Owain Pedgley asks, "I wonder if my local bookstore has a copy . . ." of
Carl Garant's book, The Tao of Design.

Since Owain lives in the UK with Amazon.co.uk, the answer is "Yes."

Past readers found the book problematic. Read reviews before buying. I pass
on the information below. For more information, check the Amazon sites or
the Humanics publishing site.

-- Ken Friedman

>From the UK web site:

The Tao of Design. Carl Garant. £13.99. Paperback - 168 pages (October
1997). Humanics New Age; ISBN: 0893342777

There are no reader reviews on the UK site. There is a publisher's synopsis
and two author reviews.

Reviews

Synopsis: The design process is a complex creative alchemy that may benefit
greatly from the perspective of the "Tao Teh Ching". By taking your time
and drawing on your inner resources, the Tao can release you from external
pressures so that the freedom to design flows straight through you. The Tao
searches the simple and ordinary in life in order to discover the true
magic inherent in every substance or medium. By following the Taoist path
you will be able to tap into your own abilities and create your own
inspired designs. This text explains the belief and practice.

The author, Carl Garant , 12 April, 1999. The Tao of Design offers a new
and liberating interpretation of the phenomenon we call design. In order to
discover more about design, a new perspective is taken that reveals the
fundamental principle of life we commonly take for granted. The dynamic
interplay between the qualities of meaning and purpose brings to light the
importance design has in our every day life.

The author, carl garant , 25 March, 1999: The Tao of Design is an attempt
to bring clarity to the symbolic process we describe as design. Design's
meaning and purpose has been distorted and misinterpreted by many. Yet
design remains the handmaiden of the Tao; the sensitive balance between
meaning and purpose. The verses attempt to bring to light the intimate
relationship between design, who we are and how we give symbolic expression
to the Tao in everything we create. Hopefully, each reader will bring their
imagination to the correspondences within each verse. We are all designers,
symbolists in a symbolic world, each participating in a natural realization
of the Tao. When reading the verses, I sincerely hope each person will
rejoice in the understanding that we all participate in the Tao of Design
in everything we say, think, feel and do.

>From the US Web site:

[The US web site has 3 reviews. All three reviewers give this book the
lowest possible rating.]

Editorial Reviews

Book Description: The complex creative process of design is put into
perspective by the Tao te Ching. Relax and pace yourself- take time to
reflect and draw upon your inner resources- then let the Tao release you
from the pressures of external forces so that the freedom to design can
flow through you. The Tao shows you the way to tap your own abilities and
transform them into inspired designs.

The author, Carl Garant , April 12, 1999: To Bring to Light the Design
Process The Tao of Design offers a new and liberating interpretation of the
phenomenon we call design. In order to discover more about design, a new
perspective is taken that reveals the fundamental principle of life we
commonly take for granted. The dynamic interplay between the qualities of
meaning and purpose brings to light the importance design has in our every
day life.

All Customer Reviews

Avg. Customer Rating: *

?, June 11, 2000: Reviewer: R.Matty from Boston.Mass "Design is not just
the intangible penetrating the tangible and the tangible assimilating the
intangible." This is a quote from the book. It this type of unfinished,
incomprehensable, meaningless, open-ended sentences which continues
thoughout the book. (I use the term book loosely.) I was a little leery of
a book reviewed by the author twice and never by a reader. If I ever was
more disapointed in a purchase in my life, it is with this book. A little
hint to anyone looking for design advice: purchase a magazine with an
interview of a designer. You will receive more helpful information in a two
page article than in this 180pg. book.

Missed the nail!, May 22, 2000 Reviewer: jerry s. from chicago, usa Just by
looking at how only the author himself reviewed the book twice, should have
told me to stay away, stay away! But, intrigued by Taoism in general and a
graphic designer by trade, I decided to give it a chance. The meaningless
rambling from the reviews continued on into the book, and on and on in a
downward spiral. I thought it would get better once I got into it, but it
ended up being a waste of a day of my life.

Waste of time and money, May 21, 2000 Reviewer: A reader from New York, USA
Blah, blah, blah....that's all this book was. Rambling on and on and on
about nothing, it was just a bunch of b.s. in my opinion. It's just a jump
on the bandwagon of all those other "Tao of..." books and was boring,
unsubstantial, confusing and a waste of paper and ink. In my opinion, I
wouldn't make my worst enemy read this book, and if you are looking for
enlightenment and inspiration, go back to the real roots of Taoism, read
the Tao Te Ching.






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