The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Last updated: 2 October 2026
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is the record producer's book about how ideas arrive and how to keep making work. Rubin co-founded Def Jam and has produced records for Johnny Cash, the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Canongate publishes the UK hardback, which runs to 432 pages with an RRP of £27. On 2 October 2026 Amazon UK had it at £20.09 and Bookshop.org at £17.10.
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What The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is about
Rubin's argument is that creativity is not a gift that only some people are born with. Instead, he treats it as a practice anyone can keep up, whether they make records, paintings, code or meals. The book is split into short sections, so you can read it straight through or open it anywhere.
The sections cover where ideas come from, how to notice them, how to finish work and when to let it go. Rubin draws on decades in the studio, but the focus is on habits and attitudes you can try yourself rather than stories about famous sessions.
Who Rick Rubin is
Rubin started Def Jam Recordings from his New York University dorm room in the early 1980s, with Russell Simmons joining soon after. Since then he has produced records across hip hop, metal, rock and country, including Johnny Cash's American Recordings albums. In the UK, the book became a Sunday Times bestseller. It was also shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2023 and the Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2023.
The poet Kae Tempest, whom Rubin has worked with, says on Canongate's page for the book that it all "started with a word or two from a person who really, really listened".
Key facts
- Author: Rick Rubin
- Publisher: Canongate Books (UK)
- Published: 17 January 2023
- Format: hardback, 432 pages, about 22 x 16cm, so a little larger than a standard hardback novel
- ISBN: 9781838858636
- Price: £27 RRP, £20.09 on Amazon UK and £17.10 on Bookshop.org
- Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 from 6,031 ratings on Amazon UK, checked on the same day
Who it suits
- Musicians and producers: Rubin writes from the studio, so the examples about recording, editing and finishing a piece land most directly with them.
- Artists, designers and writers: the advice is not tied to music, so anyone with a practice can use it.
- Students in creative subjects: the short sections suit reading one a day alongside a course.
- Gift buyers: it is a large, good-looking hardback, which makes it an easy present for someone who makes things.
The limits
Readers looking for a step-by-step method will not find one here. Rubin writes in short, reflective passages rather than exercises, and a common complaint in reader reviews is that some passages repeat the same idea. If you want practical techniques for getting unstuck, Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way works through a 12-week course instead. The book also has very little about the business side of creative work, such as pay or getting published.
Where to buy The Creative Act in the UK
Amazon UK had the hardback at £20.09, which is £6.91 under the RRP. Meanwhile Bookshop.org had it at £17.10, and its sales support independent bookshops. Rubin reads the audiobook himself, and our Audible UK guide covers the plans and the free trial.
FAQs
What is The Creative Act by Rick Rubin about?
It is about creativity as a daily practice. Rubin covers where ideas come from, how to pay attention to them and how to finish and release work.
How much does The Creative Act cost in the UK?
The hardback has an RRP of £27. On 2 October 2026 Amazon UK had it at £20.09 and Bookshop.org at £17.10.
How long is The Creative Act?
The UK hardback has 432 pages, split into short sections that are easy to read one at a time.
Is The Creative Act only for musicians?
No. Rubin's background is music, but the advice applies to any creative work, from writing and design to cooking.
Who publishes The Creative Act in the UK?
Canongate Books publishes it in the UK. Penguin Press publishes it in the US.
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