Words I Wish I Wrote by Robert Fulghum
In Words I Wish I Wrote, Robert Fulghum reveals the works of writers who have inspired him throughout four decades of personal growth and philosophical exploration. This collection represents a culmination of his journey as he approached his sixtieth year, examining what in his outlook had changed and what had endured since writing his famous kindergarten wisdom essay.
A Collection of Timeless Wisdom
Fulghum discovered that the best ideas are often old and continually being revived, recycled, and renewed. This book gathers the confirming statements, quotes, and credos he recorded in his journals for years—representing the most important ideas underlying his living and thinking. Each passage showcases words he wishes he had written, using language he can't improve upon.
Thematic Organization
The book is organized into thoughtful chapters including Companions, God, Bene-Dictions, Contra-Dictions, Simplify, and Believe. Each chapter begins with Fulghum's own insightful introductory words, followed by inspiring passages drawn from a diverse group of sources—from Jerry Garcia to Albert Camus, Dylan Thomas to Franz Kafka. At the end of each chapter, Fulghum offers personal commentary on the sources, explaining where he was introduced to their words, why he returns to them repeatedly, and how they may change you.
Recognition of Companionship
Rather than finding discouragement in discovering that much of what he's said is neither original nor unique, Fulghum sees this as a recognition of companionship—an affirming consolation. Everything he has ever said, thought, and written is now transparent to him, revealing the universal nature of human wisdom and the connections between thinkers across time.
