Many creatives are fascinated by the daily routines of successful icons in their fields. From Stephen King to B.F. Skinner, Mason Currey offers a collective of daily routines and personal habits of some of the most famous in literature, art, science, philosophy, and music. It’s focused on the “manufacturing,” or rather the idiosyncrasies and rituals of these great artists, giving you a glimpse into their daily lives. Ranging from fascinating and inspiring to disturbingly bizarre, the little snippets offering a peak into over two hundred lives is a fascinating collective worth reading.

You’ll no doubt find yourself nestled among these pages.

I was surprised to see how much my day resembles that of Danish Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. I’m certainly no philosopher. Nor should I bother complaining about finding time to write after discovering the weight of responsibilities of the likes of Jane Austin and Charles Schultz, who still found time to pen numerous classics, or in Shultz’s case, cartoons. Nor will I doubt the wisdom of Gertrude Stein, who couldn’t begin her work until her dog’s teeth were brushed.

Of course, some, like playwright Arthur Miller, admittedly had no routine, but that, in essence, became their routine. Some were admittedly over-disciplined. Honoré de Balzac and George Sand are two, with the latter relying heavily on stimulants to knock out twenty pages a night. But one thing they all share is a commitment to their craft. Almost an unquenchable devotion to their work, which, despite other obligations, is a daily endeavor. The other is the outdoors. Taking walks, gazing out windows, and communing in nature—a source of their inspiration.

Daily Rituals would be an excellent topic for discussion in a creative club or writers’ group.

It’s also a wonderful read for success-minded professionals looking for motivation. Simple diets, caring for others, committing to goals, establishing “crazy” disciplines, and relying on wild enhancers. Somehow, these folks found what works for them. Perhaps among the pages, you can, too.

Source: Purchased

Image: Courtesy of Alfred A. Knopf