Wear Sunscreen: A Primer for Real Life

by Mary Schmich

Wear Sunscreen, now a hit video on YouTube.com, has been seen by millions of viewers.

It all began with a column titled "Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted on the Young," written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune on June 1, 1997. Posted on the Web, Schmich's column quickly became an international sensation. Friends e-mailed it to friends, the media picked up on it, and a star was born. There was only one problem: Everyone thought the column was an actual commencement address given by author Kurt Vonnegut.

Eventually, Mary Schmich was correctly identified as the author. AMP published her advice as a gift book in 1998. The following year, "Wear Sunscreen" became a hit song.

Genres: Nonfiction, Inspirational, Poetry, Self Help, Humor

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Mary Theresa Schmich (B.A., Pomona College) is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

The oldest of eight children, Schmich grew up in Georgia and attended high school in Phoenix, Arizona. After working in college admissions for three years and spending a year and a half in France, Schmich attended journalism school at Stanford. She has worked as a reporter at the Peninsula Times Tribune, at the Orlando Sentinel and, since 1985, at the Tribune. She spent five years as a Tribune national correspondent based in Atlanta. Her column started in 1992 and was interrupted for a year during which she attended Harvard on a Nieman Fellowship for journalists.

Reviews

[Kewannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I got this email as an email forward a few years ago. I had no idea that besides the foreward/introduction, it is essentially the email in a book format. There's also a song from the late 90's where Baz Luhrman sings the article.

I re-read it in a few train stops on my commute today. It was not quite the literary blockbuster I was hoping for. I thought it would expound on the email/song but no.

[Sarani Rangarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This essay, in song form, was the compass of my life

I am glad that it’s available now as a book, so that the original writer can get credit.
This is the truthiest unasked-for advice I’ve ever received. And I treasure it.

[Ross Huggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the song, so knew I'd like the 'book'. Great story at the start, and loved the layout. 2 minute read, love it.

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m still trying to understand why this turned out to be a book. The advices seem superficial, but they’re worth it, so it makes sense at the end. Anyway, wear sunscreen.

[Ficri Pebriyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique and inspiring book, providing valuable advice in the form of short, easy-to-digest essays. Written in a straightforward and humorous style, the book presents practical life wisdom, from the importance of self-care to how to have healthy relationships. The main message is to value time and life experiences. Each piece of advice is aimed at encouraging readers to take positive steps in their lives.

Azarine sunscreen ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which function as protection from UV rays. In addition, there are also natural ingredients such as aloe vera extract and vitamin E which provide moisture and protect the skin from damage. This combination not only protects the skin, but also provides nutrition, keeping the skin healthy and radiant. Azarine sunscreen is suitable for all skin types and provides maximum protection.

[Marlon Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeira leitura do ano.
Filtro solar, livro de Mary Schmich.
Livro de 85 páginas.
Bom, todo mundo com certeza já ouviu um pedacinho sequer em uma música, citação de trecho ou algo parecido sobre este livro.
Ele traz conselhos para pequenezas da vida, que geralmente não damos importância no corriqueiro do dia a dia.
Por exemplo, o meu favorito dentro dele é:
“Esforce-se de verdade para diminuir as distâncias geográficas e de estilos de vida, porque, quanto mais velho você ficar, mais você vai precisar das pessoas que conheceu quando jovem”.
Maravilhoso não é?!
Se puder, leia-o. Não vai se arrepender. E com certeza vai achar um pequeno tesouro escondido ali para você!
;)

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.”

“Don’t waste your time on jealousy.”

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

These [and some two dozen other wise words] . . . generally directed toward college graduates preparing to step out into the real world . . . offer readers a little inspiration along with a bit of lighthearted humor. Clever and witty, readers are likely to find that these words . . . sandwiched between the admonition to “wear sunscreen” remain with them long after they’ve turned the final page.

Recommended.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good."

"Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future."

[Debora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comecei a ler esse livro por acaso. Ele chegou até mim da mesma forma.

Aqui, a autora traz conselhos espirituosos sobre temas importantes como aparência, amigos, trabalho, família, juventude e saúde.

Publicado originalmente como um discurso de formatura, os textos me lembraram muito conselhos de vó ou de uma pessoa com bastante experiência de vida, alguém que viveu suficiente para ter uma visão mais humana.

São textos bem simples e acompanhados de ilustrações fofinhas. São conselhos, em alguns aspectos, evidentes, mas que não custa relembrar.

[Angela Natividad · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 years since and it holds up without a wrinkle.

[Cris B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bom

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an interesting piece of writing which inspires us to live the life that we own before it fades away and of course to wear sunscreen! :)

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a grad present

[Mary Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful truths!

[Mitko Andonov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if it counts as a book 😁 but i agree, repeat and share every single word from it. I strongly encourage everyone to re-read it many time to remind ourselves.

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

En sí no tiene mucho donde pellizcar. Aun así creo que siempre le voy a guardar cariño por la persona que me lo recomendó y por los buenísimos consejos que me dio.

[Pia Bröker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life advise in a little over 50 sentences. I liked.

[gerard brangan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for that short bus journey: your fellow travellers (if they notice you at all) will envy you your chuckling shoulders, your broad grin and your lighthearted step as you hop off at your stop.

[Lisa Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a good little book to give graduates.

[Aashu Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was truly an eye opener. All the advices directly went straight to the heart.

[☆Linde☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik vond dit gewoon heel erg cute eigenlijk. Its short, its true and I kinda wanna give it to everyone i know

[Sheldon Chau · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.”

[Cedric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short (3 min read)

Too short to be called a book but useful advice nevertheless.

Read the column online rather than spending time on this "book"

[MissUnderstoodGenius · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the famous article which was first published in Chicago Tribune as a column "Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted on the Young". This article was forwarded from everyone to everyone all across the globe which was a hit video too. The other articles in this book were good to read - nothing out of the ordinary. For me, this is a coffee table book which can be read one article at a time, at one's own leisure.

To read the famous inspiring article, you may visit: http://missunderstoodgenius.wordpress...

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this little gem today. The idea of it seemed familiar from a Baz Luhrmann song from the 90's but when I read it I knew it was the same spoken words set to groovy music of my adolescence. Mary Schmich is the original brains behind this clever inspirational text for graduates and anyone really who could use a pep talk.

[AndrianiTuti Dalail]

first time i read, i think this book talk about a real sunscreen.But factually the book has substance of inspiration sentence that inspiring me to go forward and keep in progress, hopefully that can be beneficial thing for all of u too :)

[Karlene Olesuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book when I first read it in 1999. Never realized who the author, Mary Schmich, was until later. An interesting fact about her is that along with being a Chicago Tribune columnist and author, Mary has also written the comic strip Brenda Starr :)

[Dafni · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've likely heard the song. In fact, I think this was played at my high school graduation. If you haven't read it, it's a short collection of advice and tidbits, a la Chicken Soup for the Soul. Remember to wear sunscreen!

[Kodzo Selormey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved Mary Schmich's sunshine column from when I first heard it set to music, and was hoping with this book to get more if Ms Schmich's unique take on life. Instead I just got a rehash of the column, which was fine but I wanted more!