Zen Pencils: Dream the Impossible DreamVolume Two by Gavin Aung Than

Zen Pencils: Dream the Impossible DreamVolume Two Reviews

• 
  Julie Ehlers

  Reading Zen Pencils—inspirational quotes illustrated with delightful comics—is like being on vacation. You won't have to think too hard, but you'll come back refreshed and with a new perspective on life. Or at least, that's what happened when I read the first Zen Pencils volume. Volume Two, on the other hand... a little disappointing. It was like he used up all his best quotes for Volume One and had to go to his bench here. He even illustrated two of his own pieces of writing, including a lengthy poem about which the less said, the better. I'm not sorry I read this but I am glad I took it out of the library—unlike the first volume, this one's not a keeper.
• 
  Arpit

  
  
  
  This is a collection of inspirational quotes by famous persons which are beautifully adapted into cartoon by the cartoonist Gavin Aung Than. With his creativity, Than has transformed the quotes into charming and heartwarming cartoon stories. Perfect for adults and kids alike.
• 
  Preeti

  I can't remember when I first discovered Zen Pencils. Just like most other things I've discovered on the internet, the discovery is lost in the sands of time.
  
  But I really love the concept. Gavin Aung takes well-known (and not-so-well-known) quotes and turns them into short stories by illustrating them in comic form. The description of what he does is really simple but to actually see a quote being brought to life in a story is really awesome to see.
  
  I haven't seen his first book but I imagine it takes a large portion of the work he posts on his site, plus new work, and brings it together into book form. This is similar. I would say this book is perfect as a present for a recent grad or just someone who needs inspiration to go out there and do the damn thing.
  
  I would definitely recommend this book. And of course,
  check out his site as well!
  
  Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Bandit

  Read the first one, so knew exactly what to expect. More inspirational quotes, specializing in calling all artists to abandon all practical pursuits and create, create, create. It still reads like a fairly unsound and naïve advice, made to come across more seriously due to the author's own success following his advice. Someone told me advice is a gift to the giver. In light of that the author is just showering himself with kudos. In fact, the most inspirational advice comes from Amelia Earhart and we all know what happened to her after all that fear conquering. Cynical, yes, I know, but facts are facts. There are more poems here, even one by author, who is a stronger artist that poet. Thing is the art is cute though, the mini stories are lovely and there is a certain charm to all that exuberance and optimism, albeit effects are limited of a sufficiently beaten down by life soul. Good for dreams, though.
• 
  Ray Flores

  Gavin Aung Than really knows what he is doing. This second volume is also filled illustrated quotes from people who have had success one way or another. Some of them are advices, and some of them were speeches that had an impact on thousands of people.
  
  One thing for sure is that Gavin is a creative artist that always inspires me to keep going on. He is in touch with his characters and he truly understands the core of being creative.
  
  I don’t think myself as an artist, even though I tend to do a lot of artsy stuff, but whenever I see other people talk about what they love, or how they are absolutely happy when they have the chance to explore their abilities, I can agree with them.
  
  Most of regular people will never understand what art (in whatever shape) means to us, or what it does to our hearts, and that’s OK. What we should never forget is that we need to encourage young artist to express their ideas. Not everybody is destined to be a lawyer or a business man. Some of us find joy in small things like writing a song or painting our reality.
  
  I know I may sound like a broken record, but since I’ve read two of his books, I understood that he had a vision, and even though a lot of people told him to give up, he decided to change his life and become what he truly wanted in the first place. That takes courage, and I’m grateful that he dared to do what filled his heart with joy, because we need more of these people –folks that dare to dream and who stop being in ‘zombieland’. We need people who come alive.
  
  Last but not least, Gavin is one of the few cartoonist whose work I really love and whatever he releases, I’m sure I’ll be reading it!
  
  PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
  
  Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
• 
  Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης

  As I said in the previous volume's review, I hate self-help books; but if I ever read or recommended (a second) one, then it would be this.
  
  There are not many comics who can actively get you thinking in a positive light during an especially hard time, without bullshitting you or being pedantic. Gaving Aung Than has been where you are, and it shows. He is not grandstanding on some high horse, looking down on you. He has been in the trenches and gives you a few pointers on how to survive your own mind. In fact, he has gathered some of the best pointers throughout history and illustrated them in a relatable manner.
  
  Furthermore, all the comics but one are available for reading on his site, and I just bought the book because I believe in good work being rewarded.
  
  If you need to be inspired, this book is truly precious.
• 
  Ananya Ghosh

  The first comic that I read and which converted me to Gavin's fangirl was Isaac Asimov's "A lifetime of learning" . So glad that it featured in volume 2. Thank you Gavin, for all the magical experiences that your artwork gifts me.
• 
  Vinay Leo

  #2019 #YearInBooks Book 70
  
  It's good to find inspiration sometimes. I loved reading Gavin Aung Than's first volume of Zen Pencils so this book was an easy choice to read.
  
  The first story in the book was just the kind of story I needed to read, especially with the ending. Each story ends with a piece of wisdom, a quote. Kind of like those old books from our childhood that always ended with a moral.
  
  Engaging, interesting, inspiring, all in one. A real delight to read. As like Volume 1, this too for me was 5★.
• 
  Wayne McCoy

  'Dream The Impossible Dream: Zen Pencils' by Gavin Aung Than proved to me that comics can be really inspiring. It felt like comics meeting TED talks.
  
  Gavin Aung Than takes poems and inspirational quotes, some are famous, some are less so, but all are inspiring, and draws a cartoon based story around it. The book opens with an original one by Gavin about struggling for art. Among the others are Isaac Asimov, Maya Angelou, Kevin Smith, Chris Hardwick, William Shakespeare and many others. The cartoons are whimsical. Some are straightforward, some are fantastical (like a guy chained without a brain trying to regain his life). All are the kind of things you'd want to share with people around you that need inspiration.
  
  I was so glad I got to read this book. I absolutely love the concept, and I love the art style too. It's not heavy handed. The whole thing put a smile on my face and made me feel inspired.
  
  I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this amazing graphic novel.
• 
  Stephanie (Reading is Better With Cupcakes)

  This is one of those books that you give a friend when they are having a hard time in their life or are coming up on a huge life milestone (like going off to college). It is filled with inspirational thoughts, sayings, poems, etc from many different people. What is more fantastic is that they are illustrated. These illustrations help the reader understand the meaning behind these thoughts. They help give each thought more meaning.
  
  I really appreciated this book. I would never have read any of these thoughts, poems, sayings, etc if it weren't for this. Some of them I found incredibly enlightening. I found each one more so than the last. All of them really build you up to the last one, which was my favorite of them all.
  
  This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
• 
  Sumit Singla

  Oh, what a lovely dose of inspiration to start an early day! I'm so glad I picked this up.
  
  With some trademark great artwork, Gavin Aung Than narrates the stories of some amazingly inspiring individuals. In particular, I loved the rendering of Ozymandias by PB Shelley, and Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou.
• 
  Aditya Lotia

  I read both the books together without getting up. Because I had to. Because they are that good. Will definitely be re-reading this over and over again.
• 
  Ash

  This collection isn't as good as the first volume but still some quotes were very uplifting.
• 
  Siddhartha Golu

  When you're down, pick this one up. An instant mood-lifter!
• 
  angelofmine1974

  Same theory as volume 1. Same characters, different quotes. Loved it from beginning to end!
• 
  Soumya Prasad (bluntpages)

  Such stunning illustrations and such meaningful chapters! This one too needs to be made mandatory reading.
  
  Detailed review coming soon.
• 
  Billy

  G00d
• 
  Elaine

  After reading Creative Struggle, I requested Mr. Than's previous two books from the library.
  
  Dream the Impossible Dream: Zen Pencils: Volume Two is a wonderful book filled with inspirational quotes from famous individuals from all walks of life, including scientists, philosophers and artists.
  
  Mr. Than adds his own creative spin with his cheeky illustrations that breathe life into the quotes, reminding readers, both old, young and in-between, not to give up on your dreams, not to abandon your creativity but to keep striving forward, no matter how hard and difficult the road may be.
  
  I love Mr. Than's honest outlook on seeking a career in the arts (or anything equally difficult to achieve), not downplaying the obstacles and painful hard work that goes towards a path you have chosen. His tone remains optimistic, hopeful and positive throughout the journey that awaits you.
  
  This is a great book for everyone, especially children and those contemplating a new career path.
• 
  Poonam

  It is a very good concept. To pick up poems, quotes and sayings of inspirational personalities and create beautiful comics is a great idea. The theme of this books is, nothing is impossible; chase your dreams. Despite a nice collection of messages and beautiful drawings, I felt something was missing. Also, it felt a bit repetitive.
• 
  Lindsay

  I picked this book up on a whim, and I wasn't disappointed in the least. As inspirational as it is hilarious, it contains a collection of quotes from Amy Poehler and Kevin Smith, to the Dalai Lama and Shakespeare. Gavin Aung Than interpreted these quotes in fresh and fantastic ways, giving them life in his illustrations.
  
  Highly recommend for anyone and everyone.
• 
  Ye Lin Aung

  Like the previous one, this one is pretty good as well. As it's a comic book, it's easy to read and especially, such a pleasure to see both the visual illustrations (I wrote "visual". Ha, my English failed) beautiful stories and the texts.
• 
  D.J.

  Pretty damn good.
  
  I know some keyboard warriors on Reddit don't like Zen Pencils, but I think his work is pretty solid. Sometimes the quotes and poems he uses aren't really long enough to justify the length of the comic, but still enjoyable regardless.
• 
  Mark Robison

  I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first one. It was still worth reading, but something felt off to me. Maybe it was the long final entry based on the creator's own words rather than those by someone famous that felt forced. Anyway, I'll still get the next volume...
• 
  Kam Yung Soh

  Yet another good book of inspirational quotes with good artwork by Gavin Aung Than.
  
  One of my favourites has to be the one he created around an Isaac Asimov quote about the joys of constant learning. Another nice one at the end is about fear and how can eat us up if we don't overcome it.
• 
  Mallika Mahidhar

  So inspiring.
• 
  Eric

  Another student recommendation. Inspirational quotes, statements, and speeches turned into cartoons. Not a very good or interesting idea.
• 
  Sachin Prabhu

  Every illustration is invigorating. must read!
• 
  Siva Subramaniam

  பார்முலா 1 கார் பந்தயத்தில் சில நேரம் ஓட்டத்தின் நடுவில் வாகனத்தை நிறுத்தி பழுதி நீக்கி சரி பார்த்துக் கொள்வார்கள். அது போல குருட்டாம் போக்கில் வாழ்க்கையில் ஓடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் போது சற்றே நின்று ஆசுவாசப்படுத்திக் கொண்டு, போகும் பாதை சரி தானா என்று நின்று நிதானமாக யோசிக்க ஒரு தருணம் தேவை அல்லவா, அப்படிப்பட்ட தருணங்களை வழங்குகிறது இந்தப் புத்தகம்.
  
  புத்தக உலகிற்கு என்னை அழைத்து வந்தது காமிக்சு புத்தகங்களே. சிறு வயதில் ரொம்ப பலசாலி எல்லாம் இல்லை. நோஞ்சானாகத் தான் இருப்பேன். வீட்டிலும் கண்டிப்பு இருந்ததால் வெளியே எங்கேயும் விளையாட போவதில்லை. தொலைக்காட்சி கூட இல்லாத வீடு. அதனால் புத்தகங்களே எனக்கான பொழுது போக்கு. அதிலும் காமிக்சு புத்தகங்கள். சக்திமானுக்கு முன் என் ஆதர்ச நாயகன் என்றால் அது மாயாவி (Phantom) தான். பாக்கெட் மணி என்றால் என்னவென்றே அறியாத காலம் அது. மிட்டாய் வாங்குவதாக சொல்லி வீட்டில் கெஞ்சி கூத்தாடி ஒரு ரூபாய் அல்லது இரண்டு ரூபாய் வாங்கிக் கொண்டு பழைய புத்தகக் கடைக்கு சென்று ராணி காமிக்ஸ் ஒவ்வொன்றாக புரட்டிப் பார்த்து வாங்கி வருவேன். அதன் பிறகு காமிக்சிலிருந்து சிறுவர் மலர், கோகுலம் என அடுத்த கட்டத்துக்கு முன்னேறினேன். ஆனால் அந்தப் பழைய புத்தகக் கடையும் ராணி காமிக்சும் இல்லை என்றால் இத்தனை நல்ல புத்தகங்களை அறிந்திருக்க மாட்டேன். உங்கள் குழந்தைகள் புத்தகம் படிக்க விரும்பினால் அவர்களை முதலில் காமிக்சு உலகிற்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்துங்கள்.
  
  100 வரிகள் புரிய வைக்க முடியாததை ஒரு படம் புரிய வைத்து விடும் என்பார்கள். சமூக ஊடகங்களின் வரவுக்கு பின்பு காட்சி மொழியின் தாக்கம் இன்னும் அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது. ஒரு பக்கத்திற்கு ஒரு பதிவு எழுதி போடுவதை விட ஒரு மீம் போட்டால் அதிகமான மக்களை சென்றடைகிறது. காமிக்சும் காட்சி மொழி மூலமாக கதைகளை நமக்கு நெருக்கமாக்குகிறது. அதை தனது அபாரமான திறமையின் மூலம் மேலும் நமது மனதிற்கு நெருக்கமாக்குகிறார் கவின்.
  
  சென் பென்சில்சு என்கிற முகநூல் பக்கம் சில வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு எனக்கு அறிமுகம் ஆகியது. (சுட்டி முதல் கருத்தில்) கவின் அவர்கள் ஒரு கலைஞனாக ஆக வேண்டும் என்கிற கனவை சுமந்து எல்லோரையும் போல ஒரு சராசரியான வேலையில் இருந்தவர். ஒரு நாள் மிகவும் உந்தப்பட்டு தனது வேலையை உதறிவிட்டு சென் பென்சில்சு மூலமாக முழு நேரமாக காமிக்சு வரையும் வேலையை எடுத்துக் கொண்டார். எந்நேரமும் எதிர்மறையான கருத்துக்களும் செய்திகளும் நம்மை அழுத்தும் இவ்வேளையில் சென் பென்சில்சின் காமிக்சுகள் நமக்கு தேவைப்படும் ஒரு ஆ���ுவாசத்தைத் தருகின்றன. ஒரு காமிக்சு படித்தாலும் போதும், உற்சாகம் நம்மைத் தொற்றிக் கொள்கிறது.
  
  கலீல் கிப்ரான், ஆல்பர்ட் காம்யூ, ஐசக் அசிமோவ் என நமக்கு நன்கு தெரிந்தவர்களின் பொன்மொழிகளை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு, அதை ஒரு கதையாக மாற்றி காமிக்சு வடிவில் நமக்குத் தருகிறார் கவின். படங்கள் ஒவ்வொன்றும் மிக நுணுக்கமான உணர்வுகளை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது. ஆல்பர்ட் காம்யூவின், "கடுங்குளிர் காலத்தின் நடுவே யாராலும் பறித்துக் கொள்ள முடியாத கதகதப்பான கோடைகாலம் ஒன்று எனக்குள் இருக்கிறது" என்கிற வரிகளுக்கு இவர் வரைந்திருந்த காமிக்சு அருமை. ஒரு நாள் முழுதும் அதைப் பற்றியே யோசித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். இதைப் போல இன்னும் பல இந்தப் புத்தகத்தில் இருக்கிறது.
  
  இது தொகுதி இரண்டு. தொகுதி ஒன்று தனியாக கிடைக்கிறது. எக்காலத்துக்குமான புத்தகங்கள் என்று வெகு சில இருக்கிறது எனக்கு. இந்தப் புத்தகம் அந்த வகையைச் சார்ந்தது. ஒரே நேரத்தில் என்னை சிறுவனவாகவும் முதிர்ந்த மனிதனாகவும் யோசிக்க வைத்த புத்தகம்.
  
  இந்த வருடத்திற்கு ஒரே ஒரு புத்தகம் தான் படிப்பீர்கள் என்றால் நான் இந்த புத்தகத்தை பரிந்துரை செய்வேன்.