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Summary: You missed the point if you think this is religious
Review: I find this book invaluable. Like others who have already posted, I am not religious. But I can accept that God, as was written in the book, equates to 'Good Orderly Progress'. I DO have an investment in making progress in my life and this book has given me the tools to do so. It's not about any religion, other than what you find within you, or anyone externally fixing your life. It's about learning what you can do for yourself. There are diverse references presented to many world religions, but I found these to be helpful in supporting the points made in the book, not detracting from it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as you might think
Review: I bought this book following the advise on these pages. But as soon as I started reading it, I perceived that it wasn't the thing I thought it would be. For example, from the first very pages, the author starts dealing with the notion of God. What can an atheist like myself feel with that? Evidently the book has a perspective that I don't share: Why do you have to believe in the existence of "creative forces" in a trascendental way? It might work for certain people. For others, it may feel like a problem rather than a solution.
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Summary: A book you'll want to read again and again
Review: Ive read and worked with this book twice now and am half way through Vein of Gold. I have founded an artists circle in my area which in 8 short months has gone from us being relative strangers to a group of intimate friends - we've kept it small - 5 of us for this reason. We have even got to the point of producing a joint portfolio and have synchronously found some one to market us as a group - CINQUE. The ONLY CRITICISM I have of Julias books is that she CHANGED THE COVER - I have her original bright cover with the hand print and I have to say that is what attracted me to the book in the first place and I dont feel the same attraction to the new covers at all - I dont think they reach out to the artist child within as the original one did- and everyone else I know thinks the same thing!!!Apart from that I wish to express a great debt of gratitude to Julia for her work.
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Summary: Real Results
Review: I've gone through this book twice and both times I've experienced incredible results. I would recommend it to any creative person, especially any writers out there. If you are experiencing blocks this book is invaluable, but even if you are a productive artist, you will be surprised at how much this book will bring out of you. It takes a bit of commitment, but if you follow the exercises and lessons I would go so far as guarantee that you will see some positive benefits. I experienced some explosive increases in my creativity and in my understanding of myself as an artist. It may be a bit too spiritual for some, but give it a chance. It works.
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Summary: Read this and do it for you, you won't regret it.
Review: This is truly an interactive text, you cannot just read it in order to really benefit from it--you must do it! It is a commitment that must be your choice. If you choose to do the activities prescribed, you will not regret investing the time and effort into yourself.
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Summary: A realistic book to help you realize your creative dreams.
Review: There are a lot of self-help books out there, but until this one, none of them dealt with the needs of creative and artistic people. If you've ever felt different or like you didn't belong, this book is for you. You can now throw away your guilt about those artistic yearnings you've had and take positive steps to be the person you really are. When your parents told you to "get a real job," they were wrong! Being an artist is a valuable and REAL job. It can even be a spiritual calling for some. Read this book and live your dreams.
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Summary: The first book to confront writer's block head-on.
Review: This book is a life saver. I received it as a gift two years ago and I've been working with it ever since. As a professional writer, I can easily write any asignment that travels my way. But, when it comes to facing the blank page and writing from my own voice--Whoa...I am paralyzed. Julia's book has been a constant companion as I continue to work with this freeze-frame creative terror. Her insights, inspirations, and innovative ideas are profound. For all those who struggle with freeing their creative spirit, I wholeheartedly recommend every one of Julia's works.
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Summary: This book is unleashing some very powerful creative forces.
Review: I can't say enough about this book. Just the idea of writing what Julia calls 'morning pages', 3 pages of uncensored writing which one does upon waking in the morning, is easily worth the price of the book. The insights that I have began having since I started working with this book have been very powerful, and startling in their originality.
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Summary: The Most Important Book I've Ever Read
Review: If anything, Cameron's book has allowed me to revise the way I think, to appreciate my own creativity - embrace it, harvest it, learn from what I had previously taken for granted. Through a combination of some genuinely imaginative exercises (reading deprivation, penning a letter from you at 80 to you today, imaginary lives you'd like to lead) and a daily commitment to "venting", The Artist's Way will guide you deep inside yourself and help you chisel away at and unleash a side you may never have seen before. Cameron is firm: she makes pledges about what will happen to you. Despite my reticence and doubt, I saw the delivery of what was promised. It shocked me. At the outset, you may have a great deal of skepticism about the program. There is a good deal of God talk, which personally freaked me out. Big time. But in time you learn to appreciate the spirituality, and the auther herself gives you ways around the religiosity (is that a word?) if you so choose. The best advice I can give is to just splurge on yourself a bit: spend the fifteen bucks and give it a shot. For anyone who is creative or would like to be (which I guess is everyone), this should be required reading. GO FOR IT!
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Summary: gotta do it
Review: I've been seeing this book on my local bookstore's shelves for years now, and to be honest, have always scoffed at it (and feared it). A few weeks ago I finally allowed myself to buy it without even looking inside.
The reason could be that I've been blocked from painting for at least eight months. It's been killing me. I had thought it was my housemate or my job and then my new lover. Now after reading this book, doing the work, and then going back to study what I've read every day, I realize that it's all entirely in me. (Of course!) I've been made free. Tears are welling up as I write this. Do buy this book if you are an artist (of any sort, level, degree, composure, whatever). You will need it sometime(s). My lover, a writer, is using it too, with the same reaction and effectiveness. The only reason I gave it a 9 instead of 10 is because the writing ironically is to me sometimes awkward and actually belies some prejudices. (Oh well, and they're not that bad.)
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