Book Review: Elizabeth Gilbert_Big Magic

When I first heard about Big Magic, I was in two minds. However, I must admit that not only did I thoroughly enjoy reading this book, I felt it connected to my own life in so many ways – and that, for me, is a rare feeling. Big Magic is about trying to understand the creative spirit, about welcoming it into one’s life and about understanding that the “gift” of creativity is not for the “select few”.

The author takes the reader on a journey through this ever confusing, misunderstood, mistreated world of creativity by starting with the one thing that holds us back – fear. If you’ve ever dreamt of embarking on a creative endeavour and hesitated then you will instantly connect with the book. The book is pragmatic and focuses on understanding the creative instinct and reactions without pretending to paint a rosy picture. Yes, any creative exercise will be hard. Yes, it might be frustrating too, and yet, at the end of it, there is no joy like the joy of creating something beautiful – anything – that brings happiness to one’s own heart.

The author addresses the paradoxes of a creative life in a very sensitive yet rational manner. The fact that she draws parallels to various aspects of a creative life from her own life and from other creative individuals appeals to me. Throughout the book, I felt the connections to my own life, my fears, my labour, my patience, or the lack of it, and the joy I experience at the end of the process.

“The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.” There couldn’t have been a better way to put it.