Our Band Could Be Your Life is a comprehensive account of the DIY revolution in American rock music during the 1980s. The book profiles 13 influential indie bands, including Black Flag, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, Minutemen, and Husker Du, among others. It explores the personal stories, struggles, and successes of these bands, highlighting their impact on the music industry and their enduring influence. The narrative delves into the DIY ethos, the formation of independent labels like SST Records and Dischord, and the broader cultural and political context of the Reagan era. Azerrad's detailed and engaging writing humanizes the mythology surrounding these bands, providing a personal and insightful look into the lives and music of these pivotal figures in indie rock history.
In 'Keep Going', Austin Kleon offers ten simple yet profound rules to help creative individuals stay inspired, focused, and true to themselves. The book emphasizes the importance of daily routines, disconnecting from the world to connect with oneself, and finding inspiration in everyday life. It also delves into themes such as the value of tidying up, the importance of fresh air, and the need to leave things better than you found them. The book is filled with motivational quotes, anecdotes, and artwork, making it a unique and inspiring read for anyone looking to sustain their creative journey[1][3][5].
In 'Show Your Work!', Austin Kleon provides a manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age. The book emphasizes the importance of generosity over genius, getting 'findable' by using the network, and self-discovery through sharing your creative process. It offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, and productive, including chapters on sharing something small every day, engaging with your audience, and the etiquette of sharing online. The book is filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples to inspire and guide readers in their creative journeys[2][3][4].
This book, which began as a speech given by Austin Kleon to college students, expands into a manifesto for creativity. It outlines ten transformative principles such as 'Steal like an artist' (honoring, studying, and transforming ideas), 'Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things,' and 'Use your hands' (emphasizing physical work). Kleon argues that creativity is not original but builds on what came before, and he provides practical tips and inspiring concepts for artists, writers, musicians, and anyone generating creative work[2][3][4].
Newspaper Blackout is a unique collection of poems by Austin Kleon, created by eliminating unwanted words from newspaper articles with a permanent marker. The book includes original poems by Kleon, submissions from readers, and an appendix on how to create your own blackout poetry. It has been praised for its innovative approach to poetry and has inspired a movement in blackout poetry across the internet.
Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of a trilogy of illustrated books about creativity in the digital age: Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going.
He’s also the author of Newspaper Blackout, a collection of poems made by redacting the newspaper with a permanent marker.
His books have been translated into dozens of languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. 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,” The Atlantic called him “positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet,” and The New Yorker said his poems “resurrect the newspaper when everybody else is declaring it dead.”
He speaks for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. In previous lives, he worked as a librarian, a web designer, and an advertising copywriter.
In this episode, we talk about how Newspaper Blackout led to Steal Like An Artist, when he knows it’s time to write another book, the pros and cons of self-publishing, why Austin doesn’t believe he’s business savvy, and the role of Luck in Austin’s ability to make a living as a full-time writer.
Visit Austin Kleon's website
Follow Austin Kleon on Twitter
Follow Austin Kleon on Instagram
Full transcript and show notes
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