This book consists of short David Lynch stories about transcendental meditation and anecdotes how he came up with some ideas for his movies and shows. Might be interesting only if you're a huge fan of Lynch. ( )

I don't have a great deal of time for the meditation that he eulogises so much about (although it obviously works for him), but the book is a fascinating insight into his working practices and his way of thinking.

Don't expect any great revelations on what is in the box or how to crack the secret of Lost Highway as you won't find it, but there's some fascinating little tidbits scattered throughout the short duration.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lynch himself which I'd highly recommend. ( )

While providing some clear, lucid insights into his creative process, how he worked before discovering transcendental meditation, and interesting trivia such as descriptions of happy accidents on how his films are made and what Kubrick's favourite film was ("Eraserhead", according to Lynch), there's also a downside.

Lynch does get me interested in transcendental meditation, but the theme is so regurgitated and repeated throughout the entire book that he feels a bit like a cult member trying to lure you in. It's very "transcendental meditation can cure anything, make you do anything, will overcome anything". I particularly disliked the chapter where you're to imagine you're the Empire State Building and transcendental meditation is electric gold; just swap the junk in all your rooms for the electric gold and you're all good. Yeah.

To me, it all reeks of an empty promise, mainly because Lynch doesn't explain how transcendental meditation works. And that knowledge, my dears, is expensive to attain.

So, if you can shut the lid on that all-permeating aspect of the book, Lynch does bring interesting stream-of-consciousness stuff to the table, especially on how he's overcome obstacles in his creative process and how he seems very open to new things that influence and come to him. ( )

This was a great little book. David Lynch is way into transcendental meditation (like... Fairfield, Iowa, Maharashi (yeah, the Beatles' Maharashi), possibly a cult into transcendental meditation) but this book is interesting because it reveals how David Lynch, as an artist, relates to his work and makes meaning of creativity and the world around him. This is a book about one creative process. Read that way, particularly if you're a fan, this is a very rich text, but if you approach this book wanting a autobiographical profile or a technical handbook (in the way Mamet's On Directing teaches) you will be disappointed. What you will find here is a book about large, academic subjects written by a visual artist in an non-academic manner.

My favorite chapter is titled "The Box and the Key." The whole chapter is a single sentence: "I don't have a clue what those are." If that sort of thing makes you laugh, and ponder, and smile then this book is for you. If a chapter like that makes you angry or annoys you, it's probably safe to say you won't appreciate this book. ( )

This was a great little book. David Lynch is way into transcendental meditation (like... Fairfield, Iowa, Maharashi (yeah, the Beatles' Maharashi), possibly a cult into transcendental meditation) but this book is interesting because it reveals how David Lynch, as an artist, relates to his work and makes meaning of creativity and the world around him. This is a book about one creative process. Read that way, particularly if you're a fan, this is a very rich text, but if you approach this book wanting a autobiographical profile or a technical handbook (in the way Mamet's On Directing teaches) you will be disappointed. What you will find here is a book about large, academic subjects written by a visual artist in an non-academic manner.

My favorite chapter is titled "The Box and the Key." The whole chapter is a single sentence: "I don't have a clue what those are." If that sort of thing makes you laugh, and ponder, and smile then this book is for you. If a chapter like that makes you angry or annoys you, it's probably safe to say you won't appreciate this book. ( )