Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I am seldom moved to write a review but I really disliked this book. It exposes both the arrogance and irrelevance of the academic art world. It is written pre internet and it shows. I would recommend passing on this. It supports a point of view that should be dead. Really never even uttered. It is merely an attempt to justify the existence of a very small group of people’s hold on a pretty worthless world view. Obviously art school is an indulgence if you art going there to “learn to be an artist”. The main premise of the book is why do 95% of students stop making work after art school. It certainly isn’t fear. The need to press on with it in order to promote the idea that “I am an artist” is obviously a bad move. There is nothing special about making things. Either it is something you must do or it isn’t. 95% of people stop not because of fear but because of time and money. It is that simple. It has nothing to do with courage and the neurotic self important view that this book promotes. I gave it two stars because I don’t value opinion enough, mine as well, to bash it completely. I just believe that if you have been making things for a long time then this book is worthless and if you are just starting out this is a point of view that should be eradicated. Maybe if art professors didn’t push their own insecurities and inflated self importance on the students then more would continue. But unfortunately just like every where else it is competition and ego that is pushed. No where does competition belong less than in art. Whatever that is. Your work is a personal journey. Unless you are making money and on some kind of consignment. Then it is a job like any other and your skills are craft like any other artisan. I can’t believe I spent this much time on this but it hit a nerve. All of my art school friends struggled with these issues and it was the perspective itself that was impossible to overcome. The perspective in this book encourages fear in the form of insecurity and then gives a view that resolves fear which is self importance. Avoid it.