⭑⭑⭑⭑½ (4.5/5 see book reviews)
This book was such an earnest recommendation from Ali Abdaal’s YouTube channel that I bought it.
This is a motivational book that you could devour in 30 minutes or so. But it’s the kind of motivational book that you need in your life from time-to-time.
The author’s goal is to amp you up about sharing things on the internet.
Plus there are a scant few details about what and how to share on the internet.
Most of the advice seems right, and it’s quotable and full of quotes:
Being open and honest about what you like is the best way to connect with people who like those things, too.
– Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
“Anyone who isn’t embarrassed of who they were last year probably isn’t learning enough,”
writes author Alain de Botton.
– Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
There’s a line in here that reminds me of a quote from Euripides: “For this is held as one of the wise principles of mortals: what isn’t good goes unnoticed”
We all like to think we’re more complex than a two-sentence explanation, but a two-sentence explanation is usually what the world wants from us.
– Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
There’s a list of recommendations at the back which I wish was required of all authors forever:
- Brian Eno, A year with swollen appendices
- Steven Johnson, Where good ideas come from
- David Byrne, How music works
- Mike Monteiro, Design is a job
- Kio Stark, Don’t go back to school
- Ian Svenonius, Supernatural strategies for making a rock ‘n’ roll group
- Sidney Lumet, Making movies
- P.T. Barnum, The art of money getting
– Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
As you might imagine from a book with an exclamation mark in the title, this book is saccharine, but saccharine is enjoyable sometimes.
I enjoyed the book. I’ll probably revisit either it, or this review, often. I saw this book was for sale at the FedEx Office store near my house and that seemed right somehow.
Details
- Title: Show Your Work
- Author: Austin Kleon
- Pages: 224
- Format: EBook
- Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
- ISBN: 076117897X
- Genre: Personal Development