Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Posted by The Bookworm at 10:47 AM
As one of the fans of Bob Ong, I've read all of his works including Stainless Longanisa, which Bob Ong had mentioned his favorite author. We were in high school then and we were hanging out in bookstores most of the time. Surprisingly, I spotted a familiar name while looking around. "Robert Fulghum!" I knew I was the first one who noticed the book author if I'm not mistaken but my friend was first one who got it from the pile of books on the shelves. "He's the favorite author of Bob Ong!" And because everyone loved Bob Ong, everyone wanted the book and thus our pal who got it first from the shelf was able to purchase it (the only copy available that time). But that was not the end of the story, we came back again in the same store and kapow, there were three other copies of the book. Yes, we bought them all. I keep Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten for more than four years now because I never lend it to anyone. Thanks Bob Ong.
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| Robert Fulghum |
The book is nonfiction. It is not a novel. It is a compilation of sort of short narratives and essays from a sentimental minister who loves Chicken-fried steak and Beethoven. A gentle sentimental old man who doesn't kill spiders nor eat mushrooms, who doesn't rake leaves nor shove snow in his yard, who loves to create Crayola bomb, and who always wanted a cuckoo clock. He's Robert Fulghum, a natural-born storyteller whose stories were remarkable yet so simple. You may find yourself smiling at his paradoxes and then saying with a sigh, "That's very true."
Let me share with you my favorite excerpts from the book:
I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.
Don't sell yourself short. You may never have the proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think.
The lions are so prolific that the zoo has had to place IUDs in each of the lionesses. So all the lions do is eat and sleep and scratch fleas and have sex without consequences.
My friend says if you want to know the truth about people, it's the place to go. All you have to do is look in the drawers and shelves and cabinets in the bathroom. And take a look at the robes and pajamas and nightgowns hanging on the hook behind the door. You'll get the picture. He says all their habits and hopes and dreams and sorrows, illnesses and hangups, and even their sex life-all stand revealed in that one small room.
I suppose it's harmless enough for a yearning to be so strong that what you need becomes very real in some corner of your heart. Picasso said, "Everything you can imagine is real." And I understand that.
-all those who are different, who do not fit the norm and who do not accept the available boxes and pigeonholes? Answer that question and you can build a school, a nation or a world on it.
Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away!
Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A Beauty Bomb. And every time crisis developed, we would launched one. It would explode high in the air-explode softly-and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air.
Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words may break our hearts.
I want my childhood back. A child who is impractical, unrealistic, simpleminded, and terribly vulnerable to joy.
...she usually doesn't really like what I give her for Christmas, anyway, and I usually end up with it in the end, so I figured I might as well start out by giving her something I want in the first place, so when I get it back I can be truly grateful.
Not many people have murdered a cuckoo-clock bird, but I had done it. I could see Christmas morning: "Here. dear, a cuckoo clock. For you. The bird is dead.
But me, I think old God is Sardine player. And will be found the same way everybody gets found in Sardines-by the sound of laughter of those heaped together at the end.
And many more. Robert Fulghum, like his book, is exceptional. His positive perspectives about life, his humour, his uncommon thoughts on common stuff and how he has seen Christmas in late August are which I always ponder and admire. A good person really makes a good book. Honestly, I want to meet him in person and I'll ask him, 'Sir, who's your favorite book author?' And of course I'll search it again among the thick piles of books on the shelves of every bookstores.
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that book seems to be really interesting. I have a little collection of books, but or romance novels, I have numerous Johanna Lindsey, Nora Roberts, some Sidney Sheldon, but my sister has gazillion of books and she's very smart. I believe that if you read a lot you will learn a lot. no wonder I am not as smart as she is :)
thanks for the visit to my site..
http://wrozlie.com This Is My Life
Mommy Liz said...
September 9, 2011 at 6:47 AM
now you got me very very interested.. i just left you a KI$$ and i'm following you now, hope you do the same, thanks!
kim said...
September 19, 2011 at 6:24 AM
hi, visit me back :)
GIDT said...
September 19, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is very inspiring :)
KM said...
September 19, 2011 at 6:49 PM
touch my ads also,,
Info Komputer dan Gadget said...
September 20, 2011 at 1:28 AM
So nice
Honda Gajahmada said...
September 22, 2011 at 1:45 AM
reading book?? i'm not really like that. i like browse the web than read a book. but, nice post
Kang Asep Sule said...
October 1, 2011 at 7:47 PM
Hello, Karen,
Hey, I also happen to like Fulghum, have read several of his books. I like his writing style - short, sweet and right on.
Ahaha, I just found your other cave. ;)
Anonymous said...
May 16, 2012 at 11:27 PM