In this rare work of public disclosure, filmmaker David Lynch describes his personal methods of capturing and working with ideas, and the immense c...
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reviews
Apr 11, 2008
Nick
rated it: 
Waste of time. This Transcendental Meditation-proselytizing piece of horseshit provides no insight into Lynch; for all the time he spends meditating, you'd think he'd be more reflective. Instead, we get chapters like this:
"How does meditation get rid of negativity? Picture it this way: You are the Empire State Building. You've got hundreds of rooms. And in those rooms, there's a lot of junk. And you put all that junk there. Now you take this elevator, which is going to be the d More...
"How does meditation get rid of negativity? Picture it this way: You are the Empire State Building. You've got hundreds of rooms. And in those rooms, there's a lot of junk. And you put all that junk there. Now you take this elevator, which is going to be the d More...
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Jan 10, 2012
Barry
rated it: 
i'm a lynch fanboy and a proponent of meditation (not TM for myself, before this book it was a stress-relief breathing-type deal, and afterwards it was a couple different versions of mantra meditation til i found the one i do now), but this was still a mind-blower
most fascinating to me was his early days in the 70s and his different methodology: i knew about bob's big boy, i didnt know about the sugar; i knew about his tm but i didnt know about the bible - it was also interesting to More...
most fascinating to me was his early days in the 70s and his different methodology: i knew about bob's big boy, i didnt know about the sugar; i knew about his tm but i didnt know about the bible - it was also interesting to More...
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Nov 05, 2007
Don
rated it:
David Lynch has always been an inspiration to me. His films, of course, but also his painting, his carpentry, and even his unfilmed scenarios like RONNIE ROCKET and ONE SALIVA BUBBLE are beautiful mysteries waiting to be uncovered. And now, a book.
Though Lynch doesn't consider himself much of a writer "I have trouble with words" he admits, this book went a bit deeper than much of the work he has previously displayed to the public. I say book, however, I listened to the audi More...
Though Lynch doesn't consider himself much of a writer "I have trouble with words" he admits, this book went a bit deeper than much of the work he has previously displayed to the public. I say book, however, I listened to the audi More...
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Jan 03, 2008
Ryan
rated it: 
I recommend listening to this in the Audiobooks version. I listened to it on my iPod and it put me in a great place. David Lynch has this great soothing monotone voice that radiates the sincerity and peacefulness of his message. It's sort of like the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix speak...it's like how can a man whose art contains such darkness and violence come off as so soft and loving and sensitive? But I guess that's why they call them artists.
This book reaffirmed my desire to m More...
This book reaffirmed my desire to m More...
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Aug 27, 2007
Kate
rated it:
david lynch read this to me (on my ipod). does that count as reading it? it pretty much kills me. it has become regular car reading.
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May 21, 2011
Jasmine
rated it: 
Favorite quotations:
"Know that all of Nature is but a magic theater,
that the great Mother is the master magician,
and that this whole world is peopled by her many parts.
UPANISHADS" (p.15)
"Through meditation one realizes the unbounded.
That which is unbounded is happy.
There is no happiness in the small.
UPANISHADS" (p.27)
"It's not the intellectual understanding of the [Unified:] Field but the experiencin More...
"Know that all of Nature is but a magic theater,
that the great Mother is the master magician,
and that this whole world is peopled by her many parts.
UPANISHADS" (p.15)
"Through meditation one realizes the unbounded.
That which is unbounded is happy.
There is no happiness in the small.
UPANISHADS" (p.27)
"It's not the intellectual understanding of the [Unified:] Field but the experiencin More...
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Jan 27, 2012
Paul
rated it:
I recently finished reading this book "Catching the Big Fish", a very personal account of David Lynch's approach to creativity, and the role that meditation plays in it.
I have often felt that techniques like meditation may result in the bland art, due to lack of "pain", Mr Lynch is a very good example of how this is not the case.
In the book he writes:
"Anger and depression and sorrow are beautiful things in a a story, but they're like poison More...
I have often felt that techniques like meditation may result in the bland art, due to lack of "pain", Mr Lynch is a very good example of how this is not the case.
In the book he writes:
"Anger and depression and sorrow are beautiful things in a a story, but they're like poison More...
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Mar 01, 2008
Thalia
rated it:
I bought this book randomly in an airport bookstore in Japan on my way back from a trip to Thailand. I've always been a fan of David Lynch's tv and film work and had heard that he is into TM and even had started a school about it. I was intrigued. I love this little book. The chapters are short - most just one or two pages. They are about art, movies, ideas, conciousness, enlightenment, meditation, Bob's Big Boy and more. They are funny and surreal and its kind of like having a conversation with
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Feb 13, 2008
Richard
rated it:
David Lynch! Why are you so charasmatic and brilliant? Is it your hair which is a living masterpiece, or just your complete and brilliant belief in what you do! You are the North Pole to my magnet!
How can you not be sucked into David Lynch's Dyson like hoover?
This book should really get a star if it's lucky, but the way its written is so innocent you just want to believe! Its like i'm still hoping Steven Hawkings is going to suddenly build a new body and fly into the room strapped t More...
How can you not be sucked into David Lynch's Dyson like hoover?
This book should really get a star if it's lucky, but the way its written is so innocent you just want to believe! Its like i'm still hoping Steven Hawkings is going to suddenly build a new body and fly into the room strapped t More...
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Jan 05, 2009
David Lynch is the most creative figured out artist I know of in modern times. He perfectly captures the psychic darkness, and in watching his films in television, one finds oneself miraculously purified from all sorts of histories. Maybe on the watching, one is revolted, and reacts strongly to the violent, abusive, and twisted suggestiveness. But clearly there is a connection between the spirituality of David Lynch, and the creativity of David Lynch, the autism of David Lynch. Life is Art, and
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Nov 30, 2008
Stephen
rated it:
I hoped to find out more about transcendental meditation, after all it inspired Stevie Wonder to create three of the best pop albums ever made. He even sings its glory in his song ‘Jesus Children of America’. The problem is that none of the books about transcendental meditation, for example HH Maharishi’s own ‘Science of Being and Art of Living,’ say anything about transcendental meditation, they all just sing the praises of TM in an almost glassy eyed fervor, this book being no exception. Tm is
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Aug 07, 2011
Tulio
rated it:
Would give it 3.5 stars... His thoughts on creativity and the generation of ideas are amazing (fitting of an amazing director). The meditation and consciousness stuff was good, but fairly repetitive and seeming like it could have come from anywhere. It didn't add too much for me, but also didn't take away from the stuff I liked in the book.
Selected Quotes:
"Someone might say, I don't understand music; but most people experience music emotionally and would agree music is More...
Selected Quotes:
"Someone might say, I don't understand music; but most people experience music emotionally and would agree music is More...
Mar 17, 2011
Mari
rated it:
ma olen pikemat aega mõelnud mediteerimise peale. lihtsalt proovida ja vaadata, et äkki meeldib, saab natukenegi kaugemale näha asjadest. võtsin selle raamatu kätte. david lynch, päris huvitav iseenesest. raamatu peatükid on väga lühikesed ja reavahe on umbes 3. igatahes, lootsin saada huvitavaid mõtteid ja ideid sellest raamatust, aga ei. mitte midagi ei saa teha, kui sa tunned ängi sellest, kui inimene kirjutab äärmiselt häirivalt. kuidagi eriti populaarseks on saanud see new age teema, et sa
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Dec 29, 2010
Dave
rated it:
Nice quick little book that balances the practical and pragmatic with the abstract. Lynch discloses his view on a variety of subjects, including wood, light, consciousness, creativity, Transcendental Meditation and the many areas of film making.
He doesn't talk about the meditation in as much depth as I thought he would. He's primarily concerned with discussing the benefits of such a technique, but not so much showing you how to do it. I'd assume you'll have to find out about that More...
He doesn't talk about the meditation in as much depth as I thought he would. He's primarily concerned with discussing the benefits of such a technique, but not so much showing you how to do it. I'd assume you'll have to find out about that More...
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Jun 02, 2009
Jan
rated it:
Unlike some reviewers, I really think this gave a deep insight (even though the book is small) into how Lynch creates his art and the process he goes through. I've studied and understand the meditative process that he talks about although I'm not an avid meditator myself. Just as he talks about unity connecting everything, my own academic study of psychology has fed into what he discusses (in particular positive psychology, which also examines the empirical evidence to suggest the real and power
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Jul 18, 2007
John
rated it:
"if you have a golf ball-sized consciousness, when you read a book, you'll have a golf ball-sized understanding; when you look out a window, a golf ball-sized awareness; when you wake up in the morning, a golf ball-sized wakefulness; and as you go about your day, a golf ball-sized inner happiness."
quirky, thoughtful meditations on consciousness, meditation, and the creative process. surprisingly inspiring.
quirky, thoughtful meditations on consciousness, meditation, and the creative process. surprisingly inspiring.
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Mar 15, 2011
Eli
rated it: 
Pleasant to dip in and out of. It really only skims the surface of the subject it claims to be discussing though, namely creativity. Some of the ideas are sweet and inspiring, but I felt at a loss after reading it... Actually, I felt profoundly lost and sad. I suppose it's like staring from afar at a big lake on a hot day. Not now though, love, there are bills to be paid.
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Oct 02, 2007
Andrea
rated it:
Ok, transcendental meditation is cool, and I do want to get into it, but I haven't quite been so convinced as when I got the audiobook and heard this in David's own voice. He connected tm to creativity and the healing effects on your work, and that pushed me into practice (however inconsistent so far).
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Jul 04, 2007
Todd
rated it:
Words of wisdom from David Lynch - life, filmmaking, meditation, creativity, the world, his films, etc. It's really insightful into his process of making cinematic art, but also a welcome insight into his skewed look at the world. The audio version of the book is a must have for any fan.
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Dec 25, 2008
- In his author photo on the back cover of this book, David Lynch looks a little like Curtis White. I think they both meditate.
- A particular religion's sayings often makes no sense to those unfamiliar with that religion. E.g., from the Upanishads, "One unbounded ocean of consciousness became light, water, and matter. And the three became many. In this way the whole universe was created as an unbounded ocean of consciousness ever unfolding within itself." I don't know what th More...
- A particular religion's sayings often makes no sense to those unfamiliar with that religion. E.g., from the Upanishads, "One unbounded ocean of consciousness became light, water, and matter. And the three became many. In this way the whole universe was created as an unbounded ocean of consciousness ever unfolding within itself." I don't know what th More...
Dec 17, 2009
Isa
rated it:
This was a wonderful read! Inspiring, uplifting and interesting for anyone who loves David Lynch as much as I do. I recently went to a screenwriting class that struck the same nerve (being artistic as a way of enriching your life). Starting to believe it..
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Sep 24, 2007
cal
rated it:
David Lynch helped me a lot when I had writer's block a few years back. Most of his sage advice can be found in this book. The only thing missing is some stuff about carpentry. You too can catch the big fish if you read this book.
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May 02, 2011
Adrian
rated it:
This was a great little book. David Lynch is way into transcendental meditation (like... Fairfield, Iowa, Maharashi (yeah, the Beatles' Maharashi), possibly a cult into transcendental meditation) but this book is interesting because it reveals how David Lynch, as an artist, relates to his work and makes meaning of creativity and the world around him. This is a book about one creative process. Read that way, particularly if you're a fan, this is a very rich text, but if you approach this book
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Apr 29, 2011
Joy
rated it:
He didn't talk much about meditation but more on the process of film making which was the primary reason why I bought the book. I have yet to see some of his films to better understand this guy.
There was this chapter which read: "if you have a golf ball-sized consciousness, when you read a book, you'll have a golf ball-sized understanding; when you look out a window, a golf ball-sized awareness; when you wake up in the morning, a golf ball-sized wakefulness; and as you go about y More...
There was this chapter which read: "if you have a golf ball-sized consciousness, when you read a book, you'll have a golf ball-sized understanding; when you look out a window, a golf ball-sized awareness; when you wake up in the morning, a golf ball-sized wakefulness; and as you go about y More...
Jun 02, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
I found this book to be much like the experience of watching one of his movies, and to be clear, I am a fan of his movies. His voice is as unique in writing as it is in visual expression.
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Jul 15, 2011
Ma
rated it:
it's lynch. the guys makes me think. and feel good inside. yeah, fantastic spiels on creativity and the spirit. multiple thumbs up.
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Sep 26, 2009
Harry
rated it:
I picked this up because I was curious about the uses of meditation for creativity. Lynch doesn't help much in that particular area, but he does unpack a lot of stories about his movie-making career and tie them to his strangely wholesome approach to creativity. The book is organized into dozens of very short chapters, most of which talk about aspects of the movie business or his career. Why did Lynch make "The Straight Story"? This book explains that, but it's kind of a disappointment
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Jan 22, 2009
Tommy
rated it:
Not much insight into Lynch's creative process, which is what I was really hoping for. Actually, I was a bit surprised how much of a Transcendental Meditation Evangelist David Lynch comes off as in this book. Still, it did have it's moments. I liked the discussion of why as a director he is against commentary tracks, because he feels they spoil the spell that a film can weave. In recent years, I think I have done this to myself many times by watching DVD's that dissect movies too thoroughly, and
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Jul 18, 2007
Leonardo
rated it:
Read it in one 6 hour flight from LA to NY.
Enjoyable and insightful.
Mr. Lynch talks meditation, life and film.
Enjoyable and insightful.
Mr. Lynch talks meditation, life and film.
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Aug 20, 2010
johanna
rated it:
so far this perspective from David Lynch has been very inspiring to me. in fact, when i left my job in macau china i made a few photo copies of the sections from his point of view about FEAR and TEAM WORK and gave them to my managers so they could learn a little something about how a good work environment should be! thanks to this book i was able to give them the "fuck you" they deserved. i have recommended this book to a few friends they are also reading it or have read it and enjoyed
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