Brian Eno

I was an art student. I went to art school for five years. And in fact, I got my degree in fine art. And like many others of my generation, I then immediately joined a band. Of course. Funny. That's how it worked then. And I was always interested in this fundamental question of why do we make art?

I was an art student. I went to art school for five years. And in fact, I got my degree in fine art. And like many others of my generation, I then immediately joined a band. Of course. Funny. That's how it worked then. And I was always interested in this fundamental question of why do we make art?

I was an art student. I went to art school for five years. And in fact, I got my degree in fine art. And like many others of my generation, I then immediately joined a band. Of course. Funny. That's how it worked then. And I was always interested in this fundamental question of why do we make art?

It's a completely universal human activity, but we don't seem to know very much about it at that fundamental level. This question, I've been aware of it for ages, that people think art is a luxury. We're very used to the idea that humans respond to pain and punishment. We avoid things that are going to hurt us. But I think we're also guided to a huge degree by the things that we find beautiful.

It's a completely universal human activity, but we don't seem to know very much about it at that fundamental level. This question, I've been aware of it for ages, that people think art is a luxury. We're very used to the idea that humans respond to pain and punishment. We avoid things that are going to hurt us. But I think we're also guided to a huge degree by the things that we find beautiful.

It's a completely universal human activity, but we don't seem to know very much about it at that fundamental level. This question, I've been aware of it for ages, that people think art is a luxury. We're very used to the idea that humans respond to pain and punishment. We avoid things that are going to hurt us. But I think we're also guided to a huge degree by the things that we find beautiful.

or awesome, or striking, or impressive, or all the words we might use. I think we very much want to be guided by those things as to where to go. My friend John Hassel, who died, unfortunately, three years ago, I think now, used to have a great phrase. He said, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, what is it that I really like?

or awesome, or striking, or impressive, or all the words we might use. I think we very much want to be guided by those things as to where to go. My friend John Hassel, who died, unfortunately, three years ago, I think now, used to have a great phrase. He said, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, what is it that I really like?

or awesome, or striking, or impressive, or all the words we might use. I think we very much want to be guided by those things as to where to go. My friend John Hassel, who died, unfortunately, three years ago, I think now, used to have a great phrase. He said, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, what is it that I really like?

And that seems like a trivial, self-indulgent sort of question. Oh, what do you really like? Well, but it isn't actually because, you know, we live in a world now where 10,000 people a day are trying to tell us what we ought to like. Be they advertisers, press barons, TV companies, politicians, influencers. It's very, very important that you remember. what it is that you actually really like.

And that seems like a trivial, self-indulgent sort of question. Oh, what do you really like? Well, but it isn't actually because, you know, we live in a world now where 10,000 people a day are trying to tell us what we ought to like. Be they advertisers, press barons, TV companies, politicians, influencers. It's very, very important that you remember. what it is that you actually really like.

And that seems like a trivial, self-indulgent sort of question. Oh, what do you really like? Well, but it isn't actually because, you know, we live in a world now where 10,000 people a day are trying to tell us what we ought to like. Be they advertisers, press barons, TV companies, politicians, influencers. It's very, very important that you remember. what it is that you actually really like.

That's your guidance. That's your lodestone, as it were.

That's your guidance. That's your lodestone, as it were.

That's your guidance. That's your lodestone, as it were.

When I started to notice that nearly all of the things that humans regard as peak experiences – you know, being bowled over by a piece of music, being knocked out by a sculpture or a dance or something like that – so love, art, religion, sex, drugs – All of those things are situations where we willingly let something happen to us that is slightly beyond our ability to comprehend and control.

When I started to notice that nearly all of the things that humans regard as peak experiences – you know, being bowled over by a piece of music, being knocked out by a sculpture or a dance or something like that – so love, art, religion, sex, drugs – All of those things are situations where we willingly let something happen to us that is slightly beyond our ability to comprehend and control.

When I started to notice that nearly all of the things that humans regard as peak experiences – you know, being bowled over by a piece of music, being knocked out by a sculpture or a dance or something like that – so love, art, religion, sex, drugs – All of those things are situations where we willingly let something happen to us that is slightly beyond our ability to comprehend and control.

We surrender. I think a lot of the art experience is about surrendering. And that's the point. The whole point is being moved, having feelings. One of the realizations I had... when I was writing this book, is that really the only product of art is feelings.

We surrender. I think a lot of the art experience is about surrendering. And that's the point. The whole point is being moved, having feelings. One of the realizations I had... when I was writing this book, is that really the only product of art is feelings.