Catching the Big Fish
Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity is an autobiography and self-help guide[1] written by American filmmaker David Lynch.It comprises 84 vignette-like chapters[2] in which Lynch comments on a wide range of topics "from metaphysics to the importance of screening your movie before a test audience".[3] Catching the Big Fish was inspired by Lynch's experiences with Transcendental Meditation (TM), which he began practicing in 1973.[1][2][4][5][6][7] In 2016 two exclusive Lynch's "q-and-a interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr" were added to 10th Anniversary Edition of the book.All proceeds from the book are donated to the David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, which funds TM instruction in schools.He believes a seminal idea is sufficient to start the creative process, which proceeds based on the artist’s "action and reaction".[4] Commentators viewed the 84 vignette-like chapters as entertaining stories, uncontroverted advice,[2] and "an unexpected delight" that unlocks the secret of Lynch’s distinctive imagination.[11] Another perceived deficiency in the book is the lack of details about Transcendental Meditation and how it’s practiced, creating a "tantalizing but unsatisfying" effect[2] and the feeling that the reader is "on the outside looking in".[6] Ultimately, Lynch’s love of creating films and transcendence along with his unique perspective are seen as themes that his admirers and would-be filmmakers can relish.