Keri Smith

My introduction to The Wander Society was listening to the Libby audiobook during a six-hour drive across Pennsylvania. The story's narrative of anonymous Walt Whitman messages plastered in seemingly random places was sufficiently intriguing, but the sections devoted to the "wanderings" of other writers, philosophers, and creatives throughout time were a bit dry to listen to.

However, I was curious enough to check the physical book out of the library to better "see" what Smith was up to. It show more was through having the book in my hands that I realized the work is one part fiction and one part instructional guidebook to combining outdoor wanderings with a personal creative practice.

As someone who spends a lot of time walking around and exploring the intersections of history, art, and creativity, there wasn't much for me to take away. However, this could be a fun starter book for people, especially those with children, who want to explore places by walking. Smith offers lots of ideas and activities that could be fun and stimulating. Just don't bother looking for a "Wander Society" to join; that concept (unfortunately) falls solidly in the fictional part of the book. show less

I'm going to make this review short, because what I really want to say is that this book is fabulous and inspiring and everyone should get it, especially people suffering from perfectionism. It is a journal that you destroy and mangle: YES you must mangle this book! We are all so trapped in being right and perfect and we live in insane little boxes where mistakes are frowned upon or not tolerated. This book says LIVE! BE HUMAN! But then again, that is my book and what it says to me. Yours show more will be different. Get this book, but whatever you do, don't just stick it on a shelf. show less

Hm. About 1/3 through. I can see the value for people who have been in the habit of choosing other priorities & distractions. But I've always been observant/ aware/ mindful/ present/ curious. For me, the challenge is to appreciate and 'use' all that I've noticed and thought about. Well, and if I'm really lucky, Smith will help me not get disturbed by oblivious ppl who litter, waste, interrupt, etc.
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ok done
For the right Explorer, this could be wonderful. The front end is preloaded show more with too much instruction so when I wrote the above I didn't realize that I'd actually get to 59 (!) full spread, diverse, intriguing Explorations. If I totally wanted to 'do' this book, I'd probably break it up into 59 packets....

Several things I did like, might possibly use some day:

From the beginning, a list of themes/ categories to use (or be inspired by) to give a focal point to several of the Explorations:
Office Supplies .. Signatures .. Leaves .. Junk Mail .. Long Skinny Things .. Overheard Conversations .. Things that Melt .. Knots .. Arrows .. Grids .. Things that Look Like other Things .. Found Faces .. Textures .. Apologies .. Pencil Rubbings .. Fabric .. Lists .. Things on the Sidewalk ....

"Exploration #27 Accidental Art." This is where I could look at litter & messes with a fresh eye, considering their shapes, composition, etc. as if I was going to take photos. Btw, I do already tell myself a little story about rude people, the kind of bad day they're having and what they'd do instead if they were having a good day.

There's an Anecdote at Exploration #40 about a teacher in Keri's art school who looked at everything upside-down.. even sculpture by getting himself upside down, to change his pov.

#44 includes the suggestion to create poems using book titles (see [a:Nina Katchadourian|2974221|Nina Katchadourian|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].

"#55 Ways to Transform an Everyday Experience: Pretend you are someone else. 'What would __ do?' Wear a costume or disguise. Alter your habitual routine. Take a different route. ...."

I do wish that this was the Keri Smith book I owned, and that 'not a book' was a library book, because this one I could spend time with. I dunno. Maybe if I ever get to a point in my life where I'm actually bored (instead of just trying to always broaden my horizons) I could buy this. Or if my eyes get so bad I can't read as much, I could do some of these exercises.

What's your favorite source of artistic or metaphysical prompts or explorations? show less

Started in April 2019. Thoughts at the beginning are less relevant, so you may want to scroll towards the end of my review....
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So, I'm seriously not artistically creative, and unsuccessful when I try to be crafty. But I want to be better at that stuff, whether it's crocheting or sketching or writing or whatever. Ok, so I try things like this. And this is pretty inspirational. But also exceedingly frustrating. When I was a teen or college student I might have been able to do these show more exercises, but not now so much. My origami boat, even after googling for better instructions, is *terrible.*

I think the book would be better if it broke open my brain first, *then* gave me blank pages to be inspiring. But one of the earliest exercises is "This [blank page] is a Thought Garden... plant your ideas here." Um, hello, I don't actually have any ideas yet?

Welp. I'm not going to carry it around with me (as one of the first instructions says that I must). I got to a page I'm not in the mood to do now but might be later (scavenger hunt) and so, rather than skipping ahead, I'll just set it aside for now.
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Finally getting back to it in November 2020. Lots of great ideas further on. Actually, if you're willing to 'read' it out of order, bounce around at will, I do recommend it. I wish life hadn't added so many responsibilities and other priorities to my schedule, as I could see myself doing some of these.

Otoh, as it happens, many of them I have done in lo these many decades I've been sapient. I think this book is especially good for teens, young adults, and empty nesters who find themselves watching too much tv.... ;) show less