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Zen Pencils #1
Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
Zen Pencils is an exciting and unique new comic form that takes inspirational and famous quotations and adapts them into graphic stories. From icons like Confucius, Marie Curie, and Henry David Thoreau, to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge, to contemporary notables like Ira Glass, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Neil Gaiman---their words are turned into sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sobering stories by cartoonist Gavin Aung Than. Be inspired, motivated, educated, and laugh as you read famous words as never before!
176 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2014
79 people are currently reading
1488 people want to read
About the author
Gavin Aung Than
23 books107 followersGavin Aung Than is a freelance cartoonist based in Melbourne, Australia. After working in the corporate graphic design industry for 8 years he quit his unfulfilling job at the end of 2011 to focus on his true passion, drawing cartoons. Gavin launched Zen Pencils at the start of 2012, a cartoon blog which adapts inspirational quotes into comic stories, and hasn’t looked back since.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
February 28, 2015
This is exactly what I was looking for. Words of inspiration and wisdom along with amazing cartoons by Gavin Aung Than. My younger brother loves this book and is now trying to really understand every quote in it (I'm so glad, thinking normally how difficult it's to make him read in English.)
Will buy paperback version at the first chance.
Will buy paperback version at the first chance.
July 4, 2015
Has there been a book in your life that has made you laugh uncontrollably, smile sheepishly and cry silently?
Has there been a book which had made wonder in amazement and left you deeply inspired?
Do you like getting goosebumps while reading an interesting comic strip?
This book is a big Yes to all the above queries ! It is superb, fantastic and fabulous. Go grab a copy, read it, gift it and spread the word.
P.S. Turn to the last page for a wonderful surprise :)
Has there been a book which had made wonder in amazement and left you deeply inspired?
Do you like getting goosebumps while reading an interesting comic strip?
This book is a big Yes to all the above queries ! It is superb, fantastic and fabulous. Go grab a copy, read it, gift it and spread the word.
P.S. Turn to the last page for a wonderful surprise :)
July 9, 2015
I have always been an ardent follower of Zen Pencils comics. This cute, little, colored comic book is exactly what it claims that it is...
"Inspirational"
. Love the whole concept of cartoonic interpretation of inspiration quotes/poems from the greatest writers like Thoreau, London, William Ernest Henley, etc... and some of contemporary writers like Marianne Williamson, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Neil Gaiman, etc... I have no clue How Henry Rollins came here. But, his quote/poem is refreshingly new and crazy. Perfect gift you can get/give :D
May 31, 2021
The choice of quotes is remarkable and their graphic representation is fantastic!
April 2, 2021
The idea of taking inspirational quotes and draw comics to them could so easily have resulted in something very cheesy, but Gavin Aung Than is a lot better artist than that. He avoids the cheese, and gives his readers comics that fit the subject of each quote so well that one might think the two were done together. The Neil Gaiman quote is my favorite, but it is all well done.
April 19, 2020
[ Re-read in 2020. ]
Have you experienced that magical moment when you find a book that has everything you ask for and then it gives you so much more? Well, this graphic novel was exactly what I needed.
I recently read Creative Struggle: Illustrated advice from Masters of Creativity so I was familiar with this artist work, and let me tell you, I’m in love with everything he does.
Not only I admire him as a person, because he dared to left his old job in order to become what he really wanted (a full-time cartoonist), but I also want to thank him for pulling this book together, and for giving life to characters and to quotes that really resonated with me.
As the title says, this is a collection of illustrated quotes that are mostly motivational speeches from people who never gave up, and who are quite known, such as Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, Confucius, Marie Curie, Roosevelt, etc. In addition, it talks about self-confidence and how to give yourself a chance to love again if you had your heart broken, and how to never lose hope on the things that set your soul on fire.
This book really motivated me, and as a writer and an artist, I always find struggle in the things that I do, because we live in a world that is ruled by how much you make, the number of people who recognize your name, and the likes you get on social media. Truth is we often forget that the main reason why we do things is because we fully enjoy creating them. We can never please everybody, but we can work on ourselves so the goal is not succeeding at publishing or being recognized in the art world, but the creation process and the art piece itself.
I’ll always recommend this book and if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I promise you this is one title that should be among everyone's bookshelf!
Re-read it for the Ray Charles Readathon.
Have you experienced that magical moment when you find a book that has everything you ask for and then it gives you so much more? Well, this graphic novel was exactly what I needed.
I recently read Creative Struggle: Illustrated advice from Masters of Creativity so I was familiar with this artist work, and let me tell you, I’m in love with everything he does.
Not only I admire him as a person, because he dared to left his old job in order to become what he really wanted (a full-time cartoonist), but I also want to thank him for pulling this book together, and for giving life to characters and to quotes that really resonated with me.
As the title says, this is a collection of illustrated quotes that are mostly motivational speeches from people who never gave up, and who are quite known, such as Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, Confucius, Marie Curie, Roosevelt, etc. In addition, it talks about self-confidence and how to give yourself a chance to love again if you had your heart broken, and how to never lose hope on the things that set your soul on fire.
This book really motivated me, and as a writer and an artist, I always find struggle in the things that I do, because we live in a world that is ruled by how much you make, the number of people who recognize your name, and the likes you get on social media. Truth is we often forget that the main reason why we do things is because we fully enjoy creating them. We can never please everybody, but we can work on ourselves so the goal is not succeeding at publishing or being recognized in the art world, but the creation process and the art piece itself.
I’ll always recommend this book and if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I promise you this is one title that should be among everyone's bookshelf!
Re-read it for the Ray Charles Readathon.
April 12, 2019
OMG and The Spaghetti Monster! This is really good!
Deep, sad, inspiring, beautifully drawn, meaningful, funny - want more. Where is part 2? GIVE ME PART 2!!!
Deep, sad, inspiring, beautifully drawn, meaningful, funny - want more. Where is part 2? GIVE ME PART 2!!!
November 21, 2014
This is the first book I've ever pre-ordered. So worth it. I read the whole thing in one sitting, although it is definitely one of those books you can just dip in and out of, I would recommend this book to everyone. It should sit on every coffee table as it acts as a remedy to this complicated world, where creativity is overlooked or worse, supressed. Read this if you want to believe you can.
August 2, 2019
Another winner from Mr. Than!
Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks is another great collection of words and wisdom from renowned talents in art, science, math, philosophy, just to name a few.
Great cartoons, engaging and fun to read and look at it.
This would make a wonderful gift for kids and adults.
Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks is another great collection of words and wisdom from renowned talents in art, science, math, philosophy, just to name a few.
Great cartoons, engaging and fun to read and look at it.
This would make a wonderful gift for kids and adults.
September 11, 2016
Great quotes. Clever illustrations.
A haiku here seems appropriate.
Completely worth your time.
A haiku here seems appropriate.
Completely worth your time.
June 1, 2018
wow !! I simply loved the book .... Makes you feel light and brightens your day !
January 6, 2021
Awesome book for kid, but adult can benefit from it too. It present quotes and inspiration/moral stories from great mind of the world (Confucius, Roosevelt, Marie Curie, and many others) in the form of small cartoons (stories are about 2-3 pages). It made it easy to understand without making them sound stupid or «childish». Great, original and very well done. I think it could be useful in class, even with very young kid. You read one story with them and then discuss about it to make them think of the implication of it all.
Reread that one and I drop my rating from 5 to 4 stars. It was okay, but it felt like I was a bit too enthusiastic about it the first time. I like the concept of bringing good, positive, philosophical thought in a easy format so it became easier for children or adult who read less for whatever reason, to have access to it and some were very good, but some felt a bit too light, more like cute advice than true knowledge or wisdom.
Reread that one and I drop my rating from 5 to 4 stars. It was okay, but it felt like I was a bit too enthusiastic about it the first time. I like the concept of bringing good, positive, philosophical thought in a easy format so it became easier for children or adult who read less for whatever reason, to have access to it and some were very good, but some felt a bit too light, more like cute advice than true knowledge or wisdom.
November 7, 2015
I saw this last month in a bookstore in the SF airport and really wanted to get it then, but my luggage was already crammed so full of books that I literally didn't have room for one more (not that I'm complaining). Anyway, now that I have procured and read this, I am happy to say it was worthy of my temporarily thwarted acquisitiveness. The art was lovely and most (not quite all) of the quotes were well chosen--beautiful and wise. This is the sort of book that makes you feel like you can do just about anything, and its format makes it easy to dip back in when you need to be inspired again.
November 2, 2017
The foreword itself is so inspiring!
June 13, 2024
This was truly enjoyable. The art is really good and I love the project idea. I will be looking for more by this author in the future.
July 29, 2020
favorite: Make Good Art
March 17, 2024
استمتعوا...
دمتم قراء... ❤❤❤
March 22, 2017
You will most likely be inspired. Or, at the very least, impressed. The author actually followed all these great motivational advice, quit his job and figured out a way to make a living at doing what he loves...hence the book. And, of course, this doesn't bode quite so auspiciously for every art student (or insert any artistic calling ambition) waiting tables and serving overpriced lattes. But it worked for author (and many prolific figures whose quotes he uses) and naturally now he wants to save the world from the drudgery of the mundane. That proselytizing aspect of it all didn't do much for me, profound as the quotes are, I don't think we're one brave decision away from living our dreams. What really worked is the adorable and creative tiny stories the author spun out from every quote. So it was very enjoyable to read, particularly as I did in the park on a sunny day with my SO. Top shelf experience.
June 13, 2023
Những câu danh ngôn và thơ được nhắc đến trong cuốn sách tự bản thân chúng đã có "sức nặng" truyền cảm hứng rất nhiều. Và tranh biếm hoạ của tác giả đã khiến mọi thứ trở nên sinh động và dễ hình dung hơn. Giả sử bạn là một người thiếu óc tưởng tượng thì em sách này sẽ giúp bạn hiểu hơn về nội dung những câu danh ngôn, đồng thời cũng truyền rất nhiều cảm hứng.
Điều khiến mình ấn tượng là tác giả đã lựa những câu danh ngôn rất hay, cùng việc sáng tạo ra những hình ảnh phù hợp với những câu ý, theo một cách lạ và ngộ, nên đọc sách rất cuốn.
Điều khiến mình ấn tượng là tác giả đã lựa những câu danh ngôn rất hay, cùng việc sáng tạo ra những hình ảnh phù hợp với những câu ý, theo một cách lạ và ngộ, nên đọc sách rất cuốn.
June 11, 2020
One of the rare books with inspirational quotes that do justice to the word "inspiration". Gavin is immensely skilled and surely has an eye for detail. He turns the quotes into these stories which you could never imagine would be a depiction of the quote. And yet they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw. His work is breathtaking and resplendent. His art is as inspiring as the quotes. This has now become a book that I keep visiting frequently!
October 27, 2016
Tadinya baca komik-komik ini di web-nya (^ ^)
Dari kutipan-kutipan itu, kadang dibaca dulu tanpa melihat gambarnya, lalu dibaca ulang disesuaikan dengan konteks gambarnya... Menarik! (≧◡≦) ~karena kadang terasa "perbedaannya", dan ada "rasa" yang dihidupkan oleh komikusnya.
Secara keseluruhan, kutipannya bertujuan mengajak pembaca untuk menghidupi hidup yang lebih "hidup" \(^ヮ^)/
Dari kutipan-kutipan itu, kadang dibaca dulu tanpa melihat gambarnya, lalu dibaca ulang disesuaikan dengan konteks gambarnya... Menarik! (≧◡≦) ~karena kadang terasa "perbedaannya", dan ada "rasa" yang dihidupkan oleh komikusnya.
Secara keseluruhan, kutipannya bertujuan mengajak pembaca untuk menghidupi hidup yang lebih "hidup" \(^ヮ^)/
November 22, 2019
Have you experienced that magical moment when you find a book that has everything you ask for and then it gives you so much more? Well, this graphic novel was exactly what I needed.
I recently read Creative Struggle: Illustrated advice from Masters of Creativity so I was familiar with this artist work, and let me tell you, I’m in love with everything he does.
Not only I admire him as a person, because he dared to left his old job in order to become what he really wanted (a full-time cartoonist), but I also want to thank him for pulling this book together, and for giving life to characters and to quotes that really resonated with me.
As the title says, this is a collection of illustrated quotes that are mostly motivational speeches from people who never gave up, and who are quite known, such as Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, Confucius, Marie Curie, Roosevelt, etc. In addition, it talks about self-confidence and how to give yourself a chance to love again if you had your heart broken, and how to never lose hope on the things that set your soul on fire.
This book really motivated me, and as a writer and an artist, I always find struggle in the things that I do, because we live in a world that is ruled by how much you make, the number of people who recognize your name, and the likes you get on social media. Truth is we often forget that the main reason why we do things is because we fully enjoy creating them. We can never please everybody, but we can work on ourselves so the goal is not succeeding at publishing or being recognized in the art world, but the creation process and the art piece itself.
I’ll always recommend this book and if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I promise you this is one title that should be among everyone's bookshelf!
I recently read Creative Struggle: Illustrated advice from Masters of Creativity so I was familiar with this artist work, and let me tell you, I’m in love with everything he does.
Not only I admire him as a person, because he dared to left his old job in order to become what he really wanted (a full-time cartoonist), but I also want to thank him for pulling this book together, and for giving life to characters and to quotes that really resonated with me.
As the title says, this is a collection of illustrated quotes that are mostly motivational speeches from people who never gave up, and who are quite known, such as Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, Confucius, Marie Curie, Roosevelt, etc. In addition, it talks about self-confidence and how to give yourself a chance to love again if you had your heart broken, and how to never lose hope on the things that set your soul on fire.
This book really motivated me, and as a writer and an artist, I always find struggle in the things that I do, because we live in a world that is ruled by how much you make, the number of people who recognize your name, and the likes you get on social media. Truth is we often forget that the main reason why we do things is because we fully enjoy creating them. We can never please everybody, but we can work on ourselves so the goal is not succeeding at publishing or being recognized in the art world, but the creation process and the art piece itself.
I’ll always recommend this book and if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? I promise you this is one title that should be among everyone's bookshelf!
August 28, 2020
I was having a bad down day, blew off work and finished this in a single sitting while watching a gorgeous sunset over the Doon valley. The artwork is gorgeous. The poems and quotes are exactly what you need to pick you up if you are feeling done, tired, depressed, anxious, indifferent and melancholic.
I've never read too many comics in my life (terrible mistake, retrospectively) since I've always considered them to be a trivial indulgence for those who want to avoid "serious literature", but it's gradually changing now, thanks to this stepping stone of a book. I think the next read is going to be Persopolis. Thank you Gavin.
Here is my favourite poem from the book:
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.'
The honest men who just want to be left in peace.
Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves.
Those with no sides and no causes.
Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies.
Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature.
Those who live small, mate small, die small.
It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control.
If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you.
But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?!
From what?
Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does.
I choose my own way to burn.”
Let's keep burning.
I've never read too many comics in my life (terrible mistake, retrospectively) since I've always considered them to be a trivial indulgence for those who want to avoid "serious literature", but it's gradually changing now, thanks to this stepping stone of a book. I think the next read is going to be Persopolis. Thank you Gavin.
Here is my favourite poem from the book:
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.'
The honest men who just want to be left in peace.
Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves.
Those with no sides and no causes.
Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies.
Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature.
Those who live small, mate small, die small.
It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control.
If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you.
But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?!
From what?
Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does.
I choose my own way to burn.”
Let's keep burning.
August 10, 2020
I saw this book sitting on my friend’s shelf yesterday. Naturally, I had to borrow it. Especially, when I had given away this book years ago. I guess what you give does come back to you.
The illustrations are simply beautiful. The quotes were familiar ones. But Gavin Than has his own unique take on each of the quotes. A lovely, sweet read.
The illustrations are simply beautiful. The quotes were familiar ones. But Gavin Than has his own unique take on each of the quotes. A lovely, sweet read.
September 4, 2020
This book was such a delight to read. The quotes, most of them familiar, have been illustrated beautifully. Quick, fun read.
January 7, 2018
I received this as an ARC on Netgalley. Cute. Quick. Fun. Filled with some good quotes to remember and live by. I plan to share some of these with my students in the classroom and with my yoga community.
May 31, 2016
Pictures speaker louder than words. It is true in this case. I don't know of any words that could help me describe what the combination of words and pictures do to you when you read this. It is not the first time I am reading this. I have read all the comic strips on the website, multiple times. And then I read it again in the physical copy. This book is truly inspirational and gorgeous, to say the least. All these quotes that you read make you wonder if you are actually happy with your life or just surviving the world. It questions your decisions, as I am doing right now.
I want to read this book again, and then again, and then again. I want to read it to my kids someday. And more than anything, I want to show myself the world of possibilities and hope and satisfaction and happiness that you achieve when you follow your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they sound.
Gavin makes good art!
I want to read this book again, and then again, and then again. I want to read it to my kids someday. And more than anything, I want to show myself the world of possibilities and hope and satisfaction and happiness that you achieve when you follow your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they sound.
Gavin makes good art!
August 4, 2021
I'm at a point where it seems like I can only read books with pictures in them, so I picked this one up and read it aloud to myself tonight, page by page. and I cried more than once - none of it was sadness, it was recognition, thoughts and feelings bubbling up, reminding me about their existence.
and this book is excellent at that, trowing ideas at you, triggering you at all the right levels. which is to say, making you feel - and that's a massive achievement, and the ultimate value of art if you ask me.
(it also has Invictus - illustrated - and who doesn't like Invictus, and who doesn't cry when reading Invictus?!)
so now my throat hurts, but it feels like a price worth paying.
and this book is excellent at that, trowing ideas at you, triggering you at all the right levels. which is to say, making you feel - and that's a massive achievement, and the ultimate value of art if you ask me.
(it also has Invictus - illustrated - and who doesn't like Invictus, and who doesn't cry when reading Invictus?!)
so now my throat hurts, but it feels like a price worth paying.
August 13, 2016
Don’t make stuff because you want to make money — it will never make you enough money. And don’t make stuff because you want to get famous — because you will never feel famous enough. Make gifts for people — and work hard on making those gifts in the hope that those people will notice and like the gifts.
Maybe they will notice how hard you worked, and maybe they won’t — and if they don’t notice, I know it’s frustrating. But, ultimately, that doesn’t change anything — because your responsibility is not to the people you’re making the gift for, but to the gift itself.
Maybe they will notice how hard you worked, and maybe they won’t — and if they don’t notice, I know it’s frustrating. But, ultimately, that doesn’t change anything — because your responsibility is not to the people you’re making the gift for, but to the gift itself.
August 18, 2017
This is a nice book to gift to the young readers in your life. Teens will read it because it's in comic book format and easy to read. The fact that they learn something will be an added bonus. The author Cavin Aung Than takes quotes from famous names like Confucius, Marie Curie, and Henry David Thoreau, to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge, to contemporary notables like Ira Glass, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Neil Gaiman. Each comic panel is only a few pages long and is kept simple and sweet. It's funny and inspiring and not limited in scope to the young.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews