How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum by Keri Smith

Let’s explore the captivating world of “How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum” by Keri Smith. This interactive guide invites readers to embrace curiosity, creativity, and observation. Here are the key elements you requested:

Introduction

From the internationally bestselling creator of Wreck This Journal, Keri Smith presents an unconventional journey—a call to explore the ordinary as if it were extraordinary. Imagine yourself as an explorer, rediscovering the familiar with fresh eyes. The mission? To document and observe the world around you as if you’ve never seen it before.

Main Characters

While there are no traditional fictional characters, the reader becomes the central figure. Motivated by curiosity, the goal is to engage actively with the environment. Artists and scientists alike analyze the world through observation, collection, and documentation.

Plot

The book doesn’t follow a linear plot but offers a series of beautifully hand-illustrated prompts. The conflict lies in our tendency to overlook everyday details. The resolution? Pay attention, document findings, and find beauty in the mundane. It’s a journey of discovery—one small observation at a time.

Setting

The setting isn’t tied to a specific time or place. Instead, it exists within our daily lives—the streets we walk, the objects we encounter, and the moments we often ignore. The environment influences the characters (readers) by encouraging them to slow down, notice patterns, and appreciate the small wonders.

Themes

Several underlying themes emerge:

1. Observation: The importance of keenly observing details.
2. Creativity: Viewing the familiar with fresh eyes and finding inspiration everywhere.
3. Documentation: Collecting notes, sketches, and artifacts from our experiences.
4. Curiosity: Cultivating a mindset of exploration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, How to Be an Explorer of the World serves as an optimistic treat—an encouragement to open our eyes and minds. It’s about celebrating the minutiae, finding beauty in the unnoticed, and embracing our innate creativity. So, go forth, explore, and become an artist-scientist of your own world!

Remember, the magic lies in the details we often overlook—the patterns on a leaf, the texture of a wall, or the rhythm of everyday life. Happy exploring!

Read full book here…

Also read…

• The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales
• Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod.