THE ART OF YOUTH Crane, Carrington, Gershwin, and the Nature of First Acts

This is a fast-moving, accessible analysis of artists in a variety of fields who were prodigious early achievers. Narrating this thoughtful book, Jeff Crawford embodies the perfect blend of fresh-sounding tonal variations and a relaxed engagement with the author's observations. He brings flair and enthusiasm to the production but always sounds more like a fan of these ideas than a performer. Most of the audiobook uses the lives of three well-known artists--a writer, a painter, and a composer--to question how creativity emerges in the young and how it develops. But the insights offered go well beyond the people he references; they offer guidance to artists of all stripes who are stirred by their talent but unclear about how to express it. T.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]