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Out of Nothing
Spanning millennia, Daniel Locke's ambitious graphic novel explores humanity's inherent 'dreaming mind and its impact on our world. Surreal sequences take us from Gutenberg's printing press to Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web via Picasso, Einstein, Grandmaster Flash and more. Locke shows hour our basic instinct to observe, record and connect has formed the basis for all human invention and progress.
253 pages, Hardcover
Published February 5, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 25, 2019
The first thing to strike you about this book is the quality of the paper, the use of colour is lovely and the art work is really nicely done, though the big exception would be the style of drawing people which I didn’t like at all and the woman they used as a story telling device really annoyed me.
This is a history of the world featuring the likes of Gutenberg, Einstein, Picasso, Tim Berners-Lee and plenty of other people and events which shaped the world in some of the most significant ways. But its scattergun, enigmatic feel is grating and deeply frustrating.
To be honest, I couldn't say I was much of a fan and in the end this was like trawling through a highly ambitious, experimental concept album with tenuous connections to each theme, and like those kind of albums it probably works best inside the minds of the creators.
October 27, 2018
As a Christian person who has been doing a lot of thinking about how to write bible stories for kids that encourage them not to be fundamentalist, it was nice to read a book about the universe that is both atheist and mythic. I was also reminded that I should probably re-watch 2001 a Space Odessy.
That said, the racial politics at play in this book are kind of hard to get past. Characters tended to be a bit too light skinned imho, black people should not just pop up to be entertainers and why is the future blue people? As someone who left high school history class far behind it was a bit jarring to be placed back in such a western science centric pov.
But since I do often find myself complaining about the lack of references I should point out that there is a further reading list at the end of the book.
That said, the racial politics at play in this book are kind of hard to get past. Characters tended to be a bit too light skinned imho, black people should not just pop up to be entertainers and why is the future blue people? As someone who left high school history class far behind it was a bit jarring to be placed back in such a western science centric pov.
But since I do often find myself complaining about the lack of references I should point out that there is a further reading list at the end of the book.
December 29, 2020
I am cursed with an innate lack of curiosity about how anything works: those childhood moments when scientists talk about taking apart machines to see how they work? For me I took them apart because I wondered how they looked and if I could use them in a game or something. I was interested not in how things were made or worked but what I could use them for. As such science was, except for one brief year, a hell for me because I was being taught the building blocks of how things work which I had precisely no interest in: it was like being talked at in a foreign language and to say I did badly in it is a colossal understatement
The one year I did do well in it is because I had a very clever teacher, Mr Jolliffe. What he did was provide you with two thirds of a scientific discovery and then ask you to work out the missing third from that evidence - he wasn’t just talking at you, but finding a way for you to see the science in a new and interesting way. And for a year it worked, until he got replaced by people who talked at you which absolutely failed
But that glimmer of interest is all through this, a cannily written and beautifully illustrated book that weaves decades and centuries and millennia of science, history and philosophy together into one whole. I can’t pretend I follow it all but I follow it far better than I would follow any one else doing much the same stuff. It’s a brilliant book because it’s enthusiastic but never overly didactic. You are swept along by the ideas and grand sweep of history
One of the ways I tried to find interest in science was through reading Kate Charlesworth’s Cartoon History of Time, a beautiful but puzzling book. I kept taking it to my school friend David to explain to me. He loved the book and enthused wildly about it and I suspect he would feel much the same about this. He’s now a very well regarded academic in the philosophy of science and although I have tried to watch several of his lectures online it all goes over my head. But I imagine to those who know it must be like this book. A beautiful achievement
The one year I did do well in it is because I had a very clever teacher, Mr Jolliffe. What he did was provide you with two thirds of a scientific discovery and then ask you to work out the missing third from that evidence - he wasn’t just talking at you, but finding a way for you to see the science in a new and interesting way. And for a year it worked, until he got replaced by people who talked at you which absolutely failed
But that glimmer of interest is all through this, a cannily written and beautifully illustrated book that weaves decades and centuries and millennia of science, history and philosophy together into one whole. I can’t pretend I follow it all but I follow it far better than I would follow any one else doing much the same stuff. It’s a brilliant book because it’s enthusiastic but never overly didactic. You are swept along by the ideas and grand sweep of history
One of the ways I tried to find interest in science was through reading Kate Charlesworth’s Cartoon History of Time, a beautiful but puzzling book. I kept taking it to my school friend David to explain to me. He loved the book and enthused wildly about it and I suspect he would feel much the same about this. He’s now a very well regarded academic in the philosophy of science and although I have tried to watch several of his lectures online it all goes over my head. But I imagine to those who know it must be like this book. A beautiful achievement
May 22, 2018
A pretty book let down by selection bias of subjects. The book fixates on the achievement of the western world, frequently the ancient world is depicted as pale faced. The achievements of the Chinese, the Japanese, the Arab world and Africa are neglected by either conscious or unconscious bias. And the future where the book ends up is two white guys talking to each other. This is an utter disappointment for what could have been a far more interesting and profound book.
The art is what makes the book worth a flick through as it's colours specifically are a delight, but everything else is incredibly frustrating.
The art is what makes the book worth a flick through as it's colours specifically are a delight, but everything else is incredibly frustrating.
November 12, 2017
An outstanding graphic novel. Telling a story somewhere between science, mythology, literature, and art, this is an easy read with endless wisdom within it. We follow the Universe as she watches the growth and expanse of human civilisation, from the earliest stories told in caves to the future exploration of Mars, weaving the tale of what makes us human. Its sincerity is well-balanced with a slightly cartoony art style that alleviates but does not conceal the depth and intelligence.
June 16, 2023
*3.75 ⭐
October 30, 2018
This graphic novel encompasses 13.84 billion years and argues that all great changes and developments of storytelling came from someone mixing two unlikely things together. The book begins by introducing us to a human chimera whose ghost-like behavior allows her to inhabit the time and space of great thinkers and creators over this massive span of time.
From totem creation to inscriptions in stone, how the ancient cultures recorded their histories directly influences how we continue to shape our stories. In contemporary times these stories were told through various types of art including the painting of Picasso and the music mixing of DJ Herc.
The books also considers scientific discovery and innovation via the mixing concept. From the Big Bang, to the Manhattan Project, genetic mutations and the development of the internet.
The theories, ideas and ponderings are likely to inspire thinkers and dreamers and to more deeply consider the sections that relate to them. The appealing physical format, heavy paper, bold colors and clear lettering make the book visual pop rock candy.
Teens and adults who enjoy a bit of brain poking with their graphic novel reads will certainly enjoy the experience of Out of Nothing.
From totem creation to inscriptions in stone, how the ancient cultures recorded their histories directly influences how we continue to shape our stories. In contemporary times these stories were told through various types of art including the painting of Picasso and the music mixing of DJ Herc.
The books also considers scientific discovery and innovation via the mixing concept. From the Big Bang, to the Manhattan Project, genetic mutations and the development of the internet.
The theories, ideas and ponderings are likely to inspire thinkers and dreamers and to more deeply consider the sections that relate to them. The appealing physical format, heavy paper, bold colors and clear lettering make the book visual pop rock candy.
Teens and adults who enjoy a bit of brain poking with their graphic novel reads will certainly enjoy the experience of Out of Nothing.
January 23, 2018
Well, I didn't like this book, for me was really childish, it over romanticize science but from a ignorant spot, it relates a couple of events that "shows" the searching for meaning in human history, this being related by a woman(?) who is blue(?) and I think it symbolism life(?), I am not sure, the events for me fells like they force to be connected, but they don't, and they spend a lot of time in every one of them, so this is not a big data book, it's feels like they googled for "science events" and then make the book about six of them, I think if you are not a scientist don't make a book about it or call a scientist and ask them to help you with the book, the drawings are amazing and a total waste.
January 31, 2023
This book was an experience crafted as if the lore of Adventure Time met the simple illustrations of The Far Side comics — and it was beautiful! These many stories showcased how art and science have always been intertwined in our world, both before and after its creation. Out of Nothing is an elegant and exciting graphic novel that highlights the cyclical nature of humans and the universe.
January 6, 2020
The idea of this ambitious book was very promising for me. It encompasses the universe from the Big Bang to the distant distant future. The artwork is straight forward, simple but appealing. It kept me reading until the end. However, perhaps the theme was just too big to be entirely convincing. Just the same , it enters the world of non-fictive graphic novels, which remain a fascinating field for me.
June 25, 2020
It feels kind of like cheating to mark this as a book because it's a graphic novel and took me like 30 minutes to read max., but it was super cool. The story was interesting and the artwork was really nice. It was a little scattered at points but still a super well-constructed telling of the history of everything.
April 9, 2022
exquiz
January 22, 2020
Picked it up, and read it within few hours. I was tickled by this quote, on page 123, spoken by the Picasso character: "We all know that art is not the truth, art is a lie that makes us realize the truth." I did some research, and found out Picasso really did say it.
The diversity of reviews here at goodreads was as interesting as the book itself.
The diversity of reviews here at goodreads was as interesting as the book itself.
May 5, 2018
5 stars for the gorgeous colors and art in the panels. 1-2 stars for the Western, Eurocentric, ignorant and starry eyed “gosh look how amazing humans are” writing.
April 16, 2024
i feel bad rating this so low but i just wasn’t crazy about it! it wasn’t bad but there really wasn’t anything super good in it either. the art was okay, the concept easily basically a graphic timeline of some important snippets in history. some of the things this book featured seemed somewhat random if we’re talking about the history of humans experience with deep thought and purpose. for instance it just seemed random to talk about music in the bronx? like okay so a new music was formed but why was this particular form of music the only music mention that was put in the book? like cool! music in the bronx but that just seemed random when were talking about Einstein and the universe forming and creating a written language to document history. it was strange. i did like how it said the whole thing world start over in the end but it at some point blended speculation with fact in a way that was strange. this author seems to think our next move is living on mars and then after that the universe ends and starts again. is this based on fact like the other information about einstein and picasso? or is this just conjecture? idk there weren’t any characters you really cared about either it’s just snippets in time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
CRISPR Chimeras and the Static of Infinity. Amazing art, very good reflections on materialism, somewhat flawed presentations of history, absolutely flaccid presentation of the "future."
What's with Mars?? Why is it so important that we colonize it, to seek possession of its desolation? It's a foolish distraction from the true task before us, to prevent a Mars-like future for our own home planet. Perhaps Mars is the planet we deserve, but humanity can strive for better, to be worthy of the beauty that cradled our species.
Such an idea expressed in this book (invoking *Parable of the Sower* but also recalling Elon Musk's shell games) is illustrative of the book's larger problems in presenting history. It suffers from an ahistorical individualism, a sort of "Great Man Theory," and a few glaring amalgams of naïve idealism thrown in with otherwise dazzling materialism (nature's self-reflection in Einstein's daydreams).
When the book looks to the future, all of its chin-rubbing falls flat in the face of underwhelming speculations. Really really bad section, graciously erased by the flickering out of our Sphere of Relativity. We all join the same song of nothingness.
What's with Mars?? Why is it so important that we colonize it, to seek possession of its desolation? It's a foolish distraction from the true task before us, to prevent a Mars-like future for our own home planet. Perhaps Mars is the planet we deserve, but humanity can strive for better, to be worthy of the beauty that cradled our species.
Such an idea expressed in this book (invoking *Parable of the Sower* but also recalling Elon Musk's shell games) is illustrative of the book's larger problems in presenting history. It suffers from an ahistorical individualism, a sort of "Great Man Theory," and a few glaring amalgams of naïve idealism thrown in with otherwise dazzling materialism (nature's self-reflection in Einstein's daydreams).
When the book looks to the future, all of its chin-rubbing falls flat in the face of underwhelming speculations. Really really bad section, graciously erased by the flickering out of our Sphere of Relativity. We all join the same song of nothingness.
June 14, 2019
One of those books that, upon looking at it, I could tell I would flow through as fast as its hero (if you could even call her that?) quietly slides through time, perpetually helping, perpetually witnessing. I can’t help but wonder about her - and I realize that’s the point, for as I read the summary of this book, the phrase “dreaming mind” that is mentioned deeply resonates. But where does she come from? Where does she go? Why did she even show up at all? Well, those are the million-dollar questions, I suppose, and we’ve been wrestling with them ever since we knew anything at all.
Sure enough, though, once the clock runs past our general present time, our author Locke must confess to his speculations. I’m okay with that. I sure hope we make it to Mars, if only to look around and take a selfie. If only we get to have even that. I realize I’ve gotten emotional about this mythic blue girl. My brow is furrowed and everything. Guess that’s art for you.
Sure enough, though, once the clock runs past our general present time, our author Locke must confess to his speculations. I’m okay with that. I sure hope we make it to Mars, if only to look around and take a selfie. If only we get to have even that. I realize I’ve gotten emotional about this mythic blue girl. My brow is furrowed and everything. Guess that’s art for you.
December 18, 2018
A really underwhelming graphic novel. I feel like it had such a great potential for giving an informative yet fun tour of the history of the universe, however fell very short.
I didn’t understand the necessity for the “time traveler” character who is blue (for some reason) and doesn’t add anything to the story. The book also didn’t flow nicely, jumping quickly between events and alternating between providing limited, unimportant information and excessive, complicated facts and descriptions that leaves me wondering who this book is written for.
Overall, the only positive for me was this book being a quick read, as I feel like it had no substance and left me confused by the jumble of facts and made up “relatable” content put in for laughs.
I didn’t understand the necessity for the “time traveler” character who is blue (for some reason) and doesn’t add anything to the story. The book also didn’t flow nicely, jumping quickly between events and alternating between providing limited, unimportant information and excessive, complicated facts and descriptions that leaves me wondering who this book is written for.
Overall, the only positive for me was this book being a quick read, as I feel like it had no substance and left me confused by the jumble of facts and made up “relatable” content put in for laughs.
August 1, 2021
Overall I liked it - a quick tour through different milestones in science and technology.
Did it blow my mind? No. In general I feel like it's getting harder to find meaning in graphic novels as I get older, just because they're so quick to devour - despite the size I finished this one in an hour so, which makes it difficult to have a lasting impact. If you're familiar with the history of science already, there likely won't be much new here for you either.
All that said I did like the device of the guide watching the history unfold, and it even briefly touches on the ethics of things like atomic physics. I found it worked best as a sort of guided meditation, but it doesn't really have very much depth on it's own.
Did it blow my mind? No. In general I feel like it's getting harder to find meaning in graphic novels as I get older, just because they're so quick to devour - despite the size I finished this one in an hour so, which makes it difficult to have a lasting impact. If you're familiar with the history of science already, there likely won't be much new here for you either.
All that said I did like the device of the guide watching the history unfold, and it even briefly touches on the ethics of things like atomic physics. I found it worked best as a sort of guided meditation, but it doesn't really have very much depth on it's own.
July 10, 2024
A broad sweeping overview of humanity from the Big Bang into the near future (colonizing Mars). It hits some random watershed moments in humanity such as the creation of the printing press, X-rays, and hip-hop (??). I do like that Ed Piskor's Hip-Hop Family Tree was one of the books included in the references.
No time is spent on anything in particular so it's just very surface level with nothing new to say about any of the subjects.
The main theme is about how humans like to observe. We follow a blue girl, sort of like The Watcher from Fantastic Four as she stands at the Big Bang and observes the cooling off of the universe.
I started reading this book back in 2019 but couldn't get into it. It's been sitting on my shelf for years, so happy to finally read it through.
No time is spent on anything in particular so it's just very surface level with nothing new to say about any of the subjects.
The main theme is about how humans like to observe. We follow a blue girl, sort of like The Watcher from Fantastic Four as she stands at the Big Bang and observes the cooling off of the universe.
I started reading this book back in 2019 but couldn't get into it. It's been sitting on my shelf for years, so happy to finally read it through.
January 5, 2020
I felt like reading this book was a God’s eye view of human evolution and discovery in quick snapshots, with many thousands of years fast forwarded. It was kind of thrilling in that way and it offered a broad view on the age old question: what is life? What is human consciousness? What do we know? What do we have yet to discover on this fascinating (and difficult) journey we’ve landed ourselves in? That being said, it IS a little western centric and limited in that view. But it’s also deeply searching for meaning, and often has moments of poetic epiphanies while reflecting on the whole of human evolution and discovery, creation, and destruction.
December 15, 2020
3.5 Stars
I think it was a okay. :P Coming into this book, you have to expect that the pacing is going to be fast, since it is briefly, very briefly, summarising the history of the world. The most amazing thing of this book is the quality of the book itself and the images! They are beautiful and credit is given! I do find it hard to read as the writing feels very 'flowery' and you have to read it at a second glance to know what is going on. Overall, I liked it as a whole but definitely wouldn't read it again, since it was a real bludge to read it the first time.
I think it was a okay. :P Coming into this book, you have to expect that the pacing is going to be fast, since it is briefly, very briefly, summarising the history of the world. The most amazing thing of this book is the quality of the book itself and the images! They are beautiful and credit is given! I do find it hard to read as the writing feels very 'flowery' and you have to read it at a second glance to know what is going on. Overall, I liked it as a whole but definitely wouldn't read it again, since it was a real bludge to read it the first time.
January 1, 2023
Pretty art and high quality cover and pages. Over simplification of indigenous history followed by the history of white people. At times it reads as highly materialistic. Im not religious, but this book is annoyingly atheist. It’s reminds me of the guy who sits in the corner calling the bible a book of stories and jesus is a mythical creature when nobody was even talking about that. And last but not least, what’s the deal with the colonization of mars?? why mars? why not the preservation of our own planet? lame
February 10, 2020
I really didn't enjoy this. While the discoveries and works mentioned are mostly valid contributions, the main point is extremely unclear. Also, the story barely mentioned female contributions, which I thought was unfair and sexist. I also disliked the storytelling device they used to take the story through time; basically this woman (blue) moved through space and time and frequently observed; again, this feels passive, and it didn't really work.
September 5, 2025
I really liked the idea of this book, that there is a silent observer watching the past present and future of the world, but it just did not grip me and fell short of my expectations. I think the use of color in this book is very interesting, with the background being very vibrant, especially on a black background. Also, maybe this is weird by the paper was super thick and felt just too papery idk.
June 27, 2018
I wish I had something to say about Out of Nothing other than "meh". It's a very ambitious comic that aims to explore human creativity throughout the ages, but the two page forward manages to sum up its message better than the behemoth of the book itself. It just doesn't say anything particularly interesting or novel about the human condition. Maybe it might be good for teenage readers?
December 11, 2018
"The Earth is a big place when measured out in human footsteps."
This was a very cool concept, funky art. And I think I actually might have learned something.
Also? A lot of very good quotes.
"Human understanding of the world has come from two often conflicting directions...thinking about how things work...and observing how things work."
This was a very cool concept, funky art. And I think I actually might have learned something.
Also? A lot of very good quotes.
"Human understanding of the world has come from two often conflicting directions...thinking about how things work...and observing how things work."
February 28, 2019
The striking artwork and abstract storytelling in this book is beautiful!! It looks amazing on my shelf and I'm sure I'll come back to it!
However, I did feel it focused a lot on 20th century science, and rushed through everything before that. I would have liked to see more aspects of earlier history such as the invention of papyrus or the beginnings of numbers and mathematics.
However, I did feel it focused a lot on 20th century science, and rushed through everything before that. I would have liked to see more aspects of earlier history such as the invention of papyrus or the beginnings of numbers and mathematics.
June 24, 2021
As a paleoanthropology student, this book is really cute. I could see this being a great way to get later elementary or middle grade students interested in the history and science of us. It’s not to wordy or dry, the illustrations are stunning, and there’s recommended reading in the back for more information.
October 23, 2022
I am a little torn on this book. I love what they were going for and want my daughter and husband to read it so we can discuss some the fascinating things they talk about. Creation, art, how human storytelling has changed us and what happens after, after. I guess i feel they were trying to do too much and it feels disjointed at times. I love one of main characters is a girl.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews