There are many ways a musician can hone her skills and get inspired, and reading books can stimulate a creative mind, and lead to creative breakthroughs.

Here are some amazing books (in no particular order), that a musician must read in their lifetime.

Book #1: Bringing Out the Best in People: How to Enjoy Helping Others Excel by Alan Loy McGinnis

This is the perfect book to start with. The idea is to adopt 12 principles in your collaborations. The author has studied many famous personalities and has come up with amazing ways to bring out the best in his readers. Even though it is a general read in the motivational genre, musicians can apply what they learn to their creative teams, networking efforts, and partnerships.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #2: Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel, D.T. Suzuki

Essentially based on the Japanese Zen philosophy, this book has been translated from German to English by R.F.C. Hull. The Zen philosophy is quite old and the book isn’t new either, as it was originally released in 1953. The fact that it still is considered relevant today speaks volumes about its content.

Now you may ask what archery has to do with music. The author considers archery an art, heritage and a meticulously followed tradition as opposed to just a sport. It is much more spiritual than physical. This book can open up new levels of thinking in terms of spirituality for the reader.

With the promptings in this literary work, musicians can explore their inner desires and talents.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #3: Chronicles by Bob Dylan

Chronicles, written by the famous musician Bob Dylan (best known for his songwriting), is a journey through his losses and discoveries. The book records his initial days as a budding musician in the glittering New York City through his successful years topping the charts.

Chronicles will prove eye-opening to artists, especially those who are expecting the seemingly glittery industry to welcome them with open arms. There’s a lot of grey behind all those glitters, so you must be ready to embrace them and swim through the strong currents to attain success.

Dylan’s Chronicles is must-read for any musician, especially those looking to land that elusive big deal.

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Book #4: Kill Your Friends by John Niven

Kill Your Friends is a killer book for budding artists planning to launch into the big bad music industry. It tells you how some people deal with competition and competitors. Even though it is funny and satirical, it sheds light on what can happen on your way to the top. Fact or fiction, Kill Your Friends is an eye-opener into the way competition is – or can be dealt with.

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Book #5: The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music by Victor L Wooten, Great Reading on the Creative Process

Coming back to getting serious about music, The Music Lesson is surely something every musician should read. It opens up new ways of thinking and delves into the spiritual side of creating music.

What makes it an interesting read is the way it has been presented – as a novel! It is definitely a great way to make reading interesting for a music enthusiast and music interesting for an avid reader. The book is a winner both ways. If you fall into one of these categories and have not yet read it yet, go grab a copy now.

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Book #6: The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Madeline Bruser, Deline Bruser, Useful for Classical Music Too

Art comes from the heart. The true artists are those who feel what they create and create what they feel.

The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart helps you discover how to do just that. It talks about how you can hone your skills to get more creative from the heart. It covers how to cultivate better listening and performance skills to communicate exactly what you intend to communicate.

If you are not into chart-busting, and want to focus on creating more soulful music, this is the book for you.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #7: Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music by Angela Myles Beeching, Essential Music Industry Reading

Beyond Talent is a guide to mentoring yourself into a fruitful career in music. Talent is something you can nurture through constant practice. Success is a different game and requires much more than talent and practice.

This book by Angela Myles takes you through the different aspects of how you can make a successful career in music without losing the soul and heart of your creativity. An interactive presentation makes this book more interesting and easier to understand. Musicians can use this book as a step-by-step guide to succeeding in establishing a music career.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #8: Hack the Music Business: Build Your Own Career by Dave Kusek

This is the perfect read for the new generation musician. It explains how the modern-day music industry works and how you can handle it like a pro. It is a great read if you are in the process of revamping your music career, or starting off and want to hit it right the first time.

The book is all about treating your career as a start-up and managing it professionally. The book elucidates practical steps on how you can do exactly that.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #9: Audio Effects, Mixing and Mastering by Metin Bektas

Audio Effects, Mixing and Mastering is all about the technicalities of audio mixing and mastering. Those new to the ins and outs of recording music will find it quite informative and simple to understand.

Every musician should learn how to record and produce their own music, even if just demos, as it can save time and money. It also helps you better understand the process of production.

Delve in to learn the basics of sound mixing and recording in a studio.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Book #10: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

This book is about Elvis Presley, the king of Rock and Roll. Peter Guralnick, a die-hard Elvis fan himself, has portrayed the life of his idol from his early days through to his successful musical career.

In The Rise of Elvis Presley, you’ll learn about Elvis’ popular albums, and about the people who were close to the legendary singer during this course of his life and career.

Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Bonus Reading for Artists: The Music Works of David Andrew Wiebe

This blog’s owner, David Andrew Wiebe, is also an author of many books, and I have it on good authority that his works are worth the read for artists, especially if you’re looking for additional information on the new music business.

Music artists especially will draw inspiration from:

• The New Music Industry: Widely considered essential new music business reading, The New Music Industry is a thorough look at modern music, music performance, and becoming a full-time musician. The book is chock-full of practical advice on social media, video promotion, industry professionals, and more that will help you on your journey.
• The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship: A concise, groundbreaking book on taking a strategic approach to music career success.
• The Music Entrepreneur Code: The Music Entrepreneur Code packs decades of wisdom and inspiration into a short, easy-to-read volume. The book focuses on the nooks and crannies artists often miss in building the career of their dreams.
• The Music Entrepreneur Companion Guide: This piece of music literature unpacks The Music Entrepreneur Code in greater detail, while offering fresh insights into the creative process and how to create music that will enhance your joy on your musical journey.
• Other: If you want to gain insights into additional areas, David has books on creativity, productivity, nomadic travel, and more. Click on the link to explore more of his writing on creativity.

Other Authors to Explore

While we may or may not have read any works of the following authors, we generally hear good things about:

Renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks, Ben Folds, Patti Smith, Austin Kleon, David Byrne, Alex Ross, and Brian Eno, among others. The short life of Jimi Hendrix is worth exploring too.

If you’re looking for additional inspiration, many musicians have found value in the above authors!

Conclusion, Books Musicians Should Read

There are many other amazing books on the topic of music, music theory, the music business, the music industry at large, and the creative process.

There is so much more for you to explore, but the above 10 books will teach you about creativity, how to manage a team, the competitive aspect of the industry, and how to establish yourself in modern times.

What books have you read on the music industry? Are there any that really inspired you? Do you have any favorite books?

Let us know in the comments below.

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