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1st out of 44 books
—
59 voters
Wreck This Journal
by
Keri Smith (Goodreads Author)
For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake- and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them). Acclaimed illustrator Keri Smith encourages journa...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
June 5th 2007
by Perigee Trade
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Most eternal love to this piece of brilliance, light of my most boring seminars at university, spark of my imagination when I walk the streets, trigger of ideas, tank tearing down the barriers in my creativity...
Okay, I'll stop here.
Love it. Gotta love it. Got it from a friend, have seldomly been more delighted by a piece of creativity-triggering-book. Am working fanatically on it. :D
Okay, I'll stop here.
Love it. Gotta love it. Got it from a friend, have seldomly been more delighted by a piece of creativity-triggering-book. Am working fanatically on it. :D
Not a book to read, per se. It's a keepsake where you can jot down ideas according to the book's instruction. Almost all pages are mostly blank, with the exception of one or two sentences at the bottom of the page giving the owner fun instructions such as "doodle something on this page". Much like The Book of Me, the owner of this book is interactive, making personal notes or drawings on the page that eventually make up recounts of someone's life. This is a neat keepsake, likely a gift, usually...more
Whoah. So I got this on friday, and have slowly been completing the easier pages; poking hole in the paper, chucking it at my brothers head (he ducked just in time) and wearing it around tied to my head with a shoelace. But I'm struggling to move past this stage; I think's its because it still (from the outside at least) looks relatively clean. So today I AM TACKLING THAT PROBLEM.
I have decided to dive right into one of the scarier pages in hope that it will make the book look shabbier and I wi...more
I have decided to dive right into one of the scarier pages in hope that it will make the book look shabbier and I wi...more
Technically, Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal isn’t exactly a book, but I wanted to write a review of it anyway.
This week, I gave the “journal” to my niece who turned 13 years old. I knew she would either react with rapture or complete apathy. Fortunately for my aspirations to be a cool aunt, she loved it.
Each page of the journal contains different instructions for destructing the book: poke holes through this page, burn that page, mail the entire journal to yourself. My niece immediately set out...more
This week, I gave the “journal” to my niece who turned 13 years old. I knew she would either react with rapture or complete apathy. Fortunately for my aspirations to be a cool aunt, she loved it.
Each page of the journal contains different instructions for destructing the book: poke holes through this page, burn that page, mail the entire journal to yourself. My niece immediately set out...more
Before I had even heard of this book, I was in a deep depression, and over come with self-pity and self-malice. But I noticed it once. I flipped through it.
Then suddenly the World turned upside down. The sun turned into the Moon. I was walking on the cieling,while everyone else stared at me, upside down. I grinned so much it hurt.
And the next week I bought it with no hesiation. This first thing I did was scribble insanely. AND THAT SENT ME FREE!!!!!!!!!!
Wether you need an uplift or not, Wreck th...more
Then suddenly the World turned upside down. The sun turned into the Moon. I was walking on the cieling,while everyone else stared at me, upside down. I grinned so much it hurt.
And the next week I bought it with no hesiation. This first thing I did was scribble insanely. AND THAT SENT ME FREE!!!!!!!!!!
Wether you need an uplift or not, Wreck th...more
I love the concept of giving instructions to be followed/interpreted on each page. The point of the journal is to break the habit of all perfectionists who shudder to think of a page being bent in one of their books. I am one of those, without a doubt: crack a spine and I'll crack your arm. Though it was difficult at first, it was liberating to be able to "wreck" the journal, creating a unique work of art in the process. It's hard to ever be finished with this book, as it is always evolving; it'...more
Jan 07, 2012
Demonic Circus Princess
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who are entertained by destruction. And fire.
Everyone, I need you to me a favor. I want you to stop reading this review, and go buy this fucking amazing book. Seriously. Right now. Go.
For those of you who are stubborn and are still reading this anyway, let me explain to you what exactly Wreck This Journal is:
It is an interactive self-instruction manual on how to properly destroy this book. On every page, there is a direction written. Tear this page out. Stick gum on this page. Dog ear this page. Tear this page out and throw in a fire. Writ...more
For those of you who are stubborn and are still reading this anyway, let me explain to you what exactly Wreck This Journal is:
It is an interactive self-instruction manual on how to properly destroy this book. On every page, there is a direction written. Tear this page out. Stick gum on this page. Dog ear this page. Tear this page out and throw in a fire. Writ...more
Overall, this is a nice book. Great gift, too. It's got a lot of interesting and unique ideas to work on. Perfect for a rainy day, a project with friends, or to get your creative juices flowing. My copy is completely demolished-- my friends and I affectionately called it 'Bookie' and walked him on a leash all around town on a rainy night.
Yes, I noticed that many people have raised the point that it's a waste of money and that you can use the ideas on any cheap old notebook. And if you are one o...more
Yes, I noticed that many people have raised the point that it's a waste of money and that you can use the ideas on any cheap old notebook. And if you are one o...more
Aug 15, 2010
Danielle
is currently reading it
Recommends it for:
anyone who is as much a perfectionist as I am.
Recommended to Danielle by:
fate.
I have bought this book once already because it literally fell on top of my head when I was at Barnes and Noble. I didn't buy it then. It took another couple weeks to run into it at the store and THEN did I actually go home later and order it online.
It is so fun and amazing, and yet I was completely disappointed when I opened my locker at the end of junior year and realized I hardly began the destruction. I instantly thought to myself FAIL and decided the project was ruined. (Please don't ask me...more
It is so fun and amazing, and yet I was completely disappointed when I opened my locker at the end of junior year and realized I hardly began the destruction. I instantly thought to myself FAIL and decided the project was ruined. (Please don't ask me...more
Got this from Urban Outfitters. This looks like a good book to use as a random scrapbook and observation journal. I have so far gotten this book wet along with scribbling inside it, and tearing out the pages and following a few of it's instructions. After you jot down some random notes inside this book, it often reminds me of a book that was distressed by someone else, instead of being owned by me. You get the feeling after using this book that you are looking into a book that was left behind by...more
May 22, 2010
Ashley
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who are bored with their life
Shelves:
artsy
AMAZING! This book really helps people to get out of the boring monotony of a quiet life and start living out loud! If you do all the activities in the book by the end you will most likely find yourself to be more relaxed, spontaneous, outgoing, happy-go-lucky, creative and overall interesting. This book is silly and shows you how you can have fun without having to spend a lot of money. By the end my first book it was totally wrecked, full of mold, waterlogged, falling apart etc, but I took ever...more
Not exactly a book to be read as much as it is a book to experience. One of the first instructions is to crack the spine... I whimpered. But now that I'm past that, I'm finding it a whole lot of fun -- although I'm not too sure about taking it for a walk....
Interesting idea. This book is where I developed my belief that one should not treat books one reads with reverence. Let me explain: I am engaged to a man that collects comic books. Now, as a general rule, comics are fairly fragile, being only a few sheets of paper held together with a couple staples. So when he reads them, he holds them delicately, and their spines are never broken. The books are never opened wide, and he lies them down open on his palms, instead of holding each side of the boo...more
10 hours after buying my copy of 'Wreck this Journal' and its already been taken in the shower, the spine cracked and (much to my disgust) smeared with food.
Admitidly I might not gone about completing my journal in the best order. Half way through spreading gravy half-heartedly across my page I realised - if I followed the books instructions correctly - I would have to sleep with the journal.
For book lovers this book will either be a nightmare of ripped pages and bent covers or a opportunity to...more
Admitidly I might not gone about completing my journal in the best order. Half way through spreading gravy half-heartedly across my page I realised - if I followed the books instructions correctly - I would have to sleep with the journal.
For book lovers this book will either be a nightmare of ripped pages and bent covers or a opportunity to...more
Thank you for such a unique Goodreads Giveaway!
As a perfectionist, you have totally challenged me on several levels...
What struck me from almost the beginning was how freeing it felt to complete each exercise!
This is unlike any journal I have used in the past and I can see Third Grade boys being enamored of the entire concept and going so far as to develop lots of new pages for subsequent editions.
I had great visuals of particular pages… in the shower, rolling down the hill, dead bugs and journa...more
As a perfectionist, you have totally challenged me on several levels...
What struck me from almost the beginning was how freeing it felt to complete each exercise!
This is unlike any journal I have used in the past and I can see Third Grade boys being enamored of the entire concept and going so far as to develop lots of new pages for subsequent editions.
I had great visuals of particular pages… in the shower, rolling down the hill, dead bugs and journa...more
Although some may call this a silly little book, I think it is great! It gives you the opportunity to enjoy simple pleasures, while at the same time giving you a chance to look at your inner self. It allows you to just be you! It is a fun book to work through. But, I use the word "work," lightly because it is not work at all. Once you finish the tasks in the book, you have a finished personal journal. I love the idea of art journaling, and have started several, however, I rarely follow through f...more
I still haven't "finished" this book. I think it's hiding somewhere amongst the junk of the last move.
This is a thing (not a book) that gets your creative juice flowing. This is a thing that amuses you to no end. This is a thing that challenges you in unexpected ways.
I showed it to my friend Noah and he ripped out the page that said "Throw out this page. Accept the loss." And I was shaken, because that is something I just do not do. And he crumpled it and tossed it into the street and said, "Acc...more
This is a thing (not a book) that gets your creative juice flowing. This is a thing that amuses you to no end. This is a thing that challenges you in unexpected ways.
I showed it to my friend Noah and he ripped out the page that said "Throw out this page. Accept the loss." And I was shaken, because that is something I just do not do. And he crumpled it and tossed it into the street and said, "Acc...more
May 27, 2011
EmilyGrace
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
perfectionists,
Recommended to EmilyGrace by:
friend
"WARNING: During the process of this book you will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint, or any other number of foreign substances. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you question. You may grieve for the perfect state that you found the book in. You may begin to see creative destruction everywhere. You may begin to live more recklessly.
Dedicated to perfectionists all over the world."
Absolutely hilarious. This was given to me as a birthday present from a good friend who...more
Dedicated to perfectionists all over the world."
Absolutely hilarious. This was given to me as a birthday present from a good friend who...more
LOVE this book. I bought it as a way for my 12 year old daughter and I to do something fun together (she's recently become of the opinion that everything is 'boring' and anything I suggest we do together for fun is 'lame'). But this has been fun for BOTH of us! It's a journal that helps you become reckless in a good way. It has random, silly things that you're supposed to do on each page (rub dirt on this page, document a boring event in detail, cover this page with office supplies, etc.). It's...more
For years, I've struggled with breaking some (thankfully, not all) of my students' insistence on being a perfectionist. "Is this okay?" "How many ________ do you want?" "Is this for a grade?" were just some of the persistent questions my in-the-box thinkers constantly deluged their exasperated teacher.
I don't know...be creative...be a problem solver...does it MATTER if it's for a grade?
How would I ever break my teacher-pleasing GT/PreAP students of their lifelong habits of coloring inside the...more
I don't know...be creative...be a problem solver...does it MATTER if it's for a grade?
How would I ever break my teacher-pleasing GT/PreAP students of their lifelong habits of coloring inside the...more
I have just got my "Wreck This Journal" by Keri Smith this morning. To create is to destroy - It's pretty a fascinating journal, as I would put it. The fact that each of the pages would ask you to pour coffee on it, poke holes in the pages with pencil, draw lines, scratch the journal with sharp object, scribble wildly and violently, rip it up, hide a secret message somewhere in the book and so on... really makes me excited.
My little sister thinks I'm insane for buying a journal that I would des...more
My little sister thinks I'm insane for buying a journal that I would des...more
This book inspired {and continues to inspire!} my art- and collage-journals. One of my favorite things is to collect fruit stickers in my journals — just one of the many prompts from this book!
I do have to admit I had to overcome some of my perfectionist tendencies about doing such things as washing pages, tongue-painting and food-staining. However, it should be noted: I did absolutely enjoy burning pages!!
Overall, this book led to a shift in my thinking regarding what I could include in my jour...more
I do have to admit I had to overcome some of my perfectionist tendencies about doing such things as washing pages, tongue-painting and food-staining. However, it should be noted: I did absolutely enjoy burning pages!!
Overall, this book led to a shift in my thinking regarding what I could include in my jour...more
So maybe this is the book that you get either the kid who has everything (who should, by definition already have it) or the kid who's so very snarky that she--and it will only be a she--wouldn't possibly keep a journal. In point of fact, this is a cross between the anti-journal and the Girl Scout Handbook. Left to my own devices, this is precisely the book I would make for my non-existent kids to work on or, better yet, that we'd make for their snarky friends. That said, it's a total waste of mo...more
My boyfriend doesn't really like creative things. He's a computer programmer, and he programs for fun too. He likes computer games and TV. He doesn't paint or write or knit or anything like that. Doesn't really read books.
He flicked through my Wreck this Journal after I bought it, then opened it up and started jumping up and down on the pages. (i was all, NOOOO! He got into the spirit much faster than I did haha). Then he burnt a page. So, he started on the journal before I did.
Anyway, my boyf...more
He flicked through my Wreck this Journal after I bought it, then opened it up and started jumping up and down on the pages. (i was all, NOOOO! He got into the spirit much faster than I did haha). Then he burnt a page. So, he started on the journal before I did.
Anyway, my boyf...more
an amazing book. well if you can call it that. i havent completed mine yet but ive done more then half. its so much fun!! when i ran across this book online i HAD to get it. the creativity some people have used in creating their wreck this journal is simply amazing. if you havent heard of this before i suggest that you google it. its so cool. i feel like EVERYONE should get one. i bought the 3pack of keri smith books. i took a glance at the other two books and at first glance i dont like them as...more
So I am currently working on this book, I have had it since the summer and after destroying it for awhile I went back to my old journal since I like my own simple style. I would say this book is an awesome way to be creative and break traditional habits and it is good for when you have time in the summer (or stressed with school/work) we will see if my opinions change when I finally finish it... I am maybe an eighth done with it. The tasks are very unique and is a must buy for a boring journaler...more
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In July, we organized a group trip with a bunch of friends. We bought this book for a couple of our friend's kids who immediately took to it. There were a few of the inevitable tricky moments of sharing between kids, but you could also see that several of the adults really wanted to wreck a few pages too.
As a book lover (and someone who mangles books for art), I have to hand it to this book. Kids have a specific book to wreck by poking holes, tearing pages, dragging it on the ground, taking it...more
As a book lover (and someone who mangles books for art), I have to hand it to this book. Kids have a specific book to wreck by poking holes, tearing pages, dragging it on the ground, taking it...more
I saw this book on a friend's Facebook page, and I thought it was brilliant. Wreck This Journal is the most fun book I've ever read (well, destroyed). For someone as anal about books as I am, following the instructions on the page was so liberating! The first thing I did was chuck it off the third floor of my apartment complex. I had never done that to a book before, and to be told to was awesome. I'm still working through the pages, but I love it. It's amazing.
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Keri Smith is an author/illustrator turned guerilla artist. She has several bestselling books, including Wreck This Journal, This is Not a Book, How To Be An Explorer of the World, Mess, Finish this Book, and the soon to be released Pocket Scavenger all published by Perigee Books. Read more at her website http://WWW.KERISMITH.COM
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Apr 30, 2012 05:41pm