Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work Paperback – January 1, 2014

Mason Currey's fascinating book, Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work, began with a series of blog posts and eventually grew into this book.Currey has done extensive research -- as shown in his lengthy section of end notes -- to find out what the "great minds" -- such as Carl Jung, Igor Stravinsky, George Sand, Knut Hamsun, Maria Kalman, Gustave Flaubert, and many others -- "make time, find inspiration, and get to work" -- as the subtitle tells.In reading over the variety of opinions, it seems the best answer is to get up early, sleep in late, take naps, stay away for many hours, go to be early, stay up all night, work in bed, at your desk, in the pub, eating sparsely, abundantly, erratically, precisely, smoking, using drugs, drinking, being a teetotaller, stay completely clean, having sex often, and staying celibate.Or, as Bernard Malamud wrote, "There's no one way -- there's too much drivel about this subject. You're who you are, not Fitzgerald or Thomas Wolfe. You write by sitting down and writing. There's not particular time or place -- you suit yourself, your nature. How one works, assuming he's disciplined, doesn't matter. If he or she is not disciplined, no sympathetic magic will help. The trick is to make time -- not to steal it -- and produce the fiction. If the stories come, you get them written, you're on the right track. Eventually everyone learns his or her own best way. The real mystery to crack is you" (234).This is a fascinating, humorous, encouraging book. Enjoy! http://smile.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-Mason-Currey/dp/1447271475/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1443470896&sr=8-1

This is a light read and should be approached as such. There's nothing at all meaty here, so if you want "insight" into how famous people organized they're day, that's fine, but if you're looking for deep messages about the creative process, look elsewhere. Actually, there is one profound discovery to be made here: artists are different pretty much like people are and to get anything done they have to work. But that's hardly a secret,These are a series of vignettes, not more that a couple pages each, based on reports and memoirs. There is nothing new here, it's just all in one place. That might be why this Kindle version is so valuable: this is an entertaining but disposable book.Beware. I got to the 76% read mark and the book suddenly ended. Apparently, the other fifth of the book are end notes (bibliography).

If you are a reader, read it to learn more about world famous authors and artists.If you are a writer, don’t miss it, as this book will make you motivated, so much to learn and also, make you feel, you are not alone.Such a quirky read. Funny. Interesting. Well curated.

I've been a professional illustrator for three decades, and now a fine artist working with galleries. It is among the oddest professions. This book was not only thoroughly entertaining, but shined the light upon many of my own daily "work quirks", some that I hadn't been aware of! Everyone in every occupation has some 'daily ritual' that comforts us, or just helps us get into our "zone". From artists and writers we all know, or think we know, to the not-so-famous, if you think it's just you, read on.....

Take-aways:Creatives are often misperceived as kooks, firecrackers, and addicts.The high level of discipline and routinization is often overlooked because it’s not flashy.The majority of creatives accomplish their best work while others are sleeping – early morning/late evening (between 10pm and 8am).There are tireless work-aholics in the bunch, but a significant percentage feel that 2-3 hours/day is the maximum that could be dedicated to their craft.Walks and changes in scenery are frequently used as triggers for creativity.Distractions are strictly forbidden during work time.Would I recommend it? Who for?Absolutely! For those looking to understand the importance of routine and its tie to creativity, focus, and productivity.

This is interesting and easy reading, and especially encouraging for creative people who eschew the standard commute to an office, work 9 to 5 every day routine. You'll find comfort in knowing that creative people from centuries ago up to modern times lived quite successfully outside the confines of a 9 to 5 workday! It's a book you can open to any page and find an engaging story.

This collection of anecdotes, interviews and biographical notes on the daily work routines of some of the greatest creative talents has completely undermined many sacred beliefs about effectiveness. There's common practices (routine, isolation, cocktails - yes, cocktails) but no 80 hour work weeks. In fact there's not a 40 hour week.What I like about this book is there isn't a hint of theory: many of these are first hand accounts of working habits or observations by close friends and family.I think a study of the practices herein would warrant another book by itself. Highly recommend if you're into effectiveness.

You have to create and find your rituals with which you can be at your creative best.This book tells about great minds with sometimes peculiar rituals.Just show up an don't wait for imagination to strike you like a lightning boltReally recommended!

This book is excellent for any artist of any experience level and type. After 14 years and experiencing a creative block, it really helps to read about other artists of history and how they spent their time. An artists life can be very challenging and yet exciting. Great read and one for the bookshelf!

É mais um livro de curiosidades na minha opinião. Ainda assim, vale a leitura para compreender a mente de certos artistas.

何かをずっと作り出しているとき、必ずといっていいほど壁にぶつかる時がくる。それはかの有名なアーティストさんにもあるんだと、自分の気が楽になりました。あと、よりクリエイティブでいるには、やはり習慣が大切だなと、参考になるのばっかり内容もたくさんあって購入してよかったです。もっといいもの作りま〜〜す☆

It was a pretty intense and eye opening book, mainly for me, a bi-lingual writer, I just really wonder why the vast majority of people here were writers

Die kurzen Kapitel über bestimme Personen machen das Buch für mich zur perfekten Lektüre vor dem Schlafen gehen. Man erhält ohne viel Drumherum einen kurzen Einblick in die täglichen Rituale und Gewohnheiten von interessanten Persönlichkeiten und kann im besten Falle etwas für sich herausziehen. Zwei Personen fand ich so spannend, dass ich mir deren Biographie bestellt habe. Insgesamt also ein super Buch um sich inspirieren zu lassen und neue Denkanstöße zu bekommen, wie man seinen Tag gestalten kann - aber auch um etwas gelassener zu sein, wenn es manchmal nicht so läuft. Denn wie Goethe zitiert wird "My advice therefore is that one should not force anything; it is better to fritter away one's unproductive days and hours, or sleep through them, than to try at such times to write something which will give one no satisfaction later on."