When Hugh MacLeod was a struggling young copywriter, living in a YMCA, he started to doodle on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. ...
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Nov 11, 2009
Renee
rated it: 
I checked this out because I enjoyed the original Gaping Void post. I also lent it to my mother, a Seth Godin fan who'd heard Godin rave about it. We're both writers; I'm a newbie, but Mom earns six figures with her writing. Creativity is vital to what we do, and we represent both ends of the experience spectrum.
Neither of us cared for this book.
I made it through the whole thing (if nothing else, it's a fast read), but Mom handed it back halfway through. She said that the More...
Neither of us cared for this book.
I made it through the whole thing (if nothing else, it's a fast read), but Mom handed it back halfway through. She said that the More...
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Nov 25, 2011
Lynn
rated it:
Naaah.
I was so looking forward to this book, expected so much, and got nothing out of it besides the insight that you can't turn a blog into a book just like that - at least not gapingvoid.com.
Let me please state that I love gapingvoid; I love HML's doodlings on the back of business-cards, and they got me laughing and thinking far more than once. I love the insights and the charms that HML manages to transport with them - I just adore those little gems! Go and take a lo More...
I was so looking forward to this book, expected so much, and got nothing out of it besides the insight that you can't turn a blog into a book just like that - at least not gapingvoid.com.
Let me please state that I love gapingvoid; I love HML's doodlings on the back of business-cards, and they got me laughing and thinking far more than once. I love the insights and the charms that HML manages to transport with them - I just adore those little gems! Go and take a lo More...
May 21, 2011
Abby
rated it: 
I checked this book out from the library yesterday and on a whim, decided to read it in the tub last night. I'm glad I did - I spent the next hour or two giggling or outright laughing out loud (in the tub!) as I read through the quirky business-card comics and the kind but blunt insights on living life as a creative person. The Sex and Cash Theory tip alone is worth reading the entire book for, but to say that is the only reason would be doing this book an injustice. It is a FANTASTIC little boo
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Oct 25, 2010
Alison
rated it: 
This book does not offer tips on how to spark your creativity, but instead offers a new perspective on the path to success for creative people. I read this book as a download from the author's website a few years ago, and found it to be harsh and discouraging, because at first glance it seems like the author is saying, "Give up on your dreams, because you'll never succeed at them anyway." This time around, after having received the book as a gift, I liked it much better. What I first s
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Feb 02, 2010
I volunteered to read this book when Derek Sivers (he started CDBaby and has been an innovator in the music business) was looking for some musicians to read and write about how this book applied or didn't to their careers. Less than a regular book review we were asked to "dig deep" and share how this book might apply (or not apply) to our music careers. The intent was to offer our own personal experience with "the keys" for the possible benefit to other musicians. At least
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Nov 02, 2009
Terry
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Yeaaaah, I don't really get this book. First, it seems almost contradictory..? Hypocritical..? I...don't know. On one hand it really pushes the reader to put his or her art/passion/whatever first; on the other hand it really seems to be mostly about...starting your own (creative) business. In a way the message seems to be: "Don't sell out until you don't NEED to sell out, then go ahead and sell out, because artists aren't supposed to be poor, that's just a cliche." Um...okay.
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Jun 23, 2009
Todd
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Hugh writes without apology. He's telling you how to keep that creative spark alive.
His 39 tips (really 40) are all about defending your creative spirit and your right to have it. The tips are typically short, numbering no more than a few paragraphs each. A handful are longer where he relates personal experiences.
The book isn't meant to tell you think right and you'll win. It doesn't tell you the world will line up to help you succeed. This is not a law of attraction bo More...
His 39 tips (really 40) are all about defending your creative spirit and your right to have it. The tips are typically short, numbering no more than a few paragraphs each. A handful are longer where he relates personal experiences.
The book isn't meant to tell you think right and you'll win. It doesn't tell you the world will line up to help you succeed. This is not a law of attraction bo More...
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Dec 01, 2009
Roland
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The title of the book could be:
"What did my doodles on the back of business cards career taught me?"
Let me quote Chapter 40:
And yes, this 159 pages long book - liberally sprinkled with cartoo More...
"What did my doodles on the back of business cards career taught me?"
Let me quote Chapter 40:
None of this is rocket science.
If I had to condense this entire book into a line or two, it would read something like, "Work hard. Keep at it. Live simply and quietly. Remain humble. Stay positive. Create your own luck. Be nice. Be polite."
And yes, this 159 pages long book - liberally sprinkled with cartoo More...
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Oct 09, 2009
Zac
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I hate this book and I hate myself for finishing it.
Evidently somebody (um, somebody named Seth Godin) told this guy who blogs poorly-drawn, unimaginatively-written cartoons that he's such a success and creative genius that he should write a how-to book on being more like him. Luckily for me he didn't have much to say so he used a lot of space putting in crappy cartoons—making it a mercifully short read.
His whole schtick is that his comic strips fit on the backs of busine More...
Evidently somebody (um, somebody named Seth Godin) told this guy who blogs poorly-drawn, unimaginatively-written cartoons that he's such a success and creative genius that he should write a how-to book on being more like him. Luckily for me he didn't have much to say so he used a lot of space putting in crappy cartoons—making it a mercifully short read.
His whole schtick is that his comic strips fit on the backs of busine More...
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Mar 23, 2011
Richard
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Raced through, then re-read and relished, this wise, witty, and hard-won collection of insights into many aspects of life (including, but not limited to: 1. Pairing a day job that pays the bills with a passion that fulfills one’s search, 2. Being clear-eyed enough to realize everything original takes loads of bloody practice in order to reach any tangible level of mastery and fulfillment, 3. Be original and unique, but not vacuous in blindly pursuing originality and uniqueness, and 4. Lots and l
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Jul 08, 2011
April
rated it:
I picked up this book because I really enjoy: a) books on how to tap into my creativity and b) cartoons. Though I didn't turn out to be a huge fan of Hugh's cartoons, I did enjoy the book. Hugh is one of those success stories where he hit it big when he stopped trying so hard. He was beaten down by the working world and started doodling on the back of business cards in NY bars because it pleased him. All of a sudden - BAM - blog, book deal, business, perhaps not in that order.
Hug More...
Hug More...
Dec 21, 2011
Amy!
rated it:
The premise of this book is simple: a self-important cartoonist with mediocre drawing skills rants about how awesome he is for 150 pages.
Just because he likes to draw (badly) on the back of business cards doesn't give him a free pass to write a watered down, uninspired perpetual blog post advising creative types when he does barely fits in the category himself.
There are a few lines of good advice here and there, but they are overshadowed by his repetitive internal ramblings a More...
Just because he likes to draw (badly) on the back of business cards doesn't give him a free pass to write a watered down, uninspired perpetual blog post advising creative types when he does barely fits in the category himself.
There are a few lines of good advice here and there, but they are overshadowed by his repetitive internal ramblings a More...
Jul 22, 2009
Nicholas
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 03, 2010
Brandon
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I picked up this book on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Hugh MacLeod has an interesting take on a variety of topics that have to do with success.
My absolute favorite idea is his "Sex and Cash Theory". Hugh talks about the idea that you shouldn't quit your day job and allow your creative juices to flow on the side with other meaningful work that you do. That is unless you are able to get both in your day job. Hugh goes on to explain the theory as:
It's More...
My absolute favorite idea is his "Sex and Cash Theory". Hugh talks about the idea that you shouldn't quit your day job and allow your creative juices to flow on the side with other meaningful work that you do. That is unless you are able to get both in your day job. Hugh goes on to explain the theory as:
It's More...
Apr 24, 2010
Trey
rated it:
Some points that I enjoyed from this book:
2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will. How your own sovereignty inspires other people to find their own sovereignty, their own sense of freedom and possibility, will give the work far more power than the work's objective merits ever will.
8. The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs. One is the sex More...
2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will. How your own sovereignty inspires other people to find their own sovereignty, their own sense of freedom and possibility, will give the work far more power than the work's objective merits ever will.
8. The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs. One is the sex More...
Jul 04, 2009
Daniel
rated it:
I was pretty disappointed with this book. MacLeod doesn't actually build an argument in this book, but instead seems to repeat the same points in each chapter. The observations he makes, while contradictory, seem a little obvious to me, but I may not be his intended audience, and there is something to be said for reminding people of the obvious truths that the daily grind has made them forget.
Don't get me wrong, MacLeod is not wrong, far from it. It's just the book does not do a very More...
Don't get me wrong, MacLeod is not wrong, far from it. It's just the book does not do a very More...
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Apr 14, 2011
earthy
rated it:
The way Hugh MacLeod puts together words is simply gorgeous. I'm not as fond of the art, but the sass and the connection with the creative world are excellent.
My real problem with this book is basically that it works so much better as a blog (and do go check out MacLeod's blog--Gapingvoid.com). The "chapters" are short and clipped, which works well for a blog...but not so well for a book. I wish he'd taken the time to really flesh out his ideas instead of basically regur More...
My real problem with this book is basically that it works so much better as a blog (and do go check out MacLeod's blog--Gapingvoid.com). The "chapters" are short and clipped, which works well for a blog...but not so well for a book. I wish he'd taken the time to really flesh out his ideas instead of basically regur More...
Apr 22, 2010
Sara
rated it:
Like most books that cover common and/or popular, timeless topics (business, the meaning of life and art, etc), Hugh MacLeod does a lovely job of articulating what we, in our heart of hearts, already know. Why? Because his weapon of choice is common sense. So reading a book like this is somehow utterly refreshing and yet completely eye-rolling at its simplicity. MacLeod is fun to read though, fairly humorous and I found myself enjoying his description of the Sex/Cash theory.
As a for More...
As a for More...
Jan 25, 2010
David
rated it:
Ever since I completed my NaNoWriMo novel (heck, since I said I was going to do it!), my family has been very supportive of my creative endeavor. For Christmas, my brother got me a copy of Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod.
The book is a very fast read and reads like a series of short essays or blog posts. Hugh came to fame with his cartoon on business card thing and his blog, gapingvoid.com. His philosophy is based around hard work and doing something that you “own”. His hard work More...
The book is a very fast read and reads like a series of short essays or blog posts. Hugh came to fame with his cartoon on business card thing and his blog, gapingvoid.com. His philosophy is based around hard work and doing something that you “own”. His hard work More...
Nov 28, 2009
Anthony
rated it:
A *very* quick read, which offers up here and there a few nuggets of wisdom about what, exactly, is required of a creative soul. Truth be told, however, much of its advice, I find, was a little slim. The ideas were there, certainly, and many of them would in fact be helpful were one in the business of exploring and exploiting his or her creative impetus. It advocates a kind of altered perception, centered upon the simple notion of creating for creation's sake, of 'doing' rather than 'talking'. A
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Mar 20, 2011
LAnn
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If you like reading books about contradictory and repetitiveness, Ignore Everybody is a good book to add to your list. The first several pages of Ignore Everybody were funny and the art really added to what MacLeod was saying in those early chapters. As I read on, however, I got the feeling that there was either multiple people writing or he just didn't make up his mind really well.
As I progressed through the chapters, I felt MacLeod turn from a humorous author to a nagging teacher tha More...
As I progressed through the chapters, I felt MacLeod turn from a humorous author to a nagging teacher tha More...
Jul 04, 2011
elidesc
rated it:
Hugh MacLeod leerde ik kennen via een Tumblr-waardige quote in Delivering happiness van Tony Hsieh - "Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb". Boeiend genoeg om even intenser kennis te maken met Hugh MacLeod. Blijkt dat hij de blogger is achter de populaire doch voor mij nobele onbekende blog gapinvoid.com en tevens de auteur van "Ignore Everybody - And 39 Other Keys to Creativity". Voldoende argumenten om meteen te bestellen - onli
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Aug 05, 2009
Heyhansen
rated it:
Like the friend who lent it to me said, "all self help books are kinda the same". I do think this kind of book is a nice thing to read occasionally to remind yourself to "just do it". If you've got an idea, try it. It always seems like a good thing to move from the "dreaming" category into the "doing". Even if it doesn't work, it seems better to have tried - right?
That said, and sure this is probably age & cynicism at work and I should probably More...
That said, and sure this is probably age & cynicism at work and I should probably More...
Jan 23, 2010
Art
rated it:
Super-quick read while the kid napped. I'm a sucker for this 'a bunch of common-sense stuff that you already know written in tough-love, hard-nosed prose to get you fired up about <whatever creative project you're embarking on and/or avoiding>' genre of non-fiction. (For another example, my favorite specimen from this niche is "The War of Art" by Stephen Pressman.)
His back-of-business-card cartoons were the highlight and several of them made me laugh out loud—something More...
His back-of-business-card cartoons were the highlight and several of them made me laugh out loud—something More...
Aug 17, 2010
Ronya
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From the author of gapingvoid.com comes advice from a creative person for creative people. Filled with practical tips such as the aforementioned "Ignore Everybody," as well as "Keep Your Day Job" (for practical reasons, not because you shouldn't believe in yourself), "Merit can be bought, passion can't," "The best way to get approval is to not need it," and "remain frugal." What was on the blog is now in this book, but if you go to the website
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Jan 11, 2010
Molly
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I loved, LOVED this book. From the cartoons to the advice. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed reading it until I was having lunch with a co-worker today and like 80% of our conversation was "in that book I was telling you about...blah blah blah"
I am sure she wanted to shoot me by the time we were done eating. It is a great book for people who want to "investigate" their creative selves or for someone who just needs a little push to get back to what they love. More...
I am sure she wanted to shoot me by the time we were done eating. It is a great book for people who want to "investigate" their creative selves or for someone who just needs a little push to get back to what they love. More...
Oct 08, 2009
*elasticfate
rated it:
*disclaimer - I do happen to know the guy who wrote this, but am not just recommending it & giving it 5 stars because he is an awesome guy.
The truth is, it's also an awesome book. It gives insight to creativity & business/marketing, but it reminds you to laugh & not take things too seriously, but to not take anybody else too seriously either & follow your own path to creativity. Basically ignore everything you here because most of it is wrong. The illustrations are brilliant & witty, More...
The truth is, it's also an awesome book. It gives insight to creativity & business/marketing, but it reminds you to laugh & not take things too seriously, but to not take anybody else too seriously either & follow your own path to creativity. Basically ignore everything you here because most of it is wrong. The illustrations are brilliant & witty, More...
Nov 30, 2011
Douglas
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Well-known blogger (gapingvoid.com), back-of-business-card cartoonist and advertising copywriter, Hugh MacLeod, leads us through his list of "What I Believe" in his book, Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity.
Like other books I have read recently, this is what I consider a "real world example." Every aspect of the book draws on his experiences in advertising, blogging and cartooning. It makes you think. It make you stop sometimes and glance up at the ce More...
Like other books I have read recently, this is what I consider a "real world example." Every aspect of the book draws on his experiences in advertising, blogging and cartooning. It makes you think. It make you stop sometimes and glance up at the ce More...
Jun 03, 2011
matt
rated it:
overall i appreciated most of the advice about how to succeed in a creative field. the author held a lot of opinions about creativity and work ethic that i already agreed with.
it's strange to read advice by someone you've never heard of that takes the perspective, "i'm a huge success, so you need to start thinking like me." the cynic-with-a-heart-of-gold tone of the whole book was unique and appealing, but had the strange side effect that the author came across as oddly bo More...
it's strange to read advice by someone you've never heard of that takes the perspective, "i'm a huge success, so you need to start thinking like me." the cynic-with-a-heart-of-gold tone of the whole book was unique and appealing, but had the strange side effect that the author came across as oddly bo More...
Dec 24, 2009
Kp
rated it:
The structure of this book is a set of 40 not-necessarily-related blog entries that were re-edited and published in book form (by a man who draws cartoons on business cards and sells them as art. According to him, hes a big deal.).
I liked it, but the entries were not coherent. There was some good advice on getting creative ideas off the ground, but he sent mixed messages by contradicting some things he'd stated in other entries.
He also writes at the level of a sophomore More...
I liked it, but the entries were not coherent. There was some good advice on getting creative ideas off the ground, but he sent mixed messages by contradicting some things he'd stated in other entries.
He also writes at the level of a sophomore More...
