Iman sent me this email from the Strokes regarding a letter from Sam Adoquei to Cult Records, that Julian [Casablancas] wanted to pass along… Who is Sam Adoquei I thought? Of course, Wikipedia instantaneously gave me the answer: He is Julian’s stepfather, a painter whom his mother remarried after her divorce, and Julian holds him in high esteem:
‘I owe everything to Sam and the ideas he has revealed in this new edition. My life completely changed once I was introduced to him. He taught me how to think about art and eventually how to attack it, making me a living example that his approach is almost fool-proof…’, declared Julian. Sam is even credited for shaping Casablancas’ musical taste by exposing him to music like The Doors.
Adoquei wrote this book entitled ‘Origin of Inspiration: Seven Short Essays for Creative People’, a few years ago, and Julian promotes the hell out of this new edition: ‘I am a success story of this book, a living proof that it works’, says Julian. I want to be honest there, I haven’t read the book and I have a total aversion for inspirational, motivational anything, so I am split on this…
‘Where do great people get their courage and ideas? How do you stay inspired until your dream becomes reality? How do you stay strong and keep going, when you have lost your courage, enthusiasm and lost your desire and hopes to continue following your dream?’ says the promotional page of the book and it sounds exactly like your usual motivation speaker appearing in some infomercial on Sunday morning TV, but again, Julian is there to tell us: ‘He’s the wisest person. Everything positive I’ve ever done I feel I owe to him.’
Wow, I guess fans will be sold on this, plus I’ve found a quote from the book that sounds much better than this mumbo-jumbo promo:
‘The artist who creates difference just for the sake of being different will survive for some time in an environment where the uncultured and uneducated cannot differentiate hype and transience from timeless. Change for the sake of change is the greatest license for the incompetent….Timeless art, timeless beauty and noble ideas that provide enduring inspirations come from nature, life, tradition, innovation and invention.’
Here is Adoquei’s letter:
‘October 1, 2014
Dear Cult Records,
The Little Book Julian Read
What a generous idea to want to give your talented fans the opportunity to enjoy my book Origin of Inspiration, thank you. I think it will help them a lot. Because of the books power to transform natural talents into realistic achievements many people who read it often keep it to themselves. I am excited to know that you are letting the secret out.
According to letters and testimonials I get from readers: Origin of Inspiration is also a book that takes talents to higher levels.
Your fans can read Julian’s foreword on pages 2-3 which explains how the book helped him to become who he is today. They can also find an oil painting of him on page 70.
Click here to read the book’s description.
Click here to buy a copy.
Best wishes,
PS: They can find copies on Amazon.com or at The Strand Books in New York City.
Win a copy of Origin of Inspiration signed by Sam Adoquei and Julian Casablancas here.
