Steal Like an Artist: Summary
In short
Austin Kleon's ten principles for creativity start with a freeing idea: nothing is original, so stop waiting for originality and start stealing — studying the work you love, remixing it, and adding your own twist. The book is short, visual, and practical: make things every day, share them, and let the work teach you who you are.
Somewhere along the way, creativity got a reputation as a lightning strike — either genius hits you or it doesn't. Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist demolishes that myth with a cheerful, practical alternative: nothing is truly original, every artist builds on what came before, and the secret is learning to steal well. Not plagiarism — influence, gathered openly and from many sources at once.
Key takeaways
- Nothing is original — all creative work builds on what came before.
- Steal from one source and it's theft; steal from many and it's research.
- Don't wait until you know who you are to start — start, and the identity follows.
- Do good work and share it: the internet rewards generous creators.
- Be boring in life so you can be wild in your work — routine protects creativity.
The big idea: nothing is original
Kleon's opening claim is deliberately provocative: every new idea is just a remix of old ones. Artists collect influences the way chefs collect ingredients — the dish is new, but nothing in it was invented from nothing. Once you accept this, the pressure of originality evaporates and the real work begins.
The difference between good theft and bad theft is range. Copy one artist and you are a forger; study a dozen, combine them with your own obsessions, and you are an original. Kleon advises keeping a "swipe file" of work you love and studying your heroes' heroes — the influences behind the influences — to build a lineage of your own.
Don't wait to start
The book's most liberating rule targets the biggest excuse of all: "I'll start when I know what I'm doing." Kleon flips it — you do not find your voice by thinking about it; you find it by making things. Make the work you wish existed: the book you want to read, the music you want to hear, the product you want to use.
This connects to his advice to use your hands. Kleon is a believer in analog tools — notebooks, index cards, walls covered in drafts — because physical making bypasses the perfectionism that screens invite. And side projects matter: the hobby you do for fun today is often the career you have tomorrow.
Share generously
In the internet age, Kleon argues, the audience is part of the process. Share your work, share your process, share what you are learning — generously and consistently. The creators who teach and document attract communities; communities attract opportunities. Obscurity, not theft, is the real enemy.
But sharing has a discipline: be nice, because the world is small, and stay out of fights, because they are a waste of creative energy. The goal is to be a good citizen of your scene — someone whose work and generosity make the whole ecosystem richer.
Be boring
Perhaps the most counterintuitive chapter argues for a deliberately dull personal life. Wild creativity, Kleon says, needs a stable container: regular sleep, a routine, bills handled, relationships tended. The artists who last are not the chaotic geniuses of myth — they are the ones with boring mornings and a desk they sit at daily.
This ties to his final principle: creativity is subtraction. In an age of infinite options, the artist's real job is choosing what to leave out. Limitations — a small budget, a tight deadline, a narrow format — force the inventive solutions that abundance never would.
Who should read this book
Designers, writers, musicians, and makers of every kind — but also marketers, founders, and students who need to produce original work under pressure. At under 150 pages with big type and illustrations, it is the rare creativity book you can finish in one sitting and quote for years.
The takeaway
Originality is a myth — what matters is what you add to the mix after you steal it.
Start a swipe file of work you love. Make the thing you wish existed. Share it before you feel ready, keep your life boring enough to sustain the habit, and subtract until what is left is unmistakably yours.
Our verdict
Short, fun, and freeing — the perfect book for a creative block. I finished it in one sitting and started making something the same evening, which is the best review I can give it. Our rating: 4.5/5.
Try this today: Copy the work of someone you admire today — by hand — and notice what you learn from the doing.
Frequently asked questions
What does "steal like an artist" actually mean?
Not plagiarism — it is about studying your influences openly and widely. Kleon says to steal ideas, techniques, and ways of thinking from many sources, then transform them through your own taste and experience.
What are the ten rules in Steal Like an Artist?
In Kleon's framing: steal like an artist, do not wait to know yourself, make what you want to see, use your hands, nurture side projects, share your work, stay out of fights, be boring, and remember that creativity is subtraction.
Is Steal Like an Artist only for visual artists?
Not at all. Despite the title, Kleon's advice applies to writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and anyone whose work involves making something new. The principles are about the creative process itself.
Want the full book?
This summary covers the core ideas — the full book goes much deeper with stories, research, and detail.
Get Steal Like an Artist on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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