This Is Not a Book [Paperback]

Keri Smith (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 1, 2009

Read Keri Smith's posts on the Penguin Blog

A curious, engaging, and creative rethinking of what a book can be, from the creator of Wreck this Journal.

In this uniquely skewed look at the purpose and function of “a book,” Keri Smith offers an illustrated guide that asks readers to creatively examine all the different ways This Is Not a Book can be used. With intriguing prompts, readers will discover that the book can be:

A secret message—tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place.

A recording device—have everyone you contact today write their name in the book.

An instrument—create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover.

This Is Not a Book will engage readers by having them define everything a book can be by asking, “If it’s not a book, what is it then?”—with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keri Smith is the author of the popular weblog Wish Jar Journal, which attracts 8,000 readers daily, Living Out Loud, and Tear Up This Book. She’s illustrated for the Washington Post, New York Times, Ford Motor Company, People, The Body Shop, and Hallmark. She lives in Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399535217
• ISBN-13: 978-0399535215
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Self-Help > Creativity

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Freeing! October 22, 2009

By H. Grove TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This Is Not A Book is much like its predecessor (Wreck This Journal), except that it pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone much further. A handful of exercises exhort you to put yourself forward publicly in one way or another, or to risk losing your copy of the book to the results of an exercise. For example, one exercise encourages you to leave This Is Not A Book someplace overnight and see what happens.

Others have less of an element of social or fiscal risk to them. An "Idea Formulation Generator" has you make three separate lists of terms (things found in nature, objects you use every day, and words you like), combine one from each list randomly, and use to come up with an idea for a new concept or product. The pages are filled with images, frames, white space, thought bubbles, and anything else needed to leave room for your experiments. The only problem I found is that there were a few places where the layout neglected to leave a blank page in the right place, resulting in conflicting exercises.

If you just can't get yourself to leave your comfort zone and try wacky things, then Keri Smith's publications (I can't really call this one a book, can I?) are not for you! Or maybe they're aimed particularly at you, because you'll need the most help loosening up. (In that case, try Wreck This Journal first, to get your feet wet.) This Is Not A Book is a great method for forcing yourself to think outside the box, color outside the lines, etc., and that's definitely a boost to creativity!

[Review copy provided by publisher]

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great project June 14, 2010

By Shai

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book to do with my husband, who just so happens to be my BFF as well, To bring us closer and teach us more about ourselves and each other. Well we just got it today and I gotta tell you it was one of the best things I could have spent my money on. We are already having a blast with it. Which is of course the main goal. We were reading the first task: keep this book with you in full view at all times. And it says in the beginning taht only you can decide how to use this-is not a- book, and only you can interpret the instructions how ever you see them, Well we asked ourselves WHY should we do this task, well to us that instruction is meant so that at any given time when ever we feel inspiration strike or a moment of creativity we can just grab it and get creative on that page. for him that means drawing something for me it means writing down an idea. And yet for somebody else that instruction might have a totally different purpose. So you can see how this book really brings out your creativity and forces you to think, and even will teach you somethings about yourself that maybe you did not know before. If you are going to spend your money on a book I highly recommend this one.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This is not a book January 22, 2010

By C. Hegna

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a fun book with many different prompts that let you make use of your creativity. Has many excersises with some kind of "theme", that gives you the opportunity to come up with many different ideas on how to solve the challenge.