Creativity

52 Projects, by Jeffrey Yamaguchi
Reviewed by Jennifer Cote

Jeffrey Yamaguchi’s book, 52 Projects, is hardly just a guide to interesting things to do with your spare time.  Instead, it encourages you to think about where you are in your life, why you need projects to do, and how your life can change with them.

Everyone’s day-to-day existence becomes tedious sometimes, and you find yourself in a rut.  Whether it’s your job that is wearing you out or just the short days of winter giving you cabin fever, most people, suggests Yamaguchi, make it worse by vegging in front of the television in their spare time.  Starting a project—any project—will renew one’s sense of purpose, he writes, and make even the most tedious of day jobs much more bearable.  One project will lead to others, helping one’s creativity flourish, and preventing one from watching reruns every evening.

Yamaguchi’s project suggestions vary widely, but all pose personal challenges.  They are not your traditional arts-and-craft projects; most, rather, focus on figuring out a part of who you are.  Going through old letters and mailing copies of them to a friend starts the list; others include calling in sick to do something you’ve always wanted to do, and many involve taking lots of pictures.  A good portion of Yamaguchi’s ideas revolve around photographs—sorting old ones, putting new ones in frames, taking pictures of a party, photographing yourself in a place you’ve never been and vow never to return to.  52 Projects also provides variations on a number of its suggestions, so you won’t be out of things to do before long.

The book ends with a review of creative resources—books, movies, and places to get your creative juices flowing.  Between perusing art books and galleries and mailing a box of key limes to a good friend, you’ll always have a project to do!


Jennifer Cote is the owner of Sweet Pea Handcrafts, featuring handmade purses, belts, retro aprons and more.