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papidoc's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this short book! It's an expansion of a speech Ryan gave at a commencement ceremony. He uses events from his life and other stories to expand on 5 crucial questions (and a bonus question) that everyone should ask themselves from time to time. As one who helps others figure out how to hold difficult questions, negotiate competitively, and generally communicate more effectively, I think the questions he highlighted could help everyone lead a more fruitful life. They would certainly help us in the relationships that are most important to us! The questions are:
1. Wait, what? This is the root of all understanding.
2. I wonder...(why and if). This is the heart of all curiosity.
3. Couldn't we at least...? This is the beginning of all progress.
4. How can I help? This is the basis of all good relationships.
5. What truly matters? This is the heart of life itself.
Bonus: And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?
1. Wait, what? This is the root of all understanding.
2. I wonder...(why and if). This is the heart of all curiosity.
3. Couldn't we at least...? This is the beginning of all progress.
4. How can I help? This is the basis of all good relationships.
5. What truly matters? This is the heart of life itself.
Bonus: And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?
annevoi's review against another edition
2.0
"It was ok" sums it up. Nice anecdotes, fine questions, heart's in the right place--which is in sending recent grads off into the world with a bit of wisdom. I read this because someone on NPR or PBS (as seen on Facebook) called it essential reading. I suppose that depends on who you are. It's quick, and the story about the author finding his birth mother was touching. I do like the idea of having these (or similar) questions always in the back of your mind--as a way of being more open-minded, open-hearted. There are too many opinions out there these days. Asking "Wait, what?" about pretty much anything strikes me as worthwhile, yes, even wise.
samtag47's review against another edition
5.0
Short, quick read with some thought-provoking questions. Also referenced 2 of my favorite books...Being Mortal...and The Last Lecture
grackback's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read, motivating and encouraging us to ask questions in order to better understand our world and our relationships. Whilst this book appealed to me due to my need to get to the bottom of things through asking questions/questioning what I’m told, there were many points in here that just felt like subtle brags about the authors life.
risamyers3's review against another edition
5.0
Great, short read. It's based on a graduation speech that the author (Dean of Harvard's Grad School of Education) gave that went viral. 5 key + 1 bonus questions you should ask on a regular basis and why. Beautifully told
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
“Wait, what?” is at the root of all understanding.
“I wonder . . . ?” is at the heart of all curiosity.
“Couldn’t we at least . . . ?” is the beginning of all progress.
“How can I help?” is at the base of all good relationships.
And “What truly matters?” helps get you to the heart of life.
This book started as a graduation speech. Given that, it is short and too the point. Like many graduation speeches, I am not sure how long I will remember it. Ryan is a good writer, an interesting person and obviously an excellent leader. I am sure that wherever he finds himself in life, life will treat him well.
I am very grateful to Ryan for the fact he quoted these two poems. I may remember the book more for Ryan’s reminder of how well a good poem can speak to many different people.
A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh. give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
That swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard;
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.
For this is love, and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Late Fragment by Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.”
“I wonder . . . ?” is at the heart of all curiosity.
“Couldn’t we at least . . . ?” is the beginning of all progress.
“How can I help?” is at the base of all good relationships.
And “What truly matters?” helps get you to the heart of life.
This book started as a graduation speech. Given that, it is short and too the point. Like many graduation speeches, I am not sure how long I will remember it. Ryan is a good writer, an interesting person and obviously an excellent leader. I am sure that wherever he finds himself in life, life will treat him well.
I am very grateful to Ryan for the fact he quoted these two poems. I may remember the book more for Ryan’s reminder of how well a good poem can speak to many different people.
A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh. give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
That swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard;
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.
For this is love, and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Late Fragment by Raymond Carver
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.”
trekbicycles's review against another edition
5.0
Concise, but impactful.
Wait, what?
I wonder...?
Couldn’t we at least...?
How can I help?
What truly matters?
And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?
Wait, what?
I wonder...?
Couldn’t we at least...?
How can I help?
What truly matters?
And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?