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An Absorbing Errand

How Artists and Craftsmen Make Their Way to Mastery

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About this listen

An Absorbing Errand uses stories of artists' lives, personal anecdotes, and insights from the author's work as a psychotherapist to examine the psychological obstacles that prevent people from staying with, and relishing, the process of art-making. Each chapter is devoted to a problem intrinsic to the creative process and illustrates how these very obstacles, once understood, can become prime sources of the energy that actually fuels the mastery of art-making.

Many people carry within their hearts an aching sense that they have something they want to express through art; or that they will not feel complete until they’ve brought out some hidden part of themselves. Yet they cannot begin to do the work of bringing their creative idea into the world. Or, maybe they've begun over and over, but they can't stay with their labor long enough to finish it. Ultimately, An Absorbing Errand provides a philosophical, historical, and analytical look at the creative impulse and how certain artists from a wide field mastered their craft. From Julia Child to Charlie Chaplin, Lady Gaga to Michael Jackson, famous painters to established writers, Smith shows us how each overcame the obstacles they faced in the pursuit of their creative visions.

©2012 Janna Malamud Smith (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Creativity Entertainment & Celebrities Personal Development Personal Success Heartfelt
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There's beautiful and interesting ideas in this book, but the droning monotone reader makes it almost impossible to follow. The reader is barely registering what she is saying, just reads out one word after another in a meaningless string. What a shame.

Terrible reader, hard to tell about book..

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

the book was not the problem, the narrator is the problem. i cant imagine anyone enjoying listening to 7 hours of this voice. i lasted 10 minutes.

What didn’t you like about Teri Clark Linden’s performance?

robotic, random emphases, patronizing tone

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

the narration sparked anger. im sure the book is fine but i couldnt listen to it so i dont know.

terrible narration

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i don't know if it is the writing or the rambling thought process or the reading - but this book is so dull. i have been listening at bedtime - it works for getting to sleep.

yawn

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