regurgitated crap.
  
  Plus, the author gave his own book a 5-star review and obviously thinks way too highly of himself.
• 
  Caiti S

  The creative advice was too simple to have much of an impact on me.
• 
  Nikita Gomes

  It took me more than 1 sitting to read this book because I wanted to SAVOUR IT....
• 
  Mallika Mahidhar

  Simple and effective.
• 
  Kaylea Stoeltzing

  For the exhausted full-time employee and full-time passionate.
  
  I was in love with this quick and witty read. After a year slump with my art I'm fjnally getting back into the swing of things but in the process, juggling a full-time day job (with a lot of extra overtime). I admit sometimes I struggle getting caught up with housework trying to develop my own business plans and not crash on the couch after the 9-5-. This is literally the perfect pick me up for any Creative I know!!! Especially on the days where you rather just tAke a nap and eat all your insecurities of your craft away.
• 
  Dita

  This book and Adam J. Kurts illustrations are personal to me, in a way that I think we are all meant to be. I know, this is nonsense.
  
  Non-related review of this book, when I went to pick up this book at the local bookstore, there was a book party on cocktail recipe books. I ended up drinking glasses of delicious salted watermelon cocktail and went home all smily.
  
  Everything is going to be great.
• 
  Britten Thompson

  A good book to have in your collection as a reminder and motivation aid, but there is nothing ground breaking or profound here.
• 
  Amanda

  (2.5 stars) I liked the small size of this book and how you could tear out the pages to hang by your workspace or give to a friend that needs encouragement. But I found the book itself to be difficult to read because the pages did not want to bend and stay open. I had to practically break the spine just to be able to read it! The book was a tad simplistic in design (I think illustrations and variations in page styles and fonts would make it more interesting).
  I think my favorite part was the Acknowledgements section. It was the first book I read where the author acknowledges his human faults and shortcomings.
• 
  Sara

  This book was filled with cute, colorful, and uplifting blurbs and words of wisdom for creatives. It's the sort of book you can flip through every now and then when you need to refocus. The pages are all perforated so you can tear out the musings that truly speak you if you like and paste them around your house, journal, etc, through I'll be keeping it as is and looking back into it often when I need to motivate myself or overcome a work slump. It's geared towards artists, though it applies to anyone in the creative field.
• 
  The King of Clouds

  Es el primer libro que leo de Adam y se sintió bastante familiar. Parecía uno de los sermones que me doy a mi mismo todos los días, eso me encantó.
  
  Aunque el libro es bastante sincero no pasa la línea de lo desagradable, se mantiene mucho en la familiaridad y sientes que hablas con un amigo.
  
  Un libro corto que te permite entender cosas que pasan adentro y afuera de ti, que te hace entender que el éxito es subjetivo y que aunque es más fácil para unos que para otros el esfuerzo y el trabajo inteligente te pueden llevar a hacer grandes cosas.
  
  Espero leer más de Adam en algún punto.
• 
  Ryan

  Short, sweet, and effective!
  As I embark on my journey to write the first draft of my first novel, I revisited this quick self-help book I bought several years ago. Just as it die then, it helped me feel inspired and realistic about my writing goals this year.
  
  I like that this book isn’t too serious or over complicated. It’s not filled with pages and pages of advice l, but rather, a realistic and accessible group of lists that you can apply to your process.
  
  I’ll keep this near me throughout the year to revisit as I embark on my creative journey.
• 
  Alexis Johnson

  This one didn't quite resonate with me as much as Austin Kleon's similar books, but I definitely recommend it as a quick and energizing pep talk for creatives who feel stuck. It'll get the wheels moving again. :-)
• 
  Tim Belonax

  I’d recommend this little book as a gift to any recent graduate or someone that’s just hit their 3-year mark in their creative career.
  
  The wit of the book helps its wisdom go down smoother. Bravo, Adam.
• 
  Anya Toomre

  Pithy useful advice but easy to have go in one ear and out the other. I would retain the suggestions better if I had a challenge on hand to solve and made specific choices based on the suggestions of ways to approach things, and wrote my answers down.
• 
  Weronika Zimna

  This was absolutely delightful and exactly what I needed.
• 
  Chris

  2.5 stars. What it says on the tin.
• 
  Baber Ali

  The texture its been written in is s9 attractive. Secondly the messages are breif and short so one does not find it boring or long so i would prefer it if you are just starting reading.
• 
  Pamela Mancilla

  Este libro no es para mí, pero lo leí y es bien bonito :)
• 
  Michelle

  Magic. Not just for creatives.
• 
  Becky

  Good life advice for any humans doing anything!