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A review by graciegrace1178
Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman
5.0
Thank you, Gaiman, for this. This is among those few prized books which I think should be available everywhere for everyone to read all the time. Reminded me of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic with an even MORE optimistic and dazzlingly enthusiastic tone.
WHAT I LIKED
1) inspirational. This was just the kick in the pants I needed to refocus myself. I’ve been in a slump (exemplified by the sudden slew of books I’ve gone through. It’s been a bit of an escapist addiction, which according to Gaiman, isn’t a bad thing! My GPA might beg to differ.) Anyway, I’m glad this helped me remember who I am and what I’m working towards.
2) ENFPism (enthusiasm). My god I have never read something that SPARKLES with enthusiasm like this book does. I’m in awe. I feel like I’ve been doused in glitter, and lemme tell ya folks, *it’s bloody fantastic.* I’m positively uplifted! Rejuvenated! Somebody tell the spas: this book is the new skincare routine! People will line up for miles to get a dose of Gaiman’s anti-aging joie de vivre words.
3) IMPORTANT MESSAGES. ART IS IMPORTANT! SELF EXPRESSION IS IMPORTANT!! IMAGINATION IS IMPORTANT! READING IS IMPORTANT!! READING *FOR FUN* IS IMPORTANT!!!! LIVING LIFE LIKE AN ADVENTURE IS (you guessed it) IMPORTANT!! Replace all the “important”s with “should be encouraged” and that’s the whole book in a nutshell.
4) the value of imagination. I know this is in the last point but I can’t stress this enough. I’ve never seen educators really *encourage* imagination. Not since the dawn of The Terrible Curriculum Adjustments in which teachers have little to no freedom over the topics they present. It’s a stifling environment that produces stifled kids. Parents often discourage imagination too. And that’s the WORST fate. Imagination wasn’t often encouraged in my house; hard facts and statistics were much preferred. It’s taken years of circling back to my childhood (à la Le Petit Prince) for me to realize just how vital imagination is for an entertaining and LIVABLE life. I’m really glad there’s a book of the same opinion.
5) the pitfalls of higher education. Gaiman’s friends saying they feel lost after higher education put them into debt and into a career they don’t want vs. Gaiman who didn’t go to college experiencing freedom and joy. That about sums it up. This review is turning into more of an education rant than expected.
6) A real creative spirit. Gaiman is creativity incarnate. He’s the epitome of free-spirited discipline. He’s driven but somehow still in touch with his creative life force. He’s everything I want to be. I don’t know why I took me so long to recognize that. I love his enthusiastic nature and his thoughts on learning and education. Yes, OF COURSE, we should encourage young people to read. YES, it’s fantastic if they want to read fiction or unconventional books. Yes, absolutely they can visit the library and explore. And yes, it is so important that these things are encouraged. This is everything I have been saying for years but made better by its compaction and presentation by a renowned writer. Yes. Just yes. Bless you, Gaiman.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: A self-reflection
1) I’m kicking myself. A lot of my reviews this year have closed with a section titled “what I didn’t like,” this review included (obviously). Since I started this tradition I’ve been hesitant to continue it for fear of sounding too negative or damaging the author’s credibility or, in the extremely unlikely scenario that the author actually reads my review, I’ve feared hurting their feelings and their drive to create. I’ve justified this section by telling myself it’s a catalogue of reminders of things I won’t include in my *own* writing or that it’s a sign to the author to change something. But honestly. Each writer’s writing is their own and it’s not my job to berate their approach, is it? They shouldn’t be discounted because of my personal opinion of their work. Henceforth, this section will still (probably) be titled “WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE” only now the emphasis will be on what I LEARNED to pay proper respects to the creativity and courage of all the authors who have put their work out into the world. I will still share my opinions, but they will be softened with due respect. This book made me realize that I need to be more considerate in this regard. I will do better. This made me remember the importance of encouraging creativity and the damage that harsh criticism can cause. It’s easy to forget that authors are people too.
WHAT I LIKED
1) inspirational. This was just the kick in the pants I needed to refocus myself. I’ve been in a slump (exemplified by the sudden slew of books I’ve gone through. It’s been a bit of an escapist addiction, which according to Gaiman, isn’t a bad thing! My GPA might beg to differ.) Anyway, I’m glad this helped me remember who I am and what I’m working towards.
2) ENFPism (enthusiasm). My god I have never read something that SPARKLES with enthusiasm like this book does. I’m in awe. I feel like I’ve been doused in glitter, and lemme tell ya folks, *it’s bloody fantastic.* I’m positively uplifted! Rejuvenated! Somebody tell the spas: this book is the new skincare routine! People will line up for miles to get a dose of Gaiman’s anti-aging joie de vivre words.
3) IMPORTANT MESSAGES. ART IS IMPORTANT! SELF EXPRESSION IS IMPORTANT!! IMAGINATION IS IMPORTANT! READING IS IMPORTANT!! READING *FOR FUN* IS IMPORTANT!!!! LIVING LIFE LIKE AN ADVENTURE IS (you guessed it) IMPORTANT!! Replace all the “important”s with “should be encouraged” and that’s the whole book in a nutshell.
4) the value of imagination. I know this is in the last point but I can’t stress this enough. I’ve never seen educators really *encourage* imagination. Not since the dawn of The Terrible Curriculum Adjustments in which teachers have little to no freedom over the topics they present. It’s a stifling environment that produces stifled kids. Parents often discourage imagination too. And that’s the WORST fate. Imagination wasn’t often encouraged in my house; hard facts and statistics were much preferred. It’s taken years of circling back to my childhood (à la Le Petit Prince) for me to realize just how vital imagination is for an entertaining and LIVABLE life. I’m really glad there’s a book of the same opinion.
5) the pitfalls of higher education. Gaiman’s friends saying they feel lost after higher education put them into debt and into a career they don’t want vs. Gaiman who didn’t go to college experiencing freedom and joy. That about sums it up. This review is turning into more of an education rant than expected.
6) A real creative spirit. Gaiman is creativity incarnate. He’s the epitome of free-spirited discipline. He’s driven but somehow still in touch with his creative life force. He’s everything I want to be. I don’t know why I took me so long to recognize that. I love his enthusiastic nature and his thoughts on learning and education. Yes, OF COURSE, we should encourage young people to read. YES, it’s fantastic if they want to read fiction or unconventional books. Yes, absolutely they can visit the library and explore. And yes, it is so important that these things are encouraged. This is everything I have been saying for years but made better by its compaction and presentation by a renowned writer. Yes. Just yes. Bless you, Gaiman.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: A self-reflection
1) I’m kicking myself. A lot of my reviews this year have closed with a section titled “what I didn’t like,” this review included (obviously). Since I started this tradition I’ve been hesitant to continue it for fear of sounding too negative or damaging the author’s credibility or, in the extremely unlikely scenario that the author actually reads my review, I’ve feared hurting their feelings and their drive to create. I’ve justified this section by telling myself it’s a catalogue of reminders of things I won’t include in my *own* writing or that it’s a sign to the author to change something. But honestly. Each writer’s writing is their own and it’s not my job to berate their approach, is it? They shouldn’t be discounted because of my personal opinion of their work. Henceforth, this section will still (probably) be titled “WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE” only now the emphasis will be on what I LEARNED to pay proper respects to the creativity and courage of all the authors who have put their work out into the world. I will still share my opinions, but they will be softened with due respect. This book made me realize that I need to be more considerate in this regard. I will do better. This made me remember the importance of encouraging creativity and the damage that harsh criticism can cause. It’s easy to forget that authors are people too.