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 forty keys to creativity, you will be ready to unlock your own brilliance and unleash it on the world.
Download and start listening now!
"I'm a huge fan of Hugh's writing style and his biting wit. I can get behind anyone who encourages us to be ourselves and to stop listening to what other people think! Plus, the book is full of great thoughts on creativity and growing a strong business based around those gifts. "
— Tara (5 out of 5 stars)
William Dufris reads with humor and liveliness as he shares the author's argument for creativity in a complicated world and steps for personal creativity.
— AudioFile" It's not so often you like first 5 pages of the book. I love this one! "
— Oleg, 2/14/2014" I'm a huge fan of Hugh's writing style and his biting wit. I can get behind anyone who encourages us to be ourselves and to stop listening to what other people think! Plus, the book is full of great thoughts on creativity and growing a strong business based around those gifts. "
— Tara, 2/7/2014" I think that, after reading the reviews of others, it's exactly the kind of feedback I'd expect this "book" to elicit. It's short on form but long on advice, and you will either LOVE it or HATE it. "
— Joe, 2/4/2014" Useless waste of time. Not even funny. :/ "
— Federica, 1/20/2014" Bright and inspiring. Loved the card-sized cartoons! "
— cassie, 1/19/2014" Hugh MacLeod's book reinforces the idea of creativity being a part of your every day evolution. I agree! Never second guess what your mind is telling and avoid people that don't share in your ideas.I couldn't haven't said it better. "
— Greg, 1/4/2014" Great book, could have been called followers vs. leaders. "
— Eliot, 12/4/2013" Some of the 40 keys to creativity were gold, but a few seemed like fillers. Worth it though! "
— Jenn, 11/4/2013" Quick read with basics of how succession of life's success may come. "
— Joyce, 10/17/2013" Mcm xsesuai dgn nilai yg saya pegang..komiknya xbest dan kata2 dlm komik tu pun xbest..idea yg lain lebih kurang sama jg dgn buku2 yg seangkatan dgn nya, tiada kelebihan..mmg susah tulis buku tp buku ni xmasuk kot..walaupun baca reviu mcm best..tp.itu la.. "
— Endah, 9/22/2013" I loved this simple book about creativity and writing. Whatever your Mt. Everest, these thoughts will help you climb it. "
— Jean, 8/20/2013" Enjoyed reading it. A good way to vent and to boost your morale "
— Miki, 7/13/2013" Great reading! Explore your creativity and growth daily and obtain happiness by excercising a little bit of yourself daily in everything you do. "
— Dalis, 4/10/2013" Love this book, it's no bull, no nonsense, no excuse to how to be creative and think independently. I think everyone who hopes to do well in this modern business world should give this book a read (or listen). "
— Angie, 2/8/2013" Fun - insightful - inspiring - funny - worth many many more reads! "
— Dallas, 1/25/2013" Easy to read, with funny and sharp cartoons in support of the ideas discussed in the book. Points of view not supporter by deep scientific studies, but rather by gut feeling and clear reasoning. Two things that are becoming scarce these days. "
— Dominik, 1/7/2013" I wrote a review on my blog when I finished it. Don't feel like writing a new review. Here's what I thought then How to "Ignore Everybody" "
— Shelley, 9/9/2012" Hilarious! With good ideas, too. "
— Valerie, 11/9/2011" A very powerful little book! "
— Mark, 10/24/2011" This is the first, and best to date, of Hugh MacLeod's book. Insightful and funny the book is about creativity, the Internet, his life, making a living and many other things. Great cartoons. "
— Peter, 8/7/2011" Enjoyable, I think he has a particular experience which may not translate to others. Still like the cartoons more than the text. "
— Edmund, 5/23/2011" Quick, hilarious, and intelligent kick in the backside. +++ for swearing in all the right places. "
— Maigh, 4/21/2011" The cartoons are ok but the insight is right on. "
— Joe, 4/19/2011" simple and easy read Also thought-provoking and realistic. Has nice comics inlaid. "
— Abi, 4/4/2011" Love this book, it's no bull, no nonsense, no excuse to how to be creative and think independently. I think everyone who hopes to do well in this modern business world should give this book a read (or listen). "
— Angie, 3/8/2011" This was fun to read and it had cartoons! "
— Jeff, 3/2/2011" Loved the tone and approach of this book. Made me laugh! "
— Julie, 2/17/2011" This guy has made a mark, and earned his living from drawing cartoons on the back of business cards. His book is a pep talk to creative poeple. It is a needed pep talk and well written. "
— Texx, 2/13/2011" His drawings, of which he makes much, are creepy. "
— Christine, 2/8/2011" Not particularly useful for gleaning ideas to become a more creative engineer. Might be better for artists. Also a bit depressing. "
— Maura, 1/23/2011" A good message overall but it felt really chopped up and all over the place. "
— Arnav, 1/15/2011Hugh MacLeod worked as an advertising copywriter for more than a decade while developing his skills as a cartoonist and pundit. His blog is Gaping Void, and more than a million people have downloaded his e-book, How to be Creative, which inspired his book Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity. He also lectures and consults on Web 2.0 and its impact on business.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.