Words I Wish I Wrote: A Collection of Writing That Inspired My Ideas

You shouldn't put aside this book because of your prejudices. To me, this is the best lesson it leaves on us. Robert Fulghum was a minister, a unitarian uniersalist minister (Wikipedia), and to know that could fire eventually certain alarms in some people. It did on me, but I bought the book because I had read  All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten . In fact, I use that book in my lectures of mathematical modeling and simulation and (trust me) it really worked. And as the people say, one thing led to another.Words I wish I wrote is one of those book you never finish. Is a companion book. A brik that's always there, waiting to be picked up in order to open it and read whatever you find, don't matter what.Now well, the author collected these quotes through different ways. Taking them from a book, from a picture, from a conversation, many, many ways. So the selection has the fresh air of something that it came to be, something that wasn't intended.Anyway, Fulghum explains, at the beginning of every chapter, why he choose those quotes and why they were important to him. And here is the magic, because what was important to him it seems to be important for us, the readers. There's a coincidence indeed, but a very happy one.The chapters have titles like, well, Begin, Choose, Possible, Journey, and so on. They are thematic, so if you need it, you only have to look for knowing, beforehand, that you'll find exactly that: Begin, Choose, Possible, Journey...After the selection, the chapter is closed with a commentary that round the topic off, by explaining not the topic but the selection itself, which includes the quote and the author. In the case of García Márquez, he says, "Nobel Prize winner in literature, needs no praise from me. How I could read him in Spanish..." I did it, in fact, because I'm Chilean and read "El amor en los tiempos del cólera" ("Love in the time of Cholera") in Spanish so I know exactly what he means. This subtle and delicate note by Fulghum tells you about his aesthetic sensibility.So don't miss this book because of your prejudices. I don't know if he read it, but I'm sure that Richard Dawkins would love it. Maybe I'm overstating but I guess this helps to clear the point: don't let it pass. Just read it. You'll love it.

Strangely, I love this book and read it once a year. I find that a certain poem or chapter is more meaningful or poignant than the year before-each according to the season I am walking through. I date and make notations next to each page that speak to me this time around. I wish that I could have purchased it in hard copy but am overjoyed that, regardless of the binding, every cent of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefit Human Rights Watch. The original version of this book that I owned was undoubtedly from a thrift store. It was a hardback, I had read it so many times and made so many notes but my husband hated the book, threw the book at me several times and must have destroyed it because I never saw it again. (Countless notes written in the margins-sigh). I am so happy to have had a reason to buy another version and pay retail for it. Yay Human Rights Watch and Yay Robert Fulghum! Awesome book. We should all make a similar book.

I am a big fan of Robert Fulghum. Period. This is a great book to pick up, put down, put away, bring out again. I sent a copy to a friend in need of SOMETHING to grab hold of. This one helps a lot.

I recently stumbled across a reference to Robert Fulghum on my web-wanderings. It was a long time ago that I read "All I Need to Know..." but I remembered the impact that small book made on me. Because I've been reading more lately, I ordered a few of Fulghum's books, thinking I might enjoy some of the others. Enter "Words I Wish I Wrote."This book is a glimpse into the mind of a writer. It's a look at what makes him tick. That's not because he tells us per se, but because we get a chance to see some of the writings that influenced him. In the process, it is his chance to share with us the words of other writers he loves.The invitation to share is a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the snippets, the quotes, the aphorisms (a great favorite of mine), and the poetry. The sampler provided me with a broad array of new writers to personally explore as I collect my own set of words I wish I wrote.Now I have a lot more reading to do. When you buy this little book, plan on spending some time reading, thinking, and sharing with those close to you. I've been reading bits and pieces to Wife and Young Son as I read. It's fun.

This book is filled with the words of Robert Fulghum but also with the words of famous writers. It makes it a wonderful book to have in your home when you have a few moments to read or you need a great line for a speech you have to give or a line that would be good for a paper you are writing for a class.The author writes in a wonderful casual style that is so great to read that one feels that he is right there in the room having a person conversation with you. A great little book to own and read.

Fulghum's reading list, with comments. A guided tour among the authors and artists who have inspired and entertained this thoughtful and joyful intellect over his long and fruitful life. I hope to make the acquaintance of more of them as my life adventure unfolds.

I first read this book several years ago, and I have given away about a dozen copies since then. It is an inspiring collection of short works and passages with just the right amount of incisive comment by Rev. Fulghum. It is also a terrific resource for further reading. I think it should sit alongside The Elements of Style on everyone's shelf.

GLAD TO HAVE IN THE LIBRARY

Up to exy

This is a handy book for anyone that writes for a living, especially if your job usually includes dense prose. Keep it on your desk. Thumb through it between assignments or skim it for clever turns of phrase that will help make a dense idea resonate. Skews a little heavy on religious ideas, which is less useful for my work, but will be in the wheelhouse for a few.

Just what I expected