David Lynch Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of David Lynch Art & Photography Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

David Lynch is an American screenwriter, filmmaker, and author that has made a name for himself for his mind-bending and uniquely disturbing visual and artistic work. His films usually juxtapose the shockingly macabre with the cheerfully mundane to defy explanation. Lynch was born to a US Forest Service research scientist, which meant that the family was often moving across the country during his childhood. He has lived in the likes of Spokane, Washington, Idaho, Sandpoint, Montana, and Missoula as his father was often sent to different places by the US Department of Agriculture. This part of his life is also refracted and reflected in his novels such as “Twin Peaks” and “Blue Velvet.” He came into the limelight when he made the very original film “Eraserhead” in 1977 which would go on to become a huge hit. Since then, he has received nominations for the Academy Awards for the films “Blue Velvet” and “The Elephant Man.” “Twin Peaks” mania would sweep the country in 1990 after it started airing on ABC before “Wild at Heart” got the Palme d’Or award. Lynch has also established himself as one of the wittiest artists with tremendous amounts of humor. He made his writing debut with the publishing of “Catching the Big Fish,” a novel about transcendental meditation.

As a teen, David Lynch dreamed of becoming a painter and soon after he graduated from an Alexandria, Virginia high school he got into Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Between 1965 and 1969, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts which is where he got a first taste of the power of creativity. It was at the college that he made “Six Men Getting Sick,” a 60-second animation film that he made for an experimental sculpture and painting contest. Three years later, he was at the Center for Advanced Film Studies of the American Film Institute studying more advanced aspects of film making. It was at the college that he would begin work on “Eraserhead” which would become his debut feature film. The film would be shot and produced over several years and would become a cultural phenomenon. The hallucinatory picture repelled and baffled viewers and critics but would ultimately become one of the most popular midnight movies on the circuit. Lynch has now become a world-renowned filmmaker though he has also worked as a visual artist and still has a devoted studio practice. Aside from his writing and films he has also accumulated huge works of drawings, paintings, photography, and prints.

David Lynch is a critically acclaimed filmmaker but has also made a name for himself for writing some incredibly creative works. He started by publishing a series of photography works before he coauthored Catching the Big Fish a novel that was published in 2006. The transcendental novel is a description of memorable stories that informed his career, his creative processes, and his transcendental meditation practice. The novel has been described as a self-help guide and autobiography and was formatted into vignette-like chapters that Lynch has said was to present something like fishing. He has said that one has to go deeper to catch the big fish as it is only the small fish that swim in the shallow waters. Lynch uses his novels to pass on his methods and ideas even though he has never shied away from taking inspiration from fellow creatives. Some of the people from whom he has gotten ideas include Franz Kafka the novelist, William Eggleston, and Maya Deren all of whom have been an inspiration through the years. As for novels, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka is his favorite novel of all time.

“Catching the Big Fish” is the debut novel by David Lynch that provides insights into the creative benefits, the personal working style, and methods of the author. For Lynch, ideas are something akin to catching fish which he then prepares for movie screen and television and other mediums through which he publishes his work including design, music, and painting. Lynch writes about his commitment to transcendental meditation over more than thirty years and how this has had a huge influence on his creativity. He writes his novel in brief chapters explaining his grasp of ideas, their source, and which ones provide the most appeal. David particularly discusses his creative processes of engaging with others and putting his thoughts into action. He also writes about how he takes into account his environment and the self and how diving deep inside has had a significant impact on his work. To the legion of fans, the novel is a huge revelation of the author’s vision and also intrigues people who may want to tap into their creativity.

David Lynch’s “Room To Dream” is an enjoyable biography that is descriptive but very readable. It is full of quirky stories told from dual perspectives that get into how Lynch grew up to discover his life calling and how this was impacted by moving from place to place. It tells of the effects of the moves and how and when he became interested in art. Ultimately, this would evolve into something of an obsession with painting and art. This preoccupation would be part of his life for quite a long time that it would influence his creativity for years to come. An important part of the novel is the transition from painting to film making which is when David came into his own. The novel also shares stories of his personal life, the many girlfriends he had, his friends and family, ultimate marriage and the starting of a family. The book is written from the perspective of Kristine McKenna and David Lynch and alternates between his words and the biographical aspects by McKenna. It provides a personal story told in a down to earth manner that makes it seem as if you are talking to David in person.

“Lynch on Lynch” by David Lynch is something of an extended interview that provides insights into the uncompromising and mercurial artistic world of the author. Written alongside Chris Royle, it is a respectful look into concrete meanings with an emphasis on biographical conversations. Occasionally, it does provide some illuminating insights into the imagery that is a hallmark of the most famous work by David Lynch. It is a charming combination of mild trauma, friendliness, and naivety that is a trademark of David Lynch’s persona. The occasional moment of aloofness the colloquial quirks of speech all come across portraying a man that seems to have a private road that offers him insights into the subconscious. He depicts a world full of nightmares and dreams with a panache that is unrivaled by any other creative. Through the novel, he continues to showcase the spookiness and nagging terror which has been a consistent theme in his work.