Ignore Everybody

And 39 Other Keys to Creativity

By: Hugh MacLeod

Narrated by: William Dufris

When Hugh MacLeod was a struggling young copywriter living in a YMCA, he started to doodle on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. Those cartoons eventually led to a popular blog - gapingvoid.com - and a reputation for pithy insight and humor, in both words and pictures.

MacLeod has opinions on everything from marketing to the meaning of life, but one of his main subjects is creativity. How do new ideas emerge in a cynical, risk-averse world? Where does inspiration come from? What does it take to make a living as a creative person?

Ignore Everybody expands on MacLeod's sharpest insights, wittiest cartoons, and most useful advice. For example:

Selling out is harder than it looks. Diluting your product to make it more commercial will just make people like it less.
• If your plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail. Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain.
• Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether. There's no point trying to do the same thing as 250,000 other young hopefuls, waiting for a miracle. All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one.
• The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours.
• The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will.

After learning MacLeod's 40 keys to creativity, you will be ready to unlock your own brilliance and unleash it on the world.

©2009 Hugh MacLeod (P)2009 Tantor

Good information and full of humor

enjoyed this as it was raw and real - no BS! good information, definitely not boring

Couldn't finish it - Painful narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narration was so over-the-top dramatic that it distracted me from the message. Got so irritated, I quit listening, even though I still wanted to hear what the author had to say.

In the future, I'm reading reviews first and choosing books read by the author.

interesting topic and ideas.

It was presented well and the ideas are easy to understand. I think a lot of the information can be applied to many different professions.

its ok not wow

Would you try another book from Hugh MacLeod and/or William Dufris?

sure

What could Hugh MacLeod have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The first 3 keys are worth reading, the rest are more of an encouragement to start a blog- there are really 28 keys, after the 28th key is just filling the space

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of William Dufris?

yes

Any additional comments?

the book is ok, I'm just not sure if the author is qualified to write a book on creativity , just because his blog got lucky - anyways the author did motivate me in starting my own blog - added a start for that

I want my crayons back!

He confirms life is not rocket science. Keep your day job. Follow your creative muse like your biggest crush. Be nice, stay loose, rock on.

Great material.

Reader embellishes too much, but great content. Would have enjoyed a slightly straighter narrator, it's a bit overdone and silly in a not really funny way.

Enjoyed every minute!

I think this book has some of the best advice out there. It's not your typical X + Y = Z book. Hugh MacLeod offers us an unique viewpoint into how to manage your creativity, while still functioning as a normal human being. This should be on your must read list if you are a creative looking for your path to success.

interesting read

I enjoyed the audiobook, but didn't fall in love with it. Some advice is better than others and some punchlines are better than others. The narration was very good.

Humor, Facts, and Fun Direction

Pretty much tracks with the lessons I learned from doing just about the same thing. Of course, my experience was totally different (different coasts for one), and yet the same. What I enjoyed the most is being led to remember how I never took the time, even in my twenties, to kiss ass. Yes, I played the game as much as I was willing to play, but I always did things my way. It didn't pay well very often and you're right, forget the titles, but the direction my life took was entirely my own. There's nothing like looking back on that and seeing it for what it is--and then enjoying the ideas for a next field of vision. Thanks for giving me input on ideas, along with a renewed understanding of the maturity to wonder just how committed I'd be to them.

Somehow made me feel a deep connection and made me feel "heard" even though we have never met and I didn't talk at all.

This piece is spectacular.
I like how art is usually referred to as a "piece".
It's true in many ways.
The artist creates an experienceable "piece" of themselves.
And we have the audacity to critique it.
I, for one, would like to THANK you, Hugh, for spending the time on this "piece" as I know you did. I can tell there's too much of your soul in it for it to be a first draft (whether the other drafts were all written down or not).
Excellent craftsmanship, sir.
I look forward to reading more things that you write and will be finding at least one more to start very soon.
When I finish, I'll review that one too.
You'll know if I think it's as excellent as I think this is.
And if I don't... that's ok.
Not every piece of you is for everyone. This piece found the right person though and I appreciate it. This has genuinely helped me in several areas of my life.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
-Amy