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| Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity | 
 enlarge | Author: David Lynch
Publisher: Michael Joseph Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
Buy Used: £5.42
You Save: £7.57 (58%)
New (32) from £6.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 10138
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.7
ISBN: 1585425400
Dewey Decimal Number: 158.125
EAN: 9781585425402
ASIN: 1585425400
Publication Date: October 4, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Ships via Fast Global Priority Air Mail from US - Should arrive withing 7-10 days - Superb, crisp, clean, unread hardcover with light shelfwear to the dust jacket and publisher's mark to one edge - GREAT!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Hook, Line and Sinker September 29, 2008
This is a slim book that can be read in one sitting. If you have ever seen Lynch interviewed, you know he's a man of few words - it's the same with these brief chapters on Transcendental Meditation, creativity, film (mostly his own) and the secret to leading a happy life. Lynch credits Transcendental Meditation with saving him from depression in university and bringing happiness to his life and depth to his work; but what strikes me as the real truth is that Lynch was always an eccentric person - even before discovering meditation - and he would have produced interesting artistic work no matter what. The main frustrating thing about this book - about TM in general - is that you read about its amazing qualities but nothing is told about how exactly you go about learning it. I suppose this is because you are meant to visit Lynch's website advertised at the end of the book (or TM's) and pay for one of their courses. It's a shame that Lynch didn't devote more time to explaining how he goes about creating his stories, finding characters or choosing the people he works with. By the looks of it, he relies a lot on chance and twice-a-day solitary dives into the "Unified Field" to convince himself that there is something more to his unique genius.
 Lynch's pursuit of happiness April 18, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Whenever you're feeling low and in need of a boost, this book is an effective way of raising your spirits. Part-autobiography, part just musings on life, David Lynch brings this small book to life with astute, simple writing, conveying his ideas in a very optimistic way. It's a light read, feel-good and warm, quite the opposite from Lynch's films and art.
The issue that anchors the book is Lynch's focus on Transcendental Meditation. He sells it extremely well, describing its ability to expand the consciousness and one's creativity, TM itself apparently being easy and effortless to learn. However, the one flaw that hampers the book is that while Lynch raves about the benefits of TM, he never explains how it is done, or even how one can become involved in it. So whilst the book is enlightening, at times it's also extremely angering that he's waving this juicy carrott at you, but then cruelly jerks it away. And like a sucker you're expecting him to give it to you. Which he never does. It's odd, since Lynch, a despiser of commercialism, is promoting a concept for which the only way to learn it is through paying an extortionate amount of money for an activity that is supposedly "natural" and takes no time out of your routine at all. Commercial venture? Seems very possible ...
All in all though, it's a fun read, never tedious or waffly. He talks a little about his films, although his coverage of them is brief, but nonetheless interesting. Despite being 180 odd pages long, the book is short, with double-spaced lines and small pages, so it doesn't take long to get through. But it's concise and to the point, with some great advice to any aspiring artist (the term "artist" being a very broad one). And that's one of the many beauties of the book, since his advice is universal, and can be taken on board by anyone.
A worthwhile read, although bear in mind that, much like he does in his films, Lynch is posing questions to which he gives no answers. Except, unlike in his films, these questions aren't fun ones.
 A Glimmer of Enlightenment March 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I stumbled upon this book by accident when searching for "Inland Empire". Being a big David Lynch fan I was naturally intrigued by the prospect of learning how the man comes up with and channels ideas. Upon reading the book, I was not dissapointed.
Transcendental Meditation is a relatively new concept to me, however, something about it was instantly alluring. Where I once may have dismissed the benefits of this technique, having heard Mr. Lynch speak of it in such a grounded fashion has only served to deepen my interest.
I am almost tempted to believe that I have been led to this subject (by fate or whatever force you may choose to believe in???). The very same day I discovered this book I also acquired a copy of the science-fiction novel "Discipline" by Paco Ahlgren, which tells the story of a man developing extra-sensory powers through meditation. And totally by chance I discovered a copy of "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra; an exploration of the paralells between Eastern mysticism and modern physics.
It amazes me that by chance I purchased three seemingly different books (personal record, science-fiction and semi-scientific text) on the same day all of which tell of the usefulness of meditation and its benefits in our modern world.
Coincidence or not, my interest has peaked and I have been offered a glimmer of the enlightenment that all three of these books speak of.
I highly recommend each of them.
An enchanting insight December 5, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
What a delightful and educational read, and so refreshing to see a person of high profile write from the heart without over dramatising the reality of his life. When reading this book it actually felt as though I was having a conversation, so I would imagine the audio version would really achieve that as some reviewers have commented. The writing feels like David Lynch talking rather than writing and is uncomplicated, thoughtful, insightful and unpretentious, which makes it readable for all. David Lynch's participation in transcendental meditation for 30-odd years of his life has clearly impacted him, but this book does not overly 'plug' this philosophy or the David Lynch Foundation. Clearly this practice has contributed to David Lynch's creativity, and who he is as an individual, so of course he would want to share that, and it should certainly be included in an autobiographical account of his life. Meditating, transcendental or otherwise, for a few minutes once or twice a day is not a cult-like activity to be suspicious of. The practice of meditation in and of itself should, in my opinion, be considered a normal part of everyday life to help establish a heightened intuitive awareness and a more balanced and peaceful perspective on life. It should not be feared, and has nothing to do with 'suspect' religions or cults, unless one chooses to participate in such things in addition. 'Catching the Big Fish' is an enchanting and memorable little book and provides much food for thought, and is a book that I, for one, will certainly enjoy reading many times over. Highly recommended.
It's like a conversation with David Lynch... November 23, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
(This relates to the audiobook version of this product - not yet available on Amazon.co.uk, so I got mine from Amazon.com)
First, for any Lynch fan, I strongly recommend the audiobook. I listened to it in the car, and it was just like having Lynch as a travelling companion, chatting about Life, the Universe, and Everything. A fun and amazing experience!
Lynch seems to have become something of an evangelist for Transcendental Meditation, but really, only a small percentage of the material is *directly* about meditation per se. For the most part, it consists of little biographical details, 'behind the scenes' stories about his movies, and general chit-chat on the creative process in general.
If you've already read the book 'Lynch on Lynch' (and if you're a Lynch fan, I'm sure you already have - if not, RUN now and get a copy!) Anyway, if you've already read it, you'll have come across a lot of these little anecdotes before - but they really come to life when you hear them directly from Lynch himself.
I'm not generally a fan of audiobooks, but this is definitely one instance where the audio version knocks the socks off the paper version!!!
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