Product guide

Make Trouble by John Waters — Illustrated Kindle Edition

Kindle Edition: Make Trouble is John Waters's short, illustrated guide to creative work and finding success on your own terms. It draws on his advice to Rhode Island School of Design graduates, mixing humor and provocation with reminders that discipline, pragmatism, and handling rejection matter alongside talent.

At a glance

Creative-work advice adapted from John Waters's Rhode Island School of Design graduation speech.
Encourages creative readers to pair talent with discipline and pragmatism, and to treat rejection as part of the process.
Includes line drawings by Eric Hanson, according to the listing.

Price

$3.99Save 83%

Reference price: ~~$23.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The focus combines unconventional creative advice with practical themes such as discipline and rejection.
Illustrations and a brief format suit readers looking for a quick, giftable read rather than an extended manual.

Cons

The listed length is 81 pages, and customer feedback also describes the book as very short.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Edition details
Publisher	Algonquin Books
Publication date	April 11, 2017
Language	English
Print length	81 pages
File size	8.1 MB
ISBN-13	978-1616207168

Kindle features
Screen Reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Not Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Artists and other readers starting a creative path who want brief, irreverent encouragement.
John Waters fans and people seeking a graduation gift, including those connected to RISD.

Less suited to

Readers looking for a long, detailed handbook or sustained step-by-step instruction.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.5 / 5 · 256 ratings

5 stars71%71%
4 stars19%19%
3 stars6%6%
2 stars1%1%
1 star3%3%

Customer feedback describes the content as wise, readable, witty, and fun, and mentions the book as a graduation gift, including for John Waters fans and people connected to RISD. Some readers also find it very short. That length concern matters if you want a substantial guide, while the concise format may suit a quick, humorous gift or burst of creative encouragement.

Positive themes

Customers describe the advice as wise and the book as readable, funny, and witty.
Customers mention it as a graduation gift and recommend it for John Waters fans and RISD-connected readers.

Mixed feedback

Some customers consider the book very short, which may disappoint readers expecting an extended guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is Make Trouble about?

It presents John Waters's advice for people pursuing creative work, including valuing discipline, listening closely, accepting rejection, and making room for unconventional ideas.

How long is the Kindle edition?

The listing gives a print length of 81 pages. Customer feedback also notes that the book is very short.

Does the Kindle listing specify accessibility and reading features?

Yes. It lists screen reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip as enabled or supported. X-Ray is listed as not enabled.