#MMBBR #Review #ThingsAreWhatYouMakeOfThem by @adamjk

From the creative mind and heart of Adam J. Kurtz (aka @adamjk) comes this quirky, upbeat rallying cry for modern day creators of all stripes: THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM: Life Advice for Creatives (on sale October 3, 2017; TarcherPerigee Paperback) with a foreword by Grace Bonney. Expanding on a series of popular guides he created for Design*Sponge that went viral on Instagram, this is a heartfelt anthology of handwritten micro-essays and lists that read as passed notes or little self-affirmations you’d post to your mirror, laptop or office wall – even better, the pages are perforated so you can tear and share!

As wry and snarky as it is empathetic and empowering, this deceptively simple, vibrantly full-color book gives no bullsh*t self-care advice on topics such as how to be happier, how comparing ourselves to others is “f*cking pointless” and bad, and figuring out what “success” actually is so you'll know when you get there. Adam acknowledges the dark underbelly of the creative lifestyle: self-doubts, fear, jealousy, obsessive comparisons to others, and the horror of looking back at past work, lifting his readers up to explore and celebrate their creative community, support one another, and just be you in all your glory and neuroses.

Things Are What You Make of Them is the perfect vehicle to highlight Kurtz’s unique ability to discuss the artistic process in an accessible way – it’s The Artist’s Way for a new generation of creatives and reads like your favorite foulmouthed muppet on Avenue Q (bet you’ve never heard of a book described that way!). Adam will be traveling this fall for some amazing events – check out the tour schedule here.

This book is just what I needed because I realized a while ago that I was becoming a negative person overcome by all the bad things happening around me and in the world.  It was hard to see the goodness day-to-day and I did not like the person I was becoming.  I have been practicing re-framing and my life is looking a whole lot more positive.  This book was the perfect companion to my new outlook on life.  I loved it cover to cover and have reread it several times, took notes and shared it with those hold most dear.  This is a must to kick start a more positive outlook on life and will certainly make your days so much better!  LOVED THIS BOOK!

Adam J. Kurtz (aka @adamjk) is an artist and author of 1 Page at a Time and Pick Me Up, which have been published in over a dozen languages. His “very personal” work for clients like Strand Bookstore and Urban Outfitters has been featured in NYLON, PRINT, VICE, BuzzFeed and more. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. 

BUY THE BOOK: