Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 483

With two weeks left until it’s release, the HONY book has...

With two weeks left until it’s release, the HONY book has been on both the Amazon and Barnes and Noble “Top 100” for about 30 days. Now I don’t have a PhD in book selling, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t normal. Anyway, I was sitting in my agent’s office the other day, and he says to me: “Man, this book looks so great. I just wish we could find a way to give everyone a peek inside. Maybe I can ask the publisher for some digital sample pages.” I told him not to worry, I had a better idea. Then I went home and built a book castle in my living room.

The one. The only. The HONLY.
300 pages. 400 photos. 75 unseen.
Complete with stories and captions.
If placed in a prominent location, it is guaranteed to keep Aunt Martha quiet and occupied at Thanksgiving, when she normally drinks five glasses of wine and starts talking shit.

Preorder now for 40% off:
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/10sbtW5
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/16SycBf
INDIEBOUND: http://bit.ly/191EZLF

"I got hooked on crack for a few years after I found out that I...

"I got hooked on crack for a few years after I found out that I had HIV. There was a bunch of us that picked up cans and bottles all day to get money. It was a blessing that I kicked the habit. Because that was fifteen years ago, and every time I go to East Harlem, I still see some of those same faces picking up bottles."

"My father died of a heart attack when I was eight. So my mother...

"My father died of a heart attack when I was eight. So my mother played the role of mother and father. She had four children to raise, so she had to go back to work full time. I know it was hard for her, but she always put on a brave face. I remember three days after Dad died, she was knocking on our doors, saying: ‘Get up! It’s time for school.’ And we said, ‘But Daddy just died.’ And she said, ‘And he’d want you to go to school!’ Pretty much her whole life was lived for other people. She always seemed to take herself out of the equation. Even when her cancer got really bad, she’d come home from the hospital, and she’d be broken hearted about the OTHER patients. She was always saying how broken hearted she was over all the young people she saw with cancer."

He said: “Do what makes you happy.” I said:...

He said: “Do what makes you happy.” 
I said: “And what makes you happy?”
He said nothing, but patted his son on the back.

"I’ve been examining my values lately, and determining...

"I’ve been examining my values lately, and determining whether or not I like the feelings that result from those values."
"What’s an example of one of your values?"
"I’m very competitive."
"And what’s a feeling that results from being competitive?”
"Jealousy."
"How does competitiveness result in jealousy?"
"When you have a competitive mindset, you tend to view the world in terms of winners and losers. So you resent other people getting recognition, because you somehow believe that less recognition is available to you. I’m learning that this is a false mindset. There’s not a fixed amount of success and recognition in the world. So another person’s accomplishments don’t diminish the accomplishments available to you."

"The reward of painting for me is in the learning. That after...

"The reward of painting for me is in the learning. That after all these millions of studies of flowers, trees, and lakes, I can finally pull the rabbit out of the hat."

"I’m about to try to fight off a crushing hangover with a...

"I’m about to try to fight off a crushing hangover with a Bratwurst."

"What was the saddest moment of your life?""My personal tragedy,...

"What was the saddest moment of your life?"
"My personal tragedy, you mean. You sure you want to hear it?"
"I do."
"I was sexually abused by a member of my family between the ages of eight and twelve. But honestly, I don’t even like to talk about it anymore, because I’ve finally gotten to the point where it no longer defines me. For a long time I saw myself as a victim, but I’ve moved past that. I’m in a place now where I realize that my life is mine to create and enjoy, and that my future will be the result of the decisions that I make."

Today in microfashion…

Today in microfashion…

"The older I get, the more I appreciate the world of the young,...

"The older I get, the more I appreciate the world of the young, and the less energy I have to participate in it."