• An Absorbing Errand

  • How Artists and Craftsmen Make Their Way to Mastery
  • By: Janna Malamud Smith
  • Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden
  • Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Release date: 27-08-13
  • Language: English
  • Publisher: Audible Studios
  • 3 out of 5 stars 3.2 (5 ratings)

Summary

An Absorbing Errand uses stories of artists' lives, personal anecdotes, and insights from the author's work as a psychotherapist to examine the psychological obstacles that prevent people from staying with, and relishing, the process of art-making. Each chapter is devoted to a problem intrinsic to the creative process and illustrates how these very obstacles, once understood, can become prime sources of the energy that actually fuels the mastery of art-making.
Many people carry within their hearts an aching sense that they have something they want to express through art; or that they will not feel complete until they’ve brought out some hidden part of themselves. Yet they cannot begin to do the work of bringing their creative idea into the world. Or, maybe they've begun over and over, but they can't stay with their labor long enough to finish it. Ultimately, An Absorbing Errand provides a philosophical, historical, and analytical look at the creative impulse and how certain artists from a wide field mastered their craft. From Julia Child to Charlie Chaplin, Lady Gaga to Michael Jackson, famous painters to established writers, Smith shows us how each overcame the obstacles they faced in the pursuit of their creative visions.
©2012 Janna Malamud Smith (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
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Regular price: £19.39

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
2 out of 5 stars
By Sydney on 01-10-13

Terrible reader, hard to tell about book..

There's beautiful and interesting ideas in this book, but the droning monotone reader makes it almost impossible to follow. The reader is barely registering what she is saying, just reads out one word after another in a meaningless string. What a shame.

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1 of 1 people found this review helpful

1 out of 5 stars
By miss on 23-10-13

terrible narration

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

the book was not the problem, the narrator is the problem. i cant imagine anyone enjoying listening to 7 hours of this voice. i lasted 10 minutes.

What didn’t you like about Teri Clark Linden’s performance?

robotic, random emphases, patronizing tone

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

the narration sparked anger. im sure the book is fine but i couldnt listen to it so i dont know.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
5 out of 5 stars
By Gabryel Harrison on 23-08-17

Great book, poorly read

The reader's tone is detrimental to fully enjoying the remarkable content of this book. The reader sounds like she has been generated by a computer

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4 out of 5 stars
By Eoin Stanley on 20-12-16

Great book! Terrible reader.

I love the content of this book, it is a real shame the reader is so stilted in her delivery with so little emotion I am reminded of high school lectures.

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