Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

Deep thoughts and tasty nuggets

I've been a fan of David Lynch's films for many years and was surprised to find this book. Not knowing what to expect going in, I was pleasantly surprised to find it a book for tasty philosophical nuggets that has demanded repeated readings. The creativity stuff is spot on. Nice work. Now write another book David :)

Not enlightening

I read with the expectation that I would get a better insight into meditation. What I found was a series of chopped experiences that went nowhere. If you were already a David Lynch fan, I suppose you would be biased towards him, but an objective reader will be very disappointed.

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Insightful and enlightening!

In a beautifully concise manner, this maestro of film direction gives us a taste of what makes his creative juices flow. Wonderful anecdotes are interspersed with advice for bringing creative ideas to life, as concise as a director¿s notes to his actors. Many of the chapters are introduced with quotes from ancient Vedic texts, and give the book a spiritual tone. It is obvious that David Lynch takes both film and book writing seriously. Mr. Lynch underscores the importance of his 30+ year practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique in getting him to where he is artistically today. He attributes his ability to ¿catch the big fish¿ ideas to his twice daily dipping into a well of creativity through TM. As a neurologist, I¿ve been impressed with the health benefits of TM, and it¿s great to see an artist so enthusiastic about this technique. He gives those of us who dabble in the arts a reason to hope that we can tap into our own artistic genius. I read through this book on a quiet afternoon, and I¿m ready to ¿go fishing¿.

Very interesting. A great read.

I read this in a little under 2 hours, but that doesn't take away from its immense creativity. It was a great book. I would recommend it to anyone, even though I have never seen any of his films. Buy this today.

intriguing and delightful

This book reminded me of Lynch's wonderful and understated 'Straight Story' in its unpretentious simplicity and quiet power. And like Straight, this book may not be what some Lynch fans initially were expecting. But don't let that throw you. This book is a gem! At first I thought I might have liked it more if it had some of Lynch's amazing art throughout it - some of his paintings, a few chosen film stills, maybe even some of his thoughtful stylish furniture. But as I sat back with the simple words on white pages (so UN-Lynchian some might at first think), I realized that every aspect of the book was an intentioned aquarium view of anecdotes and insights of the Lynch mind and art - an outstanding exposition of a cutting edge artist's approach to, and cultivation of, the creative process. Delightful and bold - I loved it!

Creative Flow

Everybody wants something. We read biographies and self-help books to satisfy our deepest desires. We hope to gain insights that enable us to get more: more success, more love, more prosperity, more skill, more happiness. But all of that boils down to using what we already have. David Lynch¿s book is different. It is unique. He has found a tool that enables him to expand the container of knowledge. It is like being born with creativity the size of a golf ball and suddenly discovering we can grow our innate talents to the size of the Grand Canyon. Mr. Lynch has told us from his own personal experience what a transformation this tool has made in his life. He has related the scientific validation showing that this tool works for everyone. Catching the Big Fish is a wonderfully concise book that gives the secret formula for achieving anything we want in life. I wish that this book had been available to me when I was college age. At any age, this book is life transforming.

The Secret to World Peace... Meditation?

David Lynch's new book, 'Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity' is creative, charming, brief and playful. Written in small passages that flow, despite uniquely defined ideas, and seem to jump right off the page and dance and twinkle in your mind as you continually turn the pages, Lynch takes the reader through a deeply contemplative--though subtle in description--journey into 'that which all things emerge.' I actually acquired this for a friend of mine and when I present it to him, I'll promptly admit to reading it--in its entirety--before giving it to him. I'll tell him how Lynch touches on his films, but only chooses one or two interesting anecdotal items regarding these films and then moves on. Much the same with his life. I'll also share with him the positivity that Lynch exudes throughout and how important and real this state of mind is to him. How his whole aim is to be less and less and less restricted by anger and depression and sadness and hostility and all the other negative aspects of life. According to Lynch, it's all because of Transcendental Meditation and consciousness-based education. Lately, he's been giving many interviews and talks and whatnot to propagate his progressive thinking with regards to the many benefits of Transcendental Mediation. His foundation--the 'David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace'--is dedicated to introducing and maintaining this principle to young people and educators around the world. In one passage of the book, Lynch says that Van Gogh 'would have been even more prolific and even greater if he wasn't so restricted by the things tormenting him. I don't think it was pain that made him so great--I think his painting brought him whatever happiness he had.' I suppose I'm charmed. And I now believe in world peace.

Getting to know the man behind the camera

This book is a gem. It's unique and surprising, just like his films. Like many great artists, he's not elaborate with words. But his writing has a kind of ultra simplicity and honesty that is intensely charming and revealing. This book is all over the map, from growing up in Montana, to filmmaking in LA, to his experiences with meditation and its relevance to his art and his life. I think that it is a rare look into the life of a real maverick--a pioneering artist. It¿s great!

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