Every now and then, an author will produce a work that’s so inspired and so brilliant that I want to dance in the rain…. even before I open the book. That’s the way it was with Roger Emerson Fishman’s What I Know: Uncommon Wisdom and Universal Truths from 10-Year-Olds and 100-Year-Olds
Think of yourself as a dot on a line. The things behind you are already over, so always move forward down the line. – 10 year old
He then compiled their wonderful and insightful wisdom and created a beautiful little book that’s a total joy to read. I promise you, an evening spent curled up on the sofa with a cup of hot tea and this remarkable cast of 10-year-olds and 100-year-olds will leave you feeling warm from the top of your head to the tips of your toes – and it’ll have nothing to do with the tea.
What I Know is the type of book you’ll read, then return to again and again. It’s also the type of book you’ll want everyone in your life to read – so long as they promise to give it back!
“In life, the one thing you can control is your word.” – 100 year old
I wanted to highlight certain quotes along the way but soon realized that doing so would deface my beautiful little book and produce a phone-book wannabe with yellow pages galore. I would have highlighted just about every single word! I chose to simply write down my favorites in one of my quote-books. Don’t worry, the writer’s cramp will heal soon enough.
Dorothy Kennedy, The Lady in Pink – 100 years young
Amongst the wonderfully inspiring and motivating quotes, Roger Emerson Fishman has included several interviews with remarkable men and women. The advice is golden and you fall a little bit in love with each individual. These interviews include:
- Tan Shui Lee: A Green-Tea Trader tells his secret to living to 100.
- Bill Werber: Major League Baseball player on keeping your word.
- Ben Berke: Mr. Berke talks about reinventing yourself. Is it ever too late? He reinvented himself at the age of 72.
- Ruth Porskauer Smith: The activist talks about the importance of standing up for yourself.
- Dorothy Kennedy: The “Lady in Pink” teaches us how to create friends for life.
- And many more beautiful people!
“If you are thinking about having a baby, you better start now by collecting lots and lots of sleep.” – A 10 year old from Lexington Kentucky who I’m guessing has a baby brother or sister!
One of the things that warms my heart the most about this book (and honestly brings a tear to my eye) is the knowledge of how amazing it must make these 10 year-olds and 100-year-olds feel to be part of a book. They’re each authors! (It’s my fondest hope that this book becomes a Best Seller, making them each best-selling authors.) What’s more, Roger Emerson Fishman has given each of them the most beautiful gift in the world: The opportunity to touch other people. What a beautiful thing to do for anyone, but especially for someone who has lived to be 100 years old. Often their greatest wish is to feel useful and helpful – to share the incredible wisdom they have.
As for the 10 year olds – they finally have what children crave… to be listened to!
I believe that What I Know: Uncommon Wisdom and Universal Truths from 10-Year-Olds and 100-Year-Olds
Get the book. Read the book. Love the book. You’ll never forget the book.
Useful Links:
The What I Know Blog
The What I Know Twitter
Meet the People
Amazon: What I Know: Uncommon Wisdom and Universal Truths from 10-Year-Olds and 100-Year-Olds
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