Shelf

Art, design and music

Books by artists, designers, musicians, writers and the people who build creative businesses. Topics include craft, the creative life, design thinking, the music industry and making a living from creative work.

Several are memoirs of creative careers, and several are practical guides for creative professionals running a business.

This shelf holds 49 books. Publication years run from 2015 to 2026. 2 of them have an audiobook edition. The most-rated on Amazon are The Last Black Unicorn, The Freelance Manifesto, The Scribe Method. The list below is sorted by how many ratings each book has on Amazon, so the most-read titles come first.

Books on this shelf

Cover of The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

The Last Black Unicorn

Tiffany Haddish · 2019

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “An inspiring story that manages to be painful, honest, shocking, bawdy, and hilarious.”, The New York Times Book Review From stand-up comedian, actress, and breakout star of Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish, comes The Last Black Unicorn…

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Cover of The Freelance Manifesto by Joey Korenman

The Freelance Manifesto

Joey Korenman

Designing beautiful boards and making smooth animation come naturally to us Motion Designers. It’s what we’re good at. However, designing the career we want, with the freedom, flexibility, and pay we crave, that’s more difficult. All of the above is within…

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Cover of The Scribe Method by Tucker Max

The Scribe Method

Tucker Max · 2019

You're ready to write your book. You've accumulated hardwon knowledge and mastered the solution to a difficult problem. Now you want to put it out into the world and be recognized for your expertise, like those you've watched reap the benefits of a published…

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Cover of The Book in a Box Method by Tucker Max

The Book in a Box Method

Tucker Max

Everything you've ever been told about how to write a book is wrong. Authors assume that writing a book needs to be a struggle. They block off hours of precious time, throw away draft after draft, and never get any closer to a finished product. What if there…

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Cover of Story Like You Mean It by Dennis Rebelo

Story Like You Mean It

Dennis Rebelo · 2021

Each of us has a story to share, a mixture of lived experiences, planned and unplanned, that come together and give our existence shape and identity. But in a world where we rely on screens and images for communication and self-expression, do we truly know…

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Cover of Finding Success in Failure by Lucas Carlson

Finding Success in Failure

Lucas Carlson · 2015

Want to make millions (or even billions) as an entrepreneur in just 18 months? So did I. And I used to read anything that promised it. It was a constant disappointment. Time after time I would read these books feeling like I couldn't apply or reproduce…

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Cover of Song Journey by Mark Cawley

Song Journey

A Hit Songwriter’s Guide Through the Process, the Perils, and the Payoff of Writing Songs for a Living

Mark Cawley · 2019

A well written song gives you the power to touch, teach, and reach deep into a person’s soul. But when you hit a creative wall, it can feel like the power has gone out. In those moments, who would you turn to to get your writing back on track? How about a…

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Cover of Public Opinion by Nathan Pettijohn

Public Opinion

Nathan Pettijohn · 2022

Herb is a fixer, a social media manipulator, an anonymous barracuda in a sea of wealthy marks. Blackmail, character assassination, fraud, it’s all in a day’s work. When a quick scam introduces Herb to a cold-blooded director on a quest to film the Marquis de…

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Cover of Art of Resilience by Hussein Al-Baiaty

Art of Resilience

Hussein Al-Baiaty · 2021

Art of Resilience: The Refugee State of Mind shares the refugee heritage, life, and art of Hussein Al-Baiaty. A graphic designer by trade, Hussein uses the wearable medium of printed T-shirts to promote understanding, expressing the stories of hardship…

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Cover of Artist by Jocelyn Jones

Artist

Jocelyn Jones · 2022

Jocelyn Jones is one of Hollywood's most prized secret weapons. A legendary acting teacher, coach, and artistic advisor to the stars, she has served as a confidential Creative Consultant on some of the highest-grossing pictures of all time. Now, she shares…

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Cover of The Soulful Home Design Guide by Natalia Kaylin

The Soulful Home Design Guide

Natalia Kaylin · 2022

Your home is an extension of you. Through art, furniture, and other tokens of your time, your space tells your story. Your home reveals whether you are happy or sad, loved or lonely, content or anxious. Without an intentional touch, your home will tell a…

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Cover of 1964, The Greatest Year in the History of Japan by Roy Tomizawa

1964, The Greatest Year in the History of Japan

Roy Tomizawa · 2019

Japan was a physical and psychological wasteland at the end of World War II. With over 3 million dead, 39 percent of city populations homeless, 40 percent of all urban areas flattened, 80 percent of all ships destroyed, and 33 percent of all industrial…

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Cover of Life. Camera. Action. by David Basulto

Life. Camera. Action.

David Basulto

Producing high-quality video used to be a difficult enterprise--restricted by costly equipment and hard-to-come-by technology. But, today, aspiring filmmakers, journalists, vloggers, live-streamers, coaches, educators, and editors have the tools for creating…

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Cover of The Art Cure by Bridgette Mayer

The Art Cure

Bridgette Mayer · 2016

How did a young girl who came through social services and foster care end up in the art world with a multi-million dollar gallery and consulting business? Through the kindness of strangers, fierce determination, and a survivor’s sheer will, Bridgette Mayer’s…

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Cover of Flipping the Switch by Cole Zucker

Flipping the Switch

How We Started and Scaled a Global Lighting Brand

Cole Zucker · 2023 · Audiobook

Successful entrepreneurship is not a straight line. It’s a thrilling, unpredictable roller coaster full of extreme ups and downs. Flipping the Switch is the story of Cole and Guillaume, two guys who left their respective home countries of America and France…

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Cover of The Bad One by Erin Tyler

The Bad One

Erin Tyler · 2020

I don't remember the first time I called myself "bad." There was never a time I thought I was good. By 8 I hated my body. By 12 I was eating disordered and by 14 I was depressed. At 20 I nearly drank myself to death. I woke up in a CAT scan covered in vomit…

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Cover of The Daily Song Journal by Mark Cawley

The Daily Song Journal

Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley has helped thousands of songwriters jumpstart their creativity and break free from creative ruts. Now he invites you to do the same with The Daily Song Journal, a totally unique way to approach a year in the life of a songwriter. This is not your…

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Cover of Gig for Life by Georges Elchakieh

Gig for Life

Georges Elchakieh · 2023

Less than one percent of all musicians reach megastar-level fame. For the rest of us, a successful music career involves playing in bars, clubs, hotels, corporate gigs, cruise ships, and wedding venues. That career can be just as fulfilling and meaningful, if…

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Cover of Infinite Dead by David Cain

Infinite Dead

David Cain · 2021

Infinite Dead is a new, groundbreaking guide to Grateful Dead concerts. Authoritative and entertaining, Volume 1 features detailed reviews of every Grateful Dead concert performed in the month of October, over 200 shows, including: ● The three-set…

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Cover of Wandering the World by Peggy Simonsen

Wandering the World

Peggy Simonsen

If you could go anywhere in the world and have any kind of adventure, what would it be? From boats to ancient artifacts, business conferences to third-world cultures, jungles and deserts to penguins in Antarctica, Wandering the World shares the far-flung…

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Cover of How to Stay Out of My Emergency Room by Mona Balogh

How to Stay Out of My Emergency Room

Master Your Health and Find Joy in Life by Balancing the Power of Your Mind, Your Body, and Your Higher Self

Mona Balogh · 2020

After twenty-seven years treating patients in emergency rooms, Dr. Mona Balogh noticed a trend: from heart failure to addiction, people chronically use ERs to address disease. These “frequent flyers” are ER regulars with little understanding of their illness…

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Cover of Beyond Now by Guy Bell

Beyond Now

Guy Bell · 2017

We think we know who we are and what we want. But, for most of us, the person we identify as is not our authentic Self. If we are to reach our highest potential, we need to move beyond our egoic mind and discover our Divine Mind. Guy Pierce Bell spent his…

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Cover of Loops by J. Cornelius

Loops

J. Cornelius · 2019

You have to build things with limited time and a limited budget. How do you make the most of both? Not only that, but how do you get confidence and clarity in what you're going to build and how you're going to build it? Whether you're a startup founder or the…

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Cover of Sick of Suffering by Evan York

Sick of Suffering

Evan York

Everyone told you that college would be the best four years of your life. Only instead of feeling free, you feel trapped, dealing with a slew of negative mental symptoms. You're not alone. Millions of young adults suffer from poor mental well-being, but a…

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Cover of The Resilient Actor by Debra Wanger

The Resilient Actor

Debra Wanger

Acting can be a crazy profession, full of uncertainty, insecurity, and unpredictability. While there are many books about technique, little has been written about how to pursue the dream without compromising your health and sanity. Pulling from her decades of…

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Cover of Inside the Design Industry by Brittney Herrera

Inside the Design Industry

Brittney Herrera · 2024

Turn your passion for design into a successful career! Politics. Unwritten rules. Your talent is undeniable, but succeeding in a leading design firm requires more than just skill, it demands an understanding of complex team dynamics. Brittney Herrera…

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Cover of Get Busy Living by Eric Traugh

Get Busy Living

Eric Traugh · 2023

S.M.A.R.T. goals are stupid. You need a game plan. Have other self-help books inspired you for a short time, but the motivation faded away? I still love to read all those books, but I knew I had to figure out a way to actually implement all the good advice…

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Cover of Music on Mars by Neil Moore

Music on Mars

Neil Moore · 2025

All human beings, without exception, are profoundly musical. Even you! As ever-increasingly advanced technologies redefine life on Earth, and redefine what it means to be human, developing our creative capability is more important now than at any other time…

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Cover of Death Expands Us by Stephanie Harris

Death Expands Us

Stephanie Harris · 2017

The loss of a loved one leaves an empty space in our lives that can’t be filled. Stephanie Harris is a professional grief coach who has experienced profound loss in her own lifetime. She understands firsthand how the death of someone close can leave the…

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Cover of How Music Grows Brands by Joe Belliotti

How Music Grows Brands

The Field Guide

Joe Belliotti · 2023

Music is a motivator, a respite, a provocateur. When used strategically in business, it creates culture and connects brand with consumer. In How Music Grows Brands, branding experts and music industry executives Joe Belliotti and Rebecca Jolly provide an…

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Cover of Joy Always by Joya Ways

Joy Always

Joya Ways

We all want to be healthy and effective, but too often, we don’t acknowledge that something in our subconscious may be sabotaging our progress. Or, we don’t stop to recognize who or what is taking energy from us instead of giving it. When this happens, we…

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Cover of Be Ready to Dance With Your Customer! by Shari Moss

Be Ready to Dance With Your Customer!

Shari Moss

Today's market is competitive, bursting with young entrepreneurs championing revolutionary ideas. In such a crowded arena, a focus on business fundamentals can be the make-or-break factor in the success of a company-especially when it comes to mastering the…

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Cover of You Never Told Me That! by Kathleen Davis

You Never Told Me That!

Kathleen Davis

The day is finally coming when your baby bird will fly away from the family nest. But is he or she ready? Are you? There are thousands of handbooks on raising infants, toddlers, and adolescents, but no proper manual for preparing your social media, obsessed…

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Cover of Experience Thinking by Tedde van Gelderen

Experience Thinking

Tedde van Gelderen

People don’t just buy products and services; they buy experiences. From the instant they recognize a need to the point when they’re ready to toss an older model for a new one, every moment of interaction with your organization matters. Therefore, to be…

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Cover of The Resilient Actor's Workbook and Planner by Debra Wanger

The Resilient Actor's Workbook and Planner

Debra Wanger

Discover some of the secrets from Broadway and Hollywood to supercharge your career and balance your life. Debra Wanger knows how difficult it can be to pursue your dream of acting without compromising your health or your sanity. She drew wisdom from decades…

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Cover of Jazz, TX by Doc Watkins

Jazz, TX

A Love Letter to Live Music, Community, and the Little Club That Could

Doc Watkins · 2026

A community’s beating heart is often found in the most unlikely places. The story of Jazz, TX, is one of an underdog. When musician and entrepreneur Doc Watkins opened the San Antonio club in 2016, the “jazz club” represented a bygone era of simplicity…

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Cover of Musicality of the Game by Ryan Bisio

Musicality of the Game

The Artistry of Basketball

Ryan Bisio · 2026

What if everything you know about basketball is actually about music? Championship-winning college coach, FIBA-level tactician, and professional recording artist Ryan Bisio reveals the sport of basketball not as plays and statistics but as a living piece of…

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Cover of The Brooklyn Paramount Theatre by Michael Hittman

The Brooklyn Paramount Theatre

An Intimate Portrait

Michael Hittman · 2026

This comprehensive history of the Brooklyn Paramount, erected in 1928 and the world's first motion picture theatre built expressly for the talkies, debunks the myths of this celebrated landmark. Closed since 1962 and recently restored by LiveNation, this…

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Cover of Made for More by Nneka Unachukwu

Made for More

by Nneka Unachukwu (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

Nneka Unachukwu · 2023

Doctors have been sold a lie that they don't make great entrepreneurs. When Dr. Nneka Unachukwu started her practice in 2010, there were no coaching programs, podcasts, or YouTube channels around to teach her how to be a physician entrepreneur. She had some…

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Cover of Morale Matters by Sarah Arredondo

Morale Matters

The Joy of Revealing Innocence, Empowerment, and Sacred Work in Personal Mythology

Sarah Arredondo · 2023

Fear is a vicious cycle. Guilt, shame, and blame imprison your joy and innate sense of worthiness. Exploring beliefs and personal narratives through the lens of morale is a pragmatic way to break the cycle of fear and initiate virtuous cycles of love. Morale…

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Cover of Artists Under Fire by Lana Melman

Artists Under Fire

Lana Melman · 2022

International entertainers of every color and creed are besieged by pressure to boycott Israel with an antisemitic smear tactic that spans the globe. Behind it all is the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, an intimidation network masquerading…

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Cover of Please Make Me Love Me by Emily Gindlesparger

Please Make Me Love Me

by Emily Gindlesparger (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

Emily Gindlesparger · 2022

For Emily Gindlesparger, the idea of opening up her eight-year relationship was terrifying. Even considering it sent her into a tailspin of jealousy, anxiety, and self-doubt. Except ... maybe she did want it, if she was being brutally honest. By saying yes…

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Cover of The COVID Bride by Sara La Chapelle

The COVID Bride

Sara La Chapelle · 2022

How does a Southern Belle plan the perfect wedding in the midst of COVID? By conquering one catastrophe after the next. The COVID Bride is the hilarious, straight-talking wedding guide that could put a ’90s rom-com to shame. Determined not to cancel her…

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Cover of Value Economics by Sam LaCrosse

Value Economics

Sam LaCrosse · 2022

The self-help industry is a fraud. You are not exceptional. You can’t have it all. The money won’t follow just because you do what you love. Anyone who tells you something different is lying. Too many people are helpless today because they don’t know why they…

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Cover of You Are Not Your Race by Fe Bencosme

You Are Not Your Race

Fe Bencosme · 2022

Race is not real, yet it is being propagandized to divide the American people. In an era of racialized theories and anti-racist activism, race essentialism is foisted upon Americans, even when increasing numbers of people report belonging to more than one…

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Cover of Mask by Eli Wehbe

Mask

Eli Wehbe · 2021 · Audiobook

Eli Wehbe lived at the white-hot center of Los Angeles nightlife. More than a decade of hustle, scramble, and hard work put him at the pinnacle of the life he always wanted: celebrity friends, beautiful women, fast cars, popularity, and plenty of sex, drugs…

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Cover of The Scope Statement by Damian Carroll

The Scope Statement

Damian Carroll · 2021

Thinking about a home remodel? Most customers spend at least 30% more than their expected budget, and sometimes a lot more. A good scope statement can save you tons of time, money, and headaches. A scope statement captures information about your remodel…

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Cover of A Better Way by Joe Pomerenke

A Better Way

Joe Pomerenke

Traditionally, construction projects have involved designers and contractors working separately, and sometimes at odds with each other, forcing the customer to be responsible for coordinating their activities. As a result, cost overruns are common, deadlines…

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Cover of Music Is Our Medicine by Paul Pellinger

Music Is Our Medicine

Paul Pellinger

Fighting substance abuse with words is not working. But at Recovery Unplugged, there is a new approach that's helping addicts get the message: music. This method is based on recovery statistics unheard of in the rehab community, and the indisputable fact is…

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