Drawn Together: Uplifting Comics on the Curious Journey Through Life and Love

by Leah Pearlman

Based on the popular webcomic Dharma Comics, an irresistibly clever, heartfelt, hand-illustrated collection that will delight anyone looking for a dose of daily inspiration.  

Since 2010, Leah Pearlman's Dharma Comics have been warming the hearts of fans everywhere with their witty and wise insights on navigating the ups and downs we all face. Now Drawn Together , the first Dharma Comics collection, offers the perfect pick-me-up to get through any situation life throws our way. Featuring over 100 beloved favorites and new, never-before-published comics in a charming, two-color package , it illustrates the surprising ways we connect with ourselves, with our aspirations and fears, and with others. This enlightening and entertaining book is the perfect gift that will give a boost of encouragement to anyone needing a little support, a break from the daily grind, or a tender reminder that, no matter what happens, we're never alone.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

176 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching up…

Sometimes we just need connection with others. These beautifully drawn comics illustrate what such a connection could feel like to anyone.

In one of her hand-illustrated drawings she says…

When I think of you…

And then…

She shows a big head on a stick attempting to blow up a balloon, which we soon learn is a heart. By the end of the fourth box we see this stick person being drawn up to the sky with this huge heart balloon.

She then ends this drawing with the words…

…my heart expands.

Her collection is…

Beautiful. Artistic. Heart-warming. Delightful. Clever. Heart-felt. Love. Capturing wisdom in simple drawings.

A good escape for those seeking lightness and charming wisdom.

[Margie Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author, Leah Pearlman, is my great (in more ways than one) niece. While working at Facebook in its early days, Leah was the motivator and creator of the "like" button. Then, while her father suffered with lung cancer, Leah put so many reflective thoughts about life into simple drawings in this book. From "Loving Me", "Loving You", "When Life Gets Hard" and many other journeys our lives take, Leah captures charming and whimsical wisdom in simple, but profound, drawings and captions in her book Drawn Together.

[Sanjana]

Cute comics which brings out the essence of love and life! Talks about self love, mental piece and love in general! Loved it!!

[D. George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following the author's blog and webcomics for quite some time, and was very excited when she published a book with her drawings.

Although the book is small and thin, and the drawings and messages are simple, they are also quite powerful. You can pick the book up and open it at random and whatever is there will speak to your current needs.

It is organized into seven sections: a two-page Introduction; "Loving Me" - on how to love yourself; "Loving You" - on loving others around you (but also yourself!); "When Life Gets Hard" - which includes my favorite part, a poem called "Whoever Told You", which I have printed & up on my desk; "Choose Your Own Adventure" - on not forcing yourself to do or be what everyone else is; "Finding the Missing Piece" - misc. other topics. The last section includes five pages of notes that are intended for you to cut out and send to people in your life.

Note: I first received this product free from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. I never guarantee a positive rating, and all opinions are my own. I loved it so much, I have purchased several copies and given them as gifts.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Dharma Comics online for years — it is always an unexpected delight when a new one comes out and brightens my day a bit — so I was excited when I found out that a collection of them was coming out in print. Reading them all together, even though I’d seen them (almost!) all before, was a different experience. Tied together by the author’s narrative of how she came to start drawing and why she continues to do so imparts a personal connection that makes the stick figures looking up at me from the page all the more touching.

It is the perfect book to have laying out in view for people pick it up, open to a random page, and inevitable chuckle with pleasure at whichever scene they’ve discovered. Alas, I have to get a new copy because I’ve already given mine away to a friend who was feeling tender. I should probably buy several, I think I’ll be giving more away.

[Rani Subassandran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a multipotentialite, I love anything that is multidisciplinary. This is definitely one book that transcends many levels. The accompanying artwork may be simple but digs deep if you allow it to. This one is for those of us who need to retreat into our inner worlds frequently to cope with the demands of the outside world.

"Beneath all the feeling
Before all the thought
Between the illusions
Of who I am not,

There is a quiet space
A place I can go
Where there's nothing to do
And nothing to know

I go to remember
The one thing that's true:
To forget whatever
Could keep me from you."

[maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most positive books ever! If you ever need a boost of self-esteem get yourself a copy!! It's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

[Shaylee Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...perhaps you could try another"
It's a nice little read with cute funny little drawings.
I really enjoyed this and will come back to it often

[Donald Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice looking. Thats about it.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s cute but full of surface level platitudes and silly plays on words.

[Kelia Miffin]

🥕🐕‍🦺🐐🌻🐑🕊️🐑🐑🕊️⚜️⚜️👔

[Shirley · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of space. Minimal words. Drawings are simplistic stick figures. I can’t relate because of how idealistic it is. Perhaps I am in the wrong headspace to read this.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put a smile on my face... it's a happy book that I am thinking of getting a few hard copies of to add to our library and to give to my friends..! :)

[Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put a smile on my face... it's a happy book that I am thinking of getting a few hard copies of to add to our library and to give to my friends..! :)

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

really cute illustrations. Nice.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Recommendation: This is an incredibly fast read. I read it in one sitting at lunch, but I can definitely see going back to it for many reasons. There were illustrations I wanted to share with many people and may see if I can find them on Pearlman’s website for that purpose. I would definitely say flip through this if you ever see it because it is a great reminder that you’re not alone.

My Response: I don’t want to generalize these books, but I know that’s what my response is going to sound like. Perhaps I’ve read too many similar to this recently, but I’m going to start with a list of all the things this book reminded me of, but then also talk about why I felt it was different.

Prior to the publisher reaching out to me about this book* I actually hadn’t encountered Dharma Comics before, but this line drawing style isn’t anything new. It reminded me of a cross between xkcd and hyperbole and a half but with more of an intention and focus on getting through life and not just observations. And then add in that it reminded me also of books I’ve read recently such as Whose Mind is it Anyway? and How To Be Happy (Or At Least Less Sad) , I’m a little surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did.

[BAYA Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small book is exactly what the subtitle says it is: a collection of sweet, uplifting comics. They convey inspirational or heartfelt ideas with a minimalist style that comes across as both earnest and authentic. Many teens will find this book corny and some will undoubtedly be too cool to be seen with this. But for teens who wear their heart on their sleeve, and those that wish they could, there is a lot to like in this little collection. The comics are grouped loosely by theme with five parts dedicated to self-reflection, relationships, dealing with hard times, moving through life and mindfulness. The first four sections are themes that will resonate with teens and the fifth is a tool that may appeal to those in overwhelming circumstances. Admittedly, there are few revolutionary or even new ideas in here; there are many platitudes that students will have heard before. But there is truth in each of them and the simple drawings and visual word play make them accessible to teens of all ages and even adults. This is a book that would sit equally well on a guidance counselor’s shelf or at the bottom of a backpack – handy to keep around for days when students could use a little boost.

[Andrea Mullarkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small book is exactly what the subtitle says it is: a collection of sweet, uplifting comics. They convey inspirational or heartfelt ideas with a minimalist style that comes across as both earnest and authentic. Many teens will find this book corny and some will undoubtedly be too cool to be seen with this. But for teens who wear their heart on their sleeve, and those that wish they could, there is a lot to like in this little collection. The comics are grouped loosely by theme with five parts dedicated to self-reflection, relationships, dealing with hard times, moving through life and mindfulness. The first four sections are themes that will almost certainly resonate with teens and the fifth is a tool that may appeal to those in overwhelming circumstances. Admittedly, there are few revolutionary or even new ideas in here. There are many platitudes that students will have heard before. But there is truth in each of them and the simple drawings and visual word play make them accessible to teens of all ages and even adults. This is a book that would sit equally well on a guidance counselor’s shelf or at the bottom of a backpack – handy to keep around for days when students could use a little boost.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, inspirational and thought-provoking!

[Sasha Boersma · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly sweet and lovely collection of thoughts on happiness, love, relationships, and life.

Not very deep, but a lot shared through the simple drawings and thoughts.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, sweet, beautifully done!

[Charlynnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting drawings with very thoughtful insights to life! Good to get a copy to keep and thumb through when needed.