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Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity Paperback – Deckle Edge, December 27, 2007

4.4 out of 5 stars 1,987 ratings

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In this "unexpected delight,"* 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.

Now in a beautiful paperback edition, David Lynch's
Catching the Big Fish provides a rare window into the internationally acclaimed filmmaker's methods as an artist, his personal working style, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from the practice of meditation.

Catching the Big Fish comes as a revelation to the legion of fans who have longed to better understand Lynch's personal vision. And it is equally compelling to those who wonder how they can nurture their own creativity.

Catching Ideas

Ideas are like fish.

If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper.

Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They're huge and abstract. And they're very beautiful.

I look for a certain kind of fish that is important to me, one that can translate to cinema. But there are all kinds of fish swimming down there. There are fish for business, fish for sports. There are fish for everything.

Everything, anything that is a thing, comes up from the deepest level. Modern physics calls that level the Unified Field. The more your consciousness-your awareness-is expanded, the deeper you go toward this source, and the bigger the fish you can catch.


--from Catching the Big Fish
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The quirky helmer known for Boy Scout demeanor and twisted tales shares his creative vision in a surprisingly gentle tome informed by the underlying teachings of Transcendental Meditation. But don’t worry: David Lynch, one-time creator of “The Angriest Dog in the World” comic, keeps the proselytizing to a minimum. He addresses topics ranging from working with wood (for it) to director’s commentaries (against) in deceptively simple, yet ultimately affirming, chapters. There’s much for fans and aspiring filmmakers to enjoy.”
—Variety
 
“Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper," says David Lynch the idiosyncratic filmmaker whose creations include
Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, and the cult TV classic, Twin Peaks. He claims that he has savored the pleasures of diving deep thanks to a 33-year practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM). He describes the fun of gathering what he calls "firewood" (all kinds of ideas and things for a film), the joy he takes in seeing an aging building or a rusted bridge, and the respect he has for Fellini and Kubrick. Lynch loves making movies and diving deep, and this testament bears witness to both loves.”
—Spirituality & Practice
 
“In
Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity, David Lynch puts aside his filmic quest to get inside the viewer’s head and lets them instead inside his, an invitation almost as rare as a ticket to fiction’s Wonka Chocolate Factory, and possibly just as out of this world. Catching the Big Fish is a blend of thoughts and themes, sometimes random like a stream of consciousness, or — the analogy he personally prefers for creativity — casting a hook into a bottomless sea. The book melds biography, film analysis, philosophy and spirituality with a heart-on-sleeve sincerity, while incorporating a narrative of the author’s passion for charting the world of dreams and ideas and rendering them unto action.”
—BlogCritics
 
“With this book, Lynch offers us a rare glimpse into his own head. In the process, he reveals just enough biographical information, philosophy of film, and general behind-the-scenes dirt (including the connection between Lynch's
Lost Highway and O. J. Simpson)to keep the attention of those more interested in Lynch's films than in his consciousness.”
—Booklist

About the Author

Three-time Oscar™-nominated director David Lynch is among the top filmmakers of our era. He recently received a Golden Lion Award for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival, adding to a long list of honors and awards. His popular and critically acclaimed films have been credited with propelling independent and avant-garde film into the mainstream. Lynch speaks regularly to standing-room crowds on a variety of topics. In 2005, he founded the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace (www.davidlynchfoundation.org), which raises funds to promote consciousness-based education for children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ TarcherPerigee
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 27, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1585426121
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1585426126
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,987 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,987 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book extremely easy to read and consider it a must-read for Lynch fans, praising its informative content and creative insights. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a masterclass on screenwriting. Customers appreciate the book's inspirational content, with one noting how it describes spiritual and creative growth, while another mentions how it helps unblock creative work. The book features insightful short stories, though customers note that the chapters are quite short.

74 customers mention "Readability"70 positive4 negative

Customers find the book extremely easy to read and enjoy it as a quick read, with some noting it's an absolute must-read for Lynch fans.

"A fun, quick read. About the size of a CD case for those wondering. Read if you really like David lynch and are interested in meditation." Read more

"If you're a fan if his work or the man himself, this will be a fun, interesting, informative, inside view of what it's like to be on the inside of..." Read more

"Simple and enjoyable reading about David Lynch and his love of TM and how it allows his to creativity to manifest through his art." Read more

"Very interesting I got the CD so book on tape worked he has a funny little soothing voice but good solid advice on meditation,and life in general..." Read more

36 customers mention "Insight"35 positive1 negative

Customers find the book informative and insightful, with one customer noting it provides a mix of memoir and method, while another mentions it includes plenty of useful anecdotes.

"Enjoyable AND insightful. I gained a better understanding of creativity and learned a about a few different methods of mediation." Read more

"...Some very sweet and profound insights into his creative process and life, as well as some decent advice for aspiring artists...." Read more

"...and accessible--no-nonsense writing style with occasional humor and insights. Happy I bought this book to see how Lynch connects the dots." Read more

"Catching the Big Fish is an excellent introduction to expanding the conscious capacity of the mind while releasing stress and fatigue on the level..." Read more

35 customers mention "Creativity"32 positive3 negative

Customers find the book beneficial for creativity, describing it as a must-have for creative minds and a great read for artists. One customer specifically mentions how it provides insight into the creative process, while another notes its transformative power of art.

"THE most crucial book about meditation and creativity...." Read more

"Interesting ideas and a holistic view on filmmaking." Read more

"...for describing his creative process in a way which is itself delightfully creative. He does what he needs to do to make the point...." Read more

"...7. The transformative power of art and the ability of creative expression to bring about positive change in the world 8...." Read more

35 customers mention "Inspirational content"34 positive1 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, describing it as profound and enlightening, with a spiritual tone that engages both mind and heart.

"...Interesting and inspiring, even if you are not a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation...." Read more

"...Each story is very short, just one or two pages, but boy are they packed with Wisdom...." Read more

"...It is catchy, enlightening and touch the vast reservoir of creative intelligence found in each and Every one of us at the level of pure consciousness..." Read more

"...Nevertheless an easy and at times inspiring read." Read more

31 customers mention "Meditation"25 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the book's meditation content, with one customer noting how it helps unblock creativity, while another mentions its potential to create world peace.

"...by David Lynch from his experiences with film making, transcendental meditation, and how it may benefit practitioners of TM." Read more

"...You will get a glimpse into David Lynch's methods, imagination and meditation." Read more

"Really loved this book. I'm very interested in meditation after reading this. Lynch talking about his creative process is very interesting!..." Read more

"...It has sparked my interest in meditation and I look forward to giving it a try based on some of his tips mentioned...." Read more

19 customers mention "Writing style"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as a true master of creativity, with one customer noting it as a must-read for serious artists.

"Beautifully written and simply wise. Made me love Lynch and his amazing, mesmerising work infinitely more than I already did." Read more

"...I love his style of writing and the references to the Vedic Wisdom of India...." Read more

"IT was great book as i thought ! david lynch is great writer and he knows how to make the life like great place at his mind and his movies also !..." Read more

"This book was a delight from beginning to end. David Lynch writes so simply and clearly about the creative process...." Read more

17 customers mention "Short stories"16 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the short stories in the book, finding them insightful and filled with fun anecdotes, with one customer noting they can read any chapter to feel inspired.

"...and personal entry into meditation, mixed with personal history, short stories, and anecdotes. Recommended just to hear David narrate...." Read more

"Various insightful short stories by David Lynch from his experiences with film making, transcendental meditation, and how it may benefit..." Read more

"...little soothing voice but good solid advice on meditation,and life in general..." Read more

"...I really respect his work and admire his talent. This book is filled with fun anecdotes and a few gems of insight but mostly it reads as an ad for..." Read more

18 customers mention "Shortness of story"10 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's length, with several noting that the chapters are quite short.

"...It's a short and easy read. You can just bounce around and pick a page at random since they don't need to be read in any particular order." Read more

"...It is a short read and feels like reading someone's thoughts that are jotted down in no particular order...." Read more

"...Very short chapters about his early experiences with TM, and how it expanded his growth as an artist...." Read more

"...The book is really short, rather than wasting your money just go to the book store for an afternoon and read the book...." Read more

Non-linear thoughts to contemplate
4 out of 5 stars
Non-linear thoughts to contemplate
This book is beautifully designed. - such a pleasure to hold in your hand, and the words on the page breathe easily, so read easily. You can open any page and read an interesting bit. I've uploaded a couple passages - for instance, I love Angelo Badalamenti and how he worked with David Lynch... not a big long read, but just enough to capture how much David loved working with him. If you are a David Lynch fan, I would recommend instead of this book, his autobiography/biography ROOM TO DREAM. It's such a creative way to write memories from different points of view. This book leans more heavily on his practice of Transcendental Meditation.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Pretty much only for fans of David Lynch, this book is a collection of short thoughts/chapters focusing on how David uses transcendental meditation (TM) to improve his creative processes.

    I read it in about a half hour as each chapter was about a page or less (on Kindle, anyway). But I can see this book being akin to a religious text where you are perhaps meant to read it multiple times, or to pick certain chapters to read when you need them; it is not a novel and anyone looking for juicy tidbits about his movies or television shows will be disappointed. It really is all about how David Lynch has used TM since the 70’s to ‘expand his container’ and allow himself to dive deeper where he catches the larger, far more interesting fish that he’s presented his entire career.

    An absolute must-read for Lynch fans!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is an insightful, inspiring and motivating book. If you have a creative pull and want to delve into how to tap into it well this book is for you. Lynch talks about his inspirations and how he fishes ideas and nurtures them into something he can express. This is a must read for creatives of all fields and interest.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    For all of those who complain that this is neither an in-depth autobiography nor a detailed instructional manual on how to practice Transcendental Meditation - well, it's a bit silly to think such a small book would be a comprehensive ANYTHING.

    With that said, this little gem reads like you're having a short but intense one-on-one chat with Lynch. Its style is genuine, colloquial, and conversational. More a series of interview high-points than a structured beginning-middle-end journey. He is brutally honest about how he sees himself, how he sees the world, and what he thinks of each of his own artistic endeavours.

    I take off one star because there are multiple chapters that are literally ONE SENTENCE. Which, frankly, is a bit off-putting and results in a lot of wasted paper. But it's a quick, enjoyable read, and I'd still recommend it to anyone who enjoys Lynch not just as a director or artist, but as a person. It's almost impossible to read the book without hearing it in his voice... which is lovely.
    15 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A very good friend of mine worked for David Lynch until her death. When she told me was a meditator, back in 1992, I found it hard to believe. I had been meditating for 20 years by then and couldn't imagine that someone whose films were utterly incomprehensible and even ugly at times could be diving into the same depths that are opened by TM. That changed when I saw Elephant Man. The depth of profundity of emotion and even the fine grained look of the film all combined to make it a very deep and lasting expression of a singular consciousness filled with joy and tragedy and deep humanity. I went back and saw his other films then and saw the same things through the varied telling and showing of different stories.
    Even more impressive is his passion to alleviate suffering and the compassion that drives him to do so by opening as many avenues to advance TH instruction for those most vulnerable.
    This was a delightful book. No fluff.
    39 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book has a lot of interesting information in it. David Lynch talks about his experience with Transcendental Meditation and its positive effects on him. He also talks about his strategies for living a life as an artist. And there are several different pages about the movies he's made, the actors in them, and his thoughts on film in general.

    His biggest points are the importance of healthy living, the importance of meditation, and being your natural self. His advice for creativity, I thought, was pretty helpful for just about any artistic medium.

    The book is pretty short. It doesn't go super in depth into any one topic. Mr. Lynch spends about a page or two on each idea. It's really interesting to hear everything in his direct voice, but some more detail would have been nice.

    I loved how positive David Lynch seemed in the whole book. About the biggest thing I took from the book was his advice on being healthy yourself. He says, for an artist, you have to understand things like depression to create conflict in a story. But, if you, yourself, are depressed, it will be very hard to create. So he suggests different ways throughout the book to keep yourself healthy and still make art.

    This was a great way to see into David Lynch's world through his own words. There's lots of great words, advice, and information, but it is very brief. But, if you're interested in David Lynch and his approach to life strategy, it's a great book.
    16 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I just finished reading it. It took me a few days but it's actually short enough that one could sit down and read in one whoop. I love that the chapters are short. When you explain something in a way that makes it easy for the reader understand, you don't need to have a bunch of words because it would just muck it up.

    I meditate already but I need to do it more and this book has inspired me to look into TM. I am an artist of sorts and I am inspired to tap into more of me to help get that rolling in an enjoyable way. I think we're all artist tho, even if you don't think you are. I think we suppress our creativity, maybe not intentionally but it's full potential is not something that many of us know about.

    I love David Lynch and I had no idea that he had written this. I was intrigued with the wee bit that I had read by someone's sharing and knew I had to read it. I can't wait to read it again and find more treasures within its contents.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The day his passing was announced I downloaded this book in remembrance of David’s brilliance. His Masterclass on screenwriting and catching the big fish, that tremendous idea that needs to be written, painted, produced, whatever, goes hand in hand with this book. Don’t miss this honest voice for inspiration in your art.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Gianluca Persia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Una raccolta di ispirazioni
    Reviewed in Italy on November 29, 2017
    Un buon complemento per chi ama l'arte di David Lynch e vuole scoprire di più sulla sua visione del mondo e la sua poetica. Il prodotto è maneggievole e di facile lettura. L'impostazione in micro-capitoli rende la lettura più leggera.
    Report
  • isabelle134
    5.0 out of 5 stars autobiographic and inspiring, pleasant reading
    Reviewed in Singapore on October 25, 2021
    I like the format: small chapters with a specific content or idea or point to make, sometimes only one page long. It shows the author's evolution in his creative process, the questions he asked himself, and how meditation helped him during all these years.
    The author is not trying to teach or convince, he just shares his life experiences. I liked this approach very much, and found it inspiring.
  • Steve
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Wow! This is an amazing book. Learning TM is definitely the best thing I have done in my life, for 3 things: removing stress, developing spirituality & enlightenment, and for enhancing creativity. This book focuses mainly on the third of these, the awakening of Creative Intelligence. Fantastic if you are an artist, writer or musician etc.
  • Dan Ferno
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente edición, llegó bien
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 15, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Estaba entre ésta edición en pasta dura o la de aniversario con contenido extra pero me agradó mucho ésta en pasta dura, es una edición muy bonita y no puedo hacer más para leerlo.
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    Dan Ferno
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Excelente edición, llegó bien

    Reviewed in Mexico on August 15, 2024
    Estaba entre ésta edición en pasta dura o la de aniversario con contenido extra pero me agradó mucho ésta en pasta dura, es una edición muy bonita y no puedo hacer más para leerlo.
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  • Caro-Elisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tolles buch
    Reviewed in Germany on February 13, 2020