Austin Kleon - When the mind’s eye is blind

Hey y’all,

Here are 10 things I thought were worth sharing this week: 

1. A fact that blows my mind: some people can’t form images in their heads.
    
2. After my post about indexing and file systems, several people recommended the book How to Take Smart Notes. Not sure if I’ll go for a full Zettelkasten or not, but it’s one of the better books I’ve read about writing. (I wish I’d read it in college.)
    
3. Jenny Offill’s Dept. of Speculation is one of my favorite books about art and motherhood, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to read her latest, Weather. (Both could go on my list of good books you could finish in an afternoon.)
    
4. “A paragraph I wrote six years ago has, in all likelihood, found more readers than anything I’ve published under my own name.” When a fake quote goes viral. (I love that this hoax was inspired by Adam Phillips’ Paris Review interview.)
    
5. Ear candy: after hearing a track of hers in the trailer for the new Anthony Bourdain movie, I’ve gotten really into Noveller, a.k.a. the guitarist Sarah Lipstate. (Iggy Pop calls her work, “symphonies for people that don’t have a lot of time.”)
    
6. Podcast: Rick Rubin interviews Brian Eno. (I made the collage at the top of this email while listening and taking notes.)
    
7. Worth streaming: Bo Burnham’s pandemic comedy special, Inside. 
    
8. Movie: Plan B is a fun, raunchy buddy comedy. (For fans of Booksmart and Superbad.)
    
9. Kids driving you crazy? Busy them with a fart collage.
    
10. The inspiration for one of my favorite picture books, The Three Robbers.