New book coming in June! austinkleon.com/2026/02/20/m…

Bob speaks in @nytimes

love this spenc 💕💖 it kind of reminds me of this new book i just got: DON’T CALL IT ART 10 ways to create like a kid again by @austinkleon can’t wait to read it. 🩷💛🤍

The book. The lesson.

“I have written a wicked book, and feel spotless as the lamb.” —Melville in a letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne a few months before the publication of MD

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. #NintendoDirect

Yoooo

Michael Mann's MANHUNTER. THE FINAL CUT. StudioCanal is unleashing a brand new 4K restoration in select US theaters on July 24. "The ultimate immersive version" of the film.

Waterloo Greenway: The Confluence. It’s pretty sweet.

"Forget the noun. Do the verb." - @austinkleon

"To me, that's the magic of creative work, discovering what you didn't know you were looking for." ~@austinkleon tinyurl.com/emzd3pur via @thecreativepenn | #author #creativity #inspiration

In a way, I realized, driving two hours in order to see Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY in IMAX will be my odyssey.

the freshly-opened confluence portion of waterloo greenway near rainey st is incredible

I recorded a conversation with @austinkleon for The Learning Leader Show (Episode #690)... I listened to it 4 times. Every time I heard something useful, I paused the podcast and typed a note in my phone. Here are those notes: Bill Murray picture - Stay light, loose, and relaxed. If you can do that, you can play at the highest level. Keep that sense of playfulness. "The analog desk is my R and D time." “People want to watch someone who is activated.” “People pay every night to show up and see somebody believe in themselves.” - Kim Gordon “The market for something to believe in is infinite. The world is full of people who are just going to work, doing whatever. People are really hungry to see people who are on fire for what they’re doing.” “I ran at least the first half of my career off the fumes of that meeting with cartoonist Linda Berry. This person is activated to the world in a way that I want. I’ll have what she’s having. It’s important to have those people who light us up The writer takes what people are thinking and puts it into the words. That’s what we do. That’s what a great writer does. That’s the best compliment I can think of for a writer. I don’t have that many special thoughts. I have a way of communicating that connects with people. It gives them the words. Be a noticer. Therou always had a notebook with him on his morning walks because he knew he would need something to write about. We both went to Miami University at the same time. Austin created his own major (interdisciplinary studies). He synthesized multiple fields (English, Art, Classics). And they housed architecture students there too, which was most important since that’s where Austin met his wife. "My kids taught me more of what it’s like to be able to access the raw creative urge. The title of the book is stolen from an artist who I learned so much from watching a kid draw. Kids don’t call it art; they’re just doing stuff.” I expected to be the teacher, and I ended up being the student. Kids are great because they’ll ask you enough questions that the universe becomes mysterious to you. To keep growing, you gotta toggle between knowing and not knowing To be a parent is to be a perpetual amateur. Neither of you knows what you’re doing. Even if you’ve had a kid before. What worked the last time might not work this time. The word “amateur” in French means “lover of.” To be an amateur is to do it out of love. “Kids are great because they’ll knock you on your ass as far as your pompous sense of certainty about what you do and what you know. Every great CEO should probably be put in the room with a 4-year-old. “ "We are attracted to people who are very curious about the world. Those who are curious about people.” Activation Curiosity = a deadly combo The great leader listens. They ask questions. The leader is curious and asks how others are doing. They aren’t the big talkers. When I’m out in the world, I’m not looking for people who seem to be “successful.” I’m looking for people who seem to be having fun. People say the Friday newsletter looks easy… Do it every Friday for 13 years, then call me. “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play.” He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he’s doing and leaves others to decide whether he’s working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both. - Lawrence Pearsall Jacks Writing is thinking. People think you gather your ideas, then write them down. The act of writing is the act of figuring out what you actually think. That’s the hard part. Austin’s champagne moment a year from now: his kids flourishing. The older he gets, the less the books mean and the more his family does.

This week on the sub that stacks, I'm excited to share an excerpt from the wonderful @austinkleon's new book. It's a life lesson on embracing the unknown that we could all use. Link below!

My new book is out today!! austinkleon.com/dont-call-it…

“People will pay every night to show up and see somebody believe in themselves.” - Kim Gordon People want to watch someone who is activated. @austinkleon

To be an amateur is to be a lover. The French root means “lover of.” An amateur does it out of love, not material reward. @austinkleon

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-Winning 'Star Wars' Editor, Dies at 80 variety.com/2026/film/news/m…

What I look like after signing 400 books austinkleon.com

Last day of school. Time to ride bikes.