Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

I thought David Lynch's Catching the Big Fish would be an intellectual discussion about creativity. Instead, I found it to be a delightful experience of creativity. In reading it, I was surprised to find myself feeling happy, content, and bright inside. It's an easy read - nice, well contained, short chapters, yet not simplistic. While fun to read, I felt I was also growing in insight and wisdom. I've never met Lynch, yet I feel like he's a friend now. He's open enough to share his ideas and opinions, and caring enough to share his feelings on creativity, art and life as a whole. I didn't want the book to end.

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!

Get the audiobook instead of the book (either on CD if you want to own the physical CD like me, or as a download). I got the audio CD and imported it into my iPod. The audio CD (by the way, it's 2 CDs) works much better than the book because you get to hear David Lynch talking and it's like a conversation with him. It's also unabridged so you get all the same content as the book however in my opinion, it's better than the book and is a rare opportunity to listen to David Lynch talk about many of the ideas that make him tick. David Lynch was my hero before and now he is my idol.

I read this book in one sitting, not only because it is not that long, but once you get started, it's a tough one to put down. There are so many eye opening stories, including his fascination with Transcendental Meditation. Lynch writes with his emotions on his sleeve-open, honest and with no holding back. You gotta love that in an age when many celebrities are so concerned about their image.

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.