Below is a laundry list of self-selected quotes from the book that I really liked.
Prologue
A good improviser is someone who is awake, not entirely self-focused, and moved by a desire to do something useful and give something back. – pg. 15
Understanding the power of yes is easy; practicing that acceptance and affirmation in daily life becomes our challenge. – pg. 15
The world of improv is a portal into mindfulness and magic. – pg. 18
A successful life involves both planning and improvising. – pg. 24
Key Maxims
1. Say Yes
Saying yes is an act of courage and optimism: it allows you to share control. Yes expands your world. – pg. 27
Players learn that sharing the control of the story is the only way to really have a good time. – pg. 30
2. Don’t Prepare
Substitute attention for preparation. Then you will be working in real time… You discover that you already have the answers. – pg. 36
There is always something in the box. – pg. 43
3. Just Show Up
Players step onto the stage because that is where things are happening. They just show up. Then the magic begins. – pg. 45
4. Start Anywhere
There’s no need to find the right starting place… begin with the most obvious thing, whatever is in front of you. – pg. 53
To improvise is to create order out of chaos. – pg. 56
5. Be Average
Giving up on perfection is the first step… Striving for an original idea can block access to the creative process. – pg. 62
Close enough is perfect. Dare to be dull. – pg. 66
6. Attention / Mindfulness
Life is attention… This moment happens only once. Treasure it. – pg. 76
7. Work With What You Have
Wishing things were different simply wastes time. – pg. 78
Embrace the wobble. Insecurity is normal. Count on it. – pg. 83
8. Stay on Course
There is meaning in everything we do, even small tasks - pg. 88
9. Wake Up to the Gifts
I walked into a brand-new movie of my life, one in which I wasn’t the star, but one of many players… To see my story from the perspective of the others gave it new meaning. – pg. 92
Never let an hour go by without giving credit to someone. – pg. 95
10. Make Mistakes, Please
If you are not making mistakes, you are not improvising. Mistakes may actually be blessings. – pg. 102
11. Act Now
The essence of improvising is action. Act in order to discover what comes next. – pg. 122
12. Take Care of Each Other
Be someone’s guardian angel. Share control; don’t hog it. Kindness is essential during chaos or a crisis. – pg. 136
13. Enjoy the Ride
Find joy in whatever you are doing, including ordinary tasks. Play is essential to human growth. – pg. 143
Epilogue
Improv points to ways of being more and better alive… It is up to each of us, however, to make the move. – pg. 147
No dream or goal is too large or too small. A life of meaning and value is achieved through purposeful action. – pg. 147
