From "the most exciting individual in American theater" (Newsweek), here is Anna Deavere Smith's brass-tacks advice to aspiring artists of all stripes. In the manner of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, Deavere Smith mentors her young artist over a period of five years, sharing her hard-won wisdom about the challenges and rewards of the artistic life. Drawing on her own life experiences as an actor, teacher, and playwright, Deavere Smith provides a motivating example for how to pursue one's art without compromise, while offering tips on everything from how to stay healthy to building a diverse network of friends and professional alliances. Honest, passionate, and inspiring, this audiobook has life-changing potential.