REVIEW: Show Your Work! 10 Ways To Share Your Creativity And Get Discovered By Austin Kleon.

Publisher: Workman publishing Company, New York

Pages: 215

Format: Hardcover

Show your work- 10 ways to get discovered is a book is filled with advises, quotes and stories.

 It offers ten transformative rules for being unlatched, free-handed, generous, courageous,

 productive, and being discovered. 

When I selected this book to read, the title drew me! I am an aspiring Actor/film maker, I felt this

 book would be the best guide to me on this my career path because I am at that point where no

 one knows who I am.  Just so you must know, Austin is one of my favourite writers, this is the 

third book of his I am reading, his writing power is just awesome! This is a book I would

 recommend to every aspiring web content creator, writers, artists, and many more, who are still 

hiding under that shell or worried about how your artistic content can be discovered. The book 

covers 10 brilliant ways you can share your creativity and of course, get discovered. They are

 named:

 You don't have to be a Genius

Think process, not product 

Share something small everyday

Open up your cabinet of curiosity

Tell good stories

Teach what you know

Don't turn into human spam

Learn to take a punch

Sell out

 Stick around.  

I enjoyed number three the most, -share something small everyday, I practically read that part 

first, and I felt it was It was directed to me.  Almost in an accusing manner that made me think, 

“wait, hold up a little, why are you not sharing this gift of yours? " not to go all deep into this, but,

 I will summarise this chapter for you, "if you are talented, don't keep it inside. This part of the 

book practically tells you to put out your work frequently, and you will start drawing people who

 would love your content to you. 

 I also enjoyed number seven, so I guess that’s my best! Which is -" Don't turn into human spam". 

It's so clear that we have human spams in every profession. "They don't want to pay their dues, 

but they want their piece right there, and now" Let me give you an example,  in Austin's book, 

"The writing community is full of lame-o people who just want to be published in journals, even

 though they don't read magazines that they want to be published in" , hmmmm  It’s the kind of

 quote that makes you chuckle but also makes you furrow your brows at the point that was made.  

To become that writer that you aspire to be, you need to read books, read everything you can!

 remember you want hearts not just eyeballs! if you want fans, then be ready to be a fan first. 

Sounds interesting eh? More like if "you want to be accepted by a community; you have to be a 

good citizen of that community". Now let me sum up this part with "If you want to be noticed, you

 have to notice. 

Austin says you should shut up and listen!

Now, the part that put a shocker in my heart was the number one- You don't have to be a Genius. 

Austin says you should be an Amateur. Do you know what's common about being an amateur, 

you make mistakes, but do you realise that those mistakes makes you grow? If you want to be 

that known artist, be ready to look ridiculous at first. Don't be afraid, start somewhere, learn from 

your mistakes, and grow!

This book is all about why generosity trumps genius. Its about being noticed, its not about self-

promotion, its basically self discovery- letting others into your affairs and making them notice you.  

I checked up some reviews of the book online, and here’s what Amazon has to say, with a 5-star 

rating:

“In his New York Times bestseller- Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed

 readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of 

other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and

 necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative 

journey of getting known"

I feel like I am going to bore you right now, because if I go on, you won't get 

this book to read, I wouldn't put out every detail here, just for you to find this 

book and read!  

You know what, let me conclude with this part of the book. Learn to take a

 punch, the eight part, where Austin says; if you are ready to be known, then 

you should be ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly. The more people come

 across your work, the more criticism you'll face, but he says how you can

 handle these punches is to Relax and breathe, strengthen your neck, roll with

the punches, protect your vulnerable areas and keep your balance. 

Stop worrying and start sharing!

Show your work! is a 4.9 / 5 for me. Thank you so much Austin Kleon 

Click here for more of his books.

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below and if you are yet to read it, well, go 

grab a copy! This 215-book covers most things artists must be equipped with to get discovered, 

and trust me, when I say this is a book you must read.

About the Author

Austin Kleon grew up in cornfields of Ohio. He is one of the best Authors that sells book in New 

York, who was a librarian, 

web designer, and copywriter. He is the author of books that are printed in million copies. He is 

also an Author of 

Newspaper Blackout, and has published several books like: Steal like an artist and keep going.  

You can visit him at  https://austinkleon.com/ .

Thank you for your time!