I borrowed the original from a friend and worked with it a couple of years ago. I bought the tenth anniversary edition because this year I was determined to get beyond my midlife crisis and I couldn't find this book in the library. Of course I saw the related titles in Amazon.com, and looked them up. I kind of wish Amazon and other online stores had a discreet way of indicating the order of the titles in a series. I immediately gravitated to Vein of Gold, and started to use it, but now I am in a class that is based on Walking This World. I can't do both at the same time, so I'm concentrating on the class. Artist's Way is an excellent introduction.

I can't even explain how much change I've made in my life since reading this book. Julia Cameron says things that every artist wants to hear. The main things I've taken from this book are Morning Pages, Artist Dates and going on walks - those three simple things have totally centered me. I wasn't even necessarily diligent with all the other worksheets.

Even if you don't care to increase your creativity, it will help anyone to live life!

This is my second copy of this book. I've worn one out already. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It is life altering!

Just get it.

The first chapter as I remember was a little bit boring for me and when I start complaining to my friend, she told me :"Just read it."
And that was the best advice she ever gave me.
I gained a lot of self-confidence as an artist and person, came to conclusion in a lot of things that bothered me for a long time, it truly gave me a peace of mind.

So, for you, my friend:"Just ge-e-et it".

Julia Cameron's book was the reason I've been able to create plays, acting jobs! I can only say this: IT WORKS! I'm living proof! For anyone who is blocked, these tools used over years creates a strong powerful base upon which to create work!The Green Room

A good accompany piece to The Artist's Way book. Can't use this instead. So much is left out but she hits some key points.

Got this book for an Artist's Way course and I'm glad I'm in the weekly course or I wouldn't do the projects. For me, I need to not only be held accountable but also to hear what others are doing as they open their path. It also helps to have a facilitator who is open and offers suggestions. The book is rather dated and doesn't take into account the time we spend on the internet and how that needs to be balanced.

This book got into my hands at a crucial moment in my life and has been a life changing experience. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with self doubt about your capacity to create art.
Do the 12 weeks and you will discover a new you.

My boyfriend and I have an ongoing argument about whether fear or laziness is more likely to keep someone from action. He claims it's laziness, but my answer is fear.

Julia Cameron would seem to agree with me. Her book, a classic for "blocked" artists, outlines a 12-week program for "creative recovery." Week one is devoted to the tension between "the dream of action and the fear of failure."

I discovered The Artist's Way nearly two years ago, and it became I lifeline for me as I recommitted myself to singing.

The book's numerous exercises helped me discover and confront the fears that held me back from fully pursuing my dream.

Self-acceptance and the freedom to fail have been essential to me as I've taken new artistic risks, and they are woven throughout Cameron's recipe for success.

The spiritual overtones in The Artist's Way might not appeal to all readers. However, I found it easy to "translate" these into my own words, and I highly recommend the book to anyone who has fallen into a creative rut.

If you are looking for validation for the talents you think might be lurking around inside you somewhere, you need to read this. It will remind you that there's more to who you are than just a work-producing-robot! With The Artist's Way as my workbook, I am now reading Cameron's Right to Write and am looking forward to Vein of Gold. Just get the book. If she wrote the phone book I think I'd read it!

I bought the version of this she published years ago on cassette tape and have worn the one last cassette I have of the original 2 cassette set to a thin memory. She did that version live and the energy from having an audience enhanced her delivery. This aspect was missing in this CD version which I'd hoped to buy as a replacement so I returned the CDs to Amazon. The return was problem free.

Much creativity is lost between the time we are young children and when we become adults. The school system, societal influences, and even maturity itself eventually whittles away the artist in most people.

Julia Cameron systematically addresses subjects to release the enormous creativity we all have. I found the book useful for stimulating an artist's though processes. Improving one's creativity is a key element in developing the right brain for Critical Thinking.

The Artist's Way validated several ideas that I had picked up through the years. I have been fortunate to have a very creative family. My sister has created amazing miniatures for many years. After retirement my father became an amazing wood carver ( I have a ship he carved on my mantle in the living room) and my mother an excellent painter (some of her painting are displayed prominently around my house).

This book's twelve week system is a good common sense approach to using the right side of the brain much more effectively. The book chapters each focus on twelve subjects. They are: Recovering a sense of safety, identity, power, integrity, possibility, abundance, connection, strength, compassion, self-protection, autonomy and faith.

There are many great ideas to ponder in the book. For example, in the chapter: ecovering a sense of Power, Cameron writes:

"Remember that creativity is a tribal experience and that tribal elders will initiate the gifted youngsters who cross their path. This may sound like wishful thinking, but it is not. Sometimes an older artist will be moved to help out even against his or her own wishes. "I don't know why I'm doing this for you, but..." Again, I would say that some of the helping hands may be something more than human."

Some people may like the considerable connection to the universe (or God) that Cameron uses. Others may not. However, the force of the universe is something that no man or woman completely understands and it does seem to govern many of what happens in our lives (Karma etc). Accepting there are things that we don't understand and striving to have these forces on our side is a good thing!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I received this book for Christmas. It is a gift which has kept giving. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to wake themselves and become their authentic selves. Anyone who does not cherish the process is not ready to move forward on their spiritual path. I look forward to sharing this timeless book with others!

I am currently about midway through "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity". I am enjoying the book. Julia Cameron writes about unblocking creativity through doing several different exercises. The first exercise is the "Morning Pages". This is 3 pages of stream of consciousness writing that you are supposed to do first thing every morning. The only problem I have with this is that she wants it done in longhand on notebook paper. I prefer to type. The idea behind the "Morning Pages" is to get all of the mental clutter and psychic gunk out of your head and onto the page. Then you will have room for creativity. So far, so good, in my case at least, but then again, I write every morning anyway. The second exercise is "The Artist Date". Ms. Cameron says that we should go alone a few times a week on creative excursion. I have had more trouble doing this.
All in all, I think this is a wonderful tool for unblocking creativity, and if you are already a writer, the morning pages are very useful. If you are a painter, as I am, then it works as well. It helps you focus in on your creativity and it has helped me see more clearly the things that have kept me blocked.

I actually wanted a Christian book and was encouraged by those that complained about that element. The author actually says god can be whatever you want to call it and gives a variety of examples. That aside, it is really just common sense suggestions such as setting aside time to meditate daily through writing as well as setting aside time weekly to practice your craft whether it is writing, painting or acting. Good suggestions but nothing new.

I was in a mess, putting on weight, v low self esteem, looking for help and a wonderful 'guru' said he could put sticky plaster on BUT. He was so so right - however, initially the book seemed to be not for me - am not an 'artist' and the emphasis on this in the early pages nearly made me switch off. But don't, and in my view this is not the real message. For me, the real message, is about valuing and loving yourself. Also this book does ask for a quite a commitment - morning pages, etc. But do not be put off - I have changed out of all recognition. Lost 11lb in 2 weeks, look and feel alive and gently confident - am getting used to 'spoiling' myself and putting myself - not first - but giving me the initial time that I need, which then makes me calmer and able to be there for others - 'in my time' NOT ' when they shout! Brilliant.

First of all, I must admit that I am reading this book as a requirement for an art class. Unlike most people in my art class, I grew up in a creative, nurturing environment and I have been allowed all of my life to do and be creative. I have been an professional artist for well over 15 years, and then I receive this book.

Trying to be fair to my instructor and classmates, I am dutifully reading and trying to follow Ms. Cameron's advice. However, I am not finding the book as helpful as I had hoped and there are many points at which I find that the book falls very short of being universally useful.

First of all, Ms. Cameron assumes that the reader grew up with unsupportive parents and also assumes that the reader's creative self was bullied completely into submission. Because none of this applies to me, I'm finding that many of the chapters don't offer much information for me that results in any kind of constructive change or benefit.

Secondly, I found this book to be willfully more religious than I bargained for. During my doing of exercises in Chapter 2, I found myself rewriting the principles to eliminate the word "God" and replace it with something like "the world." This part of the book's assumption is insulting to someone like myself who recognizes that creativity (and indeed perception) comes completely from within. On its own. No God required! Imagine that!

There are some good and useful things about this book, which is why I give it 3 stars instead of 2. The morning pages are helpful to me -- my problem isn't creativity, it's organizatiton. I do the pages, but only in an abbreviated form. I write in a small book and keep my time writing each morning to 15 mintues. Three small pages in my tiny handwriting is more than enough to get my crap thoughts onto paper and my day started before 6:45 am. I may never stop morning pages... but Ms. Cameron -- affirmations? You have to be kidding me. I quit copying sentances multiple times after 3rd grade, thank you very much.

The artist's date is also nice, but since I already do other things I enjoy that aren't my artwork (watch indie films, play guitar, play ukulele, go shopping in trendy urban boutiques, you name it), adding ANOTHER artist date keeps me from a couple of hours of real work per week. My problem isn't getting good and creative ideas, it's finding the time to actually do the ideas that I constantly generate.

Aside from those features, I'm finding it difficult to believe that 7 more weeks of the program will net anything more than reading a lot of fluffy claptrap that is probably helpful to the actually blocked creatives but not at all helpful to me... and in that amount of time I could have enjoyed a work of fiction that chose to read.

I'll be recommending this to only my most insecure friends.

If you're in my situation, you might find "Time Management for the Creative Person" and a workbook on overcoming Procrastination a whole lot more helpful.

I love this journal.. I started out going about it as the companion book suggests, to write first thing in the morning, but that just became unreasonable at times - especially with children. But I did aim for three pages daily, and it just really helped to clear my mind and spark so much creativity. I ended up buying another journal and filled it up as well... Now journaling has become a must to me. I have over a dozen journals completely filled now and haven't stopped yet.

I liked this book. I checked it out of the library and after reading it decided I needed my own copy. It offers ideas on how to get back the creative spirit in all of us. And, I think it is not only good for the serious creative types who have been resisting the creative urge for many reasons BUT it is excellent for developing a creative attitude for business purposes also. It will help anyone wanting to access the creative inner spirit and using that creative in various areas of life.

This book is amazing if you consider yourself a creative person. Don't just buy it, buy 10 of them and give them to all of your friends.

I've read many, many writing books, and this one is definately in the top three! Reading Julia's words not only drive me to be a better writer, but also a better person! If you were once creative and miss the rush it used to give you to write, paint, or anything creative in nature; give this book a try!

You always have to begin again. The Artist's Way is one very good way of beginning over and over again. I like the advices and the daily task and to my surprise have discovered that it has got my dreams moving again. It is a good way to force a very busy retired woman to concentrate on what is -- or ought to be the important issues in her life. I definitely recommend the book.

This book has been my 'bible' for reclaiming my creativity. Julia Cameron has such great creative wisdom and insight that inspires me daily. Morning pages and weekly artist dates have become a staple to maintain my creative life. I HIGHLY recommend this book (and for that matter all Julia's wonderful books) to anyone who has lost touch with their own magical creativity and voice. Bravo!!

As a writer I was given this book as a present not once but three times. The people who gave me the book loved it, and thought I would love it as much as they did. I read it and tried to see value in it but couldn't get past all the wounded-child stuff, the "permission" to express one's self. Do people really need permission to be themselves? Possibly so, considering the book's popularity, but I was repeatedly embarrassed by the tone of the book, as though I was being addressed as some kind of half-wit.

It feels a little unfair for me to rate the book at all, since I'm obviously not the target audience, and have never had writer's block, but it's an unusually squishy-fuzzy book. If you want to get in touch with your inner child in about ten minutes, try the non-dominant hand writing exercises in Lucia Capacchione's book The Power of Your Other Hand : A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain. No kidding. If you want to avoid the tiresome self-absorbed lifestyle The Artist's Way promotes, there's a better way. If you're an artist, get on with it already.

"The Artist's Way," is a must buy book. It completley works for everyone all religions and all types of people who want to be creative, not just for a specific kind of artist. Actaully, to those who would usually say that they aren't artistic people, this could help you find your creative sence of belonging. This book is almost like a course though, so be ready to keep your attention to this book on a weekliy baisis. I honestly haven't finished the book yet, but it is so inspiring and just great for those people with writers block, or whatever kinda of "Art Block" you have. I would recamend this to many people, and I have. I believe for most, you would enjoy this.

Wow. I read most of the book, and it was painful, veritably painful, to get through. Aesthetically: there are this hideously trite quotes from various famous people at the top of almost every page which constantly jar your eyes away from the text. They drove me crazy. Any good designer, I have to say, would never have let a book go to print that way. Which makes me wonder about her artistic talent. Anyhow. On to the content. And about that, I have a bunch of tangential and one primary issue:

The GOD component. I'm not religious, and people who are religious may feel very differently about this book. It shouldn't matter whether I'm religious or not, though, because the author lets you know in the very beginning that you don't have to believe in a fundamental Christian GOD to benefit from the book, and that you should (drum roll) make the word mean...whatever YOU want it to mean. Um. Okay, that may be true if you also lack fundamental logic skills and tend not to fall on the "rational" side of the road. But this is a weird, Christian-biased book. It just is. All her examples have GOD in it. I bought the workbook, and it has exercises such as "Write down ways GOD has wronged you..." in it. Tell me: how does one who lacks faith in a Christian god, and doesn't have knowledge or experience in the whole "guilt-based" tradition, write about such things?

I'm a very rational person, and this book is not for rational people. I don't think the creative process is necessarily spiritual, and it certainly isn't metaphysical, as this book would have you believe. I can't buy into a single one of her ideas. The main one are the "morning pages" that you write: three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing every morning. Meh. I've been doing journal writing for years and years, and I don't think this is much different. I think any time you can put aside for yourself and your thoughts is going to make you more productive. It's not rocket science. Or metaphysics.

Maybe a "hobby" artist, or someone who just does art to make him/herself feel better would find this book useful. If you're into "creative energy" and "finding your place in this world" (as some reviewers have said), maybe you'll get something out of it. I don't know. I'm a professional designer, and I was looking for a book to help me solidify a creative process. But seeing as I design for clients and to make myself more skilled in my field, art isn't really about expressing myself in some weird Christian fairyland of energy and self and GOD and other weird nameless stuff so much as it is about doing something that a. makes sense for the client; and b. makes sense to me. I think that the author thinks of art as something extremely personal and tied up in mystery, and I really don't think art that is meant for an audience is so much about spiritual personal expression. Most "career" artists aren't particularly religious, even, and their art is a craft and exercise in expertise as much as it is about "positive energy" and solipsistic creationism. At any rate, I found no insight into a useful creative process in this book.

And there's really no way I can imagine that someone who didn't believe strongly in spirituality could take ANYTHING away from this book. The author says, sure, that "it works for anyone," but you can't really have your cake and eat it, too: the "higher power" thing runs thick in this book, and for people who are into that sort of thing, it probably will make sense. But for people who aren't into that sort of thing, it reads like a very disjointed, far-fetched, metaphysical, self-indulgent, useless piece.

Wow. I read most of the book, and it was painful, veritably painful, to get through. Aesthetically: there are this hideously trite quotes from various famous people at the top of almost every page which constantly jar your eyes away from the text. They drove me crazy. Any good designer, I have to say, would never have let a book go to print that way. Which makes me wonder about her artistic talent. Anyhow. On to the content. And about that, I have a bunch of tangential and one primary issue:

The GOD component. I'm not religious, and people who are religious may feel very differently about this book. It shouldn't matter whether I'm religious or not, though, because the author lets you know in the very beginning that you don't have to believe in a fundamental Christian GOD to benefit from the book, and that you should (drum roll) make the word mean...whatever YOU want it to mean. Um. Okay, that may be true if you also lack fundamental logic skills and tend not to fall on the "rational" side of the road. But this is a weird, Christian-biased book. It just is. All her examples have GOD in it. I bought the workbook, and it has exercises such as "Write down ways GOD has wronged you..." in it. Tell me: how does one who lacks faith in a Christian god, and doesn't have knowledge or experience in the whole "guilt-based" tradition, write about such things?

I'm a very rational person, and this book is not for rational people. I don't think the creative process is necessarily spiritual, and it certainly isn't metaphysical, as this book would have you believe. I can't buy into a single one of her ideas. The main one are the "morning pages" that you write: three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing every morning. Meh. I've been doing journal writing for years and years, and I don't think this is much different. I think any time you can put aside for yourself and your thoughts is going to make you more productive. It's not rocket science. Or metaphysics.

Maybe a "hobby" artist, or someone who just does art to make him/herself feel better would find this book useful. I don't know. I'm a professional designer, and I was looking for a book to help me solidify a creative process. But seeing as I design for clients and for me, art isn't really about expressing myself in some weird Christian fairyland of energy and self and GOD and other weird nameless stuff so much as it is about doing something that a. makes sense for the client; and b. makes sense to me. I found no insight into a useful creative process in this book.

And there's really no way I can imagine that someone who didn't believe strongly in spirituality could take ANYTHING away from this book. The author says, sure, that "it works for anyone," but you can't really have your cake and eat it, too: the "higher power" thing runs thick in this book, and for people who are into that sort of thing, it probably will make sense. But for people who aren't into that sort of thing, it reads like a very disjointed, far-fetched, metaphysical, self-indulgent, useless piece.

I went through this program for a while and it was useful. I hope to do it again later this year, but I've too many commitments already. Still, this is a great way to learn about yourself and how your mind structures your world.

Try it, you won't regret it!

Wow! How could this ridiculous self-absorbed rant sell so many copies? I'm stunned at her examples of blocks - monsters and crazymakers - her writing style isn't even very good. Lots of short choppy thoughts and sentences. At times I even felt as though I'm reading about all of her own hidden demons and to be honest, it's extremely ridiculous and hard to take seriously. For example, Cameron talks a lot about SHAME and begins with "When people do not want to see something, they get mad at the one who shows them. They kill the messenger. A child from an alcoholic home gets into trouble scholastically or sexually. The family is flagged as being troubled. The child is made to feel shame for bringing shame to the family. But did the child bring shame? No. The child brought shameful things to light. The family shame predated and caused the child's distress. "What will the neighbors think?" is a shaming device aimed at continuing a conspiracy of illness" EXCUSE ME - WHAT???? This is the most random and ridiculous example of shame - and what's that example have to do with anyone else - sounds like a deep hidden personal issue if you ask me. At any rate, don't take this self-help book too seriously folks - it's embarrassing really and most exercises are completely juvenile as well - or just plain wayyy out there - for example, her take on reading - how you should not read for a particular period of time because it will open up your senses - she says "Here is a list of some things that people do when they are not reading: Listen to music (really) fix the bike, MAKE CURTAINS!!!!, Mend! (how old is she and mend what, socks!), wash the dog, knit, cook, watercolor" Okay - enough - she has obviously forgotten to list breath there, I mean, can we breath while we're not reading? The book is just one of the most self-absorbed books of this genre I've picked up in quite awhile. It really doesn't help much in terms of spirituality either - I've had too hard a time to begin with reading her examples of God and creativity - I don't find this women very creative at all since most of her thoughts seem like a thread of someone else's revelations. Right down to morning pages - isn't that called journaling???

Years ago I bought and read and began working this book, and it has literally changed my life. To start with, it opens up your buried creativity and brings alive all your dreams and visions. It's simply magical.

Two of the best pieces of advice I got from it and still use to this day (almost 10 years later) are the concepts of "filling the well" in other words, taking an "artist's date", and morning pages.

The first, taking an "artist's date" means that once a week you need to go and fill your creative well by doing whatever speaks to you. Go into nature; go to a 1 dollar store; go to a muesum. But go alone and listen to your inner voice.

Next is to wake up each morning and commit to writing three pages. These are called morning pages, and I've been doing them ever since. I can't tell you how magical it is to get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper. It changes the whole day, and this practice alone has made it possible for me to start writing.

Buy this book. It will change your life, too.

Michael Z author of The Wisdom of the Rooms "A Year of Weekly Reflections"

Years ago I bought and read and began working this book, and it has literally changed my life. To start with, it opens up your buried creativity and brings alive all your dreams and visions. It's simply magical.

Two of the best pieces of advice I got from it and still use to this day (almost 10 years later) are the concepts of "filling the well" in other words, taking an "artist's date", and morning pages.

The first, taking an "artist's date" means that once a week you need to go and fill your creative well by doing whatever speaks to you. Go into nature; go to a 1 dollar store; go to a muesum. But go alone and listen to your inner voice.

Next is to wake up each morning and commit to writing three pages. These are called morning pages, and I've been doing them ever since. I can't tell you how magical it is to get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper. It changes the whole day, and this practice alone has made it possible for me to start writing.

Buy this book. It will change your life, too.

Michael Z author of The Wisdom of the Rooms "A Year of Weekly Reflections"

One of the most useful, helpful books I've ever read. (A big statement for someone who usually gags on self-help books.) It has pulled me through more than one professional deadline crisis. I couldn't produce anything without my Morning Pages. It leaves me feeling capable and productive.

When a friend recommended The Artist's Way to me, I had no idea what it was, but since I trusted the friend, I gave it a try. Now, I recommend it to every writer I know. Cameron's program leads you on a spiritual path of creative abundance.

The morning pages--three longhand pages done immediately upon waking and not meant to be censored and corrected--were the most helpful because making yourself write and facing the blank page can be the hardest thing for a writer. The Artist Date was uncomfortable at first as I took myself to the symphony, to the theater and to art museums since these events are usually social, but they quickly became cherished times because I didn't need to depend on finding a "date," which often times stopped me from experiencing art. The tasks send you on a path of discovery and acceptance.

If you're willing to do the work you'll be more prolific in your art. Your block will lift. Your projects will come to fruition. It works.

This book is fantastic. Not only will you benefit from reading and implementing its practices up front, you will also profit from revisiting the core learnings. I would recommned this book to anyone who has an interest (expressed or not) in learning more about their capabilities from a writing, painting, acting, speaking and/or conceptual perspective.

Julia Cameron makes it easy implement a system that ushers you from the dirt road of uncertainty to a concrete foundation of certain expression.

This is an outstanding book. It's power is that it takes all of the things you vaguely suspected, or almost could put your finger on......and it states them succintly and powerfully. Why we do what we do, why we don't do what we do, and why we feel what we feel, even when it doesn't make sense(even to ourselves).
This lady deserves major kudos for writing this book, for writing it so well, and for making it so accessible. You need this book.

Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity introduced me back to myself and changed my life. It is a journey for anyone interested in personal insight and individual growth that will have a lasting effect on how you live and embrace your life. I am very grateful to a friend for recommending it to me.

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity [10th Anniversary Edition]

What can I say about a book that has changed my life in so many positive ways? Twelve years after picking up this book I am happliy matched with another creative type. How did we meet? In a writing workshop, thanks to Julia Cameron and The Artist's Way. Sounds romantic, and we ARE happy, but I'm pretty sure that has everything to do with the fact that we took Cameron's principles and put them into practice. Today, after seven years of marriage, we both do what we love and are positive mirrors for each other and our daughter. Is life perfect? Of course not. But we are rich with creative projects, that's for sure. Thank you, Julia Cameron. Your book is a tremendous gift to us and so many others.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in any form of art (drawing, painting, dancing, photography, film making, etc), music or writing. Whether you have ever thought about, used to do it, or are now practicing any form of art, music or writing, this book will help you become better at it. If you are willing to follow the guidelines and stick to the path laid out in the book, you will become a better artist, musician and writer.

I am part of a group that is working through this book with a facilitator. We are in our fourth week and 99% of the group of about 12 women are realizing positive changes and more energy in their lives. In my opinion, it is better to work with this book in a group, getting everyone's feed back when we meet once each week. It has simple tasks to do daily that produce self-revealing insights for us. I can't say enough good things about it. I am so grateful for being introduced to it.

This book is so incredible. I am starting to see the creative possibilities again.

When I worked at an art supply shop, we carried The Artist's Way as a standard item; oft I would skim through it, purchase the book, then wrap it up and hand it over with a blessing. I never thought that I was blocked creatively or had an issue with the producing of art. 5 or more years have passed, 8 or 9 gifts have been given and this year, for my birthday I bought it FOR MYSELF. How many times do we as creative people take for granted our creativity? ~or~ Are we blocked as people, and therefor our creations suffer as a result??
What Ms. Cameron has done is give us creative types {WE ALL ARE} permission to peel away the layers of ingrained LEARNED crud- at our own pace- to reveal the artist we all need to embrace- be she/he a painter, writer, sculptor, composer, chef- whatever. Set up in weekly chapter format, there are exercises to get one centered- back to self. You start by making a commitment to yourself to write daily, take care of your body mind and spirit, and relish in personal outings of "frivolity."
We all possess within us the strength and understanding of what works and does not. This wonderful book just pushes us along gently to reveal it.
Happy Reading,
Violet {Artist at Large}

I received THE ARTIST"S WAY when it was originally published (1994?). I was living in Japan and had the time and opportunity to work thru it. It was very interesting and informative in revealing myself...to myself! It wasn't until a year later when I returned to the U.S. that a light when off in my head and I realized that the impact the book had made on me was reflecting in my life. My career became easier. My relationships became more meaningful. There was a tremendous block that had been removed and I srongly believe that it was the result of working thru this book. It made me stronger. Over the years I have recommended it to others and I highly recommend this edition to you. (One small thing that it did was to enable me after fourteen years of procrastination to write to former president, Jimmy Carter. Well, he wrote me back!) Good luck with your journey!

This book may impress many people because of its psycho-lingo, its New Age palaver, and its abundance of second person pronouns. There is a 12-week program to follow, but that is probably for the author's desire to become a cult leader and the readers' desire to become cult followers.

But if you want to learn something you don't already know, you might be disappointed. The message of the book, in fifty words or less, is to resist any friends, relatives, or guilty feelings which tell you that creative pursuit is a waste of time.

That is nothing new. A Transactional Analyst might say the same thing, using the terms Parent and Child. A Freudian might say the same thing, using the terms superego and id.

I have yet to make it through this book after a couple of years of trying, but it is well worth the effort to get your inner artist unblocked. Even unfinished it has helped me make great creative strides. Worth the investment. Worth the work.

As the sales show, this is an amazing book & a fabulous tool for artists. It's a little heavy in tone, but it's a great tool just the same. Maybe, if we could get Robin Williams to stand in the living room & read aloud from it while dressed in drag... Just a thought. I would love to co-author a book in the series "The ArtSlut's Easy Guides" with her. Anyway, on to my own painting & writing. Have a creative day!

Barb Benson, Top ArtSlut & author of "The ArtSlut's Guide To Makin' It ~ As a Visual Artist".

Powerful. I feel like I am having an awakening. I am just more than half way through this book, and I've decided to give my two weeks notice at a job I don't love to pursue a creative career. I am afraid, but ironically, I have the support and encouragement of everyone around me. I could not have ever attempted anything life this without having read this book. This week the chapter I read was on the fear of taking risks and ironically that is exactly where I am. The author has these tid bits in every chapter that just blow me away. 6 months in therapy couldn't do what this book will. Maybe even years in therapy. I can't recommend it enough. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me awhile to finish, but it was well worth it! For any aspiring artists looking for tools to live life more creatively. Keep in mind it's not a "magic book" that will fix all your problems... but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

For those that enjoy mediation, art and personal growth this is a book that you should have and should read. Slowly, with focus and pleasure. Read a bit, put it down, think about what was written. Budding artists, artists that have "brain block" or just tired will gain from this book. It's well written, warm and feels good. I do some kind of creative work everyday and still gained enormously from reading this book. I enjoy the work book as well. Have fun with this, it's worth the time!

I picked up the Artist's Way in spring of 1994 and worked through it. Within a month I'd sold my first novel (MAINLINE), that I was working on at the same time I read this book. I have no doubt that the doors it opened for me - in creativity, in visualization, in the flow of energy around the entire process - played a key role in the unlikely sale of my unagented partial through the slush pile of a major genre publisher. Synchronicity and fortuitous happenstance abounded when I was deeply in the groove with the Artist's Way.

I just bought another copy because I want to revisit and renew some of the processes I learned here the first time around. It is my experience with this that putting serious attention into it yields tremendous payback. I know a million people have reviewed this book over time, but I just wanted to add a comment on it because Julia Cameron helped me open the door to professional authorship, and I'm grateful for the catalyst experience she provides.

This author leads you into a direction to focus on your creativity in a "step level".
It is a practical approach to dealing with a subject that can have no practicality to it at all!
How do you accept yourself as a creative person?
Most of us do not.
We come up with other ways of "dealing" with it......and try to push it away...because we think we will not be able to make a living or not be accepted by society....
This book helps every artistic individual to think differently about their approach to life and how to handle situations according to "their" artistic standards....
I enjoyed this work and use these philosophies and practical approaches in my art, which is.... being a musician and songwriter.
Thank you Julia!