Buy This Book
I came across this book called Show Your Work in 2025 and read it slowly alongside other books. It had such an impact that I want others to become more aware of it. And so this is my pitch for you to pick up a copy.
Show Your Work is authored by Austin Kleon, an artist based in the US.
He’s written 3 books which centre on similar concepts: Steal Like an Artist and Keep Going.
The books work like handbooks for anyone expressing themselves creatively and needing some encouragement.
It’s a small book in size, with visuals to complement the text, and it’s short enough to read in one sitting (but I recommend you take longer to let the content sit in).
How this book helped me
The book sold me on the idea of starting a website and having my own corner of the internet. I kind of gave up on the idea of sharing my work because social media never seemed to work for me. It never really clicked to me that I could use a website to do this instead (which also comes from this inner space of not feeling like an artist, even though I am). Somehow, I had convinced myself that I didn’t need one.
Spoiler alert: but in this book, Austin makes the case that everyone should have a personal site, as everyone has something interesting to say/share with the world.
Whilst the importance of having a personal brand site wasn’t a new concept to me, it gave me permission to prioritise making one and an overall validation that has been invaluable.
Hence why I want other people to become more aware of the book.
Quotes from the book
I always like a bit of motivation to pick up a book, so I thought I’d share some quotes and takeaways I wrote down to give you a sense of the contents.
I won’t give away too much…
- “Amateurs are not afraid to make mistakes or look ridiculous in public. They're in love, so they don't hesitate to do work that others think of as silly or just plain stupid.”
- “If you spend your life avoiding vulnerability, you and your work will never truly connect with other people.”
- “Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and you'll attract people who love that kind of stuff. It's that simple.”
- “You just have to be as generous as you can, but selfish enough to get your work done.”
It’s one of those books that you’ll come back to over and over again; it’s a great little motivator/cheerleader (a handbook to my creativity if you will).
I picked up the book on a used book site for a fiver, and I highly recommend you do the same!
I’ll be buying the other 2 books from the set after enjoying this one so much.
See you soon,
Will
