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Who You Were Before You Were You: A short book about hope, understanding and the lessons life teaches us.
Can I tell you a secret?Before you were born, you had a conversation. You spoke about everything you were afraid of and everything that might happen. And the person you spoke to, reassured you. And gave you peace. And told you that it was going to be ok.And if you forgot, you can read this book, and maybe some small part of you will remember.
- GenresPoetry
36 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2020
About the author
Iain S. Thomas
21 books1,465 followers"Iain S. Thomas is the #1 bestselling author of I Wrote This For You and Intentional Dissonance. He wrote his first book, Ignite, at the age of 23 for the Markham clothing store. It won the Grand Prix at the First Paper House Art Of Design Awards and the only craft prize awarded that year, in the design category, at the national design/advertising awards (The Loeries).
As a creative director, he’s a champion for innovative design and communication for his clients which have included Nike, Levi’s, Johnny Walker, The Design Indaba, MTN, apple and many more, from Los Angeles, to Amsterdam, to Johannesburg, to Cape Town. His work has spanned everything from monuments to biodegradable posters.
In 2009, for his work as the author of the art/photography project “I Wrote This For You”, he was voted one of the top 5 finalists in the world in the “Best Blogger To Follow” category on mashable.com under his online pseudonym, pleasefindthis.
The project, which has proven incredibly popular across the world and gone on to become a best selling book, has also afforded him numerous exciting opportunities, including an invitation to dinner with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gipps as a consultant on digital development within South Africa, and a speaking spot at TEDx Johannesburg.
Through the project, he was also able to have skateboards delivered to The Uganda Skateboard Union on behalf of Stacy Peralta, director of Dogtown And Z-Boys and Riding Giants and he’s previously acted as a creative consultant to Brian Wayne Transeau or “BT” (whose previous collaborators include Peter Gabriel, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and David Bowie, amongst others) on his last album, If The Stars Are Eternal, So Are You And I.
His work has won numerous local and international awards and can be found in Communication Arts, Design Indaba Magazine, Ad Vantage Magazine, bestadsontv.com, Contagious Magazine, Archive, The University of Pretoria’s Permanent Design Collection, X-ings: Shaping Culture Through Design Exhibition, The United Nations Gallery of Sustainable Communication, TEDx, Heso Magazine (Japan) and http://www.inpursuitofelegance.com
Iain’s work focuses on non-traditional media in all its forms. He has never once really and truly enjoyed a long walk on a beach." - source
As a creative director, he’s a champion for innovative design and communication for his clients which have included Nike, Levi’s, Johnny Walker, The Design Indaba, MTN, apple and many more, from Los Angeles, to Amsterdam, to Johannesburg, to Cape Town. His work has spanned everything from monuments to biodegradable posters.
In 2009, for his work as the author of the art/photography project “I Wrote This For You”, he was voted one of the top 5 finalists in the world in the “Best Blogger To Follow” category on mashable.com under his online pseudonym, pleasefindthis.
The project, which has proven incredibly popular across the world and gone on to become a best selling book, has also afforded him numerous exciting opportunities, including an invitation to dinner with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gipps as a consultant on digital development within South Africa, and a speaking spot at TEDx Johannesburg.
Through the project, he was also able to have skateboards delivered to The Uganda Skateboard Union on behalf of Stacy Peralta, director of Dogtown And Z-Boys and Riding Giants and he’s previously acted as a creative consultant to Brian Wayne Transeau or “BT” (whose previous collaborators include Peter Gabriel, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and David Bowie, amongst others) on his last album, If The Stars Are Eternal, So Are You And I.
His work has won numerous local and international awards and can be found in Communication Arts, Design Indaba Magazine, Ad Vantage Magazine, bestadsontv.com, Contagious Magazine, Archive, The University of Pretoria’s Permanent Design Collection, X-ings: Shaping Culture Through Design Exhibition, The United Nations Gallery of Sustainable Communication, TEDx, Heso Magazine (Japan) and http://www.inpursuitofelegance.com
Iain’s work focuses on non-traditional media in all its forms. He has never once really and truly enjoyed a long walk on a beach." - source
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 25, 2021
I like how this book teaches you that a lesson can be found in any life-experience and that we must take life as it is with every emotion we feel, but must remember to let go of all the negativity in our hearts and minds. I chose this book because of its unique perspective, that being before a child is born and about to go and experience life. The author guides this spirit and warns/teaches them important lessons. A certain factor in the story that grabbed my attention was that everything the author is discussing with the spirit will be forgotten once the child has been born into their life. Because of this, I am curious to why this voice decides to spend time sharing its wise words just for them to be forgotten and possibly re-learned independently in their lifetime, once the child is born.
May 29, 2020
I love everything this man writes, and it is not okay. This was a beautiful story about being sent into the world. The illustrations were also beautiful. I loved it all.
October 2, 2020
As beautiful as everything he has ever written
Nothing makes me happier and more at peace than his words. This book is no different. I found it right when I needed it the most.
Nothing makes me happier and more at peace than his words. This book is no different. I found it right when I needed it the most.
October 6, 2020
What a stunning collection to turn to whenever you need a friend! And the wording is simply wonderful
January 5, 2022
Very cute
January 24, 2026
I read this my teen and preteen children and this is the first time they were speechless after a book. This book points out softly what life is and what the challenges. Beautifully written.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews