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Intentional Dissonance
NewLand, the last city on Earth after The End. Before The End, the world was on the cusp of widespread adaptation of technologies that should never have been invented. Popular use of teleportation polluted the fabric of time and space. The gifts of a select few meant a whole new world was about to erupt.
After The End, Jon Salt is addicted to feeling. In a world where the remaining populace is drugged into being happy, Jon escapes through his addiction to Sadness and his gift of bringing life to mere thoughts. A shadowy government department has taken an interest in his remarkable abilities and it’s a surreal and strange world that he tries to evade, but his efforts are impeded by his all-consuming obsession over Michelle, the only girl he's ever loved.
After The End, Jon Salt is addicted to feeling. In a world where the remaining populace is drugged into being happy, Jon escapes through his addiction to Sadness and his gift of bringing life to mere thoughts. A shadowy government department has taken an interest in his remarkable abilities and it’s a surreal and strange world that he tries to evade, but his efforts are impeded by his all-consuming obsession over Michelle, the only girl he's ever loved.
166 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2012
104 people are currently reading
2819 people want to read
About the author
Iain S. Thomas
21 books1,447 followers"Iain S. Thomas is the #1 bestselling author of I Wrote This For You and Intentional Dissonance. He wrote his first book, Ignite, at the age of 23 for the Markham clothing store. It won the Grand Prix at the First Paper House Art Of Design Awards and the only craft prize awarded that year, in the design category, at the national design/advertising awards (The Loeries).
As a creative director, he’s a champion for innovative design and communication for his clients which have included Nike, Levi’s, Johnny Walker, The Design Indaba, MTN, apple and many more, from Los Angeles, to Amsterdam, to Johannesburg, to Cape Town. His work has spanned everything from monuments to biodegradable posters.
In 2009, for his work as the author of the art/photography project “I Wrote This For You”, he was voted one of the top 5 finalists in the world in the “Best Blogger To Follow” category on mashable.com under his online pseudonym, pleasefindthis.
The project, which has proven incredibly popular across the world and gone on to become a best selling book, has also afforded him numerous exciting opportunities, including an invitation to dinner with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gipps as a consultant on digital development within South Africa, and a speaking spot at TEDx Johannesburg.
Through the project, he was also able to have skateboards delivered to The Uganda Skateboard Union on behalf of Stacy Peralta, director of Dogtown And Z-Boys and Riding Giants and he’s previously acted as a creative consultant to Brian Wayne Transeau or “BT” (whose previous collaborators include Peter Gabriel, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and David Bowie, amongst others) on his last album, If The Stars Are Eternal, So Are You And I.
His work has won numerous local and international awards and can be found in Communication Arts, Design Indaba Magazine, Ad Vantage Magazine, bestadsontv.com, Contagious Magazine, Archive, The University of Pretoria’s Permanent Design Collection, X-ings: Shaping Culture Through Design Exhibition, The United Nations Gallery of Sustainable Communication, TEDx, Heso Magazine (Japan) and http://www.inpursuitofelegance.com
Iain’s work focuses on non-traditional media in all its forms. He has never once really and truly enjoyed a long walk on a beach." - source
As a creative director, he’s a champion for innovative design and communication for his clients which have included Nike, Levi’s, Johnny Walker, The Design Indaba, MTN, apple and many more, from Los Angeles, to Amsterdam, to Johannesburg, to Cape Town. His work has spanned everything from monuments to biodegradable posters.
In 2009, for his work as the author of the art/photography project “I Wrote This For You”, he was voted one of the top 5 finalists in the world in the “Best Blogger To Follow” category on mashable.com under his online pseudonym, pleasefindthis.
The project, which has proven incredibly popular across the world and gone on to become a best selling book, has also afforded him numerous exciting opportunities, including an invitation to dinner with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gipps as a consultant on digital development within South Africa, and a speaking spot at TEDx Johannesburg.
Through the project, he was also able to have skateboards delivered to The Uganda Skateboard Union on behalf of Stacy Peralta, director of Dogtown And Z-Boys and Riding Giants and he’s previously acted as a creative consultant to Brian Wayne Transeau or “BT” (whose previous collaborators include Peter Gabriel, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and David Bowie, amongst others) on his last album, If The Stars Are Eternal, So Are You And I.
His work has won numerous local and international awards and can be found in Communication Arts, Design Indaba Magazine, Ad Vantage Magazine, bestadsontv.com, Contagious Magazine, Archive, The University of Pretoria’s Permanent Design Collection, X-ings: Shaping Culture Through Design Exhibition, The United Nations Gallery of Sustainable Communication, TEDx, Heso Magazine (Japan) and http://www.inpursuitofelegance.com
Iain’s work focuses on non-traditional media in all its forms. He has never once really and truly enjoyed a long walk on a beach." - source
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 3, 2013
I wish I had the words to describe this book but not only do I not have them, no one does because they don't exist.
January 10, 2013
I've read reviews from people expecting this to be somewhat similar to I Wrote This For You, and disappointed that it isn't.
This isn't I Wrote This For You. But I think it's just as beautiful.
This is a book about what happens after the end of the world. It's not just another fantasy/dystopian book - everything in Intentional Dissonance seems to be relevant to life nowadays. The writing is superb, and I knew it would be, knowing Iain's writing style.
Honestly, I'm speechless. I might come back and write a proper review but for now, that's it.
This is going to sound ridiculous but throughout this book I was just thinking: Iain understands.
This isn't I Wrote This For You. But I think it's just as beautiful.
This is a book about what happens after the end of the world. It's not just another fantasy/dystopian book - everything in Intentional Dissonance seems to be relevant to life nowadays. The writing is superb, and I knew it would be, knowing Iain's writing style.
Honestly, I'm speechless. I might come back and write a proper review but for now, that's it.
This is going to sound ridiculous but throughout this book I was just thinking: Iain understands.
September 1, 2014
Reminded me a bit of Watchmen, Matrix, Inception, and a bit of Lauren Oliver's Delirium although there's actually nothing like it. I guess it's mainly because of the book's atmosphere and ambiance... so it's really original and unique in its own right.
It's overwhelmingly smart -- a social commentary of what we're doing and what we have, illustrated metaphorically by taking all of that away.
It's overwhelmingly smart -- a social commentary of what we're doing and what we have, illustrated metaphorically by taking all of that away.
January 3, 2013
There are no words to describe the beauty and intensity of this book. Buy it, read it, and spend countless hours, days, weeks, even years thinking about this book. It will haunt you. It will make you question your very existence. To say it will be one of the best books you've ever read is an understatement.
April 1, 2013
well that was an interesting little mind fuck.
February 10, 2013
Describes a post-apocalyptic world with characters I couldn't care less about. So melodramatic.
I want my five dollars back.
I want my five dollars back.
May 5, 2016
I feel numb! I just finished reading this book and I don't know how to describe how I'm feeling right now, it simply blew my mind... IT's THAT GOOD, the writing style is so good and I'm out of words to say how much I'm loving it. People of GOODREADS YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.
December 14, 2012
This was a book that I have been really looking forward to eversince I found out that the author would be coming up with a new book. I caught glimpses of it from excerpts published in social media sites and they kept me interested and wanting for more.
I am a big fan of I Wrote This For You, both of the blog and of the book. Each entry is full of emotions and they get to resound deep within me. They have a way of expressing thoughts and emotions that I keep inside me that I get emotional with some of the entries I read. Despite that, I found them intensely therapeutic.
I was expecting that kind of connection when I read Intentional Dissonance. I was expecting emotions to just flow through the writing but somehow, I was not abe to get them or rather I was not able to "feel". I felt quite disconnected from what I was reading, both from the plot and the characters. There were moments where I felt really confused with what was happening and how certain things were supposed to happen. Up until now, I still feel quite confused with some of the scenes.
I was really expecting something great for this book and I feel dissapointed. I admit though that I've read this book during a very stressful time so perhaps this has affected how I've read it and has kept me distracted and disconnected. But still, don't we read in order to take us away from "reality" and find comfort from what we read?
I'm giving it another chance and I'll be reading it again this Christmas break. This would ensure the no-stress environment and enable me to focus fully on reading the book.
Will keep you posted.
EM
I am a big fan of I Wrote This For You, both of the blog and of the book. Each entry is full of emotions and they get to resound deep within me. They have a way of expressing thoughts and emotions that I keep inside me that I get emotional with some of the entries I read. Despite that, I found them intensely therapeutic.
I was expecting that kind of connection when I read Intentional Dissonance. I was expecting emotions to just flow through the writing but somehow, I was not abe to get them or rather I was not able to "feel". I felt quite disconnected from what I was reading, both from the plot and the characters. There were moments where I felt really confused with what was happening and how certain things were supposed to happen. Up until now, I still feel quite confused with some of the scenes.
I was really expecting something great for this book and I feel dissapointed. I admit though that I've read this book during a very stressful time so perhaps this has affected how I've read it and has kept me distracted and disconnected. But still, don't we read in order to take us away from "reality" and find comfort from what we read?
I'm giving it another chance and I'll be reading it again this Christmas break. This would ensure the no-stress environment and enable me to focus fully on reading the book.
Will keep you posted.
EM
April 3, 2016
Having finished this book (?) a while ago, this is perhaps one of my more sober reviews (jk).
The setting of the world, to the drugged bystander, does not seem to be much bleaker than the next piece of post-apocalyptica, but the author manages quite a few searing stabs at the reader's ash-encrusted heart to make it worthwhile. The storytelling also has its own character that contributes to the aforementioned act of heart-prick, and adds other elements of novelty to the book.
There are books in which the world is so rich and colorful that it breathes life into the reader, and others where it is vast and barren enough to shrink their lungs, but this one is neither. Although the world is more than dystopian enough for one to appreciate their own, the message is not a rebellion against the tyranny of of a misapplied political philosophy, or a potential world order arising from nuclear warfare. A more proper description would be a coup against the theocracy of [ACTIVATING OATH-OF-NO-SPOILERS PROTECTION SYSTEM]. And which war, after all is not personal at some level? A glorious struggle, indeed, with blood and tears to show.
So despite lacking the elements of grandiose found in other, shall I say, more epic dystopias, this one stands its ground fairly well by other merits, and declares the ship of post-apocalyptic fiction to be still capable of delivering both hope and pain.
The setting of the world, to the drugged bystander, does not seem to be much bleaker than the next piece of post-apocalyptica, but the author manages quite a few searing stabs at the reader's ash-encrusted heart to make it worthwhile. The storytelling also has its own character that contributes to the aforementioned act of heart-prick, and adds other elements of novelty to the book.
There are books in which the world is so rich and colorful that it breathes life into the reader, and others where it is vast and barren enough to shrink their lungs, but this one is neither. Although the world is more than dystopian enough for one to appreciate their own, the message is not a rebellion against the tyranny of of a misapplied political philosophy, or a potential world order arising from nuclear warfare. A more proper description would be a coup against the theocracy of [ACTIVATING OATH-OF-NO-SPOILERS PROTECTION SYSTEM]. And which war, after all is not personal at some level? A glorious struggle, indeed, with blood and tears to show.
So despite lacking the elements of grandiose found in other, shall I say, more epic dystopias, this one stands its ground fairly well by other merits, and declares the ship of post-apocalyptic fiction to be still capable of delivering both hope and pain.
May 17, 2013
I cried so hard reading this book...last time I cried during a book was Flowers for Algernon 15 years ago. I felt this book so deeply that I had moments of shock. How could someone write something so brilliant and touching and painful and creative? I stopped reading it before the ending because I just couldn't bear finishing it...so I reread it. And when I got to the end, I was blown away. I am speechless...it was a magical experience and I am sad its over. Btw, does anyone know anything about the scan code in the back of the book?
February 6, 2013
Why you should read this Intentional Dissonance
1. The author is Iain S. Thomas. Nuff said.
2. Every words and phrases are perfectly written.
3. There will be a lot of realizations while reading this book.
5. It will teach you a lot of moral lesson about life.
6. You will relate yourself to Jon.
7. Each one of us has our own "Sadness".
8. One of the best book ever written.
there's more but I want you guys to read the book and see it for yourself.
1. The author is Iain S. Thomas. Nuff said.
2. Every words and phrases are perfectly written.
3. There will be a lot of realizations while reading this book.
5. It will teach you a lot of moral lesson about life.
6. You will relate yourself to Jon.
7. Each one of us has our own "Sadness".
8. One of the best book ever written.
there's more but I want you guys to read the book and see it for yourself.
December 8, 2017
this book has left me speechless! if i were to portray it i'd say it's a mind fuck, a euphoric mind fuck! it reminded me a lot of 1984 and specially of battlestar galactica and in the name of it "you will not be forgotten Intentional Dissonance"
i wish i had the words to describe this book but i dnt and i'm not gonna try. i'm looking forwards to reading it again.
i wish i had the words to describe this book but i dnt and i'm not gonna try. i'm looking forwards to reading it again.
January 5, 2016
Wow this messed me up
November 15, 2014
Intentional Dissonance surpasses expectation. It is the type of book that conforms to a medley of genres that leave one wondering 'What next?' - There is a fabulous overlapping of teen romance, science fiction, techno interest, war drama, deeply poetic and mesmerisingly prose, and of course ADVENTURE!
The words are woven together eloquently, with charming descriptions that leave you reflective and introspective. It makes you wonder about your own life and if you're well read and an avid nerd you will pick up the conceptualizations of binary and epic photography which has been now converted into phrases.
Ian Thomas has under-rated brilliance of being concise in describing picturs in one linters that are laced with the ability to say so much in just afew words.
Some books conclude in a way that makes you feel like you have lost your best friend when you reach the end; Not this book! Intentional dissonance prevents you from skipping to the End, and leaves you with an obscure anticipation of reading it again. [and you know you will!]
It's undoubtably the type of book I will find myself immerse in again and again, quite contrary to my rule of never reading a book more than once :)
An amazing read once you get into it.
The words are woven together eloquently, with charming descriptions that leave you reflective and introspective. It makes you wonder about your own life and if you're well read and an avid nerd you will pick up the conceptualizations of binary and epic photography which has been now converted into phrases.
Ian Thomas has under-rated brilliance of being concise in describing picturs in one linters that are laced with the ability to say so much in just afew words.
Some books conclude in a way that makes you feel like you have lost your best friend when you reach the end; Not this book! Intentional dissonance prevents you from skipping to the End, and leaves you with an obscure anticipation of reading it again. [and you know you will!]
It's undoubtably the type of book I will find myself immerse in again and again, quite contrary to my rule of never reading a book more than once :)
An amazing read once you get into it.
January 15, 2020
I'm not a huge fan of short books... but wow!
Intentional Dissonance brings to mind Orwell's 1984. Short works require the author to plunge you into the story immediately with little to no background and that rarely works for me. Thomas pulled it off in spades though.
Dystopian society... check, end of mankind... check, personal alienation... check, mental health problems... check, damn the world but defend your friends... check! I don't even know what to say about this one. It won't be for everyone... but neither is most of Orwell's work.
While I hope you do not identify (overly much) with the protagonist, for those who do, you will know implicitly the appeal.
I cannot recommend this work enough!
Intentional Dissonance brings to mind Orwell's 1984. Short works require the author to plunge you into the story immediately with little to no background and that rarely works for me. Thomas pulled it off in spades though.
Dystopian society... check, end of mankind... check, personal alienation... check, mental health problems... check, damn the world but defend your friends... check! I don't even know what to say about this one. It won't be for everyone... but neither is most of Orwell's work.
While I hope you do not identify (overly much) with the protagonist, for those who do, you will know implicitly the appeal.
I cannot recommend this work enough!
October 13, 2017
Alright, I just finished reading this book and I’m crying so hard. How could someone write something so painful and creative and touching? This book was tragically heartbreaking in a beautiful way. I’m very speechless.
April 5, 2016
A Finnegans Wake you can actually read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2015
this book left me speechless.
April 10, 2016
Brilliant.
March 15, 2013
I expected so much from this, but I finished it feeling empty. I enjoyed the ending, and the epilogue, that was good, but the novel in its entirety itself was just a little bit annoying.
The main character Jon was so self obsessed and melodramatic, and so whiney!! He was just so 'woe is me' and it got tiring pretty fast which is surprising when you consider how short this novel is. The other main characters (Emily, One Eye and Edward) could've been great too but I feel like they just weren't fleshed out enough, and they were overshadowed by Jon's whining and his many problems.
The whole concept of this book itself was pretty interesting. I've always enjoyed post apocalyptic, futuristic type novels because I enjoy the novelty of seeing our world, the world as we know it, in a completely different light. Intentional Dissonance did showcase some pretty interesting ideas and there were some clever inventions, so kudos to Thomas for that, but I just felt that some things were introduced and just left unexplained, and yeah it was a pretty to the point novel but I would've enjoyed more explanation and imagery from it.
I also had major problems with the idea of sadness as a drug. It didn't sit well with me. I hated that Jon was so opposed to happiness, whether it was forced by the government or not, and that he was permanently unhappy BY CHOICE. I felt that it was hypocritical of him to hate that he was being fed happiness as a drug and yet be heavily addicted to sadness as a drug, and JUSTIFY him using as okay.
I think I had the book on a pedestal, and that just left me thoroughly disappointed when it failed to live up to my expectations.
The main character Jon was so self obsessed and melodramatic, and so whiney!! He was just so 'woe is me' and it got tiring pretty fast which is surprising when you consider how short this novel is. The other main characters (Emily, One Eye and Edward) could've been great too but I feel like they just weren't fleshed out enough, and they were overshadowed by Jon's whining and his many problems.
The whole concept of this book itself was pretty interesting. I've always enjoyed post apocalyptic, futuristic type novels because I enjoy the novelty of seeing our world, the world as we know it, in a completely different light. Intentional Dissonance did showcase some pretty interesting ideas and there were some clever inventions, so kudos to Thomas for that, but I just felt that some things were introduced and just left unexplained, and yeah it was a pretty to the point novel but I would've enjoyed more explanation and imagery from it.
I also had major problems with the idea of sadness as a drug. It didn't sit well with me. I hated that Jon was so opposed to happiness, whether it was forced by the government or not, and that he was permanently unhappy BY CHOICE. I felt that it was hypocritical of him to hate that he was being fed happiness as a drug and yet be heavily addicted to sadness as a drug, and JUSTIFY him using as okay.
I think I had the book on a pedestal, and that just left me thoroughly disappointed when it failed to live up to my expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2015
Intentional Dissonance is written by the same person who wrote I Wrote This for You, the brilliant collection of poetry and prose accompanied by photography that made me go absolutely gaga. I admit that as soon as I realized that pleasefindthis had a novel floating around out there, I set my sights on reading it without a single care as to what it was about or what genre in which it fell. I was convinced that he would be one of those authors who could write about anything and have me transfixed (like Markus Zusak, who could probably move me to tears if he wrote an ad for preparation-H or something). Now I feel like I'm being a little unfair in giving this book a 3-star rating, but I just did not enjoy it enough to rate it any higher... Don't get me wrong, this was an expertly crafted book and the writing and creativity were completely on-point, but it was just not the right type of read for me. When I shelved this book upon completion, I was looking for a sci-fi shelf and discovered that I have never made one in the years I've been on Goodreads, despite the fact that I have shelved over 700 books. I think that speaks volumes as to why this book wasn't a great fit or very enjoyable for me, despite the fact that it was super creative and the writing was really, really good and for lack of a better word, crafty. It's written like a big loop of alternate realities and the beginning is also the end... Confusing, I know, but also actually pretty darn cool. (Read it and you will see what I mean!)
P.S. I'm hungry and tired and I've been feeling picky lately, which also may have contributed to the rating *shrugs*
P.S. I'm hungry and tired and I've been feeling picky lately, which also may have contributed to the rating *shrugs*
Read
September 22, 2015Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
Drinking Buddy: Bottle of Morose, With a Depression Chaser
Testosterone Level: One Death is a Tragedy, A Million Deaths is a Statistic
Talky Talk: What the Hell Did I Just Read?
Bonus Factors: Crazy Sidekicks, Hubris of Man, We're Not Getting Out of This Alive
Bromance Status: The Reader Doesn't Exist!
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
Drinking Buddy: Bottle of Morose, With a Depression Chaser
Testosterone Level: One Death is a Tragedy, A Million Deaths is a Statistic
Talky Talk: What the Hell Did I Just Read?
Bonus Factors: Crazy Sidekicks, Hubris of Man, We're Not Getting Out of This Alive
Bromance Status: The Reader Doesn't Exist!
Read the full book report here.
August 21, 2017
OH...... MY....... GOD........ I just read this in one sitting..... 8pm till 3am, I have not let this book go. It is..... one of the best things I have ever read in so long. This is why I love books, this is the reason I love to read right here in a 166 page book. The funny thing is I didn't even want to start! I just said to myself I will only read the first chapter, next thing I know it's 7 hours later and I have finished the book. This is pure genius, I applaud the author for this masterpiece. It really is a MASTERPIECE.... 5/5... No .. 10/10..... No..... 100/100!!!!!!
December 28, 2016
I either forgot or misunderstood the blurb because I went in expecting something totally different. The book was too short to really relate to the characters and it needed more world building. I LOVED the little descriptive things at the beginning of every chapter tho. And the book looped really well, Although I'm having a hard time really getting the whole meaning of it. Cuz if it's a loop glitch then why is there two of him at the same time? And what about all the people who don't get caught in the loop? Are there multiples of them too?
June 11, 2013
I loved it. I bought it on a whim and I was quite impressed! I have it on kindle and I am looking at buying an actual copy (something I only do for books that I find special) I would highly recommend it.
February 5, 2017
Not much to add to the reviews I've looked at pertaining to this book. I loved it. It can make you question everything and think about nothing and the art of just being. "I've read this before and I'll read it again."
March 6, 2013
Please read this.
It is so much different from his poetry.
However, it is beautiful and will make your heart warm.
It is so much different from his poetry.
However, it is beautiful and will make your heart warm.
February 7, 2013
Absolute perfection.
February 11, 2013
I fell in love w the idea of Sadness
February 15, 2013
this was just brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews