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The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy
When did you last take the time to do the things you loved as a crafts, games, getting your hands dirty? Or feel the same delight and wonder that you took from your favorite childhood activities? Despite the joy we gained from these pursuits, in our adult lives, we've left them behind-they're too frivolous, we're too busy or too old, and there's too much "real" work to do. It's time to change this mind-set. It's time to rediscover the things you love to do, because they energize, center, and connect you with the world in a meaningful and positive way. The Book of Doing offers a collection of ideas and activities that encourage you to use your life as a canvas and explore your creativity through everything you do-to create and make, to explore and experiment, to play and build, to paint and cook-to do. Go ahead. Roll up your sleeves and get to it. It's time to do the things that make you happiest.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2012
11 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 19, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, would be a fun for a family to work through over the course of a year or so - quite a few of the suggestions are things that I've done or recently begun, and I had to smile in agreement that they have brought a much-needed dose of pleasure to my life. Some are very simple and short, some require a bit of planning; all are improved with the inclusion of friends and family. Designed to be written in and pasted into, it's a mix of manual/journal that can jump-start anyone who feels that they need to shake themselves out of the doldrums of life and reconnect with fun.
April 23, 2018
p.6 – Consider the joy you took from the things you loved to do as a child. When you were called for dinner you couldn’t stand to be pulled away from whatever you were doing – crafts, games, playing a sport rather than simply watching one – you were having so much fun. It is that sense of childhood delight and wonder that we need to rediscover.
p.7 – Through daily acts of doing, you can begin to reawaken your senses and reconnect with yourself, other people, and the beauty in the world around you. By returning to acts of doing – making, playing, exploring – you will test the boundaries of the possible and find the spark within you. Pay attention to the things that make you happiest, allow your mind to be free, and begin getting comfortable sharing your greatest gifts with the world.
p.32 – “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” (William Morris)
p.41 – “Life isn’t about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself.” (George Bernard Shaw)
p.54 – Construct a happiness board – a bulletin board that you hang in a prominent location and use to display your favourite pictures and mementos.
p.57 – “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” (Oscar Wilde)
p.76 – Transcribe the words of a favourite song.
p.89 – Read the biography of someone whose work and life have always inspired you.
p.96 – Cook or bake with an ingredient you’ve never used before.
p.105 – Start a book club
p.115 – Read some of your favourite childhood books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter and Wendy, The Little Prince)
Visit the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park in New York, the Winnie-the-Pooh statue at the London Zoo and the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Garden, both in London.
p.126 – Go on a picnic. It doesn’t have to fancy or homemade. You can just pick up sandwiches. Simply putting your feet in the grass and easing outside is joyous on a beautiful day.
p.132 – Go to a farm where you can pick you own fruits or vegetables. Make something with your harvest.
p.140 – A camera will help you zoom in on the beautiful and interesting things around you and see things from new angles.
p.170 – Workbook:
My Project:
Vision:
Who can help:
What do I need?
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
p.7 – Through daily acts of doing, you can begin to reawaken your senses and reconnect with yourself, other people, and the beauty in the world around you. By returning to acts of doing – making, playing, exploring – you will test the boundaries of the possible and find the spark within you. Pay attention to the things that make you happiest, allow your mind to be free, and begin getting comfortable sharing your greatest gifts with the world.
p.32 – “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” (William Morris)
p.41 – “Life isn’t about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself.” (George Bernard Shaw)
p.54 – Construct a happiness board – a bulletin board that you hang in a prominent location and use to display your favourite pictures and mementos.
p.57 – “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” (Oscar Wilde)
p.76 – Transcribe the words of a favourite song.
p.89 – Read the biography of someone whose work and life have always inspired you.
p.96 – Cook or bake with an ingredient you’ve never used before.
p.105 – Start a book club
p.115 – Read some of your favourite childhood books (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter and Wendy, The Little Prince)
Visit the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park in New York, the Winnie-the-Pooh statue at the London Zoo and the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Garden, both in London.
p.126 – Go on a picnic. It doesn’t have to fancy or homemade. You can just pick up sandwiches. Simply putting your feet in the grass and easing outside is joyous on a beautiful day.
p.132 – Go to a farm where you can pick you own fruits or vegetables. Make something with your harvest.
p.140 – A camera will help you zoom in on the beautiful and interesting things around you and see things from new angles.
p.170 – Workbook:
My Project:
Vision:
Who can help:
What do I need?
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
April 28, 2012
In the The Book Of Doing, there are tons of ideas to spark a little bit of creativity and bring back the fun and joy of every day living - from building something out of a natural material to starting a book club. The book has this homey handwritten feel to it, with a doodle-y look that makes you feel you are in your own notebook. It's also filled with great quotes, and lots of pages you can scribble or draw in - almost like an artsy scrapbook of your own.
The Book Of Doing hands down is a great pick if you're finding yourself stuck in that day to day rut and need a hand back to the land of creativity - or just something to brighten your days.
The Book Of Doing hands down is a great pick if you're finding yourself stuck in that day to day rut and need a hand back to the land of creativity - or just something to brighten your days.
May 3, 2012
THEBOOK OF DOING: Everyday Activities to UnlockYour Creativity and Joy by Allison Arden. This is my newest dream book. My grandbabes will be here soon for summer time visits. I want them to revel in the summer days. Yet we do have to have activities. Allison Arden has given me a whole book of ideas. Easy everyday ideas to make, create, share, laugh and just plain ol enjoy. I know we will have homemade puppet shows, cookies to share and more than enough craft times to fill the days. Add in digging in the dirt, swinging on the tire swing and splashing in the water and what more can one dream of on a summer vacation?
November 2, 2015
I like the spirit and intent behind this book, as well as a handful of ideas. But it isn't clear who the audience is supposed to be. Child-like adults? Mature young people? The ideas given tend to lean toward parents who want to do stuff with their kids, then other ideas seem like they're FOR kids. Kind of lost, scattered, and directionless.
April 1, 2013
This book has an interesting mix of ideas and I liked how many of them were simple and no-cost (and really get you thinking creatively). This was helpful to read before our family "stay-cation."
June 17, 2013
Clever ideas to spark creativity and get us thinking outside the box. It doesn't hurt that the first task in this book is to create your own personal ultimate ice cream sundae. :)
May 28, 2015
Some great ideas for stimulating creativity and cultivating happiness.
November 22, 2013
This book was awesome! Simple and happy with those yellow-coloured pages and drawings
February 12, 2020
Less of a book and more of an ideas pad - this has loads of fun ideas to stimulate your thought processes and imagination.
Good, creative incitement for any aged brain - with some surprisingly neat applications for business life as well.
Good, creative incitement for any aged brain - with some surprisingly neat applications for business life as well.
February 17, 2020
Would make a great gift for the right person. Fun and lighthearted and positive.
March 24, 2020
some of the activities are great and others seem kinda dumb, just my personal opinion.
Read
March 3, 2021Just a fun book with a list of some odd activities that can be fun for family and friends to do.
July 1, 2013
A book of things to do. The trouble is, most of the things in this book I have either already done, don't want to do or have been prompted to do from a more inspiring source. Not much in here that is new or interesting. In fact, most of the ideas are self congratulatory, overly artistic or just plain dumb. A couple of the wost offenders are "write your name in bubble letter and color it" and "make a piggy bank out of an empty coffee can." Was this book really written for adults?
Ok, that's enough. I am giving this book two stars because there were a few ideas that I liked.
* Host a cokbook dinner party.
* Experience a city through the eyes of a guide.
* Adopt a holiday that you've never celebrated.
Ok, that's enough. I am giving this book two stars because there were a few ideas that I liked.
* Host a cokbook dinner party.
* Experience a city through the eyes of a guide.
* Adopt a holiday that you've never celebrated.
September 23, 2013
I received this book as a gift and read it in the hopes of finding some little activity or reading that my English students can do as part of our expository unit. Unfortunately, I didn't find any gold.
It has a few cute ideas, but it doesn't really help with the overall big picture of Doing That One Thing That Scares the Crap Out of You But Will Really Impact Your Life.
It has a few cute ideas, but it doesn't really help with the overall big picture of Doing That One Thing That Scares the Crap Out of You But Will Really Impact Your Life.
January 16, 2015
This book is not what it claims to be. Nothing creative. Nothing joyful. The writer should keep this book to herself and not meant to be shared.
May be because books like Wreck this Journal was in trend, now writers or pseudowriters try hard to copy the concept. I rather read empty pages book
May be because books like Wreck this Journal was in trend, now writers or pseudowriters try hard to copy the concept. I rather read empty pages book
May 7, 2013
Some interesting ideas but not very memorable at this point. I read it a few months ago and forgot.
March 2, 2015
Some are obvious, some are not. Nailed the "Start a Book Club" one. #nailedit
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews