Austin Kleon

NYTimes bestselling author of STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST and other books. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter & log off this hellsite:

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

New book coming in June!

https://t.co/frtNyNbiNs

[Ryan Hawk @RyanHawk12]

I recorded a conversation with @austinkleon for The Learning Leader Show (Episode #690)... I listened to it 4 times. Every time I heard something useful, I paused the podcast and typed a note in my phone. Here are those notes:

Bill Murray picture - Stay light, loose, and relaxed. If you can do that, you can play at the highest level. Keep that sense of playfulness.

"The analog desk is my R and D time."

“People want to watch someone who is activated.”

“People pay every night to show up and see somebody believe in themselves.” - Kim Gordon

“The market for something to believe in is infinite.

The world is full of people who are just going to work, doing whatever. People are really hungry to see people who are on fire for what they’re doing.”

“I ran at least the first half of my career off the fumes of that meeting with cartoonist Linda Berry. This person is activated to the world in a way that I want. I’ll have what she’s having. It’s important to have those people who light us up

The writer takes what people are thinking and puts it into the words. That’s what we do. That’s what a great writer does. That’s the best compliment I can think of for a writer. I don’t have that many special thoughts. I have a way of communicating that connects with people. It gives them the words.

Be a noticer. Therou always had a notebook with him on his morning walks because he knew he would need something to write about.

We both went to Miami University at the same time. Austin created his own major (interdisciplinary studies). He synthesized multiple fields (English, Art, Classics). And they housed architecture students there too, which was most important since that’s where Austin met his wife.

"My kids taught me more of what it’s like to be able to access the raw creative urge. The title of the book is stolen from an artist who I learned so much from watching a kid draw. Kids don’t call it art; they’re just doing stuff.”

I expected to be the teacher, and I ended up being the student.

Kids are great because they’ll ask you enough questions that the universe becomes mysterious to you.

To keep growing, you gotta toggle between knowing and not knowing

To be a parent is to be a perpetual amateur. Neither of you knows what you’re doing. Even if you’ve had a kid before. What worked the last time might not work this time.

The word “amateur” in French means “lover of.” To be an amateur is to do it out of love.

“Kids are great because they’ll knock you on your ass as far as your pompous sense of certainty about what you do and what you know. Every great CEO should probably be put in the room with a 4-year-old. “

"We are attracted to people who are very curious about the world. Those who are curious about people.”

Activation + Curiosity = a deadly combo

The great leader listens. They ask questions. The leader is curious and asks how others are doing. They aren’t the big talkers.

When I’m out in the world, I’m not looking for people who seem to be “successful.” I’m looking for people who seem to be having fun.

People say the Friday newsletter looks easy… Do it every Friday for 13 years, then call me.

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play.” He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he’s doing and leaves others to decide whether he’s working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both. - Lawrence Pearsall Jacks

Writing is thinking. People think you gather your ideas, then write them down. The act of writing is the act of figuring out what you actually think. That’s the hard part.

Austin’s champagne moment a year from now: his kids flourishing. The older he gets, the less the books mean and the more his family does.

[Maria Konnikova @mkonnikova]

This week on the sub that stacks, I'm excited to share an excerpt from the wonderful @austinkleon's new book. It's a life lesson on embracing the unknown that we could all use. Link below!

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

My new book is out today!!

https://t.co/CEVi8vSKvY

[Ryan Hawk @RyanHawk12]

“People will pay every night to show up and see somebody believe in themselves.” - Kim Gordon

People want to watch someone who is activated.
@austinkleon

[Ryan Hawk @RyanHawk12]

To be an amateur is to be a lover. The French root means “lover of.”
An amateur does it out of love, not material reward.
@austinkleon

[Variety @Variety]

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-Winning 'Star Wars' Editor, Dies at 80 https://t.co/xCSAMODhGK

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

What I look like after signing 400 books

https://t.co/TvhHa5K1mj

[Kaiah Altmeyer Fan Club 🤘🥎 @elmachuca]

Last day of school. Time to ride bikes.

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

Austin! Nashville! Cleveland! Tickets going fast!!! https://t.co/cHWcma6iZp

[Years Progress @YearsProgress]

2026 is 40% complete.

[Georgia Coley @artwithinpod]

the pope wrote a 42,000 word manifesto declaring war on AI. we are so freaking back.

[42courses @42Courses]

Book of the Day 📘: Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleon

What if the problem isn’t a lack of ideas… but too many rules?

In his new book, Austin Kleon explores how to create like a kid again. Less pressure. Less perfection. More play. More curiosity.

An inspiring read for anyone who feels a little stuck, a little burnt out, or simply curious about how to bring the joy back into their creative work. @austinkleon

Out on 2 June. Get your copy here: https://t.co/9ZUwiF5h1c

[Jokermen @JokermenPodcast]

Happy Birthday Bob

[Bucky ꩜ | NIN 9/6 & 2/5 @AbandonedBucky]

Who dared this baseball announcer to list off every Nine Inch Noize track

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

Austin, Texas! June 1!! Come hang out!!!

[Mαtt Thomαs @mattthomas]

“I was never interested in Facebook or MySpace because the environment seemed too top-down mediated. They feel like malls to me. But Twitter actually feels like the street. You can bump into anybody on Twitter.” —William Gibson, 2010

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

😂

[octopus/caveman @octopuscaveman]

Telling the barista at Starbucks i clogged the toilet as Im leaving

[Tara Dublin aka Winona Spyder™️ @taradublinrocks]

This is GLORIOUS

David Letterman & Stephen Colbert on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theatre bringing back the classic @Letterman routine one last time

This is how you go out, @StephenAtHome! 😂

And may @CBS implode literally the same way without you

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

https://t.co/YrZ9wZkFgB

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

“Where are you gonna go and hear ‘Strokin’ in this day and age? Where? Nowhere! Here, that’s it! If I were doing a movie about the life of Beethoven, I would use ‘Strokin’ on the end credits.”
—William Friedkin

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

RIP

[Austin Kleon @austinkleon]

You might only know Clarence Carter from “Strokin’” — and “Strokin’” rules! — but go back and listen to his debut. So good. (Includes the classic “Slip Away.”)