The Art of Unknowing: A Review of The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Rick Rubin wrote a book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, and it’s not your typical “Here’s how to be creative in 10 easy steps” guide. Instead, it’s like Rubin took creativity, plucked it out of its usual serious, polished museum display, and said, “Nope, this thing is messy, chaotic, and it thrives in the unknown. Let’s talk about that.” And honestly? It’s mind-blowing.

Here’s the five key lessons you should take from it:

1: Forget What You Know

Rubin’s big idea — the one he smacks you over the head with in the nicest way possible — is that not knowing is actually a superpower. Yup, you heard that right. Forget being the expert. Toss your fancy degree into the metaphorical shredder. Rubin says ignorance isn’t a bug; it’s a feature.

Here’s the logic: if you don’t know the rules, you’re free to break them, ignore them, or make up your own. Like that time AlphaGo — the AI trained to play Go — made Move 37, a move so ridiculous it made human experts gasp and clutch their pearls. Turns out, Move 37 was genius. Or take the Ramones, who were like, “What if rock music but no solos and just… chaos?” Boom: punk rock.

Rubin calls this “beginner’s mind,” which sounds Zen (because it is), but it’s really about curiosity over expertise. It’s like being a kid again — except instead of eating glue, or sticking crayons up your nose, you’re making groundbreaking art.

2: Be an Antenna

Rubin has this idea that creativity isn’t something you do. It’s something you receive. Like a cosmic radio station broadcasting ideas 24/7. Your job? Tune in.

He paints this beautiful picture of artists as antennas, wandering around trying to pick up these invisible frequencies. And honestly, it’s kind of liberating. Creativity isn’t about “genius” or “talent” or whatever buzzword LinkedIn is hyping this week. It’s about being open — like, wide-eyed, heart-wide-open open.

But here’s the catch: tuning in isn’t passive. Rubin says you’ve got to be mindful, present, and, well, alive. And yeah, it’s a little daunting because it means letting go of control. Rubin’s like, “Surrender,” and you’re like, “Cool, but what if that is terrifying?”

3: Play Like Nobody’s Watching (Because They Aren’t)

Here’s where Rubin gets really fun. He tells us to stop trying to be perfect. Perfection is boring. Mistakes are where the magic happens.

Case in point: the Ramones again. Their whole vibe was “We don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re doing it loud.” Result? Punk rock history. Rubin’s point is that creativity isn’t about getting it right; it’s about playing — messing around, breaking stuff, and seeing what sticks.

He brings up kintsugi, that Japanese art where you repair broken pottery with gold, to say, “Hey, your flaws aren’t flaws — they’re features. Lean in.” It’s a comforting thought, especially when your latest creative attempt feels like a hot mess.

4: Break Rules, But Not Randomly

If Rubin’s philosophy had a slogan, it’d be something like, ‘Rules are optional, but process is mandatory.’ He’s all for rebellion — breaking conventions, questioning assumptions, flipping tables (metaphorically). But he’s also saying ‘Hey, maybe have a plan while you’re smashing vases or reinventing jazz.’

Creativity, in Rubin’s world, isn’t a free-for-all. It’s more like jazz improvisation: you can riff all you want, but you need the structure of the song first. It’s this beautiful paradox — freedom through discipline. The paradox of constraints.

5: Live Creatively, Even If You’re Not “Creative”

Here’s where Rubin sneaks in the plot twist: this book isn’t just about creativity in the arts. It’s about creativity as a way of being. Like, if you’re breathing and making decisions and occasionally wondering what the heck you’re doing with your life, congrats — you’re already a creator.

Rubin says creating is really just engaging. With life. With other people. With your weird, wonderful, messy self. It’s about staying curious, asking questions, and being okay with not having the answers.

And in the end, Rubin leaves you with this little gem: the masterpiece isn’t the song or the painting or the startup. The masterpiece is you — the artist, the human, the perpetual work-in-progress.

The Bottom Line

Reading The Creative Act is like having a long, meandering conversation with a really wise, slightly mystical friend who keeps dropping truth bombs like, “Mistakes are golden,” and “Not knowing is the best way to know.”

So if you’ve ever felt like creativity is this elite club you’re not invited to, Rubin’s made it safe for everyone. Come on in. Just be ready to embrace the mess, the unknown, and maybe — just maybe — yourself.

You can support The Self Help Book Shelf by grabbing a copy of The Creative Act: A Way of Being here.