"All it takes to become an artist is to start doing art." - from ON BECOMING AN ARTIST
ELLEN J. LANGER is the author of two bestselling books- Mindfulness, which has sold more than 150,000 copies in thirteen languages, and The Power of Mindful Learning. Langer is a professor of psychology at Harvard University. Dr. Langer is the recipient of, numerous awards and honors- a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association, and the Award for Distinguished Contributions of Basic Science to the Application of Psychology.
Advance praise for On Becoming an Artist
“An artful blend of psychological research and personal reflection
that illuminates human creativity.”
–Howard Gardner, author of Creating Minds
“Whether painting, writing, or just being, Dr. Langer, a
renaissance woman, offers profound insights into how and why to
increase our mindful creativity.”
–Betty Friedan
“Ellen Langer’s On Becoming an Artist is a profound book, clearly
and simply written, that presents scientific evidence as good
advice to everyone who wishes to lead a creative life. As a
psychologist and artist, Langer sees the process of making art from
the inside out. Her book goes beyond art to enable her readers to
make important choices, freely to experiment, and to gain
satisfaction from what she calls ‘living mindfully.’ I thoroughly
enjoyed, and was inspired by her work.”
–Roger Mandle, president, Rhode Island School of Design
“Without making extravagant promises about releasing our inner
Michelangelos, On Becoming An Artist is provocative, liberating,
and in itself a significant act of mindful creativity.”
–Justin Kaplan, Pulitzer Prize—winning author of Mr. Clemens and
Mark Twain
Advance praise for On Becoming an Artist
"An artful blend of psychological research and personal reflection
that illuminates human creativity."
-Howard Gardner, author of Creating Minds
"Whether painting, writing, or just being, Dr. Langer, a
renaissance woman, offers profound insights into how and why to
increase our mindful creativity."
-Betty Friedan
"Ellen Langer's On Becoming an Artist is a profound book, clearly
and simply written, that presents scientific evidence as good
advice to everyone who wishes to lead a creative life. As a
psychologist and artist, Langer sees the process of making art from
the inside out. Her book goes beyond art to enable her readers to
make important choices, freely to experiment, and to gain
satisfaction from what she calls 'living mindfully.' I thoroughly
enjoyed, and was inspired by her work."
-Roger Mandle, president, Rhode Island School of Design
"Without making extravagant promises about releasing our inner
Michelangelos, On Becoming An Artist is provocative, liberating,
and in itself a significant act of mindful creativity."
-Justin Kaplan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Mr. Clemens and
Mark Twain
What keeps us from becoming the artists we dream of being and living our lives to the fullest? Langer (Mindfulness), a professor of psychology at Harvard, shares her own journey as an untaught painter, casually scattering the names of friends and describing her own somewhat unsophisticated choices of subject matter. But her approach is also scientific: without becoming overly technical, she deftly weaves into her own story a wide variety of studies that examine the obstacles ordinary people put in the way of their own creativity. This isn't a collection of exercises or even an inspirational book as much as a gradual breaking down of what holds people back from living mindfully-fully present in the moment. Langer encourages her readers to recognize how fear of judgment, unnecessary self-comparisons and preconceived notions about talent impede artistic expression. Art, in her view, is a process rather than a product. And the very things that make the act of creating satisfying in itself-working in the moment, freeing oneself from judgment-also, she says, make for better art and a better life. Langer's work will strike some as a bit naive-does she believe "real" artists are never self-critical? Still, Langer has much to say that's useful on art as self-revealing and life-enhancing that will inspire many readers. Agent, David Miller. (On sale Mar. 1) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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