This book has taken me a while to get through. It’s challenging, not in a difficult-to-read way, but in a thought-provoking way. The author, Rick Rubin, has been elevated by some to be a mythical guru. Based on interviews I have seen and heard, I find him to be a humble human being. One that has found a groove, a way to listen and the ability to play back what he hears and sees in a way that makes others find new ways of seeing things. This comes across in Rubin’s writing, too. I found myself reading some, then putting the book down to contemplate what I had read. Occasionally, a week or two passed before I returned to the book. In the same way one might return to a mentor to acquire the next piece of guidance. I think this book will serve a companion for a long time. One I can dip in and out of as required.
I’ll leave you with this quote from the author.
“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.”—Rick Rubin.