#393: Edward Norton — On Creative Process, Creative Struggle, and Motherless Brooklyn

12 snips

Oct 31, 2019

Edward Norton, a celebrated actor known for his Academy Award-nominated performances, shares insights about his creative journey. He dives into the challenges of adapting his latest film, *Motherless Brooklyn*, from book to screen. Norton discusses the balance between staying true to source material and making it resonate with modern audiences. He reflects on the importance of mentorship, perseverance in filmmaking, and how sound design plays a crucial role in storytelling. Ultimately, he emphasizes the power of community and collaboration in fostering creativity.

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ANECDOTE

Discovering Motherless Brooklyn

Edward Norton was at a party in New York City when a friend mentioned Jonathan Lethem's upcoming book, Motherless Brooklyn.
Norton, intrigued by the premise of a Tourettec detective, secured a galley copy and read it in one sitting.

INSIGHT

Empathy for Lionel

The protagonist, Lionel, quickly earns the reader's empathy, similar to Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye.
Norton felt that Lethem masterfully creates a character whose internal struggles resonate with everyone.

ANECDOTE

Norton's Sabbatical

After a fulfilling year of acting, Norton took a break in 2003 to get his pilot's license.
This sabbatical cleared his head and prepared him to tackle the adaptation of Motherless Brooklyn.

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The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who has been expelled from Pencey Prep, as he spends three days wandering around New York City. The novel explores Holden's disillusionment with the world around him, his feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and his struggle to find genuine relationships. Despite his cynicism and criticism of others as 'phonies,' Holden reveals a deep emotional sensitivity, particularly in his interactions with his younger sister Phoebe. The book delves into themes of adolescent angst, the loss of innocence, and the search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly superficial world[2][4][5].

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Robert Caro

This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics[2][4][5].

Motherless Brooklyn

Professor of the History of Science Geoffrey Cantor

Jonathan Lethem

J. LETHEM

In 'Motherless Brooklyn', Jonathan Lethem tells the story of Lionel Essrog, a private investigator with Tourette's syndrome, who works for a small-time detective agency in Brooklyn. After his mentor, Frank Minna, is murdered, Lionel sets out to solve the crime, navigating through a complex web of gangsters, corruption, and personal relationships. The novel is praised for its unique protagonist, intricate plot, and Lethem's vivid portrayal of Brooklyn in the late 1990s. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction in 1999 and the 2000 Gold Dagger award for crime fiction.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Shadows on the Grass

Isak Dinesen

In 'Shadows on the Grass', Isak Dinesen reflects on her life in Kenya, delving deeper into her relationships with African employees and the cultural landscape. The book offers a nostalgic yet profound exploration of human values and spiritual appreciation, written thirty years after she left Africa. It serves as a moving final chapter to her African reminiscences, highlighting her enduring connection to the land and its people.

Out of Africa

Isak Dinesen

Out of Africa is a lyrical memoir by Karen Blixen, written under the pen name Isak Dinesen. The book recounts her eighteen years in Kenya, detailing her experiences on a coffee plantation and her relationships with the local people and fellow expatriates. It is a poignant reflection on colonial life, love, and loss, structured as a series of anecdotes rather than a chronological narrative.

SHADOWLAND

Peter Straub

The story follows Tom Flanagan and Del Nightingale as they navigate a magical world filled with illusions and dangers. The novel explores themes of magic, reality, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a mysterious and perilous place called Shadowland.