For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake- and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them). Acclaimed illustrator Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts-poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, and more-in order to experience the true creative process. Readers discover a new way of art and journal making-and new ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.
Whoah. So I got this on friday, and have slowly been completing the easier pages; poking hole in the paper, chucking it at my brothers head (he ducked just in time) and wearing it around tied to my head with a shoelace. But I'm struggling to move past this stage; I think's its because it still (from the outside at least) looks relatively clean. So today I AM TACKLING THAT PROBLEM.
I have decided to dive right into one of the scarier pages in hope that it will make the book look shabbier and I will in turn have fewer qualms about eventually lobbing it from my 3rd story English classroom window.
Today I spent ten minutes in my back garden, in thin cotton pyjamas, while it was -2° outside, trying to jam the journal between the slats in the back of the bench. Then I wasted another five minutes double checking that none of my nosey neighbours were peering at me through their net curtains before I finally convinced myself it was safe to bring out the coffee.
I stood there with the mug in my hand (which was shivering uncontrollably at this point) for a good two minutes telling myself that I was crazy and demanding to know what the hell I was doing. Finally, I plucked up the courage and flung the entire mug of coffee at my innocent little journal. Then proceeded to run quickly back inside in fear of being caught for the huge brown mark that is now sitting happily on my mum’s whitewashed wall :S.
And now that I have done the deed, all I can say is that it was LIBERATING. So. Much. Fun!
The journal is now currently sitting on my radiator, thawing after I forget to take it in last night, and slowly dripping coffee on the beige carpet. My head hurts; I think I have hypothermia.
Before I had even heard of this book, I was in a deep depression, and over come with self-pity and self-malice. But I noticed it once. I flipped through it. Then suddenly the World turned upside down. The sun turned into the Moon. I was walking on the cieling,while everyone else stared at me, upside down. I grinned so much it hurt. And the next week I bought it with no hesiation. This first thing I did was scribble insanely. AND THAT SENT ME FREE!!!!!!!!!! Wether you need an uplift or not, Wreck this Journal is a gateway to FREEDOM!!!!! PERFECT GREAT FREEDOM!!!!!!! READ IT NOW!!! :D And go to Kerismith.com for details!!!!
I AM ALMOST DONE I CANT WAIT TO BRING IT IN THE SHOWER IT TELLS YOU TO DO THAT MINE ACTUALLY BROKE IN HALF I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOO AWSOME I WISH I COULD MAKE THIS FONT BIGGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Update] I think we can safely say I failed this task too.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only bought the journal today, but I've had quite a bit of fun with it already. I've dripped syrup on it, stuffed kaffir lime leaves in it, coloured, painted, dripped, scribbled, stuck, stamped and torn. Here are a couple of the earliest entries.
Interesting idea. This book is where I developed my belief that one should not treat books one reads with reverence. Let me explain: I am engaged to a man that collects comic books. Now, as a general rule, comics are fairly fragile, being only a few sheets of paper held together with a couple staples. So when he reads them, he holds them delicately, and their spines are never broken. The books are never opened wide, and he lies them down open on his palms, instead of holding each side of the book upright. They are kept in bags with cardboard (all acid free archival quality!) in doing all this, he is ensuring that these comic books will be worth more money in future years. His treatment of them has spread into his treatment of regular novels and bound materials. It then spread to me and I found myself coddling each hardcover I owned and I avoided breaking book spines as much as possible.
I ask however: is there anything more satisfying than whipping out your favorite paperback, and folding the front cover all the way back behind the book as you read it? Furthermore, books were meant to be read. I read (non-valuable paperbacks) with abandon now. The way I shamelessly break those bindings is how I show that book I love it. And I do love it, I really really do.
Of course I still employ caution, especially with first printings and old tomes. Things I want to stay together and pass down or just keep forever will be treated with more reverence, but when it comes to more modern books and mass market paperbacks... Go on, go nuts. Show it you love it: devour it.
أتلف دفتر اليوميات هذا : يطلب منك هذا الكتاب عمل أمور قد تتردد في عملها ، لذلك كن مستعدا ، عِش بتهورٍ أكبرَ ! ألقِ قهوتك على الكتاب ، اصنع ثقوبا في الصفحات ، افرك بالتراب على صفحات الكتاب ، خيّط احدى صفحاته . تحذير ! خلال عمليات هذا الكتاب قد تجد نفسك متسخًا ، مغطى بالطلاء ، بقايا الطعام والعديد من المواد الغريبة . سوف تصاب بالبلل. يطلب منك الكتاب ان تقوم بأشياء غريبة وليس لك القدرة على عدم تنفيذها ، فتجد نفسك خاضعا له . قد تحزن على الحالة المثالية التي بانت على وجه الكتاب في البداية ، وقد تبدأ في رؤية دمار ابداعي شامل في كل مكان . هذا الكتاب لأي شخص وجد صعوبة في بدء او حفظ او إنهاء كتاب ، مجلة أو دفتر . أعتبر هذا الدفتر مكانًا لسكب الغضب ، فهو يتحداك على حشد أفضل ما عندك من اخطاء ، عثرات وتجارب لتصنع فوضى عارمة لملئ الصفحات .
I'm sorry, but this is just my opinion. As a journal keeper for many years I find this book and other "Art/Inspiration by Command" books like it repulsive. I think they serve to give form, where form should be created by itself. They are evil and work to inhibit, rather than help the flow of creativity. But 290 other people seem to like it, so what do I know?
Most eternal love to this piece of brilliance, light of my most boring seminars at university, spark of my imagination when I walk the streets, trigger of ideas, tank tearing down the barriers in my creativity... Okay, I'll stop here. Love it. Gotta love it. Got it from a friend, have seldomly been more delighted by a piece of creativity-triggering-book. Am working fanatically on it. :D
While I collect books and keep them in pristine shape and am very particular about my books this is really hard for me to do. I literally have to destroy this journal. Which is why I picked it up. I thought it would be something different to add to my library. Something unique. While I haven’t started yet it looks like this will be a fun, stress relieving activity that both kids and adults could have fun with. 4 stars
This isn’t just a book or a journal, this is a project, an undertaking, a small commitment you have to make with yourself if you are going to complete this. I had to make myself do things I would never do. Without being too spoilerish I’ll just say you really are supposed to be the opposite of careful with this book. That drives me crazy. That isn’t all, but find out for yourself. Some of it is hilariously funny and yet, are you seriously telling me to do that?
What I mean by that is, it pushes your boundaries and makes you think of both art and journaling in a different way. It tries to expand the ideas we have established of what we think a journal is. See, it’s not just about someone sitting down to neatly chronicle events and feelings; rather it can be the ultimate form of expression, experimentation of creation, and thought collection! Each page tells you something different to do to, with, or in the journal— something wacky, zany, creative, hilarious, fun, messy— something different!
I ended up really loving it and giving several of her other things a try. I also roped my mom into doing one of these of her owner the same time. She and I had some real fun getting these pages done and finding things to go on them. It helped me in my journaling and opened up new avenues of creativity. To me that was great considering my journals and idea books have always been eclectic. It would make a fun group project!
Technically, Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal isn’t exactly a book, but I wanted to write a review of it anyway.
This week, I gave the “journal” to my niece who turned 13 years old. I knew she would either react with rapture or complete apathy. Fortunately for my aspirations to be a cool aunt, she loved it.
Each page of the journal contains different instructions for destructing the book: poke holes through this page, burn that page, mail the entire journal to yourself. My niece immediately set out to wreck the journal. She ripped pages, smeared food on other pages, and sprayed perfume on a few.
The one drawback to the journal is that it asks for very little actual writing. I’d like to see a few more opportunities and prompts to record one’s thoughts and experiences. That being said, the book does get the creative juices flowing in other—albeit more destructive—ways.
Wreck This Journal isn’t likely to inspire the next Shakespeare. But it can give young people a lot of giggles and a way to channel their energy in a creative manner. And it just might inspire the next Picasso.
I always have my own way of "treating" my diary. I cut it in half if the year was a shitty one or i intentionally leave stained of coffee on the name of a person i hated.
By the end of my first year in university, a close senior of mine gave this book as a present and I was so fascinated by the format of the journal. Every flip of the pages makes me feel like they are mocking and challenging me. Maybe bcoz I always felt like a diary/journal should be "innocent" in sense. It means that a diary should be listening to everything you wanted to rant without making a comeback. They should just "received" and never "replied".
And boy how I have a lot of fun with the book. Tbh the whole 2nd year in university was the shittiest year ever. And thanks to this book, its literally became my savior.
This book will literally provide me with hours, days, weeks, months, years of stuff to do! It's kept me busy for so long and it's just nice to do a little bit every now and then when I'm in the mood! Such a great idea and would recommend to all!
صادفت مغرد في تويتر ناشر صفحه منه وعجبتني فكرته وشريته هو دفتر لتفريغ طاقتك السلبيه \ التسليه \ اللعب في صفحات طبقت اللي فيها وصفحات اخرى كانت صعبه =) مثلا في صفحه يطلب منك الرسم \صفحه اخرى يطلب منك تمزق الورقه وتصنع منها حلقات \ صفحه اخرى تملئها برائحه عطر تعجبك وهكذا بشكل عام هو دفتر للتسليه فقط اذا تبحث عن فائده ما بيناسبك =) ومناسب لعمر +12
Esta resultando más entretenido de lo que esperaba.
Pues ya comencé con este libro, me gusta la idea de "destrozarlo" y esta bastante entretenido para desestresarte un poco. Difícil por eso de que cuidar un libro es importante para mi y eso lo hace interesante.
Aunque un poco caro para lo que es, pero bueno. Me gusta bastante.
"WARNING: During the process of this book you will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint, or any other number of foreign substances. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you question. You may grieve for the perfect state that you found the book in. You may begin to see creative destruction everywhere. You may begin to live more recklessly. Dedicated to perfectionists all over the world."
Absolutely hilarious. This was given to me as a birthday present from a good friend who knows just how much of a perfectionist I am. Especially fun to read and complete with friends.
I love the concept of giving instructions to be followed/interpreted on each page. The point of the journal is to break the habit of all perfectionists who shudder to think of a page being bent in one of their books. I am one of those, without a doubt: crack a spine and I'll crack your arm. Though it was difficult at first, it was liberating to be able to "wreck" the journal, creating a unique work of art in the process. It's hard to ever be finished with this book, as it is always evolving; it's fun to carry around and add to when the spirit moves you!
I remember buying this and I couldn’t wait for it to arrive so I could get started on it. I had so many ideas on what I was going to do with each page! And I can say that, after having the book for 4 years, I have completed a grand total of ONE page!!
I like the whole idea of the book, and for artsy and creative people, this is great! Each page has a different instruction that can be interpreted differently by everyone. And maybe one day I will actually get around to completing mine!!
3.5 stars because it is a really good idea for a "book" but I can't find it in myself to actually wreck the book so it just sits on the shelf looking pretty.
Not exactly a book to be read as much as it is a book to experience. One of the first instructions is to crack the spine... I whimpered. But now that I'm past that, I'm finding it a whole lot of fun -- although I'm not too sure about taking it for a walk....
Someone gave this to me as a birthday present a long time ago. I'm moving out, it's the biggest waste of space in my apartment.
Unfortunately, I hate this book. Yes, maybe it is appealing for bored children, but frankly, it is an obnoxious and expensive waste of paper. A tree died for this? And also, I don't think this book encourages creativity, but rather saturates boredom. To destroy 200 pages in individually different ways, you actually need a lot of motivation and time! I don't want to destroy. I want to destroy what tells me to destroy, like any punk would.
If I'm honest, had I more time, I would have pissed on it or set it on fire before I binned it, to ironically rebel against orders to destroy. To wreck the orders of the journal that orders to be destroyed in a certain way. But the joke wasn't funny enough, and I don't have THAT much time, I must pack my suitcase and it'd probably mess up my apartment somehow. Although seeing how long this review got, maybe I should have done that and been on my way.
You shouldn't need to spend £10 to be told exactly how to destroy each page, to feel good about yourself. Is it really encouraging creativity, or rather enforcing obedience to orders to destroy? I think a great scifi plot would be if something like this book was secretly totalitarian propaganda desensitizing the youth to vandalism. But to its merit, the education system never teaches us to destroy, and that from a Hegelian viewpoint may be an error that books like this provide an outlet and learning experience for.
But, I feel like if you were bored enough to thoroughly wreck the journal you should go outside and talk to people or go outside, it would be a more enriching experience. It bothers me that Penguin would endorse making and selling this over other aspiring storytellers, or printing absolutely any of their existing range of novels — which will be read or sold over and over again. This book will be binned or ruined. This book dies, it is never reread or passed down. Almost 15,000 GoodReads users have contributed to what seems to be a very singular, destructive and meaningless experience to kill time and paper. I understand making novelty gifts and catering to all, but does this book in any way encourage a respect or interest in reading? Does destroying a book by this author make me think this author can write and encourage me to purchase more?
But hey, if anyone enjoys this or gets something out of this who am I to judge? It's definitely thinking outside of the box. I can see the quirky appeal of it and I can see why it would sell well in a gift shop... whether or not it would be read. I can see why it would be fun to someone completely bored and young and free. Like when I was much younger and had to sit at a parent's friend's house, the boredom of being trapped in one space... I can see then how this book could be a day of activities that might help me forget I was trapped. But even still, does it lead anywhere in improving 'creativity'? Doesn't it fail in being unable like any other book might, in leaving some lasting reflection and change us as individuals?
My concern is that we live in a world where this book could not only sell, but sell well.
I'm probably being too serious, and trying to give this 'novelty book' more thought than it deserves or requests, but consider my position. It's just sad that in receiving this as a gift, I have been put in a position where I either directly recycle it without using it, or trash it in a time-consuming and repetitive way that vies against my ecological views and personality. This book should only be those who buy it for themselves. And should those people, not instead, turn their £10 tender into pennies, and find fun things to do with pennies instead? Ideologically, this book bothers me not because of what it is, but what it represents. But if only I was given this when I was preconscious, seven years old again, this would've been on my read shelf, and might've made a weekend afternoon more memorable. Though in honesty, given the choice, I probably would've played video games instead.
Got this from Urban Outfitters. This looks like a good book to use as a random scrapbook and observation journal. I have so far gotten this book wet along with scribbling inside it, and tearing out the pages and following a few of it's instructions. After you jot down some random notes inside this book, it often reminds me of a book that was distressed by someone else, instead of being owned by me. You get the feeling after using this book that you are looking into a book that was left behind by someone who left in the lost and found and was owned by someone else. (Pretty neat, and creative, huh?)
A day after infusing the book with my perfume and putting dirt on one of the pages. This book is starting to look and smell like an old book that has been in a drawer of an desk from the seventies. ( I even had to fan out my book to get rid of the strange smell that I have created-cheers to the author of one of her creative ideas) -Hee,hee,hee!