What do you think?
Rate this book
This Is Not a Book
Read Keri Smith's posts on the Penguin Blog
A curious, engaging, and creative rethinking of what a book can be, from the creator of Wreck this Journal.
In this uniquely skewed look at the purpose and function of “a book,” Keri Smith offers an illustrated guide that asks readers to creatively examine all the different ways This Is Not a Book can be used. With intriguing prompts, readers will discover that the book can be:
A secret message—tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place.
A recording device—have everyone you contact today write their name in the book.
An instrument—create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover.
This Is Not a Book will engage readers by having them define everything a book can be by asking, “If it’s not a book, what is it then?”—with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.
A curious, engaging, and creative rethinking of what a book can be, from the creator of Wreck this Journal.
In this uniquely skewed look at the purpose and function of “a book,” Keri Smith offers an illustrated guide that asks readers to creatively examine all the different ways This Is Not a Book can be used. With intriguing prompts, readers will discover that the book can be:
A secret message—tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place.
A recording device—have everyone you contact today write their name in the book.
An instrument—create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover.
This Is Not a Book will engage readers by having them define everything a book can be by asking, “If it’s not a book, what is it then?”—with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
136 people are currently reading
4008 people want to read
About the author
Keri Smith
58 books1,851 followersKeri Smith is an author/illustrator turned guerilla artist. She has several bestselling books, including Wreck This Journal, This is Not a Book, How To Be An Explorer of the World, Mess, Finish this Book, and The Wander Society all published by Penguin Books. Read more at her website http://WWW.KERISMITH.COM
http://kerismithbooks.tumblr.com/
http://pinterest.com/penguinbooksusa/...
http://kerismithbooks.tumblr.com/
http://pinterest.com/penguinbooksusa/...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 12, 2017
This book changed my life. I was quite depressed, and bought 'This Is Not A Book' on a whim - but I started carrying it with me everywhere I went, and bought pretty much everything Keri Smith has ever release straight after falling in love with it.
We often stumble through life in a haze of work, drama and stress. Keri's book is how I started appreciating everything around me, and enjoying all of the seemingly mundane aspects of my everyday life. It allows you to be creative without having to be a master painter etc etc, you can embrace your own unique style and tackle every page in a way that suits and excites you. Could not recommend it enough.
We often stumble through life in a haze of work, drama and stress. Keri's book is how I started appreciating everything around me, and enjoying all of the seemingly mundane aspects of my everyday life. It allows you to be creative without having to be a master painter etc etc, you can embrace your own unique style and tackle every page in a way that suits and excites you. Could not recommend it enough.
Read
January 21, 2015Přijde mi to ještě maličko zábavnější než Destrukční deník, protože nápaditější :)
Zajímalo by mě, kam ta paní na to chodí...
Zajímalo by mě, kam ta paní na to chodí...
xx-dnf-skim-reference
November 29, 2020Started in April 2019. Thoughts at the beginning are less relevant, so you may want to scroll towards the end of my review....
-----
So, I'm seriously not artistically creative, and unsuccessful when I try to be crafty. But I want to be better at that stuff, whether it's crocheting or sketching or writing or whatever. Ok, so I try things like this. And this is pretty inspirational. But also exceedingly frustrating. When I was a teen or college student I might have been able to do these exercises, but not now so much. My origami boat, even after googling for better instructions, is *terrible.*
I think the book would be better if it broke open my brain first, *then* gave me blank pages to be inspiring. But one of the earliest exercises is "This [blank page] is a Thought Garden... plant your ideas here." Um, hello, I don't actually have any ideas yet?
Welp. I'm not going to carry it around with me (as one of the first instructions says that I must). I got to a page I'm not in the mood to do now but might be later (scavenger hunt) and so, rather than skipping ahead, I'll just set it aside for now.
------
Finally getting back to it in November 2020. Lots of great ideas further on. Actually, if you're willing to 'read' it out of order, bounce around at will, I do recommend it. I wish life hadn't added so many responsibilities and other priorities to my schedule, as I could see myself doing some of these.
Otoh, as it happens, many of them I have done in lo these many decades I've been sapient. I think this book is especially good for teens, young adults, and empty nesters who find themselves watching too much tv.... ;)
-----
So, I'm seriously not artistically creative, and unsuccessful when I try to be crafty. But I want to be better at that stuff, whether it's crocheting or sketching or writing or whatever. Ok, so I try things like this. And this is pretty inspirational. But also exceedingly frustrating. When I was a teen or college student I might have been able to do these exercises, but not now so much. My origami boat, even after googling for better instructions, is *terrible.*
I think the book would be better if it broke open my brain first, *then* gave me blank pages to be inspiring. But one of the earliest exercises is "This [blank page] is a Thought Garden... plant your ideas here." Um, hello, I don't actually have any ideas yet?
Welp. I'm not going to carry it around with me (as one of the first instructions says that I must). I got to a page I'm not in the mood to do now but might be later (scavenger hunt) and so, rather than skipping ahead, I'll just set it aside for now.
------
Finally getting back to it in November 2020. Lots of great ideas further on. Actually, if you're willing to 'read' it out of order, bounce around at will, I do recommend it. I wish life hadn't added so many responsibilities and other priorities to my schedule, as I could see myself doing some of these.
Otoh, as it happens, many of them I have done in lo these many decades I've been sapient. I think this book is especially good for teens, young adults, and empty nesters who find themselves watching too much tv.... ;)
August 3, 2015
I was staying with my parents for a few days, and spotted This Is Not a Book on one of their bookshelves. With a title like that, I just had to pick it up.
This Is Not a Book is a fun idea full of questions, tasks and challenges that will ensure every copy of This Is Not a Book is unique by the time you've finished it.
I think this would really appeal to young teenagers, especially creative and adventurous sorts. I would definitely have loved to receive this when I was younger.
This Is Not a Book is a fun idea full of questions, tasks and challenges that will ensure every copy of This Is Not a Book is unique by the time you've finished it.
I think this would really appeal to young teenagers, especially creative and adventurous sorts. I would definitely have loved to receive this when I was younger.
January 15, 2013
در نگاه اول شاید کتاب به نظر ساده بیاد اما در واقع پیرو نگاه پست مدرن غالب این روزها، اهسته اهسته با پرسپکتیو ایده آل گرای مولف آشنا می شیم و می فهمیم چرا این ژانر کتاب ها در حال حاضر در کشورهایی نظیر آمریکا پرفروش و محبوب هستند
June 29, 2011
Truth be told, I didn't really enjoy the book. I own How to be An Explorer of the World and I LOVED it! It changed my life! However, I just didn't get the same vibe from this book. I love the idea behind it but it's almost just a replica of Wreck This Journal. I still love Keri Smith and am SO glad that I picked it up and gave it go, but it just wasn't all that interesting to me.
Read
February 28, 2018it's not a book. it's inspiration.
January 23, 2013
a different book, with different point of view
June 6, 2011
This not-book is a wonderful way for me to not only waste my time, but free up y creativity and challenge me to do something new and inspirational at the same time! The idea is to essentially follow the instructions listed on each page and just invent, create and have fun.
For anyone looking to do the same, I would say that "This Is Not A Book" is a good use of time. Equipped with scissors, tape or glue, a ruler and a pencil, you will find hundreds of way to make this book into a personal keep sake that you won't want to get rid of after you've started working on it.
Personally, mine has a cover that would mislead people to think that it is some boring book, and it even has a specially designed "Rick Roll" trap on a specifically designated page. I love working on this book, and I'm sure any one else would if they just let their mind wander and come up with tings to do. This is truly a fun book.
For anyone looking to do the same, I would say that "This Is Not A Book" is a good use of time. Equipped with scissors, tape or glue, a ruler and a pencil, you will find hundreds of way to make this book into a personal keep sake that you won't want to get rid of after you've started working on it.
Personally, mine has a cover that would mislead people to think that it is some boring book, and it even has a specially designed "Rick Roll" trap on a specifically designated page. I love working on this book, and I'm sure any one else would if they just let their mind wander and come up with tings to do. This is truly a fun book.
June 11, 2011
If it walks like a book, is bound like a book, has writing in it like a book, is shelved like a book, it must be a book--despite the title to the contrary.
Okay, I get the point: The reader brings her own experiences, etc. to a text to create, well, whatever she wants.
Still, claims to the contrary, Keri Smith's text is a book, albeit not a very good one. It's really a simplistic collection of activities.
I simply wanted the non-book to be more clever than it is, even though it does have a few gems.
Okay, I get the point: The reader brings her own experiences, etc. to a text to create, well, whatever she wants.
Still, claims to the contrary, Keri Smith's text is a book, albeit not a very good one. It's really a simplistic collection of activities.
I simply wanted the non-book to be more clever than it is, even though it does have a few gems.
June 21, 2014
Not as cool as Wreck This Journal, but it's a close second! I love the activities. But I wish there weren't so many that required other people to get involved. Or for you to go somewhere to do the activities. I don't have too many friends, so it's hard for me to get other people to do things in the journal. Other than that, it's fun!
November 29, 2009
I love this book, it makes you think outside the box or, well, book. I've done a couple of the ideas in it, mainly on the train, and bought a box of pencils especially for it.
May 8, 2022
Güzel bir kitap içinde eğlenceli etkinlikler var bayıldım. Sıkılınca okuyun!!!!
October 9, 2015
So maybe I'm prejudiced against these books because they're sold at Urban Outfitters or the Barnes and Noble gift section, and they're as much toy as book.
On the other hand, it's as much toy as book.
It's also supposed to be an adventure and a decision maker and a decoration and a sculpture and a lot of things that you could actually have fun doing one-a-day to keep yourself in a creative mood.
It did shake me up. A few times. There's some low philosophy-level mindshifting stuff going on here.
And it's pretty.
Just don't borrow it from a library, because you'll want to do all the cutting and drawing and gluing it says to do...because that's exactly what it says to do. It's kinda the point.
On the other hand, it's as much toy as book.
It's also supposed to be an adventure and a decision maker and a decoration and a sculpture and a lot of things that you could actually have fun doing one-a-day to keep yourself in a creative mood.
It did shake me up. A few times. There's some low philosophy-level mindshifting stuff going on here.
And it's pretty.
Just don't borrow it from a library, because you'll want to do all the cutting and drawing and gluing it says to do...because that's exactly what it says to do. It's kinda the point.
September 4, 2017
Weird fun book to use your imagination, get silly and maybe get inspire. For some people they may think this book is waste of time, but for others maybe relief them from their life-work stresses.
كتاب غريب بس ممتع فيه مثل التحديات او مهمات واشياء تطلبها منكم تسوونها بس الصراحة بدون هدف يعني الكتاب أبداً مو للقراءة.
ينفع للي يبون يستخدمون مخيلتهم ويحبون اشياء غريبة. ممكن فيه ناس تحس ان الكتاب مضيعة للوقت وممكن غيرهم يحسون ان الكتاب يساعدهم يتخلصون من التوتر في حياتهم.
كتاب غريب بس ممتع فيه مثل التحديات او مهمات واشياء تطلبها منكم تسوونها بس الصراحة بدون هدف يعني الكتاب أبداً مو للقراءة.
ينفع للي يبون يستخدمون مخيلتهم ويحبون اشياء غريبة. ممكن فيه ناس تحس ان الكتاب مضيعة للوقت وممكن غيرهم يحسون ان الكتاب يساعدهم يتخلصون من التوتر في حياتهم.
September 11, 2017
It's a really interesting activity book, there's still some pages I haven't finished but I think I'm not going to anyways so...
I bought it out of pure curiosity and was really surprised, it's something to do when you have free time or to make your temporary hobby.
I bought it out of pure curiosity and was really surprised, it's something to do when you have free time or to make your temporary hobby.
August 7, 2014
ummm it was fun.. waste of time
July 14, 2022
This is not a review.
July 15, 2015
Mucho mejor que el conocido cuaderno de la misma autora ‘Destroza éste diario’. En éste encontramos un conjunto de algo más de 100 propuestas a realizar, todas ellas bastante diversas y, especialmente, extraña.
Las hay de acción, como sostener el cuaderno lo máximo posible y sujetarlo por con las partes anatómicas que te pide, otras que hacen que desarrolles por escrito cosas muy personales ( una de las parte que más me gustan), como la actividad de ‘ la maquina del tiempo’ en dónde te piden ciertos retazos de tu vida y memorias quizá olvidadas, ‘ Un lugar imaginario’ dónde has de dibujar y explicar tu mundo ideal y su sistema, ‘ esto es un universo paralelo’ en el que has de explicar tu mundo actual pero a la inversa, o sea todo lo contrario, ‘ esto es un sistema’ dónde encadenarás palabras de manera muy curiosa o ‘ Esto es un recuerdo’ en el que tendrás que exponer a modo de lista tu paso y tu huella en el planeta. Además, hay de tipo experimento como: ‘ privación sensorial’( ira a ciegas por la casa, muy divertido) o ‘ Esto es un generador de ideas’(te invitan a combinar cosas y acciones dentro de distinto apartados cotidianos para una conseguir una idea de un producto o concepto; ‘ brainstorm’).
EN DEFINITIVA, UNA OBRA DIVERTIDA, SORPRENDENTE EN SEGÚN QUÉ ACTIVIDADES, CURIOSA E INTERESANTE DE REALIZAR Y CON UN HALO EXTRAVAGANTE.
RECOMENDADA PARA LOS QUE GUSTE DE DESARROLLAR IDEAS Y AUTO ANÁLISIS ESCRITOS Y OTRAS ACTIVIDADES EXTRAÑAS, LOS QUE HUYAN DE OTROS CUADERNOS MÁS SIMPLONES O LINEALES Y LOS QUE NO HAYAN DISFRUTADO CON’ Destroza éste diario’.
Las hay de acción, como sostener el cuaderno lo máximo posible y sujetarlo por con las partes anatómicas que te pide, otras que hacen que desarrolles por escrito cosas muy personales ( una de las parte que más me gustan), como la actividad de ‘ la maquina del tiempo’ en dónde te piden ciertos retazos de tu vida y memorias quizá olvidadas, ‘ Un lugar imaginario’ dónde has de dibujar y explicar tu mundo ideal y su sistema, ‘ esto es un universo paralelo’ en el que has de explicar tu mundo actual pero a la inversa, o sea todo lo contrario, ‘ esto es un sistema’ dónde encadenarás palabras de manera muy curiosa o ‘ Esto es un recuerdo’ en el que tendrás que exponer a modo de lista tu paso y tu huella en el planeta. Además, hay de tipo experimento como: ‘ privación sensorial’( ira a ciegas por la casa, muy divertido) o ‘ Esto es un generador de ideas’(te invitan a combinar cosas y acciones dentro de distinto apartados cotidianos para una conseguir una idea de un producto o concepto; ‘ brainstorm’).
EN DEFINITIVA, UNA OBRA DIVERTIDA, SORPRENDENTE EN SEGÚN QUÉ ACTIVIDADES, CURIOSA E INTERESANTE DE REALIZAR Y CON UN HALO EXTRAVAGANTE.
RECOMENDADA PARA LOS QUE GUSTE DE DESARROLLAR IDEAS Y AUTO ANÁLISIS ESCRITOS Y OTRAS ACTIVIDADES EXTRAÑAS, LOS QUE HUYAN DE OTROS CUADERNOS MÁS SIMPLONES O LINEALES Y LOS QUE NO HAYAN DISFRUTADO CON’ Destroza éste diario’.
July 4, 2019
This is not a book worth paying full price for. I got it from a charity shop and the person who owned it before me, and donated it to a worthy cause, wrote on only four or five pages before giving up and giving it away. Apparently, this is not a book that is very much fun for a girl born in 1999, like the previous owner wrote on page 69. This is not a book that is particularly interesting for a 55-year-old woman like myself either. This is not a book that changed my life or pulled me out of depression or sparked my own creativity, like some readers claim. This is not a book that Keri Smith hasn't, in some shape or form, already written. This is probably not a book she has written which hasn't earned her a lot of money. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be able to do anything productive for me, so I think I'll cut out the pages like she often suggests and write on them whatever I want. This is not a book that has caused me to think differently, but will provide some paper for my grocery and To Do lists. This is not a book I will cherish for years to come, that's for sure. And this is not a book that will even exist when I'm through with it. And BTW, www.thisisnotabook.org doesn't exist anymore either.
January 28, 2019
Zakochałam się w "Zniszcz ten dziennik" i nie mogę się już doczekać, kiedy kupię tę książkę. Tutaj również znajdują się zadania, które pobudzą naszą wyobraźnię m.in mamy rozwiązać sprawę zaginionej strony, stworzyć własną planetę czy zostawić książkę na noc na dworze.
Pobudza ona wyobraźnię. Pozwala wyrazić samego siebie. W "To nie książka" nie mamy jasno powiedziane co mamy zrobić. Dostaliśmy tylko wskazówki, które mają uruchomić naszą kreatywność.
Jednak zdecydowanie bardziej podobał mi się "Zniszcz ten dziennik".
Pobudza ona wyobraźnię. Pozwala wyrazić samego siebie. W "To nie książka" nie mamy jasno powiedziane co mamy zrobić. Dostaliśmy tylko wskazówki, które mają uruchomić naszą kreatywność.
Jednak zdecydowanie bardziej podobał mi się "Zniszcz ten dziennik".
July 20, 2019
Sesuai dengan judulnya, saya setuju ini bukan buku. Jika hanya membaca dan melihat isinya dari awal sampai akhir, hanya membutuhkan kurang dari setengah jam. Akan tetapi, jika mengikuti instruksi dan menjawab semua pertanyaan di dalamnya, butuh waktu berhari-hari atau bahkan berminggu-minggu untuk menuntaskannya. Sekilas ini terlihat seperti sekadar permainan, tapi kenyataannya lebih dari itu. Isinya mengajak kita untuk berpikir, menggali ide-ide, mencurahkan perasaan, serta mengenali diri kita sendiri. Empat bintang.
***
***
Read
September 15, 2020Really funny, really unique board book that can be enjoyed by all ages. I read this with a group of preschoolers and it was a hit. They had so much fun yelling out what they saw on each page, pretending to play the keys on the piano, and being given the freedom to joke about butts with abandon! It also inspired them to pick up other books and “read” them in the style of This Is Not a Book – announcing what they saw on each page. Genius. Such a good way to encourage pre-readers to engage with books.
February 16, 2017
I already have The Pocket Scavanger and both versions of Wreck This Journal, so I thought I'd give this book a go and, so far, it hasn't let me down. It's allowing me to get creative in ways I never thought possible and, once again, Keri Smith has delivered.
PS: Page 42 was eaten by Deep Thought from The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy because it's the answer to life, the universe and everything, haha!
PS: Page 42 was eaten by Deep Thought from The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy because it's the answer to life, the universe and everything, haha!
May 26, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
An interesting concept, this is a thought-provoking fill-in-the-pages journal that would appeal to young people. The pages are mostly blank and have activities or questions to complete, ranging from "Record the events of your day" to "Write a list of things you want to avoid." This would be a good alternate to the smartphone; carry it with you and write in it instead of looking at a screen. Clever.
An interesting concept, this is a thought-provoking fill-in-the-pages journal that would appeal to young people. The pages are mostly blank and have activities or questions to complete, ranging from "Record the events of your day" to "Write a list of things you want to avoid." This would be a good alternate to the smartphone; carry it with you and write in it instead of looking at a screen. Clever.
December 1, 2017
The author has a lot of cool ideas to spark creativity and banish boredom and think outside of the box. I picked this over Wreck This Journal because it seemed productive as opposed to destructive but I accomplished very few of the exercises. Life is just too busy as a responsible adult and when I do have time for creative endeavors I have art projects I gravitate towards instead. Might be a lot of fun for a young person during summer vacation though.
October 9, 2020
Sé que el objetivo de este libro es que te lo cargues y tal pero nunca he tenido huevos para hacer lo que me pedía en las páginas. Una amiga hizo todo lo que le pedían las páginas, hizo algo relacionado con comida y se le llenó la estantería de bichos. A mí no me motiva tener un libro lleno de guarrerías al lado de libros que cuido y tal pero bueno, que si lo usas para desfogarte y luego piensas tirarlo supongo que está bien.
Hay cosas muy artísticas por ahí hechas en este libro, eso sí.
Hay cosas muy artísticas por ahí hechas en este libro, eso sí.
November 26, 2019
Historia lubi… dobra, skończmy z tym. Pomysł dodania przeze mnie tych książek na półkę „przeczytane” ma ukryty, głębszy sens. Wiecie, idą święta, czas prezentów, a wszyscy wiedzą, że ja to tylko książki chcę. Mam więc nadzieję, że dzięki temu nikt znajomy nie wpadnie na pomysł obdarowania mnie tym… czymś, co książką, jak w końcu twórcy zadecydowali, jednak nie jest. Mają Ci moi znajomi dostęp do mej wirtualnej biblioteczki, może zadziała, oby! :)
A tak przy okazji tego dzieła to wpadłam na pomysł: dzisiaj akcja „To nie Książka”, jutro „To nie Czytnik” – w końcu za czytnik będzie można wyciągnąć więcej kasy, ze 200zł sztuka minimum, normalnie kura znosząca złote jaja! Będziem niszczyć, wirusować, w pralce prać, Greya czytać! Pełną głowę pomysłów na destrukcję mam, zadania mogę wymyślić w ramach pomocy autorce, która zaczęła się już powtarzać. Może sama powinna w ramach poprawy kreatywności pobawić się swoimi koszmarnymi wytworami?
Wstyd trochę dodawać na półkę "przeczytane" coś, co się tylko przeglądnęło, ale cel jest szczytny, proszę o wybaczenie!
A tak przy okazji tego dzieła to wpadłam na pomysł: dzisiaj akcja „To nie Książka”, jutro „To nie Czytnik” – w końcu za czytnik będzie można wyciągnąć więcej kasy, ze 200zł sztuka minimum, normalnie kura znosząca złote jaja! Będziem niszczyć, wirusować, w pralce prać, Greya czytać! Pełną głowę pomysłów na destrukcję mam, zadania mogę wymyślić w ramach pomocy autorce, która zaczęła się już powtarzać. Może sama powinna w ramach poprawy kreatywności pobawić się swoimi koszmarnymi wytworami?
Wstyd trochę dodawać na półkę "przeczytane" coś, co się tylko przeglądnęło, ale cel jest szczytny, proszę o wybaczenie!
June 2, 2024
"To nie jest książka, bowiem powstaje z udziałem czytelnika. Wyłącznie od niego zależy, co się w niej znajdzie i jak będzie wyglądał produkt końcowy. Celem Nie-Książki jest wyjście poza ramy własnego umysłu i uruchomienie wyobraźni. Jeśli to nie książka, to co to jest?"
Już spieszę z odpowiedzią - to kolejny pomysł pani Smith jak zarobić pieniądze na osobach, które chciałyby tworzyć, ale jeszcze nie znalazły czegoś, co dawałoby im przyjemność, a jednocześnie sprawiałoby, by czuli się artystami.
To Nie Książka - to makulatura sprzedawana w księgarni. Stary pomysł - vide "Zniszcz ten dziennik", nowa, JAKŻE zaskakująca okładka, lecz póki się to sprzedaje to spodziewam się kolejnych ambitnych dzieł firmowanych nazwiskiem tej pani.
Już spieszę z odpowiedzią - to kolejny pomysł pani Smith jak zarobić pieniądze na osobach, które chciałyby tworzyć, ale jeszcze nie znalazły czegoś, co dawałoby im przyjemność, a jednocześnie sprawiałoby, by czuli się artystami.
To Nie Książka - to makulatura sprzedawana w księgarni. Stary pomysł - vide "Zniszcz ten dziennik", nowa, JAKŻE zaskakująca okładka, lecz póki się to sprzedaje to spodziewam się kolejnych ambitnych dzieł firmowanych nazwiskiem tej pani.
December 31, 2025
Interesting?.. Only a “book” by tangible definition. More of a toolkit I believe is intended to make you breakaway from the things we do and say as part of our status quo, and express ourselves merely for the cathartic nature of doing so. An example would be the instructions to blindly find a subject in an encyclopedia and allow yourself to learn more about it; things we’d do without much consideration as children. Recommended to adults who are fans of Alice In Wonderland.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews