The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination

J.K. Rowling's commencement address to Harvard graduates is filled with humor, compassion and insight. In a world that defines success in oppressively narrow terms, her message about the importance of failure and imagination in our lives is incredibly poignant.

This is a complete transcript of the Harvard commencement speech (which you should watch on youtube over your morning coffee if you haven't already. Definitely worth the 15 minutes.) I got it because I'd already heard the speech too many times to count, yet her words still pack enough power to keep me chasing my wildest dreams no matter how discouraged I get. But the book is also filled with well-designed (not kid-like) illustrations. The book is fairly small and doesn't contain any content other than the speech and an "about the author." If you know someone who's graduating or starting something new, you should definitely buy this for them (in addition to the copy you purchase for yourself of course). There's that added benefit of some of the proceeds going to charity also.

This book, “Very Good Lives: the Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination” is derived from a commencement speech given by J. K. Rowling at Harvard University and it is centered on two aspects of Ms. Rowling’s journey: the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination.

Certainly, one might expect that the author of the Harry Potter series would be very familiar with the power of imagination; however, many, myself included, might be a little surprised to learn about some of the “failures”/hardships that J.K. Rowling had to endure before her rise to success: parents who did not support her vision of life, a failed marriage, being a single parent living in poverty and having no job prospects.

In addition to the hardships in her own life, the atrocities and the hardships that J.K. Rowling observed while working at Amnesty International also served to profoundly impact her future writings. All of this personal disclosure, from someone who has been so successful in their career, really reinforces that who we are is not defined by our past. Or, as J.K. Rowling so aptly states, “Your qualifications, your C.V., are not your life…”

Other profound messages that I found on the pages of, “Very Good Lives” would be:

“The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift…”

“There is an expiration date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.”

“I think the willfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.”

Admittedly, I am not overly familiar with the Harry Potter books, I simply decided to read “Very Good Lives” because I knew that J. K. Rowling is a very successful author and I was hoping to glean some insights into how that success materialized for her. I was very pleasantly surprised that she shared so many profound insights from her journey; insights that will undoubtedly resonate with that graduating class at Harvard for many years to come, as it will for myself and perhaps anyone else who reads this book. At the very least, it may help to remember that, “We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

When the weather warms up and trees begin to bloom, people's thoughts turn to graduation day. Invariably, slim volumes are released in which famous individuals' commencement addresses are packaged in book form. Back in 2008, forty-two year old J. K. Rowling spoke at Harvard University. Her remarks appear in "Very Good Lives."

With eye-catching black, white, and red illustrations, courtesy of Joel Holland, "Very Good Lives" is funny, self-deprecating, down-to-earth, and heartfelt. We can picture the big laugh Rowling must have gotten when she gazed at the red banners surrounding her and announced that she must be "at the world's largest Gryffiindor reunion." Other quips follow. On a more serious note, she emphasizes the importance of imagination, the rewards of failure, and the desirability of choosing fulfilling work that brings us joy.

The speaker refers to the tough times she experienced as an impoverished single parent, before deciding to follow her dream of writing novels. In addition, her work with Amnesty International in London taught her that we are all interconnected. She believes that everyone has a moral obligation to assist the less fortunate, whether they live next door or on the other side of the world. J. K. Rowling inspires us with the following words: "We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already...." Her articulate and thoughtful message should resonate with graduates who are preparing to make their way in the world.

Proceeds from the sale of "Very Good Lives" go to Rowling's charity, Lumos, an organization that "works to end the institutionalization of children globally and ensure [that] all children grow up in a safe and caring environment."

The text, interspersed with hand-drawn illustrations, is from J.K. Rowling's 2008 commencement address to Harvard University. As she notes at the beginning of her speech, she can't remember a word from the commencement address at her graduation, which helped to reduce her terror and nerves at having to come up with something witty and pithy to say to the Harvard graduates. Come to think of it, I can't remember any of the speeches at my various graduations. Nevertheless, it's an important moment in time for any graduate and whether or not they'll remember the exact wording of a commencement address, they will take away a thought, a commitment, a belief, or maybe just a joke.

At 70 pages, this slim volume can be read in just 10 or 15 minutes, but allow extra time to go back and re-read it and ponder certain sections. Rowling's message is quite simple - the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. Anyone who has heard about her rise from poverty certainly knows that, by any reckoning, she would have been considered a failure; hitting rock bottom drove her to pursue the only thing she was really good at - writing. And no one will dispute where imagination has lead her!

This small book will provide anyone with food for though, whether or not they're a recent graduate, and would also make a thoughtful gift.

VERY GOOD LIVES (2015) is a nicely printed little hardback containing the commencement address that J. K. Rowling gave at Harvard in 2008. Originally, back in 2008, Rowling was encouraging the new graduates at Harvard not to be dismayed by their future experiences with failure and urging them to use their imaginations to enlarge their feelings of compassion for others who are less fortunate.

In its current book form, countless others can benefit from Rowling's wise insights and advice, even if they've never even heard of Harry Potter, let alone read any of Rowling's seven Harry Potter books.

Failure, which Rowling herself experienced "on an epic scale" seven years after she graduated from Oxford University, can be valuable as a means to self-discovery. One can, she argues, more accurately learn what one's real strengths and weaknesses are during such experiences. Further, one has a chance to learn who one's true friends are, and both of these are valuable lessons.

Rowling--who worked at Amnesty International's headquarters in London, dealing with hundreds of victims of kidnapping, rape, and torture, many of them also witnesses to unjust executions--discusses imagination in the "large" sense. One's imagination can, like any tool or gift or ability, be used for good or ill. Her Harry Potter books, she points out, partly illustrate this. One can manipulate and abuse others with the aid of one's imagination ... or one can strive to make the lives of others better in countless ways. (As I've already revealed in the first paragraph, Rowling is strongly advocating the latter choice.)

While I was reading ... and then rereading ... that portion of Rowling's speech, I was vividly reminded of JFK's famous "Ask not" passage in his inaugural address. Essentially, Rowling, in a age when "Greed Is Good" is the mantra of many Americans, is trying here to turn the tide. Her chief advice, I believe, could be paraphrased as "ASK NOT WHAT THE WORLD CAN DO FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE WORLD."

Rowling is a skillful writer. She is witty in some places (partly at the expense of Baroness Mary Warnock, a female British philosopher who spoke at Rowling's own commencement 21 years earlier, partly at her own expense), and she is quite touching in many other places. And she closes her speech with a quotation from Seneca, a wise Roman she read while at Oxford: "As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters."

Well presented material!

VERY GOOD LIVES (2015) is a nicely printed little hardback containing the commencement address that J. K. Rowling gave at Harvard in 2008. Originally, back in 2008, Rowling was encouraging the new graduates at Harvard not to be dismayed by their future experiences with failure and urging them to use their imaginations to enlarge their feelings of compassion for others who are less fortunate.

In its current book form, countless others can benefit from Rowling's wise insights and advice, even if they've never even heard of Harry Potter, let alone read any of Rowling's seven Harry Potter books.

Failure, which Rowling herself experienced "on an epic scale" seven years after she graduated from Oxford University, can be valuable as a means to self-discovery. One can, she argues, more accurately learn what one's real strengths and weaknesses are during such experiences. Further, one has a chance to learn who one's true friends are, and both of these are valuable lessons.

Rowling--who worked at Amnesty International's headquarters in London, dealing with hundreds of victims of kidnapping, rape, and torture, many of them also witnesses to unjust executions--discusses imagination in the "large" sense. One's imagination can, like any tool or gift or ability, be used for good or ill. Her Harry Potter books, she points out, partly illustrate this. One can manipulate and abuse others with the aid of one's imagination ... or one can strive to make the lives of others better in countless ways. (As I've already revealed in the first paragraph, Rowling is strongly advocating the latter choice.)

While I was reading ... and then rereading ... that portion of Rowling's speech, I was vividly reminded of JFK's famous "Ask not" passage in his inaugural address. Essentially, Rowling, in a age when "Greed Is Good" is the mantra of many Americans, is trying here to turn the tide. Her chief advice, I believe, could be paraphrased as "ASK NOT WHAT THE WORLD CAN DO FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE WORLD."

Rowling is a skillful writer. She is witty in some places (partly at the expense of Baroness Mary Warnock, a female British philosopher who spoke at Rowling's own commencement 21 years earlier, partly at her own expense), and she is quite touching in many other places. And she closes her speech with a quotation from Seneca, a wise Roman she read while at Oxford: "As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters."

Well presented material!

I first heard about Very Good Lives when I watched Giselle's, at Book Nerd Canada, wrap-up video for May. I call myself a fan of J.K. Rowling, but in all honesty I have only read the Harry Potter series. So...I'm guess I'm more of a true fan to the series. I do want to read her other books, but I haven't picked any of them up yet.

When I heard about Very Good Lives, and how it was her commencement speech that she gave at Harvard, I became intrigued. I am a new graduate myself, now given only from high school, but a graduate nonetheless. I am about to begin my college journey, which is kind of daunting. Throughout my whole senior year I wasn't sad at all when I was experiencing my "lasts" of high school. I was always looking forward to starting college, so I could begin working on my education degree. I registered for classes last Thursday, and let me tell you it was a wake up call.

Rowling covered two main topics during her speech. The first topic she spoke about was failure. Something I think we have all experienced in one way or another. She spoke about how failure is practically a requirement in order to succeed. If we don't fail, we won't see what we are doing wrong. Failure is hard to accept. Trust me, I know. However, I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today if I hadn't failed, gotten back up, and failed again. The second topic centered around keeping your imagination alive and strong. The world didn't change, because everyone in the whole world had the same exact ideas. Inventions, technology, organizations were created, because someone thought outside the box. Everyone on this here planet has great ideas and thoughts that deserve to be shared, and when they are the world changes. The changes may only impact a neighborhood, a community, or a city, but the world is forever changed. Imagination sparks inspiration.

I found Rowling's commencement speech highly inspiring and witty. Reading it last night calmed my nerves about heading to college. Her speech was a gentle reminder that it's okay to fail, and that you will get back up. Very Good Lives is a piece of writing that can be returned to again and again at any point in time for any event in life, major or minor.

"We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better" (Rowling 67).

When I checked this book out from my public library to read on Kindle, I actually thought it was a whole, long book. Though initially disappointed to see only three dots on the line when it dowloaded, I nonetheless was delighted when I read it. Perfectly crafted, short enough to be a relief to the students whom she was addressing, yet with enough explanation and anecdote to get her points across beautifully, Rowling showed me definitively what a huge heart she has, and how well her brain is connected to it. Having read the entire Harry Potter series, this perhaps should not have surprised me, but it was still nice to hear her regular adult voice addressing human peers.

I'm going to immediately find out the price of hard copies as well as digital copies of this wise and encouraging document. I hope I can distribute it to all my younger friends, some of my older ones, and naturally, keep one at hand for myself. It is timeless.

From my blog: [...]

Technically, I don't know how to classify this book...it is an amazing speech given by J.K. Rowling to a graduating class at Harvard. It's extremely short, but gorgeously written and illustrated.

First, let me start by saying that Good Lord I wish J.K. Rowling was the keynote speaker at my graduation. Honestly, how do I get that to happen?!

But really, this book is an excellent and extremely quick read. In the matter of 100 pages or less (and I would imagine a speech of average length) Rowling is humorous, inspiring and honest. In this case, the illustrations were just as important as the words for my overall enjoyment of this book. It is gorgeously illustrated,with various colors, styles, and beautiful typography.

It was like a little treat. I read it in the course of a half an hour, thought about things, ogled at the prettiness and then set it aside to be reread (I would assume) many times over the course of my life.

Rock on, Ms. Rowling. You're a champ as always.

This book, which looks like a collection of Facebook inspirational quotes, but contains the entirety of JK Rowling's 2008 commencement speech at Harvard is still timely and inspirational. It is one that should be kept close at hand for when failure knocks and hope is needed. The message of imagination being used to empathize with others and create a better reality is needed now more than ever.

Finally, an alternative to "Oh the places you'll go." Rowling gives us a book which is perhaps slightly less ambitious for life accomplishments, but more focused on life quality. "Very Good Lives" is about living well, and not just living successfully. Of course, big words for a woman who is only no longer a billionaire because she donated so much money. But, overall, it's a short, enjoyable read.

If you've got a Potterhead as obsessed as my mother-in-law, this works as yet another Rowling-centric gift.

Gold from the author of Harry Potter. A reminder that we all have the magic within ourselves to make the world a better place. To advocate for change, and for good.
J.K. Rowling has done so much for literacy, and continues to speak her mind, and speak out against oppression and tyranny, as we all should. She is a role model for us all.

Joanne Rowling has tugged my heart-strings again and nearly driven me to tears with this commencement speech she presented to the Harvard graduating class of 2008. I borrowed this quickly from the library I work at because frankly, I'm always stingy when it comes to spending $15 on a book just short of 100 pages. But this is more than just a book, it's an experience. Combined with the wonderful and quirky illustrations, Rowling manages to put so much of what she's experienced and overcome in this speech, and I'll definitely need to get a copy for myself.

This review is for the Kindle edition. The file is set up as fixed-format spreads, making it very difficult to read on a small screen. (You see two pages at a time no matter what, and the type can't be resized.)

If this had been my commencement speech, I expect I would remember it many years later. Certainly most of that would be because of the celebrity of the speaker, but also the words are heartfelt and to the point. I think this book would certainly be an appropriate gift for anyone graduating from secondary school or university. I enjoyed the graphics that went along with the words.

This was a nice commencement address by J. K. Rowling that, as many have said here, is available for anyone to see on YouTube. I was not upset by the cost of this very slim book, as I checked it out from the library for free.

It was probably relevant and inspiring to many of the Harvard Grads who listened to her back in 2008, as they were of the generation that grew up with Harry Potter when he attended the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the graduates' formative years. I did enjoy reading her speech, especially The Fringe Benefits of Failure part. Perhaps other readers will benefit as much from the Importance of Imagination part.

3 Stars

Ms. Rowling beautifully and efficiently delivers a message of hope, inspiration, over-coming failures, and motivation for choosing to live life to the fullest, while being of service to others, and thereby bettering our world. Well done.

JK Rowling speaks to Harvard graduates about life, failures, expectations, success, the power of imagination, and the importance of true friendships. A very inspiring commencement speech by one of the most successful authors of all time.

Great graduation gift for a college/university grad! Here are words of wisdom to set anyone off on their new professional life, whatever that may be. Rowling's thoughts are classic and will resonate through the ages.

This little book is JK Rowling's commencement address to the 2008 graduation class of Harvard. She has such a gift for words. She talks about the importance of imagination to empathy. Powerful words. Read them. Share them with your own graduate.

Looking for a memorable gift for your favorite graduate? Feeling like you just can't bear to purchase one more copy of "Oh the places you'll go!"? This is the perfect gift. Rowling's exhortation to graduates (failure can often lead to good things, imagination is essential, cherish your chums), should be required reading.