最好的畢業禮,是一輩子受用的道理。
「回首過去大半生,你有甚麼覺得後悔的?」
十分鐘的談話,掀起紐約時報百萬人分享
一段不起眼的往事,給了人生重要的答案
當畢業生要踏入社會開始工作之際,那麼多重要待作的事項中,該把甚麼放在第一順位?
活著除了功成名就,更重要的到底是甚麼?美國名作家桑德斯給了母校畢業生們他最真摯的答案。
畢業季一到,美國各大學府就會邀請名人專家到校演講,例如賈伯斯的名言「Stay hungry. Stay foolish.」出自他2005年在史丹佛大學的畢業演講,而亞馬遜總長貝佐斯曾談起童年時爺爺告訴他「慈善比聰明還困難」則出自他為普林斯頓大學作畢業演講。至於這本內容短小雋永的書,則是出自美國得獎作家喬治.桑德斯在美東名校雪城大學(Syracuse University )的演講內容。
演講中,他跟學生們回想人生中那些當時尷尬不堪的時刻,談起自己曾有的生活和工作,但他自問最後悔的事情,卻是一件學生時代的小事。最後整篇演講,桑德斯不斷扣問自己最關心的主題—人生為什麼要追求善?而人倘若喜歡善,為什麼又會違反本心,在年輕時把心力聚焦在成功以致錯過生命中最重要的?
演講發表後三個月,紐約時報將其內容放在網上,讀者之間開始口碑發酵,桑德斯簡單的故事,卻改變人們對生命裡輕重緩急事物的看法。不到三天,上百萬人到處分享它。編輯成書後桑德斯的故事登上紐約時報亞馬遜暢銷排行榜,進一步帶給更多人對生活的反思。透過這席講話,踏入社會的學生或在社會上打滾迷失的成人都一樣,再度確認:生活的追求最終並非物質,而是良善充實地活著。
本書特色
中英對照 逐篇頁加附插圖
線裝厚磅內文紙 包覆進口象牙紋書衣 映襯畢業生禮物書的內容
★時代雜誌2013年全球百大影響力人物
★紐約時報主動轉載上百萬人次共感分享暢銷書
★被選為全美歷來最雋永精彩的畢業致詞之一
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