Book Review - PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives by Frank Warren
Category Book Review Frank Warren PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
I've been a fan of the PostSecret site for awhile now. It's a project started by Frank Warren back in late 2004 involving blank postcards. He spread them around and asked people to share a secret on the card, decorate it as they saw fit, and then mail it anonymously to him. In short order, the project took on a life of its own, and Warren started receiving cards and letters from around the world. The book PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives is a full-color compilation of some of these mailings, and it's fascinating.
Behind the cover of anonymity, people are willing to 'fess up to numerous things that are dark secrets never before revealed. Going through the book, you see secrets such as "He's been in prison for two years because of what I did. 9 more to go.", "I wish my parents could see me for what I am, instead of what I didn't become.", and "I am contemptuous of others so it hurts less then they are indifferent to me." The words themselves can be funny, haunting, sad, or shocking, but the real impact is the artwork that adorns the cards. It's there that you get the full emotional impact of what the writer is saying. For instance... A "Hello, My name is..." tag with the space filled in as "I force new acquaintances to address me by my shortened name because it makes me forget my past.". Or there's the picture of the wrecked car with the hand-written note "I almost decided not to get out, once I knew I'd hit the river."
Not all the items are as dark as what I've noted above. There's "I believe in destiny, and I think I know mine. :) :) :)", "I had a cyst on my face that ruined 7th and 8th grade. Now I love it because it makes me different.", and my favorite (written on a Starbucks cupholder)... "I give decaf to customers who are RUDE to me!"
I guess part of the fascination with PostSecret is the lurid stuff that shows up. But it's also a reminder that what you see on the outside of someone is in all likelihood far different than what they see on the inside. It once again reminds me that everyone is struggling with something in their lives.
There are other books in the PostSecret series, and I have them on hold at the library. This book was excellent in a thought-provoking way, and I look forward to more.
I've been a fan of the PostSecret site for awhile now. It's a project started by Frank Warren back in late 2004 involving blank postcards. He spread them around and asked people to share a secret on the card, decorate it as they saw fit, and then mail it anonymously to him. In short order, the project took on a life of its own, and Warren started receiving cards and letters from around the world. The book PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives is a full-color compilation of some of these mailings, and it's fascinating.
Behind the cover of anonymity, people are willing to 'fess up to numerous things that are dark secrets never before revealed. Going through the book, you see secrets such as "He's been in prison for two years because of what I did. 9 more to go.", "I wish my parents could see me for what I am, instead of what I didn't become.", and "I am contemptuous of others so it hurts less then they are indifferent to me." The words themselves can be funny, haunting, sad, or shocking, but the real impact is the artwork that adorns the cards. It's there that you get the full emotional impact of what the writer is saying. For instance... A "Hello, My name is..." tag with the space filled in as "I force new acquaintances to address me by my shortened name because it makes me forget my past.". Or there's the picture of the wrecked car with the hand-written note "I almost decided not to get out, once I knew I'd hit the river."
Not all the items are as dark as what I've noted above. There's "I believe in destiny, and I think I know mine. :) :) :)", "I had a cyst on my face that ruined 7th and 8th grade. Now I love it because it makes me different.", and my favorite (written on a Starbucks cupholder)... "I give decaf to customers who are RUDE to me!"
I guess part of the fascination with PostSecret is the lurid stuff that shows up. But it's also a reminder that what you see on the outside of someone is in all likelihood far different than what they see on the inside. It once again reminds me that everyone is struggling with something in their lives.
There are other books in the PostSecret series, and I have them on hold at the library. This book was excellent in a thought-provoking way, and I look forward to more.
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