Book Review: Letters to a Young Creator

The Steve Jobs Archive has published the second book after the Make Something Wonderful, a collection of Steve Jobs’ speeches, letters, and interviews.

I enjoyed that book and expected the same level of inspiration here as well. But Letters to a Young Creator didn’t keep up with the promise.

It features some big names, but only few of their letters worth mentioning or quoting. Here are some:

…don’t do the right thing, avoid it like the plague.So, what am I suggesting you do, the wrong thing? Of course not. Do the brave thing.

—Lee Clow

Many people are precious about their ideas. But ideas are cheap. It’s good ideas that are hard to find.

—David Kelley

“The days of thoughtless design for thoughtless consumption are over”, I also wrote that years ago. Unfortunately, this wish has not yet been fulfilled. I pass on my wish to you. Do less, but better things.

—Dieter Rams

“Do what you think is right and treat everything as a learning experience.”

—Alice Rawsthorn

The crazy ones are sometimes the ones who do crazy impossible things.

—Larry Brilliant

f you can learn to harness your fear—to let it push you forward instead of holding you back—it’s incredibly powerful.

—Jimmy Iovine

Don’t think about building a career; think about making something every day.

—Mona Simpson

Besides the quoted letters, I’d recommend the ones from Samuel Ross and Jon M. Chu.

★★★☆☆ short, and worth it only when you have nothing else

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