David Lynch, Catching the Big Fish
Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity
In this rare work of public disclosure, filmmaker David Lynch describes his personal methods of capturing and working with ideas, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from the practice of meditation.
Over the last four decades, David Lynch has created some of the best-known and widely discussed screen works of our time. This distinctive writer-director’s art bears not only the mark of box-office success but also criticalacclaim and cultural posterity.
Yet Lynch generally reveals little of himself, or the ideas behind his work. Now he provides a rare window into his methods as an artist and his personal working style. In Catching the Big Fish, Lynch writes candidly about the tremendous creative benefits he has gained from his thirty-two-year commitment to practicing Transcendental Meditation.
In brief chapters, Lynch describes the experience of “diving within” and “catching” ideas like fish-and then preparing them for television or movie screens, and other mediums in which Lynch works, such as photography and painting.
In the book’s first section, Lynch discusses the development of his ideas-where they come from, how he grasps them, and which ones appeal to him the most. He then shares his passion for “the doing”-whether moviemaking, painting, or other creative expressions. Lynch talks specifically about how he puts his thoughts into action and how he engages with others around him. Finally, he discusses the self and the surrounding world -and how the process of “diving within” that has so deeply affected his own work can directly benefit others.
Catching the Big Fish provides unprecedented insight into Lynch’s methods, as it also offers a set of practical ideas that speak to matters of personal fulfillment, increased creativity, and greater harmony with one’s surroundings.
The book comes as a revelation to the legion of fans who have longed to better understand Lynch’s deeply personal vision. And it is equally intriguing to anyone who grapples with questions such as: “Where do ideas come from?” and “How can I nurture creativity?
View excerpts of the event organized by Barnes and Noble at their NYC flagship store in Union Square.
David Lynch - Book Signing - New York
Reviews:
This book is everything I expected it to be. It is great to just pick up and read any chapter to feel inspired.
You will get a glimpse into David Lynch's methods, imagination and meditation.
This book had me contacting the TM center to find out the nearest location to my house! Very inspiring!
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! ... Delightful and bold - I loved it!
