The Art of Imperfection: Simple Ways to Make Peace with Yourself

by Veronique Vienne

A collection of ten inspirational and meditative essays offers insights into how to celebrate the flaws that make us unique, fascinating, and lovable individuals.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609605216
• ISBN13: 9780609605219
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.8" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely Gorgeous!

I loved this book, like the other Veronique Vienne books! In a time and culture that makes you feel like you have to be everything to everyone, and look good in the process, this makes you want to be yourself and remember that people don't like perfect people anyway!! They like people who are like themselves!! Don't you love hearing from other people, "oh my gosh!! i do that too!! i thought i was the only one who does that!!" its about quirks (and how beautiful it makes us as an individual) how imperfections make you unique, and that we should have a sense of humor about it... cause no one is perfect, and the most interesting people to me are the most "imperfect." Now if you will excuse me, i have to go watch threes company on nick at nite.. (see? i watch it too!) :) PS... the pictures in the book are amazing as well and really adds something to it.

imperfections abound

my friend gwen once told me "quirks are the best parts of people". if you think about it, it's really true. your best friend's high pitched laugh, the way your dog whimpers in his sleep, a pretty woman sneezing, a stranger stumbling and then looking around to see if anyone saw him......what can i say, i love it. this book is so honest and so real. forget hollywood! to simply BE is glorious.

Creating Emotional Space to Enjoy Life!

The Art of Imperfection is the sequel to The Art of Doing Nothing. For many people, it will make more sense to read The Art of Imperfection first. Without the permission to ease up the throttle on narrowing the imperfection gap, you'll never have the time to do nothing. After a rocky beginning in describing the art of making mistakes (by mixing up the key concepts of complexity science and chaos theory), the book rights itself and provides many valuable insights into seeing imperfections are resources and opportunities. The illustrations are even better than the text for powerfully engaging your mind with the truth of imperfection's appeal and strength. The sepia-based duotone photographs set an elegant and relaxed mood for the book. The subjects of these photographs are most often females, sculptures, geometric designs, and nature. In themselves, the coloration and the compositions create a zen-like atmosphere that are a good context for the written musings. Although deliberately aimed at women and men, I think most will agree that this book will appeal much more strongly to most women than to most men due to the content of the advice and subjects of the illustrations. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book very much. The book features ten essays on different aspects of benefiting from imperfections. Each essay, in turn, is elaborated on with further examples and observations. Each one could keep you happy day dreaming for days. Here are the essay titles and a few key quotes from each:(1) The art of making mistakes: "Though we all agree that to err is human, each of us individually believes that he or she is the exception." "Unfortunately, thinking that being right will save us from being wrong is a misapprehension." " . . . [T]he best time to learn from your mistakes is before they happen." I particularly liked the points about how artists and musicians use deliberate mistakes to heighten the audience reaction and enjoyment. (2) The art of being shy: Our objective should be to create a "lack of self-importance." " . . . [M]ost of us grossly underestimate our physical appeal." "We are all shy." "Short of having a film crew to make a home movie, you and I will never meet our visible selves . . . ." "Exercise helps -- and so does closing your eyes and visualizing the Oneness of It All." There is also a vulgar suggestion for overcoming shyness that I will not repeat. There is a good list of how to handle a social situation that will help the most shy people.(3) The art of looking like yourself: "The best beauty product is to have a life." Build your "inner beauty." ". . . [G]et up in the morning and say 'Wow.'" "The ideal of beauty is replaced today by an ideal of realness." " . . . [Y]ou must look like you never bother with mirrors, brushes, or combs." "Simplicity is key . . . ." Mentally, it helps to close your eyes, mute your mind's voice, become a little disoriented, and drift.(4) The art of having nothing to wea

Must Read for all those perfectionists out there...

After years of trying to be the perfect daughter,girlfriend, freind, student, all around perfect person, I finally found a book that helped me not only accept, but love my imperfection. I now take extreme pleasure in not being perfect and have reduced my stress to an all time low. I gave the book to my mom as a Mother's Day present to take the pressure off of trying to be the perfect person and just enjoy who she is. Plus the book is such a wonderful display on my nightstand with its beautiful photography.

If it's broken, don't fix it--make it an element of style

Learning to get a kick out of my imperfections combined with doing nothing has an intoxicatingly liberating effect on every moment of each day. I'm amazed at the wisdom and humor of Vienne's writing and Leonard's dreamy photos. Excellent read!