Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity is an autobiography and self-help guide[1] written by American filmmaker David Lynch.

It comprises 84 vignette-like chapters[2] in which Lynch comments on a wide range of topics "from metaphysics to the importance of screening your movie before a test audience".

[3] Catching the Big Fish was inspired by Lynch's experiences with Transcendental Meditation (TM), which he began practicing in 1973.

[1][2][4][5][6][7] In 2016 two exclusive Lynch's "q-and-a interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr" were added to 10th Anniversary Edition of the book.

[6] Often asked about the seeming conflict between the bliss he feels in meditation and his dark and violent films, Lynch reconciles the seeming disparity.

All proceeds from the book are donated to the David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, which funds TM instruction in schools.

He believes a seminal idea is sufficient to start the creative process, which proceeds based on the artist’s "action and reaction".

Blue Velvet, for example, started with the thought of red lips, green lawns, and the song by Bobby Vinton.

One commentator called Lynch’s approach predominantly promotional,[2] while another reviewer found minimal proselytizing on the topic.

[4] Commentators viewed the 84 vignette-like chapters as entertaining stories, uncontroverted advice,[2] and "an unexpected delight" that unlocks the secret of Lynch’s distinctive imagination.

[11] Another perceived deficiency in the book is the lack of details about Transcendental Meditation and how it’s practiced, creating a "tantalizing but unsatisfying" effect[2] and the feeling that the reader is "on the outside looking in".

[6] Ultimately, Lynch’s love of creating films and transcendence along with his unique perspective are seen as themes that his admirers and would-be filmmakers can relish.