Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity

Ignore Everybody is two things in one. First, it's a series of tips designed to turn creatives into artists. Second, it's a collection of Hugh's best cartoons. While some of the cartoons do support the text, I'm going to review the cartoons and the text separately because they really do stand on their own.===THE BOOK===What separates a writer from an author? A rower from an oarsman? A comedian from a humorist?Greatness in any field comes from taking a novel idea and pushing it to its logical conclusion, redefining the medium in the process.Hugh doesn't teach you how to come up with your big idea, nor is the book a collection of theories on what makes something innovative. Rather, Hugh's rules teach a mindset conducive to pushing great ideas to their logical conclusions.This book won't teach you how to paint, but if you're lucky you'll come away with the mental frame you need to avoid having the outside world crush your creativity. And if you really take its lessons to heart then hopefully, in the words of Steve Jobs, you'll ship.Over the years I've sent the blog post that inspired this book to countless friends, and now that I've read the book itself I can't recommend it enough. I'd consider it a must-read for any creative who aspires to be an artist, not just some guy who lives in a loft and calls himself a writer.But even if you don't aspire to become an artist, the book still has much to offer. In Hugh's own words, "This book is about becoming more 'creative' in one's work, whoever you may be. Or just useful advice for any one who aspires to undertake some creative or artistic journey."===THE CARTOONS===While reading Ignore Everybody, one gets the sense that Hugh MacLeod would be far happier if only he were a little less intelligent. The existentially depressed cynic to Woody Allen's bumbling neurotic, the Hugh MacLeod character is sort of a cross between Dostoevsky and George Carlin.[1] That is, the cartoons are really a collection of observations about people, their motivations, and the shallowness and meaninglessness of the human condition.So, is Hugh truly an artist, someone who has pushed the medium forward? Yes. Two reasons:1) Hugh is the only cartoonist that's figured out a way to draw his characters in a way that really lets you see into their souls. Hugh manages to nail the platonic ideals of the ditzy blonde, the pretending-to-be-an-artist-to-pick-up-girls guy, the too-full-of-himself corporate a**hole, etc. Considering that his cartoons are really only simple line drawings, it's amazing how well he's able to convey the characters' posture, dress, facial expression, body language, etc.You can tell exactly what the character is like as an entire person just by looking at them, even if you cover up the text. Open up the Sunday comics and it quickly becomes clear that no other cartoonist can do this.2) Hugh's second trademark is being able to write the one sentence that sums up the character's entire existence.Man: "I can't decide what I want to be: A millionaire or an artist."Woman: "Can't you just compromise? Become a millionaire artist or something..."Viewed through the lens of the art, the human existence is nothing more than posturing and superficiality.Does Hugh actually believe this? He says,"I don't necessarily find the human condition shallow and meaningless per se. Just our egos and pride sometimes force us to act like it is. I think we're all strive to find meaning in life, we just don't always elect to take the high road when doing so; we're often far too willing to look for shortcuts."All in all, this is a book that will change the way you think. In a good way. A very good way.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOKMacLeod starts off with a bang. In the first chapter, he says "The more original your idea, the less good advice other people will be able to give you" (p. 1) and "a big idea will change you" (p. 2). I was hooked from that moment. I've been breaking new ground in educational leadership academe for years now and have consistently found that the vast majority of my peers don't have much to offer me in terms of insight or direction. I don't know where all of this "social media and tribe building as an alternative to traditional measures of success for research faculty" stuff is going to go. But it sure is an interesting ride. And MacLeod is correct - it has changed my thinking substantially.Each chapter is short. Just enough to give you some context and get you thinking about your life and your job. And think you will...MacLeod is a popular cartoonist. He punctuates his writing with some of his art. Awesome.KEY QUOTESHere are a few key quotes:"Good ideas alter the power balance in relationships. That is why good ideas are always initially resisted." (p. 2)Boy, I've lived this one several hundred times over the past few years. Either I'm ahead of my time (in my field) or I'm completely insane. Time will tell!AND"Your wee [creative] voice came back because your soul somehow depends on it. There's something you haven't said, something you haven't done, some light that needs to be switched on, and it needs to be taken care of. Now. So you have to listen to the wee voice or it will die ... taking a big chunk of you along with it." (p. 28)The peer-review publication paradigm - where your writing goes in places that educators never visit - never made a lot of sense to me. Blogging and other social media have given me different outlets and a different voice. And I'm much, much happier for it. My wee voice was crying out for something different. I just didn't know it.AND"Don't make excuses. Just shut the [heck] up and get on with it." (p. 82)AND"The ease with which a blog (or whatever social medium you prefer) can circumvent the gatekeepers is staggering." (p. 140)QUESTIONS I HAVE AFTER READING THIS BOOK1. Am I brave enough to never publish a peer-reviewed article again?2. Is there enough space in my day job as a professor to accommodate my non-peer-review writing and social media passions?3. What should I be working on next? Where do I want to go and what do I want to be doing in 5 years?4. How do I reach school leaders when most are not yet active in social media?5. How many graduating high school seniors can I give this book to before a parent complains about the language (some of which is a bit crude)?RATINGI give this book 5 stars to reflect a) the amount of yellow ink in my copy, and b) the affirmation of much of what I believe (or would like to believe) about myself and my work. Extra credit for the author's last name!** See my other reviews and recommended reading suggestions at my blog, Dangerously Irrelevant.

Ótima leitura, bom de ler, muito inspirador, recomendo principalmente pra quem tem receio de empreender, infelizmente não achei versão em português e o preço do livro físico é absurdo.

Amazing book. Full of inspiring tips.

Definitely a must read, gives a different view on creativity.

Les dessins sont superbes, éloquents, à fort impact. Les messages sont bien étudiés tout en restant faciles d'accès. Un illustrateur qui utilise son art pour dire ce qu'il pense. J'aime !

Muy entretenido y motivador a la vez, pero ojo que no se trata de un libro de autoayuda. Muy, muy recomendable.