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“Just Making” by Matali Perkins. I didn’t get the title at first. But Perkins wastes no time clarifying her mission. This is a guidebook for creatives (writers, painters, sculptors, doodlers, and anyone else who makes things.) Rooted in her Christian faith, Perkins explores the intersection of spirituality and creativity. She demonstrates that making art can be, in itself, an act of justice—both for the one creating and for those who experience the result. (“Just” = justice, “Making” = creating art.)
My Just Making Book Review
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Thank you, Broadleaf Books and Matali Perkins for providing this book for review via NetGalley! All the stuff I say here is MY opinion. I mean, of course it is, but I feel like I should say it here anyway.
Just Making Book Summary
In Just Making, Perkins dives into creativity and justice. It’s an internal conflict many artists face: the desire to create while global suffering and injustice is all around. Drawing from her personal journey, she illustrates how art can be a powerful tool for healing, truth-telling, and fighting oppression.
In the opening section, Perkins asks:
“Isn’t it selfish to stay in the solitude of my study and generate stories? Why should I keep making art when suffering, injustice, and oppression are wreaking havoc on the planet? Why should you?”
Perkins tackles a question many artists wrestle with:
Is making art (writing, painting, crafting) really worth doing in a world full of poverty, violence, and injustice?
Not to mention, making art is hard. Making a living from it? Sometimes, downright impossible!
But Perkins argues that creating art isn’t about escaping the world’s problems—it’s a way to engage with them. Compassionately. Thoughtfully. And courageously. She believes art can be a form of justice, both for the maker and for the recipient.
She draws on the legacy of women who created beauty in the midst of hardship, reminding readers of the resilience and quiet power behind those acts of creation.
The book is structured in three parts:
- Creativity and the Just Life
- Why We Stop Making
- How to Keep Making
It wraps up with a thoughtful set of discussion questions—great for book clubs, creative circles, or your own personal reflection.
Though Perkins writes from a Christian perspective, she’s careful to point out that the book is meant for creatives of any (or no) spiritual background. Her message is simple: whatever your beliefs, your art matters.
Who is Mitali Perkins?
Mitali Perkins is an Indian American author known for her children’s and young adult books that explore identity, justice, and belonging. Born in Kolkata and raised across multiple countries, her global upbringing shapes much of her writing.
Attended Stanford and UC Berkeley and previously taught at various educational levels before turning to full-time writing.
Her notable works include Rickshaw Girl (adapted into a 2021 film), You Bring the Distant Near (National Book Award longlist), Bamboo People, and Tiger Boy. She’s also written nonfiction, including Steeped in Stories (2021) and the forthcoming Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives (2025) (the one you are reading about now!)
Find more about Matali Perkins here: Mitali Perkins
Now onto the rating! Just Making Book Review:
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
I really enjoyed Just Making. Perkins’ message—that creativity has deep meaning and can be a force for good—really resonated with me. As a kind-of-sort-of artist myself, I appreciated her blend of spiritual insight and encouragement.
That said, the book leaned a bit more meditative than practical at times. Or maybe I just wasn’t clever enough to translate the poetic encouragement into concrete action. Either way, the heart of the message stuck with me: making (creating) things matters.
Things I liked:
- Honest encouragement for artists (like me. Yes, I art.)
- The story about Perkins struggling to find an audience—only to discover one reader was so moved, she organized a bake sale for an orphanage in India. A reminder that even one fan can spark real impact.
- Inspiring quotes and anecdotes from other artists
- It read like an interactive workbook—in a good way!
Things I didn’t like:
- At times, the poetic language was lovely but a little hard to translate into practical advice.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
