Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to What It Is by Lynda Barry

Creative method that is playful, powerful, and accessible

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. What It Is by Lynda Barry launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1
Let Me Tell You A Story▲80
A new approach to healing through the art of storytelling
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
2
DoHow | How We Do How We Do▲66
This book isn’t a play on words but a play on possibilities.
2015 · dohow.co · its alternatives →
3
The Creativity Challenge▲63
"A go-to read for the creative genius in every one"
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
4
The Shape of Design▲79
A book focused on storytelling, co-dependency, and craft
2015 · buyolympia.com · its alternatives →
5
Meaningful▲69
The story of ideas that fly
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
6
Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind ▲65
A glimpse inside the minds of highly creative people
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
7
The Artist's Way▲75
A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
8
Creative Confidence▲82
Unleashing the creative potential within us all
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
9
The Simple Act of Reading▲77
It's about mashing up compassion & creativity in reading
2015 · amazon.com.au · its alternatives →
10
Meaningful: The Story of Ideas that Fly▲61
Building ideas that make successful products
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
11
The Handmaid's Tale▲57
A dystopian tale that will make you a feminist.
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
12
Wonderbook▲78
The Illustrated guide to creating imaginative fiction
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
13
Thinkertoys▲76
A handbook of creative thinking techniques
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
14
Spark Joy▲74
The Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
15
Emoji Book▲125
A collection of artist interpretations of Emoji
2016 · emojibook.club · its alternatives →
16
If You Want To Write▲56
A book about art, independence and spirit
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
17
The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World▲66
Great book on explaining the value of creativity
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
18
Art of Plain Talk▲67
A tool for the writer who wants his work read
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
19
Making Ideas Happen▲75
Overcoming the obstacles between vision and reality
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
20
Story▲83
The classic guide to the fundamentals of storytelling
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
21
Creative Confidence▲68
Creativity and innovation, not just for the "creative types"
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
22
The Art of Possibility▲58
Transforming Professional and Personal Life
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
23
The Way the World Works▲61
What troubles us, what brings us joy?
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
24
Tubes▲54
A Journey to the Center of the Internet
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

Also compare

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →