Here’s where you can find “How to be Creative.”

It started on Hugh MacLeod’s weblog, here: http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html

And you can download a nicely-formatted PDF of the content, here: http://www.changethis.com/6.HowToBeCreative

A great, touching, and independently-produced graphic novel. I can’t recall where I read about it first, but you can order your own here: http://newreliable.com/?page_id=3

Thanks (sincerely!) to my kids, I’ve seen the original Willy Wonka movie at least 50 times. It holds up so well every time, and Gene Wilder will always be Willy Wonka for me.

Tim Burton’s version is okay, although he seems to rely more heavily on visual effects than the story telling itself, which is a shame. Johnny Depp does a pretty good job, but just comes off as too creepy, and not the odd but likable Wonka that Wilder perfected.

Perhaps I shouldn’t compare too much with the older version, but if you’re going to remake such a widely-loved movie, you’re going to be competing with everyone’s memories. I don’t think Tim Burton did a good job filling those shoes.

John Hodgman is now (in)famously known as the “I’m a PC” guy from the Apple Computer commercials. But, he’s also written this odd little book as well.

And more recently, you can see him explain “Net Neutrality” on the Daily Show here. Very funny.

“No cat! No cradle!”

You know, it stings a little when you spend 15$+ on a book and you’re able to read it during your lunch break. Still, Clowes is still one of my favorites and these little vignettes only strengthens that opinion.

Ricky Jay’s compendium of irregular entertainment is absolutely fascinating. From fire-eaters, to intelligent horses, from mind readers, to leg-less wonders, this chronicle of the bizzare stage acts from the past is engrossing, and at times extremely funny.

I doubt such a collection of such sideshow-like performers has ever been made, and now that I’ve finished I wish there were more books available to read about these types of performers. Ricky Jay is one of the last true historians for this type of entertainment, and the sideshow freaks just don’t get the respect that they did in the past.

Having been recommended this book by several people and publications, I decided it was time I picked up a copy. It’s about time too, I’m in need of some words of advice and encouragement.

I’ve been given many recommendations to pick up this book. Let’s see if it may spur some creativity in me.

Finished this book a few weeks ago. Although a few of the stories in this collection put me off, many others opened my eyes to how well post-modern fiction can be achieved.

Donald Barthelme writes well, even when breaking the common rules of grammar and composition. A note to all the wannabe post-modernists: get a better grasp of the basics before you try and dismantle them.