Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
by Mason Currey
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey holds a well received rating of 3.66 out of 5, based on 8.6K reader ratings. First published in 2013. The book spans 278 pages.
About Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
Franz Kafka, frustrated with his living quarters and day job, wrote in a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, “time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle maneuvers.” Kafka is one of 161 inspired—and inspiring—minds, among them, novelists, poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians, who describe how they subtly maneuver the many (self-inflicted) obstacles and (self-imposed) daily rituals to get done the work they love to do, whether by waking early or staying up late; whether by self-medicating with doughnuts or bathing, drinking vast quantities of coffee, or taking long daily walks. Thomas Wolfe wrote standing up in the kitchen, the top of the refrigerator as his desk, dreamily fondling his “male configurations”. . . Jean-Paul Sartre chewed on Corydrane tablets (a mix of amphetamine and aspirin), ingesting ten times the recommended dose each day . . . Descartes liked to linger in bed, his mind wandering in sleep through woods, gardens, and enchanted palaces where he experienced “every pleasure imaginable.” Here are: Anthony Trollope, who demanded of himself that each morning he write three thousand words (250 words every fifteen minutes for three hours) before going off to his job at the postal service, which he kept for thirty-three years during the writing of more than two dozen books . . . Karl Marx . . . Woody Allen . . . Agatha Christie . . . George Balanchine, who did most of his work while ironing . . . Leo Tolstoy . . . Charles Dickens . . . Pablo Picasso . . . George Gershwin, who, said his brother Ira, worked for twelve hours a day from late morning to midnight, composing at the piano in pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers . . . Here also are the daily rituals of Charles Darwin, Andy Warhol, John Updike, Twyla Tharp, Benjamin Franklin, William Faulkner, Jane Austen, Anne Rice, and Igor Stravinsky (he was never able to compose unless he was sure no one could hear him and, when blocked, stood on his head to “clear the brain”). Brilliantly compiled and edited, and filled with detail and anecdote, Daily Rituals is irresistible, addictive, magically inspiring.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Mason Currey |
| Published | 2013 |
| Pages | 278 |
| Kindle Price | $12.99 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Arts & Photography, Biography & Memoir, Self-Help, Psychology |
| Average Rating | 3.66 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 8,565 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Daily Rituals: How Artists Work?
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is categorized as Non-Fiction, Arts & Photography, Biography & Memoir, Self-Help. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Daily Rituals: How Artists Work worth reading?
Based on 8.6K reader ratings, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work has an average score of 3.66 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Daily Rituals: How Artists Work?
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work has 278 pages.
Who wrote Daily Rituals: How Artists Work?
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work was written by Mason Currey. It was first published in 2013.
What is the ISBN for Daily Rituals: How Artists Work?
The ISBN-13 for Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is 9780307273600.0.
How much does Daily Rituals: How Artists Work cost on Kindle?
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is available on Kindle for $12.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
