 | Very Good Lives by: JK Rowling Synopsis: In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others? Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force. |
Alright, Its review time!
Wow. I walked into my neighborhood Indigo, spotted this beauty, plopped my butt down and devoured it. JK Rowling is such an inspiration to me and I am so thankful to her for changing my life, whether she knows it or not. This speech is so beautiful, poetic and perfect in every sense of the world. This woman is such an incredible writer and I couldn't help getting chills throughout this entire speech. What I loved is that she didn't just talk about things that are relevant to graduating students. Instead, she talked about things that anyone can relate to (failure, imagination, empathy, love). For me, it is such an huge inspiration to hear her talk about her past and how she over came it. A lot of people (myself included), tend to put celebrities on a pedestal and look at them as some God that needs to worshipped. What I love about JK Rowling is that she is human and isn't afraid to acknowledge it and use it to motivate and help other people.
Wow. I walked into my neighborhood Indigo, spotted this beauty, plopped my butt down and devoured it. JK Rowling is such an inspiration to me and I am so thankful to her for changing my life, whether she knows it or not. This speech is so beautiful, poetic and perfect in every sense of the world. This woman is such an incredible writer and I couldn't help getting chills throughout this entire speech. What I loved is that she didn't just talk about things that are relevant to graduating students. Instead, she talked about things that anyone can relate to (failure, imagination, empathy, love). For me, it is such an huge inspiration to hear her talk about her past and how she over came it. A lot of people (myself included), tend to put celebrities on a pedestal and look at them as some God that needs to worshipped. What I love about JK Rowling is that she is human and isn't afraid to acknowledge it and use it to motivate and help other people.
"You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default."
This speech was just so beautiful and as cliche as it sounds, it really makes you think. I am just so happy that this was put into print and that it now sits of my shelf. The proceeds from this book also go towards Harvard Aid as well as Rowling's organization Lumos, which works towards ending the institutionalization of children across the globe. I HIGHLY recommend this to any human. Please pick this up.
Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with opinions and perspectives on this speech.
Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with opinions and perspectives on this speech.
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