Learning from Dead People
Dear Comrades,
All artists come from somewhere. Painters, architects, writers—all have influences. It may be other artists, or the things they love and hate, or even whether their parents loved them too much or not enough.
My own creative influences come from philosophy, theater, literature, and even poetry. And my reading is all outside of the design or art fields. I feel creators whose libraries only reflect their chosen field can become insular, myopic, and onanist (look that shit up).
Most of what I read are classics, volumes I return to again and again. These are the books my heroes have read and the ones that have become my blood and sinew:
I have to start with the grand-daddy of all self help, inspirational, motivational mutha-f@ckers of a book, Napolean Hill’s 1937 classic Think and Grow Rich. In it, Hill describes his 14 “Principles of Achievement.” My own book, Feck Perfuction, aspired to be like 'Think' but with pictures.
A big influence both in my work and life is Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay Self Reliance. The opening page is a great call to owning and trusting your voice with these beautiful words, “I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may. The sentiment they instill is of more value than any thought they may contain. To believe our own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,—that is genius.” This is a beautiful telling of one of my formative ideas, “In the particular lies the universal.”
Emerson was heavily influenced by Rumi. You must get to know the poet Jalal al-Din Muḥammad Rumi or just Rumi. There is a great collection called The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks (Harper Collins). I dip into this often for inspiration and solace and carry it with me when I travel.
If you like Rumi you have to meet my other Persian friend, the lyric poet Hafiz (Khwaja Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Ḥafeẓ-e Shirazi). The best volume is Daniel Ladinsky’s translation, The Subject Tonight Is Love: 60 Wild and Sweet Poems of Hafiz (Penguin Compass, 2003).
My newest pal is the 'Philosopher King' Marcus Aurelius and his seminal book, Meditations. This is essentially a collection of writings from his personal journals while he was Emperor of Rome. In these, he reminds himself (as we all should do) of the tenants and philosophy that keep him sane.
In order to understand your own journey, you need to expose yourself to those who have gone before. The concept of the hero—particularly the reluctant one—is well documented by Joseph Campbell in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces (New World Library, 2008). You may also want to watch his PBS interviews on the subject with Bill Moyers.
If you did not read it in college, please read Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet (Penguin Classics, 2004). It is a moving collection of letters from an older poet to a young soldier who longs to write. You will undoubtedly see yourself in these lines.
Of course, you have to read Victore or, Who Died and Made You Boss? (Abrams, 2014) by the startlingly bright and truthful young artist, James Victore. It is a good read and an honest look at me figuring my way in, and essentially out, of the design world.
Anthony Bourdain’s, Kitchen Confidential, (Updated edition published by Ecco in 2018). This, his first book, was a huge influence on me to take up writing and trust my own voice.
David Mamet is an author, playwright and screenwriter, but to me his best work is as a critic and teacher. He has a very particular and beautiful style of writing. Take a look at Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business, (Vintage, 2008).
The writing of David Foster Wallace strongly resonates with me. I recommend reading both This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life, (Little, Brown and Company, 2009) and his collection of articles and essays Consider the Lobster, (Back Bay Books). He was truly a gifted writer and a compassionate human being.
If you are brave and a confident reader I will trust you to my favorite author, and one of America’s most creative thinkers, William James. My favorite idea of his is this, “The greatest invention of my generation is that one can change their reality by changing their thoughts.” The book I own is called The Will To Believe, (Dover, 1960) This book is dense and not attempted for...fun.
My love of reading was spurred on at an early point in my life when I first found Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. This reference book was Winston Churchill’s favorite pastime reading. It is a jumping-off point to find so many good writers and thinkers. Mine is a beat up antique volume I found in a thrift store.
I am currently teaching my 7 year old boy to read and to love reading—while at the same time driving home the idea that reading is the path to freedom, power and knowledge (yes, I am pedantic). I remind him, too, that it is also how we learn from dead people—he particularly digs that idea.
To me, reading is a comfort. It lets me know that others suffer and struggle, that others believe in my own romantic notions that love and art and creativity will save us. And that others put in the work to achieve those high ideals. Good luck on your journey. Keep the fire lit and bring a good book.
