Information design is the newest of the design disciplines. As a sign of our times; when the crafting of messages and meaning is so central to our lives; information design is not only important -- it is essential. Contemporary information designers seek to edify more than to persuade; to exchange more than to foist upon. With ever more powerful technologies of communication; we have learned that the issuer of designed information is as likely as the intended recipient to be changed by it; for better or worse.The contributors to this book are both cautionary and hopeful as they offer visions of how information design can be practiced diligently and ethically; for the benefit of information consumers as well as producers. They present various methods that seem to work; such as sense-making and way-finding. They make recommendations and serve as guides to a still young but extraordinarily pervasive -- and persuasive -- field.ContributorsElizabeth Andersen; Judy Anderson; Simon Birrell; Mike Cooley; Brenda Dervin; Jim Gasperini; Yvonne M. Hansen; Steve Holtzman; Robert E. Horn; Robert Jacobson; John Krygier; Sheryl Macy; Romedi Passini; Jef Raskin; Chandler Screven; Nathan Shedroff; Hal Thwaites; Roger Whitehouse
#1914971 in eBooks 2013-08-26 2013-08-26File Name: B00MFWFKRY
Review
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful. This book is a down-to-earth; inspiring; quick-read.By Brian Johnson[[VIDEOID:7d57b9e0fb79ee612b8d159ca8f5e274]] In Turning Pro; Steven Pressfield describes an exercise from Improv Wisdom and says that this book is on his short list of indispensable books.Of course; I got it immediately. Anything that makes that list is something Im going to read. :)And; here we are. Improv Wisdom rocks. So does Patricia Ryan Madson.Patricia is an Emerita of Stanford University where she taught for three decades in the Drama Department. She integrates the wisdom of two primary; extraordinary teachers/philosophies: Keith Johnstones Impro goodness + David Reynolds Constructive Living mojo."A good improvisor is someone who is awake; not entirely self-focused; and moved by a desire to do something useful and give something back and who acts upon this impulse. My students wanted to know the password for joining the society of such people; to play fearlessly; and to work with greater ease.Here is the password--it is yes! Understanding the power of yes is easy; practicing that acceptance and affirmation in daily life becomes our challenge.Im writing to encourage you to improvise your life; please. I want you to take chances and do more of the things that are important to you. Im hoping that you will make more mistakes; laugh more often; and have some adventures...What is missing in your life? The paperweight on my desk challenges me to ask the bumper-sticker question: What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" What would you do?As improvisors we discover we dont need this unrealistic guarantee to begin. The only real failure is not doing anything. Why not explore; get moving on your life; kick-start your dreams; paint outside the lines? This book will provide inspiration and practical suggestions. Try them." ~ Patricia Ryan Madson from Improv WisdomThis book is a down-to-earth; inspiring; quick-read featuring the thirteen maxims of improv living. Its packed with Big Ideas and practical exercises (Patricia calls them "Try this!" and theyre great).Here are the thirteen maxims: say yes + dont prepare + just show up + start anywhere + be average + pay attention + face the facts + stay on course + wake up to the gifts + make mistakes; please + act now + take care of each other + enjoy the ride!To find 250+ more reviews visit http://bit.ly/BrianReviews4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. LOVE this book!By Diane BoldenIn his book; Turning Pro; Steven Pressfield references Patricia Ryan Madson. I love Steven Pressfield and I was intrigued by the title of this book; so I ordered it. I enjoyed every page; and even went back and re-read many sections. I love the playfulness of the approaches the author advocates; particularly those that fly in the face of the messages we are so often bombarded with that lead us into a futile search to try to be perfect and unique. Using Patricias methods has already helped me to take the pressure off myself; allowing me to try things my perfectionist tendencies would have had me shy away from or procrastinate doing to the point of complete avoidance. The results have been illuminating; and the experience freeing. I cant thank her enough for writing this wonderful book!10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. An Energizing; Inspiring Approach to Your LifeBy EnamoratoWhile the reviews for this book mention Patricia Ryan Madsons involvement with improvisational theatre; I was more familiar with her work as a teacher of Constructive Living - a Western adaptation of Japanese psychotherapies by clinician David K. Reynolds. Reynolds aim is to help his students learn to live a fully present; action-oriented life in a world where problems are just as inevitable as successes and suffering just as much a part of life as joy. "Improv Wisdom" is actually closer in vein to a Constructive Living text than a book geared for improvisational theatre: the focus is not just on theatre; but on making the most of life no matter what ones circumstances. In Madsons words; this is "Saying Yes!" to life. Even just the IDEA that our lives are fully improvised - that were making it up as we go along - can be a truly life-changing concept for many of us who have been brainwashed into micromanaging and planning every detail of every moment of our careers; family life and even our leisure time.Reynolds classic Constructive Living (Kolowalu Books) is still in print. It is a concise; elegant little book that has provided me much help that I highly recommend. Madsons work; however; takes a creative and fascinating departure. Being a clinician; Reynolds approach was aimed at outgrowing ones emotional obstacles; and while this emphasis certainly appears in "Improv Wisdom" (see in particular; Chapters 5; called "Be Average"; and 12; called "Take Care of Each Other"); Madsons incorporation of Keith Johnstones work on reawakening to spontaneity results in an approach that truly inspires an appreciation for every second of life.Like Reynolds book; "Improv Wisdom" is realistic; engaging and extremely energizing to read. As a whole; Madson has a more joyful; exciting tone that is a welcome counterpoint to Reynolds hard-edged pragmatism. The two books complement each other well. Some of the chapters are particularly refreshing: Chapter 1 ("Say Yes") thoroughly has the potential to open ones life up in surprising ways; Chapter 6 ("Pay Attention") wakes one up out of the trance of autopilot and self-absorption; Chapter 10 ("Make Mistakes; Please") is a welcome antidote to the art of not only making mistakes; but learning to use them in creative ways.There is a lot of important insight in this book that will improve ones relationship with life itself. It would make a wonderful graduation present as well as a great read before a trip. I read it before a yearly camping outing along the Potomac River. It completely subverted my tendency to obsessively plan activities for every minute of the day and allowed me to be present and spontaneous in ways that I hadnt been since I was a child. My friends appreciated the change as well; as I was also more open and present for them than before. Highly recommended on its own; or as a compliment to Reynolds "Constructive Living."
