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If there’s one thing our home is full of, other than love and sarcasm — yes, the two can coexist — it’s books.

Three big ol’ bookshelves full (which translates to roughly 20+ boxes full).

That last number is important. Three weeks ago, the Superhero and I moved to our new home near Seattle, and 6 of our most stalwart, dedicated friends helped us lug those 20+ boxes down three flights of stairs out of the old place . . . then up another stretch of steps into the new.

That’s true friendship, folks . . . though by the day’s end more than one person had suggested a Kindle purchase. (Sorry. It’s just not the same).

It stands to reason that this blog will be filled with books, too. One thing I’ve loved about LC is that it’s thrown me into regular conversations with creative, brilliant people who know more than I do, and they’re constantly saying, “Oh, and write down the name of this book, too . . . it’s amazing.”

Ah, readers. How I love thee.

Ignore Everybody — And 39 Other Keys to Creativity

This book was originally a great big post on a blog my friend Scott Kosman recommended to me back in 2005. Titled “How to Be Creative,” it blew my mind and sowed some seeds that would come in quite handy a few years later.

Why was/is this book life-changing? I’m so happy you asked.

A big reason is that Point Eight/now-Chapter 8 — “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” — explains what Hugh MacLeod calls “The Sex and Cash Theory,” which may be one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever read about tension between the creative life and work life. This is a blog post unto itself, and sure to arrive shortly.

But the biggest reason is probably this: the book is chock-full of permission. Permission to ask for your crayons back. Permission to sing in your own voice. Permission to leave the “starving artist” shtick to someone else and exist sustainably.

The book gives folks like you and me permission to create something, simply for the joy of having created it — without any need to have a “successful” label slapped on it at the end of the day. (Heck, it doesn’t even have to have a dramatic “I’m SO creative!” label slapped on it at the beginning of the day).

“By scuppering all hope of worldly or social betterment from the creative act, you are finally left with only one question to answer: Do you make this damn thing exist, or not?”

The lack of pressure was freeing. I had a day job with people I enjoyed, and spent most of the rest of my time writing and reading and geeking out on Photoshop and Illustrator and WordPress. It didn’t have to turn into anything.

So, naturally, it did.

McLeod isn’t saying that worldly or social betterment doesn’t eventually show up (or that it’s not important)… he’s just saying that it’s more likely to show up when your barometers for success aren’t extrinsic, but intrinsic.

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The book didn’t have much that wasn’t there in the original blog, but I don’t regret buying it (in hardcover, I might add). Taking in the words again was like visiting an old friend.  Good words are like that.

Check out the book. Check out Hugh MacLeod’s blog, even if only for his cartoons drawn on business cards. I think his stuff would be helpful to anyone who’s doing this big-crazy-scary thing, whether it’s in business, the arts, whatever.

I’d love to know what you think. Any books out there that have given you permission to take big leaps? Join the conversation below!