If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably know that I recently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love
.You probably also know that I absolutely loved it. It hasn’t completely changed my perception on writing, but it has changed my attitude towards it. As promised, today I have a review of it for you. Spoiler: this review is very positive.

Image from Amazon
What I love about this book is how Gilbert puts creative living in perspective. I’m sure the vast majority of creatives want their work to be successful or to change the world or something, but everything you make doesn’t have to. In fact, Eat, Pray, Love was Gilbert’s fourth book. Her fourth! And even if nothing Gilbert makes in the future comes near to the success of that book – or how many lives were changed because of it – it doesn’t matter. That book and the subsequent movie touched so many lives. But, most importantly, it touched hers. Most creatives may want to be successful, but more importantly, they have to create. If I don’t write, even just on this blog, I feel like I will die. In this book, Gilbert reminded me of that, and to stop putting so much pressure on myself. Everything I write doesn’t have to win awards or be a commercial success. I just need to write, and for myself.
This book changed my view on writing and on my creative life. Most importantly, it changed my view on my relationship with writing. (And it should go without saying that this changes are all positive.) If you are a creative person, buy it. I can’t tell you if it’s better to listen to it or to read a hard copy. I listened to it which was awesome because she reads it so it was like having a conversation with her. I also would have loved to read a hard copy because then I would have highlighted and written notes. So pick whichever works for you, but definitely buy it so you can read it over and over and over.
14 Comments
This, paired with seeing how much you’ve written lately, is definitely enough to make me go buy this book today!
January 11, 2016 at 11:07 amDo it! Given Jack’s imminent arrival (good luck! I’m thinking of you guys!), I would get it on Audible if you can. That way you can listen regardless of how uncomfortable you are.
January 11, 2016 at 11:23 amI got it for Christmas, so excited to sit down read it! xx
January 11, 2016 at 11:44 amIt’s AMAZING! It changed my life. No exaggeration.
January 11, 2016 at 12:07 pmI so want to read this! I’ve heard nothing but great things about it!
January 11, 2016 at 1:44 pmIt’s so good! I definitely suggest it.
January 11, 2016 at 1:46 pmhave you listened to her podcast “magic lessons”? i just ADORE them because she helps individual creatives with problems that so many others are surely attempting to work through. i found myself so thankful for her words around fear in publicly haring our work, telling our stories, and i tackling a confused ambition. 🙂
January 13, 2016 at 4:54 pmAh! No I haven’t! I’ll have to check it out because this is exactly what I need.
January 14, 2016 at 5:13 pmI’ve heard really great things about this book. I’m going to have to read it soon. It sounds really inspiring!
January 20, 2016 at 1:09 pm[…] doesn’t have to win awards or be a commercial success. I just need to write, and for myself. [See my full review here] Rating: […]
April 11, 2017 at 8:00 am[…] Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: A Review, The 5 Books That Changed My Life, Gift Guide: Bookworm, 6 Historical Fiction Books Reviewed […]
September 19, 2017 at 7:31 am[…] Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – What I love about this book is how Gilbert puts creative living in perspective. I’m sure the vast majority of creatives want their work to be successful or to change the world or something, but everything you make doesn’t have to. In fact, Eat, Pray, Love was Gilbert’s fourth book. Her fourth! And even if nothing Gilbert makes in the future comes near to the success of that book – or how many lives were changed because of it – it doesn’t matter. That book and the subsequent movie touched so many lives. But, most importantly, it touched hers. Most creatives may want to be successful, but more importantly, they have to create. If I don’t write, even just on this blog, I don’t feel like myself. In this book, Gilbert reminded me of that, and to stop putting so much pressure on myself. Everything I write doesn’t have to win awards or be a commercial success. I just need to write, even if just for myself. Check out my full review. […]
September 27, 2017 at 8:00 am[…] your aspiring writer: Big Magic (here’s my review), Self-Edition for Fiction Writers, Structuring Your Novel (here’s my review), Writing Down […]
December 1, 2017 at 8:01 am[…] Big Magic – If the graduate that you’re shopping for is a creative person, this book is for them. I adore this book. The first time, I read it and took notes. The second time, I highlighted. I can’t recommend it enough. Check out my full review here. […]
May 11, 2018 at 8:00 am