Sadly, most of us grow up believing it's more important to fit in than to stand out. But there's something different about you... and it matters.
What if your weirdness was the key to changing everything? What if the outrageous, imaginative, crazy ideas that live inside your wildest dreams are actually there on purpose, divinely pre-installed to help others?
Knowing what makes you weird is the best thing you can offer your art, your business, your friends, your family, and yourself. It's the essence of creativity, the stuff of movements, and the hope for humanity.
Armed with the wit of a native New Yorker, whimsical anecdotes, and cultural insights, CJ Casciotta pens a manifesto for the oddball in all of us, one that will help you discover the surprising secret to making a difference.
It's time to quit painting by numbers, conforming to patterns, and checking off boxes. It's time to GET WEIRD.
Before I begin this review, I am required to mention that I received this book for free in exchange for review on my blog and other channels like this one. Now that that is out of the way, let me tell you why I loved this book. First and foremost, that title just grabbed my attention. Get weird! But this is not just about weird for weird's sake. There is, in my not-so humble opinion, too much of that going on in the arts. Rather the author speaks of the "Sacred Weird" and embracing the ways that we are created unique and different, rather than settling for the conformity of what the author labels "Same." Casciotta gives real world examples from his life as well as stories from the lives of some of our most creative innovators in a variety of areas of life. People from Martin Luther, through Martin Luther King.
I read a lot of books in a year, and I often share them with others. I may buy another copy to share, but this one is staying close to home as I am planning refer to it often. Casciotta sums up the story in this line from near the end of the book. "imagine a world where we all loved what made us different, instead of succumbing to a constant barrage of comparison and conformity." Amen to that.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a book that will inspire creatives for years to come and ignite or reignite the creative spark in us all.
I write this review with a disclaimer that I fully believe much of our enjoyment or opinion of a book has much to do with what we need to hear at the time. And perhaps this just wasn't my message, but it very well could be someone else's.
The overarching message of this book is great. Who can't get behind a good reminder to be weird, be ourselves, and not let the world harden us into drones. Maybe I was blessed to grow up in a fostering household and environment filled with supportive people who kept me 'weird' or maybe I just have a rare perspective on this, but the message of this book just felt flat. Fortune-cookie-esque.
I've also noticed a theme with Christian books and a tendency to take a very simple idea and turn it into a slogan and then preach it thoroughly, stretching a fortune cookie message or something that could be explained in a short blog or article (to be a bit more generous) into an entire book.
I think what dropped this from 3 stars to 2 was that the author compared his message to that of Martin Luther King Jr., Walt Disney, and Steve Jobs to name a few. I don't want to be a Scrooge but it just wasn't that profound.
However, if you find yourself struggling to break free from societal norms, or struggle to be comfortable in your own skin, and don't feel that you've had the support in this area that you need, this very well could be just the book for you!
You have got to read this book. It will give you a paradigm shift. Weird is an adjective that means "suggesting something supernatural; uncanny" We all need to learn to let our weirdness on and share it with others
I don't know about you, but I remember spending much of my school years trying to "fit in" with everyone else. Being different was not cool. I think it still feels that way when I go on social media and connect with some of those same people. But CJ Casciotta says weird is good and it is important to stand out in his new book, Get Weird.
In Get Weird, Casciotta reminds us all that we each were made by our Creator to be different and that every one of us matters. Instead of trying to fit in, he encourages us all to embrace our weirdness and to stand out. He tells us that weirdness is "the essence of creativity, the stuff of movements, and the hope of humanity." This book is divided into three sections: Why are you so weird?, What to make of your weirdness, and How your weirdness will change us. At the back of the book, Casciotta shares his weirdness manifesto.
Get Weird is a book that will definitely appeal to the people who are already marching to the beat of a different drummer. Yet it is a book that could benefit most people to help us all see how we could be a bit different to make some positive changes in the world. Casciotta shares a lot of fun stories of famous people and people he knows as he encourages all readers to embrace their weirdness and be a unique individual who might just make some big changes in our society. It is an interesting read for all of us, but especially for creatives.
I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. Sponsored by FaithWords
Where to start with this book… I was so impressed with the writings from this guy. From the first chapter I was drawn into what I first thought were just his childhood stories, told with a sense of humor that held me captive and made me want to read on. By chapter 3 I started realizing this incredible storyteller had so much more to share with me, with you, than just his childhood. He is awakening in me my uniqueness, my gift to the world, who I really am and what I can bring to this journey we call our life. He challenges us to not be afraid to bring forward our ‘weirdness’ (what makes us different), but to embrace it and wear it on us once again as the warm comfortable sweater that embraces the soul of who we really are. This is not a self-help book my friends, but one of the best “self-awareness’ books I have ever read.
“If we are ever going to create anything beautiful, lasting, and worthwhile, it’s going to come from who we are when we are stripped of all our striving.”
“Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he What every man in arms should wish to be? -It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought Upon the plan that pleased his childish thought: Whose high endeavors are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright.”
(Well, that’s William Wordsworth, but it’s quoted in the book)
Gets long in the middle and parts can be skimmed but I found it inspiring. I like his thoughts in particular about the Divine being the source and affirmation and replenishment of our weirdness.
I am a senior citizen and I just did not identify with this book. The intent of the book is to give the reader freedom to be weird in the true sense of the word, to be inspired, to create. I found it to be a rather self focused book. I certainly missed the encouragement to be weird to the glory of God.
“Your weirdness is your worth,” Casciotta writes. “It is the value you bring to this universe...” (239/2504) I would have rather had individual value be related to our relationship to God. “...[T]he primary purpose of any kind of art is to awaken what needs to be expressed in us and those around us.” (605/2504) I would think that the primary purpose of any activity would be to glorify God.
Casciotta tells lots of stories about himself and others. People who enjoy story telling as a way of transferring information will like this book. I found it interesting that he writes, “Your story is not as important as your identity,” yet tells so many stories in this book and does not write about our identity in Christ. (1113/2504)
He uses many examples from movies, music, and television, making me think this book is aimed at unchurched readers. But then he writes, “...I paused to remove a tree trunk from my eye socket.” (503/2504) Understanding that reference takes some Bible knowledge. A seasoned Bible reader like me, however, might notice the general lack of Scripture as a foundation for the teaching in the book. He writes about creating from that “divine place,” accessing the “Sacred Weird.” (1405/2504) That would mean this book is only for people who have been made alive in Christ.
Casciotta writes, “I'm supposed to tell people they're OK.” (1130/2504) I would rather tell people they are not OK and are in need of the gospel and salvation. He also writes, “Your weirdness, the ideas that come from your own imagination and the rhythms that rumble in your own soul, are everything you need to create what only you can...” (1211/2504) I would rather emphasize the inspiration of the Spirit of the Creator. He says we “all need a renaissance, a brave awakening of our weary imagination. Christ called it the process of being 'born again'...” (2272/2504) I think being born again is not a mere awakening of one's imagination!
I tend to think this book must be for readers who desire encouragement to express the uniqueness in and of themselves without the over arching canopy of considering glorifying God in the process. You'll find out how to be weird and make the best of it and you won't have to really think about glorifying God in the process.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This review and many more like it are available on Read Till Dawn.
I find that self-help type books are often a mixed bag. Sometimes, the author is just kind of obnoxious and pushy with their advice and it's not fun to read. Other times, the book is full of so many slightly irrelevant anecdotes that it feels like it's not really going anywhere, and that someone just needed to plump up their page count.
I'm happy to report that Get Weird does not fall into the usual traps of other books like it. It does have anecdotes, yes, but each chapter actually has a distinct point about standing out, following your passion, being your true self, etc., so the stories never feel boring or repetitive. Plus, they're all such interesting (and often personal) stories that I actually enjoyed reading them and cared about Casciotta's point.
I think the bottom line with these books is that you'll only enjoy them if you "click" with the author. By that I mean that you feel like they're a normal, decent person with some pretty good advice and you'd probably like to be friends with them in real life. I think, overall, that this is the vibe that I got from Casciotta. He never sets himself up apart from the rest of us, and in fact some of his stories (including breaking his ankle trying to jump a moving train!) are pretty embarrasing for him. I love that he doesn't stick to wagging his finger at others.
As for the core tenent of the book–"Get Weird!"–I like the idea, but I'm honestly not sure what my weirdness might be. I don't have any random passions (besides reading and history, neither of which are all that out of the ordinary). My quirks don't seem that useful either, but maybe I'm just missing something. Anyway, I was pretty inspired by Casciotta and I enjoyed reading the book. If you're interested, definitely give it a go!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book, filled with humor and great stories, encourages people to embrace their weirdness in the church. The author states that more people need to step out of the norms and embrace what sets them apart to help the church, their communities, and society in general. Using references like Jim Henson, Charlie Brown, and some children Christmas television shows, stepping out of line and not "coloring in the lines" is what will benefit the world more, according to the author. An easy to read book, filled with light-heartedness, but still keeps the theme on track. An In depth review can be found on my page at : https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
This is a fun look at embracing what makes you different and how that "weirdness" can help change the world (for the better even). They say if any two people in a relationship are exactly the same, then one of them is expendable. This is true diversity. This is the way to foster our differences and solve problems and really start to live as we were designed.
It's pretty absurd how everyone follows the same path to feel part of the crowd and then complains about how no one appreciates how unique they are. This book is a nice reminder that we will have a tribe and sense of belonging simply because we are different. Also love all the examples given and the writing style is vulnerable and casual.
My granddaughter, a social work major and senior at Liberty University, read and reviews this book.
“This is a book encouraging the weird in people!
Most of the time the people making a difference are the one’s with the craziest and most creative ideas.
CJ explains our culture well by diagnosing it as “same” and how we all seek to find "same" and merely blend in.
Another book with good, real-life applications for any individual who needs to embrace their weirdness or find it. I would recommend this book to readers ready to embrace their own *weird*!”
The content got better as I got deeper into this one. I loved the chapter titled "Move toward the Monster" which centered around the idea of getting comfortable with what makes you afraid. "The moment we come to peace with insecurity, sink deep into the truth that every time we attempt something weird it could flop, and decide to proceed regardless, we can inch closer to the type of wholeness and resilience that we can only be divine." Failure itself is not scary, not trying is the scariest.
“Get Weird” is very well written and entertaining. I really enjoy the idea of being weird which CJ was able to describe in very understandable terms. I learned that being weird is very common and how we have lost this imagination in our lives. This is a fun and easy book to read with a great deal of infomation. I look forward to read CJ Casciotta’s next book. I highly recommend “Get Weird”.
I have followed or been familiar with CJ for a few years. I’ve been interested in movements and how they are sparked, then sustained.
This book provides good details into those questions, and perhaps more importantly, encourages people to accept theirselves. Besides, that is critical to creating and inspiring.
Beautiful stories about how the things that make us "weird" are actually the things that move (our) world forwards - through the stories of Apple, Disney, Mr Rogers and many other "anonymous" heroes. Inspiring!
This book is not my cup of tea, but it's a good book if it's what you're looking for.
This is a Christian living book. The book didn't really resonate with me, I've been OK with my weirdness for a long time. This is about how we are all created divinely unique. We all need to accept, embrace, and express our sacred weirdness. I think this book could be helpful to a lot of people. If you feel like an oddball, feel left out, feel out of step, then check out this book. Even if you don't, you should read this book. CJ Casciotta talks about how we are all born weird and have the weirdness kicked out of us as we grow up. We opt for sameness because being the same is safe. I hope this book does well, and some people can avoid an unhappy forced conformity.
I listened to the audiobook. I love when the author reads their own books, this was no exception.
I appreciated CJ’s thoughts and articulation of the beauty and goodness that the “weirdos” of the world bring.
The book speaks directly to the enneagram 4s and creatives who think just a little different than most. CJ talks about how that “weirdness” in you is good and valuable and it’s something that the world needs.
Lots of great storytelling and overall and enjoyable read/listen.
It's a bit rambling, but it does get to the point quickly and then just expands on it for the rest of the book. I listened to the audiobook and the author does read it and does a good job.
Overall I liked the premise and the stories were a nice mix of funny, sad, and heartwarming.
I kept thinking the entire book that the author sounds like an enneagram 4, and his wife maybe a 2? If you're reading this C.J. please confirm and thanks for the fun book.
Solid, faithful self-motivating book about the power of everyone’s own inner individuality. I enjoyed it. I may have already read too many similar books, as the part of the book that stands out the most is the title. It’s a good and entertaining read, especially for those who have not yet embraced their weird.
There is a concept in the book that is of interest to me. It is a word for the japanese custom of communal baths. Casciotta proposes that in these baths the nakedness becomes a great equlalizer that opens discussion and honestly. He then suggest this is what Christian community should be doing for us as believers but we have resisted.
Couldn’t recommend more. A book that gives purpose and language to the things I’ve been feeling. “Knowing what makes you different is the essence to creativity, the stuff of movements.” Gonna get the audio for some encouragement while I drive
There are many things one can learn from “Get Weird”. It is a good reminder to embrace what makes you different, ultimately is what makes you unique and to stand out. Beautiful stories and lessons from famous and “unknown” heroes that don’t fit in (in a good way). Inspiring!
There are some really great points in this book, it just got repetitive. Our society often praises people who blend in and seek being “the same”. We are discouraged from being weird and different from the norm. Our weirdness was created for a reason and it should be embraced