Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives - Softcover

Kurtz, Adam J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143131516 ISBN 13: 9780143131519

Publisher: TarcherPerigee, 2017

Synopsis

Insights and inspiration for anyone who makes art (or anything else) from someone who's been there (and kind of still is).
Handwritten and heartfelt, this pocket-sized book by designer Adam J. Kurtz offers wisdom and empathy from one working artist to others, with perforated pages to share or display.
Deceptively simple, this full-color book will be a touchstone for writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else working to harness their passion for a more creative life.
With a foreword by Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge.
*Recommended by Adweek, BuzzFeed, Forbes, Teen Vogue, Refinery29 and more for creators of all kinds, whether you're a professional, hobbyist, still figuring it out, or somewhere in between.

About this title

About the Author:

Adam J. Kurtz is a designer, artist and author of 1 Page at a Time and Pick Me Up, which have been published in over a dozen languages each. His “very personal” work for clients like Strand Bookstore and Urban Outfitters has been featured in NYLON, PRINT, VICE, BuzzFeed and more.

Review:

"Funny, wry, straightforward advice" -Adweek

"Pursuing art in all its forms, whether professionally or not, requires so much resilience and faith. Adam J. Kurtz's Things Are What You Make of Them is full of pick-me-ups and reminders that you are more than your self-doubt, and certainly you aren't alone in them. -BuzzFeed

"Serving up optimism and hope" -NYLON

"All of Adam J. Kurtz's words are filled with wit, warmth, wonder and wisdom." -Alanis Morissette

"Advice from someone who's been there" -Teen Vogue

"This brilliant, life-affirming book is chock full of audacious advice to help creative people make sense of rejection, failure, false starts, fame, happiness and collaborations." -Debbie Millman, host of Design Matters podcast

"Kind, generous and empowering" -Cool Hunting

"Highly relatable and will make you laugh, cry and feel less crazy than you think you are. You're actually fine!" -Man Repeller

"A colorful, encouraging companion" -Forbes

"In Things Are What You Make of Them, Kurtz shares mini-essays of how he deals with the intangibles that can keep people stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to move forward. He also confronts the idea of what concepts like happiness and success look like to people in creative or more traditional industries." -Refinery29

"Delivers the big pep talks you need" -HelloGiggles
"The book is divided into 12 color-coded sections, which run the gamut from the practical -- How to Stay Sane When You Work from Home and Working with Friends and Family -- to the existential -- How to Begin Again and How to be Happier. The advice is geared towards creatives, but honestly, these nuggets of wisdom are valuable mood boosters for people in any career path." -Bustle

About this edition

• Publisher: TarcherPerigee
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0143131516
• ISBN 13: 9780143131519
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144