Shut Your Monkey: How to Control Your Inner Critic and Get More Done

A book that tackles the inner critic to your creative process.The 'monkey' analogy is by no means new, but in this book it is cleverly worked into how it can sabotage the creative process and can even totally stop the creative drive. By combining an understanding of the creative process combined with an understanding of psychology, Danny manages to put across a highly readable and entertaining way of helping you combat your inner critic and get on with doing things you love. I found it highly beneficial, particularly as I was in a place where my inner critic was in firmly in control. It has helped me gain control, not just of my creativity, but other aspects that my inner critic has been working hard at. When I finished it I order another 10 copies for people who I thought would like it. My favourite Danny Gregory creativity book so far.

Disappointed with the book. I have to agree with the other reviewer who awarded 1 star. The content is thin - I didn't relate to the book, and it hasn't taught me how to silence my inner critic.This is the first Danny Gregory book I have bought, and it has put me off the others.

This is such a good book. Really works in the fight against your inner critic. I put it down and started creating almost instantly after finishing. Highly recommend it.

Short and sweet... but an excellent read, written in an entertaining and passionate way. My monkey is asking me to stay and say more, but I must get on! Happy reading...

Inspiring book. Well worth buying.

Normally I am a great fan of Danny Gregory but I couldn't relate to this book at all. "The Monkey", the voice in your head, that suppresses creativity is not a new idea. But Gregory does not write coherently about the concept. His descriptions of its various manifestations meant nothing to me. His suggestions for dealing with the monkey were not much help either. Maybe his American read ship will understand what he was writing about. I think the monkey metaphor was over worked and I don't think tighter editing could have saved day. A very disappointing read.

If I was a believer in such things I might have wondered if Danny had climbed inside my mind to write this book. It is as delightfully accessible and entertaining as it is powerful and universally relevant.Shut Your Monkey did more for me in 2 weeks than 6 months of CBT (and the arduous reams of banal and entirely unhelpful questionnaires that went with it). We all have monkeys but I think mine speaks more loudly than many, disrupting and dismantling my intention. Danny's book helped me identify who my monkey is, where she comes from, what she wants and what she does to achieve that and very importantly how I can shut her up.I wish someone had handed me a copy of this when I was in my mid teens, when the monkey was first finding her voice.

After I've read The Creative License by Danny Gregory a few years ago, I thought I could just be creative again. But for some reason it didn't happen. Now I know why - I (still) had a monkey sitting on my shoulder, whispering insults and demotivating punchlines in my ear all day long, yelling as soon as I tried to make something more out of my life than going to work, eat, sleep, having a drink on casual fridays.Dannys book explains what (or who?) keeps us from doing what we really want to do, without presenting heavy psychological theories or mentioning the word "Chaka!". Ever. Which doesn't mean he didn't do his homework. You don't have be familiar with or be a fan of psychology to understand this little gem of a book; but you will see that it is the fundament of Dannys texts without the fancy talk. As a reader, you just have to ask yourself "Am I feeling this? Do I know that from my own life? Do I want to change something?", and if your answers are always "Yes", follow the steps, take Dannys advice to heart, and then JUST DO IT. Tame the monkey, buzz like a bee, ride your lion and be awesome!I recommend this book to everyone who wants to do something creative but always thinks 'I just wasn't born as a creative person' - so basically everyone I know. Because it is well written, witty, funny, oh, and nicely illustrated as well. A fun and insightful read!

Für meinen Geschmack (und für meine Augen) ist das Buch leider zu unruhig, zu durcheinander. Rein inhaltlich sicher gut, aber insgesamt konnte ich damit leider nicht viel anfangen. Zu viele Beispiele von anderen Leuten, zu fette Schrift, zu viele Metaphern, die einfach nur Zeilen füllen.

I love Danny Gregory's style of writing. He just seems to hit the nail n the head. That little nagging voice in your head can be calmed. I recommend this book to anyone who battles with that inner critic...

especially in the middle and the end, you get where you came for.i loved the short chapters. makes you hop easily back and forthi marked many paragraphs and expressions. the examples named are to the point and visualize the stuff, so you can easily memorize everything you have learned and like to use in your creative life.

I loved it!Very good tips for artist and not!Great if you are looking for well shut your monkey!

This was a great read for those of us who beat up on ourselves about our creativity. He made me laugh all the way through the book and I sat and read the entire book in one sitting! I just couldn't put it down. This is a book that I can go to when I feel like my monkey mind is chattering out of control and it inspires me to embrace my creative side and to encourage others who feel they are not good enough. Doodling, sketching and doing my art again was revived by Danny Gregory because of his story and passion to do what you love. I love doing my art and I found my passion that was lost so many years ago. I will not ever give up on myself again. Thanks Danny!

I'll preface this by saying that I'm a fan of Danny Gregory; he's seen a lot, he's done a lot, and he's been through a lot. In short, I believe he knows what he's talking about. But . . . as I read through Shut Your Monkey, I kept thinking, "How did he get inside of my head?" I had never realized before - really - that ALL of us have our own monkeys with which we have to deal, and this realization - intellectually and emotionally - helped me a lot. Now, I know I'm not a "basket case", but I do know that self-doubt and insecurity have held me back in several instances. Danny Gregory's book helped me bring my monkey out in the open where I could deal with it, suggested several excellent coping mechanisms that do work, and even went so far as suggesting some "banishing mechanisms." I can't yet vouch personally for the banishing mechanisms, because they are long-term behavioral changes and I just read the book about two weeks ago. However, I can say this without hesitation: this book has helped me, and I'll probably read it several more times in the future. It was definitely worth my time and money.

This is a very useful book. Danny Gregory has walked this road, met his monkey, and worked out how to stop its influence, cold. The book is well written, and easy easy to read. It is understandable, follow able, and I expect to find change for how I meet my "road blocks". I. Found that I wanted to write in the book, how pieces of me we activated, write it down then and there. And since it's a Danny Gregory book, I also drew in it. With colored pens. As an aside, I have every book Danny has ever written, and I am a fierce student at Sketchbook Skool, which is also Danny's brainchild. Get the book. Have your colored pens ready.

I love this book and recommend it to all my friends and family. Gregory has an amazing way of making you see yourself and also making you laugh at what you see. He is very personal and humane, not lecturing. It is very effective. He gets you off your chair and back to work on your life goals.

Luckily I found Danny Gregory after a 35yr career in health care, when my creativity needed to be nurtured and developed. I was in the first SketchbookSkool Klass started by Danny Gregory. Shut Your Monkey contains what Danny encourages in the SketchbookSkool.com curriculum. His strategies in Shut Your Monkey are applicable to all goals....creative and otherwise. He helped me change my life to be a happier person. Reading Shut Your Monkey is further strengthening me to deal with my inner voice (monkey) that tries to tell me why I probably won't be able to achieve a goal (too old, not enough time, blah, blah blah.....) I just graduated (at age 64) with a certificate in Nature Art (my goal). I've given a copy of Shut Your Monkey to two of my friends who are pursuing goals after career retirement.

I enjoy Danny's writing, perspective, and encouragement but this book missed the mark for me somewhat. It seemed to focus a lot on workplace situations and as a retiree it was a bit less relevant to me than other books he has written. I value his openness, honesty, and encouragement but I've already reached the point where other's opinions about my choices and art expressions are not terribly important.

Meh. I am a huge Danny Gregory fan and own many of his books but this was a disappointment.No real advice, several anecdotes about people who quit their jobs/school/etc or whatever it was that brought them negativity and became hugely successful. However he doesn't tell you how they achieved this.Also the monkey face drawn on numerous vintage photos was just weird and pointless.

I've read many of these types of books-- ways to get around your "monkey mind," either from a creative or psychology perspective. I wasn't sure I'd learn anything new in Danny's book, but I did! He did a thorough (and humorous) description and explanation about the monkey-thinking that gets in our way and keeps us from doing what we want in life. He expanded the metaphor by getting the reader to see how we can use the mentality of the [spoiler alert!] bee and the lion to bypass the monkey, with very helpful and practical tips and ways of thinking. I'm a writer, learning to make art on the side for fun and personal expression, and way into personal growth. Danny has been a great part of this journey in teaching me many things.

I really enjoyed this book! All of Danny Gregory's books are encouraging and inspiring, and this one is no exception. I also enjoy the typography and artwork—Danny's loose and wonky style makes me happy and helps me relax, which helps me grow as a person and an artist. Unlike the other books by him that I have read, this one has a broader target audience, extending beyond the casual sketchbook artist to creative people of all stripes. I think even many people who don't think of themselves as creative would also benefit from the encouragement Danny has to offer, and I'll be sharing my copy with some folks like that.

Every Danny Gregory builds on the shoulders of his past work. But if you are new to his writing--and looking for a method to get out of your own way and embrace your creativity--you can start with this, his 10th book. If you draw, paint, write plays or poems or songs, sing, dance or wonder why you want so desperately to do any of those things but can't seem to stop that nagging voice that tells you you were in the break room when talent was handed out at the big meeting, read this book. Or read a few chapters and realize that you can scratch that creative itch after all. And any book that references both Picasso and Springsteen is worth reading, as far as I'm concerned. I'm also a fan of his other works, most notably "A Kiss Before you Go," and "Art Before Breakfast."