Catching the Big Fish

Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

By: David Lynch

Narrated by: David Lynch

In this “unexpected delight” (The Boston Globe), visionary filmmaker, musician, and actor 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.

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

©2006 Bobkind Inc. (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“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)

“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)

"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)

Great insights!!!

Not a David Lynch fan necessarily. Interesting how he develops his ideas and let them run. Very cool that he has been into meditating so long and is supportive on the topic for younger generations.

Worth your time!

Great way to open up my mind and understand success has many faces and the steps to get there.

a real great listen!

I really enjoyed it! hearing his insight, perspective and advice was wonderful. I have such a deeper understanding and respect for one of my favorite film directors

inspiring

It was everything I wanted in a David Lynch book. Worth every minute of listening.

What a gift

Hearing David Lynch speak his words unveils a whole other layer to his ideas. You go there, you feel them. Beautiful.

Just… Lynch

David Lynch gives amazing insight into his creative process and the simple ‘non-processes’ that gave seed to many of his films.

Love to Listen Over and Over Again

I love David Lynch.
He’s the one that got me interested into Transcendental Meditation. Very interesting perspective and human being. Probably my 5th time listening to this.

David Lynch is awesome ✨✨✨

This book was so interesting and inspiring. I really loved it and will listen again and take notes! I hope he has other books I could listed to him for hours on end haha 💛💛💛

Ways to get back to peace

Very well, narrated and content was fabulous. Nothing I disliked about it. It was straight to the point, creative, and hopeful.

Amazing insights, harmonious ideas

Possibly my favorite audio book experience. A meditation unto itself. Perfectly rendered by a master artist who need not render at all. The art happens all by itself. A classic for creative people, especially storytelling professionals.