Congratulations, by the way, George Saunders
Congratulations, by the way, George Saunders
14 Rating(s)
List: $7.50 | Sale: $5.25
Club: $3.75

Congratulations, by the way
Some Thoughts on Kindness

Author: George Saunders

Narrator: George Saunders

Unabridged: 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/22/2014


Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This inspiring meditation on kindness from the author of Lincoln in the Bardo is based on his popular commencement address.

Three months after George Saunders gave a graduation address at Syracuse University, a transcript of that speech was posted on the website of The New York Times, where its simple, uplifting message struck a deep chord. Within days, it had been shared more than one million times. Why? Because Saunders’s words tap into a desire in all of us to lead kinder, more fulfilling lives. Powerful, funny, and wise, Congratulations, by the way is an inspiring message from one of today’s most influential and original writers.

Praise for Congratulations, by the way

“As slender as a psalm, and as heavy.”—The New York Times

“The graduating college senior in your life probably just wants money. But if you want to impart some heartfelt, plainspoken wisdom in addition to a check, you can't do much better than [Congratulations, by the way].”—Entertainment Weekly

“The loving selflessness that [George Saunders] advises and the interconnectedness that he recognizes couldn’t be purer or simpler—or more challenging.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Warm and tender.”—Publishers Weekly

About The Author

MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellow George Saunders is the New York Times bestselling author of several collections of short stories, including Tenth of December, Pastoralia, and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, as well as a collection of essays and a book for children. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University.


Reviews

Goodreads review by jessica

‘what i regret most in my life are failures of kindness.’ continuing my tradition of starting off the new year with some words of inspiration and much needed positivity (see previous years: 2020, 2019, and 2018). as we begin a new year and try to move on from the trials and upsets of the previous......more

Goodreads review by Bill

Since it is graduation time again, I thought I would revisit one of my favorite commencement addresses, namely, the speech the fiction writer George Saunders delivered at Syracuse in 2013. Although it is mercifully short—a quality that should (alas!) be true of every blessed graduation speech—it als......more


Quotes

“As slender as a psalm, and as heavy.”The New York Times
 
“The graduating college senior in your life probably just wants money. But if you want to impart some heartfelt, plainspoken wisdom in addition to a check, you can't do much better than [Congratulations, by the way].”Entertainment Weekly

“The loving selflessness that [George Saunders] advises and the interconnectedness that he recognizes couldn’t be purer or simpler—or more challenging.”Kirkus Reviews
 
“Warm and tender.”Publishers Weekly