Have you ever stared at a painting and wondered, “How on earth did they even think of this?” Or maybe read a blog and think, “This person’s brain must work on a different frequency.”
We’ve all had that moment—the one where we wish we could sneak into the head of a creative genius and steal their thoughts.
Well, guess what? “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon says... go ahead and do it.
Okay, maybe not literally sneak into someone’s brain (that’s gross and illegal), but metaphorically? 100% yes.
This tiny little book packs a whole philosophy of creativity into 10 bite-sized, bold ideas that genuinely made me rethink everything I believed about originality. And today, I’m going to take you through it — not like a boring summary, but more like we’re talking over a cup of chai, okay?
Nothing is Original. Everything is a Remix.
That’s the big opener. And you know what? I believed it the moment I read it. The book starts by saying: Nothing in this world is truly original. What we call “original” is usually just a brilliant remix of existing ideas, voices, and works stitched together in a new pattern.
Everything—from Shakespeare to Steve Jobs—is built on something else.
And suddenly, all the pressure to be the most unique person in the room just disappeared. Instead of sitting there feeling bad because your ideas feel like they’re “inspired by” someone else, you feel encouraged to borrow, learn, and transform. Kleon says: Collect ideas like a scrapbook—not to plagiarise, but to make something new out of the old.
There Are Only Two Types of Stuff in This World
Here’s something else I liked: the book says there are only two kinds of creative work—stuff worth stealing and stuff not worth stealing. That’s it.
And this changed the way I look at content online. Every scroll, every song, every article—I started asking myself, “Is this worth stealing?” Not in a thiefy-thief way, but in a “Can I learn something from this?” way. You pick up little details, tricks, tones, and slowly, your mind starts shaping its voice.
Google It Before You Bug Someone
This was personal for me. I have this habit—the moment a question pops into my mind, I look around to ask someone. But Kleon says: Be a detective. Hunt it down. Don’t break the flow just to ask someone else when Google (or now AI) can help you find a quick answer.
Even cooler? If the answer doesn’t exist, you end up asking better questions. And that, in a way, is creativity too—digging deeper until you find a gold nugget.
Don’t Wait to Know Who You Are
We all sit around waiting for this magical moment where we "figure out" who we are. Guess what? Kleon says: Start anyway. You don’t have to know yourself fully to make something meaningful. Your identity is shaped in the doing.
You want to write poetry? Do it. You want to try photography, even if you're using a cracked Android camera? Do it. Start ugly. Start unsure. Just start.
Use Your Hands (Not Just Your Screens)
One of my absolute favourite chapters was about analogue vs digital workspaces.
He says: Have two desks. One is your “digital” desk—laptop, phone, screen, and things.
The other is your “analogue” station—notebooks, sticky notes, markers, scissors, glue, crayons, whatever.
Why? Because when your hands are busy, your brain relaxes. Doodling, cutting, scribbling — it’s like giving your inner child a playground. And honestly, in this world of pixels, playing with paper again feels like a creative detox.
Side Projects Are Life Projects
You know that one idea you think of while brushing your teeth, but then forget because “Ugh, I’m too busy”? Yeah — that’s the idea you should chase. Kleon talks about this magical concept of having side projects. Projects you do just for fun, no pressure, no deadlines, no expectations.
Sometimes, these random little hobbies become your main thing. Other times, they just keep your creativity alive. Either way, they’re important. And yes—singing badly in your bathroom also counts.
Logbooks are Cool (No, Seriously)
Now this one surprised me. Kleon suggests keeping a logbook—just a small notebook where you jot down everything you did that day. Doesn’t have to be poetic or deep. Just: “Had coffee. Read three pages. Scrolled too much. Thought of a weird app idea.”
Magic? When you look back after weeks, you see patterns.
You realise what inspires you, when you waste time, and what moods spark your best work. You’re becoming your own research subject—and it's oddly satisfying.
Do Good Work and Share It
This one is close to my heart. We often think our work isn’t “good enough” to share. But Kleon flips that. He says—first, do good work. Then, put it out there. Not for likes or claps, but for the joy of being seen. For connection.
Because someone, somewhere, might be stuck in the same place as you, and your work might just be the key they need to unlock their own.
You never know whose life you’re touching. Even one comment like “Hey, this helped me” can be your fuel.
There’s No Secret Formula. Just Keep Going.
Finally, Kleon reminds us that there’s no big secret to creative success. No magic sauce. It’s just—do the work.
Keep showing up.
Be curious.
Learn from others.
Make mistakes.
Share.
Repeat.
That’s it.
Sounds too simple? Maybe. But when you live it, you realise how powerful this simplicity is.
So, Should You Read This Book?
Absolutely.
Even if you’re not a writer or an artist. Even if you’ve never painted a wall, let alone a canvas. This book is for anyone who wants to live a more curious, creative life. For anyone who’s ever had the spark of an idea and whispered, “But I’m not good enough…”
This book holds your hand and says, “It’s okay. Steal. Start. Play. Explore. And most importantly, share.”
Because somewhere out there, someone’s waiting for your remix.
If you’ve read this far, maybe it’s time to grab your notebook, open a new Google Doc, or just draw a silly flower on your hand. Let the creativity begin—not from scratch, but from everything that came before you.
And hey, if this article helped? Go do some good work and share it with someone else.