Don’t Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again by Austin Kleon

Rediscover the joy of creating – with kid-inspired insights from the bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist

I have long been a fan of Austin Kleon, whose voice on creativity feels both grounding and energizing in an age that often overcomplicates the creative process. He is refreshingly practical, deeply encouraging, and wonderfully human in the way he talks about making things. As a self-described “writer who draws,” he strips creativity down to its most honest form and reminds us that art does not have to be intimidating to be meaningful.

He is best known for his beloved trilogy of illustrated creativity guides: Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going. These books are quick to read but surprisingly lasting in impact. They feel less like lectures and more like conversations with a generous mentor who wants you to succeed. Each page offers something actionable, something you can try right away, whether you are an artist, writer, designer, or simply someone trying to live more creatively.

One of the ideas I appreciate most is his reminder that nothing is truly original. Creativity is not about conjuring brilliance out of thin air. It is about paying attention, studying what inspires you, remixing influences, and transforming them into something personal. That perspective alone takes enormous pressure off the act of creating. It permits exploring, borrowing thoughtfully, and evolving.

What makes his work especially appealing is how he brings playfulness back into art. His books often feel like beautifully assembled notebooks filled with common-sense wisdom presented in a way that feels anything but ordinary. Simple illustrations, handwritten notes, and concise, no-nonsense language turn familiar advice into something memorable and motivating. There is no fluff. Just clarity.

He also champions openness. His encouragement to share your work and process, to “let people steal from you,” reframes creativity as something communal rather than competitive. By showing what you make and how you make it, you attract people who care about the same things. You build connections instead of guarding ideas.

Equally important is how he gently pushes back against hustle culture. Instead of glorifying burnout or constant output, he emphasizes patience, consistency, curiosity, and joy. Do the work. Take breaks. Stay playful. Keep going. That mindset feels both healthier and more sustainable.

For many readers, myself included, his writing provides reassurance during creative slumps. He makes the struggle feel normal and manageable. He offers practical tools without pretending to have magical solutions. Most of all, he reminds you that you are not alone in trying to make something that matters.

His newest book, Don’t Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again, continues that spirit by inviting readers to rediscover the fearless, curious creativity of childhood. It is a joyful call to loosen up, experiment more, and stop worrying so much about labels or outcomes.

I genuinely encourage you to buy it. Support the work. And in true Kleon spirit, do not steal the book itself. Just keep stealing like an artist.

Feeling burnt out, distracted, and out of fresh ideas? In every creative person’s life, there are times when you lose the energy, joy, and freedom you had when you were first starting. From the recent art school graduate to the retiree searching for their creative third act, we all need help returning to the excitement, the sense of discovery, and the raw creativity of a child at play. Don’t Call It Art is a creative liberation handbook for looking at the world with fresh eyes, unlearning what you’ve learned, and making new leaps in your life and work.

Since his breakout New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon has been one of the world’s leading teachers of creativity. His books have sold nearly two million copies and have been translated into 30 languages. Now, in his most encouraging and inspiring book yet, Kleon shares ten rejuvenating lessons he learned from being a studio assistant to the artists closest to his heart: his two young sons. Kleon discovered that nurturing his kids taught him how to create the conditions under which his own – and everyone’s creativity – can thrive.

Don’t Call It Art offers inspiring advice for readers looking to free their creative spirit, including:

• Permission to be bad
• Believe in magic
• Throw out the instructions
• You don’t need a vision
• Think outside your head

Illustrated in Kleon’s signature style of illustrations, quotes, stories and examples, Don’t Call It Art is a blast of creative energy that will give you permission to play, make a mess, and venture beyond your imagination – and ultimately, to feel the unbridled joy of creating in your own unique way.

Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of three previous books about creativity in the digital age: Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going, along with Newspaper Blackout, a collection of poems made by redacting the newspaper with a permanent marker. He’s been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. New York Magazine called his work “brilliant,” and The Atlantic called him “positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet.” He speaks at organizations such as Pixar, Google, Netflix, SXSW, TEDx, Dropbox, Adobe, and The Economist. In previous lives, he worked as a librarian, a web designer, and an advertising copywriter. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and sons.

Tony M.

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