Austin Kleon
Born: June 16, 1983 – Circleville, Ohio, United States
Austin Kleon is an American writer and artist known for practical, accessible books on creativity, productivity, and life in the digital age. He wrote Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going; his work has reached a global audience, with bestselling titles translated into more than 30 languages.
Biography & Author's Journey
Austin Kleon was born in Circleville, Ohio, on June 16, 1983, and studied Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University, where his academic focus combined literature, writing, and art. That combination foreshadowed the identity he later made central to his public work: a writer who draws. Before becoming known as an author, he moved through several adjacent careers, including work as a librarian, a web designer, and an advertising copywriter. Those jobs were not detours so much as preparation. At the library he taught computer use; on his own he learned HTML and CSS; in web and copy work he refined a compact, visual, highly legible way of communicating. ((https://austinkleon.com/about/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes
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Popular Books
Show Your Work!
Austin Kleon
A guide for creatives to share their process, build an audience, and succeed in the digital age.
Keep Going
Austin Kleon
An inspiring guide for creatives to stay motivated and productive through life's ups and downs, with practical tips and strategies.
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon's creative inspiration and theft
Show Your Work!
Austin Kleon
A guide for creatives to share their process, build an audience, and succeed in the digital age.
Keep Going
Austin Kleon
An inspiring guide for creatives to stay motivated and productive through life's ups and downs, with practical tips and strategies.
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon's creative inspiration and theft
Discover more
The Grit and Grace of Getting Unstuck
Creative stagnation often stems from internal resistance and poor environmental design rather than a lack of talent. This plan is essential for artists, writers, and entrepreneurs who feel paralyzed by the 'void' and need a tactical framework to regain their momentum. It provides the psychological tools and practical constraints necessary to move from stuck to finished.
The Creative Time Architect
Traditional productivity often fails creatives by prioritizing clock time over cognitive energy. This plan is designed for artists, writers, and builders who need to balance high-output focus with the necessary downtime for innovation.
AI Creative Workflows for Professionals
In an era of rapid digital transformation, mastering AI is no longer optional for creative professionals. This plan provides a structured roadmap for designers, writers, and marketers to integrate cutting-edge tools into a scalable, automated production engine.
The Art of Effortless Connection
In an increasingly digital world, the ability to build genuine in-person rapport is a rare and valuable skill. This plan is designed for professionals and introverts who want to master social mechanics and turn every interaction into an opportunity for deep connection.
The Art of Living Well
In an era of constant distraction, this plan provides a foundational toolkit for mental clarity and ethical decision-making. It is ideal for individuals seeking to bridge ancient wisdom with modern challenges to build a more resilient and meaningful life.
The Design Student's Social Playbook
This plan is essential for design students who want to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world social influence. It benefits emerging creatives looking to build professional authority while remaining authentic to modern digital culture.
Systems Over Willpower: Rewiring for Deep Work
In an era of constant distraction, relying on willpower alone is a recipe for burnout. This plan is designed for professionals and creatives who need to transition from reactive busyness to proactive, high-impact deep work by reengineering their environment and mindset.
Write to be Read
In an era of digital noise, the ability to capture and hold attention is a critical professional asset. This plan is designed for writers and creators who want to bridge the gap between creative output and measurable business impact.
Community Voices
"Austin Kleon is one of the brightest new minds on the creative landscape"
— Daniel Pink
"Austin Kleon is known for his genius writings on creativity and art"
— Book Riot
"Austin Kleon’s books always arrive like an unusually pleasant day in early spring"
— Porchlight Book Company
"Austin Kleon is positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet"
— Maria Popova
"Instead of starting with a blank page, poet Austin Kleon grabs the New York Times and a permanent marker and eliminates the words he doesn’t need"
— NPR's Morning Edition
"Austin Kleon is an Austin-based New York Times-bestselling author who draws as much as he writes"
— KUTX
"Austin Kleon is a constant rainbow amidst gloomy Internet clouds"
— Neil Pasricha
"In 2012, Austin Kleon burst onto the scene with Steal Like an Artist, a book that’s now in the canon of guides to creative thinking and productivity"
— BookPage
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
