What do you think?
Rate this book
David Lynch: A Retrospective
Stunningly illustrated, this biography of filmmaker David Lynch is published to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Eraserhead .
From his experimental shorts of the 1960s to feature films like Eraserhead , The Elephant Man , Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive — not forgetting the award-winning TV series Twin Peaks — David Lynch, pop culture icon, cult figure, film industry outsider and master filmmaker, has pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. He is a true artist in a realm of pretenders — an American great — who can take his place alongside Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol or Steven Spielberg.
This is a portrait of an enchanting eminently reasonable yet driven, boyishly shy yet a towering force on set, an interviewee of rare clarity who never gives the game away. Lynch is quirky, there is no doubt about that, but it takes an ironclad determination to get any film made, let alone films so uniquely his own.
From his experimental shorts of the 1960s to feature films like Eraserhead , The Elephant Man , Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive — not forgetting the award-winning TV series Twin Peaks — David Lynch, pop culture icon, cult figure, film industry outsider and master filmmaker, has pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. He is a true artist in a realm of pretenders — an American great — who can take his place alongside Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol or Steven Spielberg.
This is a portrait of an enchanting eminently reasonable yet driven, boyishly shy yet a towering force on set, an interviewee of rare clarity who never gives the game away. Lynch is quirky, there is no doubt about that, but it takes an ironclad determination to get any film made, let alone films so uniquely his own.
- GenresNonfictionFilmBiography
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2023
10 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Ian Nathan
27 books108 followersIan Nathan is the popular, London-based author of Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth, The Coen Brothers: The Filmmakers and their Films, Alien Vault, Terminator Vault, and many other books, many of which have really long titles.
He is the former editor of Empire Magazine.
If you live in the UK, you may also know from from the Discovering Film series on Sky Arts television extolling the virtues of classic film stars and directors, and he can also be heard on Talk Radio every Friday afternoon, mostly berating the state of current movies. He is just about younger than this makes him sound.
He is the former editor of Empire Magazine.
If you live in the UK, you may also know from from the Discovering Film series on Sky Arts television extolling the virtues of classic film stars and directors, and he can also be heard on Talk Radio every Friday afternoon, mostly berating the state of current movies. He is just about younger than this makes him sound.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 29, 2024
As a David Lynch super fan, I wasn’t expecting to learn a lot from this: I just have a fascination with the director, and spending time reading/watching content about him is ideal for me. This is a solid read, with comprehensive retrospectives on each of his major film works that provide colourful commentary and never give too much away of the experience of actually watching these films. A great entry point for anyone wanting to watch Lynch’s work, or learn more about his process.
October 30, 2025
A decent retrospective with high quality photos. However, I found multiple mistakes in formatting, spelling, and actual facts about the movies! This book needed a better editor for sure! I got exasperated and wrote in corrections with a sharpie lol - as an Iowan I was especially annoyed at the mistake claiming that The Straight Story took place in Ohio. Us midwesterners get a bit disgruntled at the constant lack of discernment between our unique states. That movie is a huge part of Iowan cultural legacy and we take pride in the depiction of our state. I also found photos obviously labeled incorrectly. It seemed rushed out and the publishers obviously thought it would just look pretty on people’s coffee tables and no one would read it closely.
October 4, 2023
Review in October 2023 issue of Library Journal
Read online: https://www.libraryjournal.com/review...
Read online: https://www.libraryjournal.com/review...
November 28, 2025
Passionnant + le livre sent bon #miam
March 30, 2025
A good read that covers a lot of the production details of Lynch’s movies but doesn’t really delve into his personal life as much as I wanted. Still a good read and an insight into one of the greatest filmmakers to ever do it but it wouldn’t be my first recommendation. I’d recommend “Room to Dream” first for sure
September 13, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions for an advanced copy of this new illustrated memoir and guide to the lives and films of one of the more diverse, controversial, gifted, talented, and in the words of Mel Brooks, madman of motion pictures.
Growing up my town had two video stores. One was in a prime location, in the center of our town next to the chain supermarket, with a pharmacy, liquor store, bank and hardware store. Everything one needs for the weekend. The had all the Hollywood movies, usually multiples, and were popular with well average filmgoers. The second was near the center of town, but off to the side, an area that looked to be zoned as a house, but was an island in an ocean of normalcy. There were foreign films, odd films, music videos, movies that didn't have boxes and the JVC label was larger than the movie's name which was printed in hand on the tape. Plus they didn't really care about age ratings. It was here that I borrowed Eraserhead, and as much as I would like to say my life changed, I think I was more confused and befuddled. I'm assuming this was after Dune, but before Blue Velvet, but I am not sure. Later I was able to see it with a crowd on a big screen in Boston(?) and I was in awe. The same experience thought opposite can be said for Lost Highways. Loved it the first time, saw it with friends the second time, and was like, huh? And that is David Lynch. Lynch would like one to enjoy his movie, but isn't going out of his way to make it easy for one. Even The Straight Story a G rated movie offers a lot of scenery and lawn mower shots. And yet. And yet. David Lynch: A Retrospective by journalist and former editor of Empire Magazine Ian Nathan, looks at this director, his vision and skill, and the unique, sometimes wonderful, sometime baffling movies that he makes.
The book begins with the birth of David Lynch in the American midwest growing up as normal as one could be. Lynch was a popular person, with friends and girlfriends and was even an Eagle Scout who went to Washington to meet Presidents. Not sure of what he wanted to do with life, Lynch met through a woman he was dating the artist Bushnell Keeler, who was a professional artist, something that Lynch had never thought of. Keeler gave Lynch room in his studio, taught him something about art, and helped guide him to the right school for him. Which was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not the safest of places at the time, Lynch lived in a neighborhood that was falling apart, just as quickly as the city was. Lynch's interest in art was moving from paintings to film, and he began to make shorts, which got him the attention of the American Film Institute, asking him to come to California. Lynch did so, working on small films and for 5 years worked on his first movie, Eraserhead, a movie that confused and confounded, but made money on the midnight movie circuit. At a loss at what to do, Lynch asked for scripts to direct, and upon hearing The Elephant Man, accepted. And a career was begun.
A very detailed account of Lynch from his ups and downs, movie and relationship wise, inspirations and his work ethic. Along with the many instances of studio mishandling and projects that came to naught. The book is very well-written, and well-researched with lots of quotes from Lynch, people around him and film experts about his work. Also the illustrations really give a sense to the man, his vision, and makes one wonder how he can sleep at night. Pretty much everything is covered, the movies, shows, shorts, commercials even the ones that got away like Ronnie Rocket, one of the great lost movies. While Lynch has written his own account this one goes into more detail on the films, reception and the critical appraisals, subjects I quite enjoyed reading.
A book for fans of David Lynch and for film readers in general as his rise corresponds with a lot of changes in the film industry. Also this is a great book for creative people, as it gives us all hope that even the oddest of ideas could find someone who appreciates them. Even if the project is about a monkey in a train station.
Growing up my town had two video stores. One was in a prime location, in the center of our town next to the chain supermarket, with a pharmacy, liquor store, bank and hardware store. Everything one needs for the weekend. The had all the Hollywood movies, usually multiples, and were popular with well average filmgoers. The second was near the center of town, but off to the side, an area that looked to be zoned as a house, but was an island in an ocean of normalcy. There were foreign films, odd films, music videos, movies that didn't have boxes and the JVC label was larger than the movie's name which was printed in hand on the tape. Plus they didn't really care about age ratings. It was here that I borrowed Eraserhead, and as much as I would like to say my life changed, I think I was more confused and befuddled. I'm assuming this was after Dune, but before Blue Velvet, but I am not sure. Later I was able to see it with a crowd on a big screen in Boston(?) and I was in awe. The same experience thought opposite can be said for Lost Highways. Loved it the first time, saw it with friends the second time, and was like, huh? And that is David Lynch. Lynch would like one to enjoy his movie, but isn't going out of his way to make it easy for one. Even The Straight Story a G rated movie offers a lot of scenery and lawn mower shots. And yet. And yet. David Lynch: A Retrospective by journalist and former editor of Empire Magazine Ian Nathan, looks at this director, his vision and skill, and the unique, sometimes wonderful, sometime baffling movies that he makes.
The book begins with the birth of David Lynch in the American midwest growing up as normal as one could be. Lynch was a popular person, with friends and girlfriends and was even an Eagle Scout who went to Washington to meet Presidents. Not sure of what he wanted to do with life, Lynch met through a woman he was dating the artist Bushnell Keeler, who was a professional artist, something that Lynch had never thought of. Keeler gave Lynch room in his studio, taught him something about art, and helped guide him to the right school for him. Which was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not the safest of places at the time, Lynch lived in a neighborhood that was falling apart, just as quickly as the city was. Lynch's interest in art was moving from paintings to film, and he began to make shorts, which got him the attention of the American Film Institute, asking him to come to California. Lynch did so, working on small films and for 5 years worked on his first movie, Eraserhead, a movie that confused and confounded, but made money on the midnight movie circuit. At a loss at what to do, Lynch asked for scripts to direct, and upon hearing The Elephant Man, accepted. And a career was begun.
A very detailed account of Lynch from his ups and downs, movie and relationship wise, inspirations and his work ethic. Along with the many instances of studio mishandling and projects that came to naught. The book is very well-written, and well-researched with lots of quotes from Lynch, people around him and film experts about his work. Also the illustrations really give a sense to the man, his vision, and makes one wonder how he can sleep at night. Pretty much everything is covered, the movies, shows, shorts, commercials even the ones that got away like Ronnie Rocket, one of the great lost movies. While Lynch has written his own account this one goes into more detail on the films, reception and the critical appraisals, subjects I quite enjoyed reading.
A book for fans of David Lynch and for film readers in general as his rise corresponds with a lot of changes in the film industry. Also this is a great book for creative people, as it gives us all hope that even the oddest of ideas could find someone who appreciates them. Even if the project is about a monkey in a train station.
July 17, 2023
David Lynch: A Retrospective, from Ian Nathan, is a fascinating look at what makes a film Lynchian, attempted by looking at the intersection of David Lynch and his films.
I have come to expect books from Ian Nathan that fit into well-defined places within the literature about whomever he profiles. This book is no different. There is a lot of analysis of Lynch's films, all quite fascinating. Sometimes those works don't come close to answering the question of what makes a film Lynchian, though they break down why a specific film is as it is, which means we have some ideas toward the other question. Trying to simply analyze Lynch's life to answer the question seems Quixotic at best. So Nathan does a bit of everything, creating a relatively smooth narrative that keeps circling back to what makes these films not so much unique but specifically things we recognize as being from Lynch. I'm not sure we have anything close to a definitive answer, but we do have a nice resource here from which to consider. Kinda like trying to define existentialism, either the definition is specific which means key writers considered existentialist are omitted, or the definition becomes unwieldy and thus useless. Better to offer ideas and themes central to it and acknowledge that all of it doesn't have to be present.
I enjoyed reading about these films again. From studying and teaching I have far too often dived so deep I lost sight of the bigger picture. This is more like skilled snorkeling, you go fairly deep, but resurface often to continuously reorient yourself. Nathan guides us very well on this journey.
If you're a fan of the films, you will also find yourself remembering your initial reactions to them. I think my opinions about them changed every time I watched them, but I'm not sure evolving would always be right. More like when I watched a film when it first came out I tried to bracket my reactions until the end. Maybe I didn't watch it again until I was preparing a class or a presentation at a festival, which forced me to find a theme or key idea, if for no other reason than my lecture needed some form. As I rewatch it now, retired and without an agenda given to me, I find more personal ways into them, noticing things that touch me for entirely different reasons. This book took me back to some of those viewings as well as gave me new perspectives for my next viewings.
Certainly recommended for those who are fans of Lynch as well as film buffs in general. While not a scholarly work, it does offer some information and connections that will benefit anyone working on either Lynch specifically or the intersection of a filmmaker's life and art.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I have come to expect books from Ian Nathan that fit into well-defined places within the literature about whomever he profiles. This book is no different. There is a lot of analysis of Lynch's films, all quite fascinating. Sometimes those works don't come close to answering the question of what makes a film Lynchian, though they break down why a specific film is as it is, which means we have some ideas toward the other question. Trying to simply analyze Lynch's life to answer the question seems Quixotic at best. So Nathan does a bit of everything, creating a relatively smooth narrative that keeps circling back to what makes these films not so much unique but specifically things we recognize as being from Lynch. I'm not sure we have anything close to a definitive answer, but we do have a nice resource here from which to consider. Kinda like trying to define existentialism, either the definition is specific which means key writers considered existentialist are omitted, or the definition becomes unwieldy and thus useless. Better to offer ideas and themes central to it and acknowledge that all of it doesn't have to be present.
I enjoyed reading about these films again. From studying and teaching I have far too often dived so deep I lost sight of the bigger picture. This is more like skilled snorkeling, you go fairly deep, but resurface often to continuously reorient yourself. Nathan guides us very well on this journey.
If you're a fan of the films, you will also find yourself remembering your initial reactions to them. I think my opinions about them changed every time I watched them, but I'm not sure evolving would always be right. More like when I watched a film when it first came out I tried to bracket my reactions until the end. Maybe I didn't watch it again until I was preparing a class or a presentation at a festival, which forced me to find a theme or key idea, if for no other reason than my lecture needed some form. As I rewatch it now, retired and without an agenda given to me, I find more personal ways into them, noticing things that touch me for entirely different reasons. This book took me back to some of those viewings as well as gave me new perspectives for my next viewings.
Certainly recommended for those who are fans of Lynch as well as film buffs in general. While not a scholarly work, it does offer some information and connections that will benefit anyone working on either Lynch specifically or the intersection of a filmmaker's life and art.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 10, 2023
My thanks to Ad Lib Publishers Palazzo Editions for a temporary digital edition of ‘David Lynch: A Retrospective’ by Ian Nathan.
This illustrated biography of the filmmaker David Lynch was published to coincide with the 45th anniversary of his first feature film, ‘Eraserhead’.
There’s no doubt that Lynch is an outstanding artist and his unique style has come to be known as Lynchian and indicates a troubling, dark dreamlike narrative. Indeed, the tagline for ‘Eraserhead’ was ‘A Dream of Dark and Troubling Things’.
Nathan examines Lynch’s career including his feature films and of course his ground-breaking TV series, ‘Twin Peaks’ that brought about a paradigm shift in what could be attempted in the format and heralded a golden age for television dramas.
There are stunning photographs throughout the book along with anecdotes from behind the scenes of each project. Nathan also details how Lynch, who never wanted his ideas to be watered down - ‘rendered normal’, dealt with the demands of the studios.
Lynch’s films have had a profound impact upon me. I especially remember ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Dune’, which undoubtedly was flawed but I feel captured the essence of Frank Herbert’s epic. I was also surprised to learn that Mel Brooks’ company had made ‘Elephant Man’.
I was especially interested in the material presented in the ‘Twin Peaks’ sections, that covered the original series, the prequel film, ‘Fire Walk With Me’, and ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ that eerily fulfilled Lara Palmer statement to Agent Dale Cooper in the Season Two finale: “I’ll see you again in twenty-five years.”
Overall, I found ‘David Lynch: A Retrospective’ a satisfying and informative biography of an outstanding film auteur. Ian Nathan writes in an accessible style and rounds out the book with a filmography to date.
This illustrated biography of the filmmaker David Lynch was published to coincide with the 45th anniversary of his first feature film, ‘Eraserhead’.
There’s no doubt that Lynch is an outstanding artist and his unique style has come to be known as Lynchian and indicates a troubling, dark dreamlike narrative. Indeed, the tagline for ‘Eraserhead’ was ‘A Dream of Dark and Troubling Things’.
Nathan examines Lynch’s career including his feature films and of course his ground-breaking TV series, ‘Twin Peaks’ that brought about a paradigm shift in what could be attempted in the format and heralded a golden age for television dramas.
There are stunning photographs throughout the book along with anecdotes from behind the scenes of each project. Nathan also details how Lynch, who never wanted his ideas to be watered down - ‘rendered normal’, dealt with the demands of the studios.
Lynch’s films have had a profound impact upon me. I especially remember ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Dune’, which undoubtedly was flawed but I feel captured the essence of Frank Herbert’s epic. I was also surprised to learn that Mel Brooks’ company had made ‘Elephant Man’.
I was especially interested in the material presented in the ‘Twin Peaks’ sections, that covered the original series, the prequel film, ‘Fire Walk With Me’, and ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ that eerily fulfilled Lara Palmer statement to Agent Dale Cooper in the Season Two finale: “I’ll see you again in twenty-five years.”
Overall, I found ‘David Lynch: A Retrospective’ a satisfying and informative biography of an outstanding film auteur. Ian Nathan writes in an accessible style and rounds out the book with a filmography to date.
September 14, 2023
I am so glad there is finally a comprehensive book about David Lynch films! I saw my first two Lynch films in college (Eraserhead and Elephant Man) and was completely blown away by the imagination, emotion and creepiness in his films. I had never really seen anything like it before. Fast forward to Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks and again I was hooked on his work. He is clearly influenced by other great films and filmmakers (The Wizard of Oz, Hitchcock, etc.) and is not afraid to reveal the ugly undercoat on the artificial veneer called "small town America" or "Hollywood." His movies can be really twisted and hard to sit through, yet it is also difficult to turn away. What is so great about this book is the in=depth "behind-the-scenes" of making these films and the beautiful photos throughout. This book has inspired me to go back and watch all of his films again with this great book as a companion guide. I highly recommend this book to film lovers and David Lynch fans.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
March 31, 2024
Ois ollut 5 tähtöö jos joka asiaa ei oltaisiin palattu vertaamaan Eraserheadiin.
Kirja kävi läpi Lynchin oleellisimmat elokuva/tv-teokset kertoen, miten niiden tekoon, päärooleihin ja joihinkin oleellisiin valintoihin päädyttiin. Kiinnostavaa oli varsinkin projektien välinen aika, minkälaiset ideat ei toteutunut ja mitä koukeroita toteutuneisiin projekteihin tarvitsi. Viimeisenä mainitusta esimerkkinä seuraava success myyntipuhe: "There's this town and this wind... and there's a dead girl and then bunch of stuff happens."
Tykkäsin kaikesta pikkunippelistä, rakenteesta ja tarkkuustasosta. Kuitenkin siis kovin ulkopuolinen näkökulma, vaikka paljon tietoa olikin. Sitä mikä Lynchiä inspiroi tms ei käsitelty, mikä miusta ois kiinnostavinta. Tai no, Cooper puhuu Tiibetistä sen takia, että Lynch oli nähnyt Uma Thurmanin hostaamissa bileissä Dalai Laman ja inspiroitui, mutta noin muuten ei niin.
Ja tässä kirjassa oli paljo kuvia!!!!
Kirja kävi läpi Lynchin oleellisimmat elokuva/tv-teokset kertoen, miten niiden tekoon, päärooleihin ja joihinkin oleellisiin valintoihin päädyttiin. Kiinnostavaa oli varsinkin projektien välinen aika, minkälaiset ideat ei toteutunut ja mitä koukeroita toteutuneisiin projekteihin tarvitsi. Viimeisenä mainitusta esimerkkinä seuraava success myyntipuhe: "There's this town and this wind... and there's a dead girl and then bunch of stuff happens."
Tykkäsin kaikesta pikkunippelistä, rakenteesta ja tarkkuustasosta. Kuitenkin siis kovin ulkopuolinen näkökulma, vaikka paljon tietoa olikin. Sitä mikä Lynchiä inspiroi tms ei käsitelty, mikä miusta ois kiinnostavinta. Tai no, Cooper puhuu Tiibetistä sen takia, että Lynch oli nähnyt Uma Thurmanin hostaamissa bileissä Dalai Laman ja inspiroitui, mutta noin muuten ei niin.
Ja tässä kirjassa oli paljo kuvia!!!!
July 14, 2023
I was curious to read something about Mr David Lynch, well known surrealistic master of cinematography. While this is the first book I‘ve read on the subject, I‘ve seen video material before, so a few facts were already known to me. It was a fairly quick read, rich with illustrations which are always pleasing to the eye, especially given the nature of the subject. The book describes Lynch‘s career, briefly touching on some of the personal facts and traits. It was interesting but it felt a bit dry at some points, however, it might look different to someone who is a die-hard fan of David‘s work. Furthermore, while I appreciate that it was a quick read, it probably would have added some value to the book's lesser-known works and facts, as well as general life facts, which is always a lovely addition to understanding someone‘s creative choices.
May 29, 2025
a powerful dissection of how one man dreamed of a reality we were all afraid to see and shared it with the world. it was interesting to hear all his trials and tribulations and how his failures to get things made or specific projects lead to the masterpieces we have. it's very inspiring as a aspiring filmmaker to know that's there's room for error, because error breeds creation. rest in piece to my favorite filmmaker, and it's given me the impetus to continue through his Excellent filmography. Ian Nathan is the greatest film journalist we've ever had and I stand by that. he's so passionate about bringing these directors to the forefront and making them understood through extensive research and dedication. and this is one of his best books yet. discover the man behind the nightmares.
"the mystery endures."
"the mystery endures."
August 11, 2023
What a gorgeous book! It's a visual feast of information about the director David Lynch. Ian Lathan's work on Lynch's life and career was an absolute treat to read. Alongside the beautiful photos and layout of the book, Nathan traces Lynch's life through his work. Nathan has a special eye for the smallest of detail in Lynch's work, and he combines this with information on the history of each film. This is a book I would recommend to film lovers and David Lynch fans.
June 30, 2023
It’s about time someone wrote this book! Lynch has created some incredible TV and cinema and this book gives insights into the person and the life leading up to them. I think the author presented a good balance of information, allowing the reader to gain some insights into the creative process as well as learning more about the life and experiences of the subject.
February 14, 2024
When you're done watching - and scratching your head - wondering what you just saw and what actually happened - yes you've been Lynched! A truly creative and off-center director that takes everything to new levels and once you realize there is no one point, you are hooked. One of the more interesting profiles out there.
May 16, 2024
Very nice, comprehensive overview of David Lynch's work in video media (while also mentioning his other art works). Great pictures throughout, though I found the captions to be a little annoying, in that they re-used the same phrases as in the main text, in the same way the "call-out" quotations did; it made reading them unnecessary repetition.
October 9, 2024
Regardless of the typos, I really enjoyed this book. I love that it takes up to the current day and covered all of Lynch's major works from Eraserhead to Twin Peaks: The Return. The photos are fabulous and made me want to revisit every single world (well, minus the Straight Story as it bored me to tears) and revel in their beauty and mystery.
December 30, 2024
To write in a manner exploiting Lynch's subconcious and creative background/context to his work whilst keeping the beauty of his ambiguous subtext alive is quite a tall order, this book met that with astounding gusto. Fucking banger, but then, I am biased towards absolutely anything related to this man.
May 12, 2024
Photos and layout are great, but the text is…fine, I guess.
June 15, 2024
Abstracted tragic characters living in an elusive dream, but who is the Dreamer anyways..
Drink Tea
Drink Tea
January 25, 2025
this was a lovely look back at the work of a legend - you can really feel the love and care for david in the writing
February 12, 2025
A good solid retrospective with lots of detail but a light touch.
February 25, 2025
RIP BROTHER❤️🙏
February 28, 2025
Nice and quick read! I’ve pretty much read similar stuff in my other deep dives in Lynch. I do like that Philadelphia is such a crap shoot of a city that it impacted Lynch that much.
January 17, 2024
Quite enjoyed seeing all of the BTS photos but there were a few labeling mistakes and the prose didn't flow well. I found myself reading and re-reading a sentence a few times before giving up and moving on with the story. Ironic since I feel like many people feel this way about Lynch's work in general lol
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews