Reddit reviews Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

You're a thinker, that is all! Not that other people don't think but your brain is wired a little different, thinking gets you excited, it stimulates you to no end, you don't think because you have to you do it because you like it, like a lot of people in this subreddit, I suppose. I can tell you that because I am the same, I can get into thinking streaks that go for hours, subjects I mull over for days. This is great, this is your strength but it can be a bit of a hindrance once in a while. So here's my suggestion:

• Like Valenmere suggests learn to meditate, so you can give your precious mind a rest once in a while, similar to "down" time after working out. We don't assume the mind gets tired, but it does and you'll keep having trouble falling asleep if you don't know how to clear it out.
  
  Two books I can tell you to read, if you only wanna read two books about meditation (they're both very brief):
  
  
• David Lynch: Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity so you know why you should meditate.
  
  
• 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life. the most straight forward no-nonsense book on how to meditate, also visit /r/meditation, if you need more than this.
  
  
• Another thing I would suggest is writing, if you're like me you'll make an awesome connection in your mind and think "this is awesome, I bet no one has ever thought of this before, and then you review it in your mind to find faults in it, over and over again, before long it's 5 a.m. and whooosh goodbye sleeping. Write it down, so your mind can go off into dreamland (believe me, you need the data from dreams your too and you're gonna be resting like you should).
  
  On LSD: yeah I think most people are more insightful on LSD, except maybe people that just do it for the visceral experience (for example, people who wouldn't dream of doing it anywhere else but in a party setting) but if you're already a deep thinker you're gonna go to another freakin' dimension, you're gonna take a deep dive inside. Two things about this: while you're gonna get great insights, make sure to apply those insights in the real world or share them (here, for example or in a blog) as soon as possible, so they're making an impact on the world and help further your goals, people that think constantly, like us, can get into the trap of enjoying the thinking part too much and not taking action when needed, I'm not saying this is your case, just heads up 'cause I've seen it happen.

The Black Swan, by Nassim Taleb

Catching the Big Fish, by David Lynch

A note on the second choice. I know it's not standard non-fiction fare, but I'm a huge Lynch fan and I really enjoy this book. It's short and I think reading it would benefit anyone. He was an Eagle Scout for Christ's sake!

Yeah, that's very possible. In the book I'm taking this from, the last sentence just says something to the effect of "I don't think I'll ever tell another person what that scripture verse was." Someone who has the book might know better.

I haven't really spent time reading in a long time. I think post college I was just like I'M FREEE! Now I just miss being forced to read all the dry film literature and writing papers. On a note as Lynch as an author Catching the Big Fish was actually pretty good.

Catching the Big Fish, that's what it's called, sorry for delay

http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Big-Fish-Meditation-Consciousness/dp/1585426121

FYI, he talks about Transcendental Meditation a lot. I'm not into TM personally, but he still has a lot of good broader points (for an artist, a calm state of mind > confusion, anger, brooding) and some people swear by the TM stuff, so if it works for you, go for it. Beats the gutter, the prison, or the grave.

Hey Dan, sorry you did not win. Some of the pages were put into the Harley Quinn Directors cut, but if they did not make it there, I am not sure. I would still post it online for people to see!

As far as recommending reading material…I have a go to book that is about the general idea and how to get them…its a little bit out there, and spicy…but I recommend it. Read it from cover to cover.http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Big-Fish-Meditation-Consciousness/dp/1585426121

This will change a lot of how you work. I give them to friends often. Give it a try!

Jimmy