Monday Book Review: The Complete Artist’s Way

Book Description from Amazon

Release date: October 18, 2007

For the millions of readers who have experienced the rich rewards of following any or all of Julia Cameron’s three twelve-week programs for creative recovery, here is a gorgeous cloth-bound edition that includes The Artist’s Way, Walking in This World, and Finding Water. In her introduction, Cameron reflects on the artist’s journey and provides deep insights into how readers may set about cultivating a more creative and spiritually rewarding existence by using the principles contained in these books.

Encompassing Cameron’s most vital work from over the course of the last two decades, The Complete Artist’s Way is an essential volume for Cameron’s legions of fans.

This collector’s edition features:

– a ribbon bookmark
– a cloth spine
– a printed case with debossing and foil
– elegant rough-front pages

My Review:

“The Complete Artist’s Way” was on a bargain rack when Border’s was going out of business a few years ago. The elegant cover, the mountain top peak, the subtitle ‘Creativity as a Spiritual Practice’ certainly caught my eye. I thumbed a few pages and a spark of interest was lit. So I bought the tome and headed home.

After reading just a few pages, it became clear that “The Complete Artist’s Way” was way more spiritual, introspective and spiritual than ever would or could have wanted. I do meditate and reflect in my life, enjoy nature. But the homework assignments became too detailed, almost like a nagging, haranguing, shrewish housewife. I didn’t like the constant reminders and began to feel a little talked down to.

I understand that ‘millions’ have enjoyed Julia’s vast books, her spiritual path of artistic enlightenment. I, however, am not one of them.

I would give the compendium a 4, only because so many evidently love and follow the flowing ‘advice and help’ in it’s many pages.