Customer Reviews
This book has changed my life - By: Katie Write, 12 Oct 2008 
That's a strong thing to say I know but its true, I am currently on week 8 & I have never been so inspired to make changesin my life & I am LOVING IT!
A friend gave me this book because I was complaining that I didn't have a creative bonein my body & I was generally bored with doing the same things over & over. She thrust the book at me & said 'read this!' I bought a journal the same day & I have writtenin it every day ever since. It has made me remember many precious things about my past & discover new interests & the importance of spending time with myself, doing things that make me happy like hanging outin a bookshop, buying that lush sketch book I never felt worthy of because I couldn't draw
I am currently entertaining the idea of becoming a writer because I have simply loved the process of writing. I have never done Amazon reviews before but I value them as a way to see what others thought so I wanted to encourage this book.
If you doubt that you have any creativityin you buy this book - if it speaks to you like it sp[oke to me, you will be amazed.
Releasing Creativity! - By: C. Clayton, 30 Jul 2008 Much creativity is lost between the time we are young children & when we become adults. The school system, societal influences, & even maturity itself eventually whittles away the artistin 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 elementin 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 mantlein the living room) & 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 & faith.
There are many great ideas to ponderin the book. For example,in the chapter: ecovering a sense of Power, Cameron writes:
"Remember that creativity is a tribal experience & 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 & it does seem to govern many of what happensin our lives (Karma etc). Accepting there are things that we don't understand & 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
Hugely Dissapointing. - By: C. SAUL, 31 Mar 2008 
I was hugely dissapointed upon reading this book.Having seen numerous positive & glowing reviews, as well as it being widely stocked, I did not hesitate to buy this book when I attempted to start painting again after a period of acute illness.
Unfortunatley, my hopes were not met. Wishy-washy & pseudo-psychological opinions really started to grate with me, as well as the authors dramatic use of theatrical language. There is also an obssesive reliance on God which could possibly become a crutch for some recovering creatives.
The book is not pragmatic, is not practical, is very linear , & very, very boring. It is not empowering, enlightening & unfortunatley delivers nothign it promises, at least for me. I simply, & much to my dismay, cannot understand why this book is so highly regarded.
There are many reasons for reading this book..... - By: nemo, 26 Feb 2008 I am not an artist, & when I read this book I was not hoping to recover my creative self. I was, however, suffering from severe depression & this book was recommended to me. There are many books on depression - I think I must have most of them! - but this is the only one that really helped me on the road to recovery.
It's an easy read, which sets out a simple program that anyone can follow.
Perhaps what it is really about is helping people who feel trappedin a rut make their great escape, by setting out a number of simple, practical steps which are easy to follow. The thinking behind all of the these tasks is explained, but many give additional benefits to the particular person who is reading it.
It contains no mumbo jumbo or pop psychology, just a series of practical things anyone can doin order to move forward. Some may seem odd, but all are easily done.
Above all, this books contains nothing that could harm or mover you backwards.
My personal recommendation is that it cured my depression, & actually made me much more creative.
What a saviour this book is... - By: Deborah Burrow, 24 Jan 2008 This book was recommended to me by a friend, & now I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to read & work through this book. It "spoke" to me immediately, & I have continued with the course with a real sense of change occuringin my thoughts & perceptions about myself & others.
Most of all, of course, I have started painting again, & finally I am painting pictures of the type I always wanted to. Even though I didn't think I was blocked, I was. Each week revealed something else about me, & revelations are still coming outin my Morning Pages Journal.
Allin all, if you are recovering, or discovering your creative self, this book is for you.
You won't regret it!
