The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing
Dive into Adam Moss’s innovative look at the creative process behind world-class artistry. Discover how poets, painters, filmmakers, and more turn raw ideas into finished masterpieces in The Work of Art.
Ever wonder how Sondheim’s genius musicals or Sofia Coppola’s dreamy films actually come to life? In The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing, Adam Moss peels back the curtain on the messy, magical, and sometimes mind-boggling creative processes behind extraordinary works. “The gift book of the year, a volume that should have broad appeal,” said John Warner of The Chicago Tribune—and it’s easy to see why. Moss marshals an impressive league of artists—painters, poets, photographers, and more—to reveal the dodged bullets, foolish detours, and unexpected epiphanies that culminate in brilliance. A New York Times bestseller and one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2024, this is the kind of read that makes you want to scribble your own masterpiece on the nearest napkin, or at least indulge in a creative daydream.
If you think art just “happens,” prepare to be playfully proven wrong. Through firm but curious questioning, Moss helps even the most private creators unearth their raw, unpolished beginnings—think doodles, half-baked notes, and fleeting spark-of-genius moments—and turn them into something breathtaking. Consider it a behind-the-scenes pass to the mistakes, rewrites, and leaps of faith that every masterpiece demands.
