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The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories from 125 Writers and Artists Famous & Obscure
From the creators of Six-Word Memoirs comes The Moment, a collection of personal stories from writers both famous and obscure revealing how a single instant changed their lives forever.
An innocuous decision, an unforeseen accident, a chance conversation, a tag sale, a terrorist strike, a tweet . . . sometimes all it takes is a single moment to redirect the course of an entire life. In the tradition of Smith magazine’s Not Quite What I Was Planning and the sensational Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak—and in the spirit of StoryCorps, the Moth, and This American Life—The Moment unveils everyday people’s inner lives in narratives of all shapes and sizes, with stories from six to 1,000 words, photographs, comics, illustrations, handwritten letters, and more. It’s enough to change your life forever.
An innocuous decision, an unforeseen accident, a chance conversation, a tag sale, a terrorist strike, a tweet . . . sometimes all it takes is a single moment to redirect the course of an entire life. In the tradition of Smith magazine’s Not Quite What I Was Planning and the sensational Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak—and in the spirit of StoryCorps, the Moth, and This American Life—The Moment unveils everyday people’s inner lives in narratives of all shapes and sizes, with stories from six to 1,000 words, photographs, comics, illustrations, handwritten letters, and more. It’s enough to change your life forever.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2012
29 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
Larry Smith
138 books61 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Larry Smith is the founder of The Six-Word Memoir® Project, a bestselling series of nine books, board game, live event program, and a global phenomenon found in classrooms, conferences, and corporate settings alike.
Larry speaks on the power of personal storytelling across the world. He has been invited to work with teams at Twitter, Levi’s, JPMorgan Chase, Snapchat, Dell, Yelp, Shutterfly, ESPN and Google; nonprofits including the Zen Hospice Project and Dress For Success, as well as foundations, philanthropies, and schools. He’s a frequent speaker at conferences such as TEDx, PopTech, Summit Series (called “Davos for the Millennials”), the AARP 50+ Convention. He teaches the class, “What’s Your Story? How to Deliver an Authentic Elevator Pitch” in private sessions and on-site at companies.
Prior to founding the Six-Word Memoir project, Larry had a robust career in journalism. He was articles editor of Men’s Journal, executive editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, senior editor at ESPN The Magazine, a founding editor of P.O.V. and editor-in-chief of its sister publication, EGG. While living in San Francisco, he was managing editor of the wire/syndication service AlterNet and an editor at Dave Eggers' Might Magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, ESPN Magazine, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Salon, Slate, Buzzfeed, and has contributed essays to many anthologies, including Modern Love: 50 True and Extraordinary Tales of Desire, Deceit, and Devotion and The End of the Golden Gate: Writers on Loving and (Sometimes) Leaving San Francisco.
He lives in Berkeley, CA, with his wife, the writer Piper Kerman, and their son.
Larry Smith is the founder of The Six-Word Memoir® Project, a bestselling series of nine books, board game, live event program, and a global phenomenon found in classrooms, conferences, and corporate settings alike.
Larry speaks on the power of personal storytelling across the world. He has been invited to work with teams at Twitter, Levi’s, JPMorgan Chase, Snapchat, Dell, Yelp, Shutterfly, ESPN and Google; nonprofits including the Zen Hospice Project and Dress For Success, as well as foundations, philanthropies, and schools. He’s a frequent speaker at conferences such as TEDx, PopTech, Summit Series (called “Davos for the Millennials”), the AARP 50+ Convention. He teaches the class, “What’s Your Story? How to Deliver an Authentic Elevator Pitch” in private sessions and on-site at companies.
Prior to founding the Six-Word Memoir project, Larry had a robust career in journalism. He was articles editor of Men’s Journal, executive editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, senior editor at ESPN The Magazine, a founding editor of P.O.V. and editor-in-chief of its sister publication, EGG. While living in San Francisco, he was managing editor of the wire/syndication service AlterNet and an editor at Dave Eggers' Might Magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, ESPN Magazine, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Salon, Slate, Buzzfeed, and has contributed essays to many anthologies, including Modern Love: 50 True and Extraordinary Tales of Desire, Deceit, and Devotion and The End of the Golden Gate: Writers on Loving and (Sometimes) Leaving San Francisco.
He lives in Berkeley, CA, with his wife, the writer Piper Kerman, and their son.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 27, 2012
I absolutely loved this book. One hundred and twenty five writers submitted their answer to the question: What was your moment? The answers were as varied as the 125 authors that wrote. They were excellent-a little insight into these people. A few of the authors were people we know: Judy Collins, Elizabeth Gilbert, Melissa Ethridge... . But I enjoyed all of the writings from these very talented writers. But what I enjoyed as much as the entries were what else these people have written which was in the Contributors at the end of the book. This led me to many other books, or blogs or other writings. Such talent!
December 10, 2018
As with most compilations, some of these essays were touching and memorable and others I just didn’t care about at all. It is a quick read, though, and there are a few gems to be gleaned.
February 1, 2012
I'm a huge fan of Larry Smith and the books that he puts out, as well as Smith Magazine. I was delighted to see this book on my desk a little while back, and I've been sipping from it ever since. I can only read a few of the "moments" at a time, because they are sometimes profound, or heart-breaking, or hilarious, and they all need to be savored. I've also spent a lot of time thinking about the "moments" in my life, which one wouldbe THE one, and if I would ever be as brave as these people about sharing it. This is great book to start out a new year on, though, really, it's a great book PERIOD.
November 5, 2017
Pleased to have stumbled on to this great little collection of life-changing moments written by various authors and artists. Many are the Big Event type moments you'd expect; others are quiet but pivotal changes in the person's viewpoint. Some are hilarious, such as Colin Nissan's description of his father's shed full of bartered-for "treasures"; others profound, such as Adam Theron-Lee Rensch's account of how he may have inadvertently contributed to his father's death. Worth seeking out!
June 17, 2019
As might be expected from a collection of very short memoirs by 125 people, there is considerable variation in quality. Frankly, some of the pieces sounded to me like school assignments, while others were truly unforgettable. (One I regularly use as an example in a writing class.) In general, the authors appear to be mostly young, urban, and non-religious. This is a great book to, say, fill odd minutes on the subway or while waiting at in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
March 20, 2020
This is a compilation of snippets from different people's life that they feel changed their life in some meaningful way. Some of them are interesting, some of them are not. Some are well written, some are not. I gave it three stars because overall, it was just ok. There are some real gems in this compilation and it would work well for someone who just wanted to read a few pages before bed every night since every story ends after a page or two.
June 21, 2022
Some of the stories are very well written, and are powerful and moving. Some not so much, at least to me, but with so many contributors, maybe that's inevitable. There are a few short graphic pieces, and that variety enlivens the collection.
Lots of good examples for how to write focused and impactful short pieces. And it serves as a great writing prompt - Write about one moment (or event) that changed your life.
Lots of good examples for how to write focused and impactful short pieces. And it serves as a great writing prompt - Write about one moment (or event) that changed your life.
February 2, 2023
This is the first book I’ve read this year that wasn’t for pleasure. I thought this might be a good place to find more anchor texts for my students or even prose pieces for my speech kids.
Some of the essays were meh-ssays, but there were also some gems. I love the brevity of the stories and the focus of the importance of one moment.
I do think my students will find the excerpts I give them approachable and interesting.
Some of the essays were meh-ssays, but there were also some gems. I love the brevity of the stories and the focus of the importance of one moment.
I do think my students will find the excerpts I give them approachable and interesting.
January 14, 2018
Any compilation is doomed to be uneven; but "The Moment" has more peaks than troughs, and the disappointments never linger for more than a page or two.
Also, it's fun to read all the different ways in which a life can abruptly change.
Melissa Etheridge, Aaron Huey, Jennifer Egan, Robin Wasserman, Andrew Scrimgeour and especially Deborah Copaken Kogan wrote my favorites.
Also, it's fun to read all the different ways in which a life can abruptly change.
Melissa Etheridge, Aaron Huey, Jennifer Egan, Robin Wasserman, Andrew Scrimgeour and especially Deborah Copaken Kogan wrote my favorites.
May 8, 2018
The short essays by many people of various walks of life are interesting for the most part. I found myself googling (not a word, but most readers know what it means) each person to learn more about him or her. After a while, that did get tiring as did the essays themselves. This is not a book to read quickly, or at least, not for me.
August 29, 2018
Sadly, I am a book finisher. I forced myself to read this over the summer, slowly and painfully. Very few people had "moments" that were momentous, which I guess may have been the point, but I was really hoping to read about smack over the head, come to Jesus experiences. There is beauty in the mundane, but I see that daily in my own life.
April 19, 2019
One of my disappointments with “The Moment” was that I had no context of whom each of the authors are or any of their background. Maybe that’s the point. That the “moments” are supposed to be illuminating regardless of their relation to the individual who experienced them. But that said, I found too many moments lacking much relevance to myself.
July 7, 2023
I got maybe 25% into this book and became bored and stopped reading.
I think it was my expectations. They were hoping for something more along the lines of visual artists "a-ha" moments, but this seemed to be more about writers and singers and the like. While there were a few lovely or heartbreaking stories (like Melissa Ethridge's), some were just plain boring.
Meh.
I think it was my expectations. They were hoping for something more along the lines of visual artists "a-ha" moments, but this seemed to be more about writers and singers and the like. While there were a few lovely or heartbreaking stories (like Melissa Ethridge's), some were just plain boring.
Meh.
April 12, 2020
Most of the people who shared their "moments" were unknown to me, but all the stories were interesting. Someone who writes fiction could adapt some of these turning points for their characters.
October 11, 2020
FLAWLESS
February 1, 2021
Skimmed, the sort of insight you'd find on a bar napkin
Read
June 10, 2023Many short stories about moments of significance in peoples’ lives. Nothing was particularly profound. Some were inspiring. Light summer reading
September 28, 2024
Really enjoyable.
February 4, 2012
Book Review | The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories
Posted on February 4, 2012
Edited by Larry Smith, creator of Smith Magazine, and published by Harper Perennial, this collection of short stories contains everything from heart-warming tales of familial struggle and reconciliation, to lightbulb moments of self-revelation.
The contributing authors include the likes of Melissa Ethridge, Gregory Maguire, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dave Eggers and James Franco. I would argue, however, that some of the best stories were submitted by lesser-known artists (unless of course you’re an NPR junkie like myself, then some names may resonate with you).
The brevity of each story makes this book the perfect companion for short flights, lunch breaks or before-bedtime reading. I was often moved by the intimate details with which the contributing writers were willingly sharing with their readers. Here are a few of my favorite stories:
I was especially pleased with… Steve Almond’s “John Updike Sent Me a Fan Letter (Once),” in which Almond explores the power and ultimate responsibility writers must share with up-and-coming wordsmiths.
I was moved by… Christoph Marshall’s “Why I Adopted My Son,” and Eddie Comacho’s “Why I Adopted My Dad,” in which the two discuss their difficulties in finding a family and the ultimate reasons why they knew they were meant to be father and son.
I was intrigued with… “Meeting Allen Ginsberg,” by Steve Silberman, in which Silberman describes his chance encounter with the beat poet and how their relationship shaped his profession.
I cried at a little at… Andrew D. Scrimgeor’s “The Silver Harmonica,” in which he tells the intimate story of how his mother’s Alzheimer’s affected his family, and how one small gift can make a world of difference.
While I would argue (and this may be unfair, since I received an uncorrected proof) that the placement of some stories often interrupted the over-all flow of the book, I do believe this is an entertaining and thought-provoking collection.
Perhaps the smartest choice — whether it was the editor’s or publisher’s — was to include a brief biography for each of the contributing writers at the end of the collection. I was intrigued enough to learn a bit about each author following their memoir. I would recommend this book and hope it leads you to consider your own “moment,” and if you feel so compelled, check out the “Six Word Memoir” submission at www.smithmag.net.
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS VISIT: http://theornamentedline.wordpress.com/
Posted on February 4, 2012
Edited by Larry Smith, creator of Smith Magazine, and published by Harper Perennial, this collection of short stories contains everything from heart-warming tales of familial struggle and reconciliation, to lightbulb moments of self-revelation.
The contributing authors include the likes of Melissa Ethridge, Gregory Maguire, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dave Eggers and James Franco. I would argue, however, that some of the best stories were submitted by lesser-known artists (unless of course you’re an NPR junkie like myself, then some names may resonate with you).
The brevity of each story makes this book the perfect companion for short flights, lunch breaks or before-bedtime reading. I was often moved by the intimate details with which the contributing writers were willingly sharing with their readers. Here are a few of my favorite stories:
I was especially pleased with… Steve Almond’s “John Updike Sent Me a Fan Letter (Once),” in which Almond explores the power and ultimate responsibility writers must share with up-and-coming wordsmiths.
I was moved by… Christoph Marshall’s “Why I Adopted My Son,” and Eddie Comacho’s “Why I Adopted My Dad,” in which the two discuss their difficulties in finding a family and the ultimate reasons why they knew they were meant to be father and son.
I was intrigued with… “Meeting Allen Ginsberg,” by Steve Silberman, in which Silberman describes his chance encounter with the beat poet and how their relationship shaped his profession.
I cried at a little at… Andrew D. Scrimgeor’s “The Silver Harmonica,” in which he tells the intimate story of how his mother’s Alzheimer’s affected his family, and how one small gift can make a world of difference.
While I would argue (and this may be unfair, since I received an uncorrected proof) that the placement of some stories often interrupted the over-all flow of the book, I do believe this is an entertaining and thought-provoking collection.
Perhaps the smartest choice — whether it was the editor’s or publisher’s — was to include a brief biography for each of the contributing writers at the end of the collection. I was intrigued enough to learn a bit about each author following their memoir. I would recommend this book and hope it leads you to consider your own “moment,” and if you feel so compelled, check out the “Six Word Memoir” submission at www.smithmag.net.
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS VISIT: http://theornamentedline.wordpress.com/
March 14, 2012
The Moment is a collection of short essays from 125 writers and artists that focuses on a particular moment in time that significantly changed each author’s life. The collection comes to us from the creators of the Six-Word Memoir series and Not Quite What I Was Planning – Smith Magazine. There is such a wide variety of essays in this collection that it will appeal to almost everyone. I actually brought the book to my writing residency and shared several of the essays I thought were relevant to some of my peers and their struggles with writing and life. It includes essays from Dave Eggers, Diane Ackerman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bill Ayers, Jennifer Egan, A. J. Jacobs, Judy Collins and many more. This is a book you will want to come back to again and again especially when you need inspiration on those days when you believe everything is going wrong in your life. Below is a brief description of just a few of my favorites.
John B. Carnett, in his brief essay “Birth,” discusses the moment he realized he was using his camera as a buffer between himself and the life unfolding in front of him. It brings forth the question: What do we use as a buffer to distance ourselves from what is happening around us? This might seem odd, but sometimes I feel like my glasses provide a buffer between me and others.
Diane Ackerman has a beautiful essay entitled “Love in a Time of Illness” about her husband’s stroke and his slow recovery and the skills he developed to compensate for what he’d lost. It is heartbreaking and at the same time so hopeful and inspiring.
In “Momento Mori,” Adam Theron-Lee Rensch takes us on a haunting journey into how he believes he accidentally killed his father by rearranging the furniture in his father’s apartment in an attempt to keep his father from getting hurt should he wake up drunk and fall.
Another haunting essay is “Forgiven” by Jennifer Thompson. In the essay, Thompson takes us through her experience watching a man be convicted of her rape, finding out eleven years later that he is innocent, and the beautiful aftermath of what should have been an unthinkably horrific experience.
These are only a few brief descriptions of what you will encounter in The Moment. It is a book that will have you reflecting on your own life and the moments you’ve experienced that changed everything and will serve as a reminder that even the worst of experiences can turn out better than you ever expected.
John B. Carnett, in his brief essay “Birth,” discusses the moment he realized he was using his camera as a buffer between himself and the life unfolding in front of him. It brings forth the question: What do we use as a buffer to distance ourselves from what is happening around us? This might seem odd, but sometimes I feel like my glasses provide a buffer between me and others.
Diane Ackerman has a beautiful essay entitled “Love in a Time of Illness” about her husband’s stroke and his slow recovery and the skills he developed to compensate for what he’d lost. It is heartbreaking and at the same time so hopeful and inspiring.
In “Momento Mori,” Adam Theron-Lee Rensch takes us on a haunting journey into how he believes he accidentally killed his father by rearranging the furniture in his father’s apartment in an attempt to keep his father from getting hurt should he wake up drunk and fall.
Another haunting essay is “Forgiven” by Jennifer Thompson. In the essay, Thompson takes us through her experience watching a man be convicted of her rape, finding out eleven years later that he is innocent, and the beautiful aftermath of what should have been an unthinkably horrific experience.
These are only a few brief descriptions of what you will encounter in The Moment. It is a book that will have you reflecting on your own life and the moments you’ve experienced that changed everything and will serve as a reminder that even the worst of experiences can turn out better than you ever expected.
November 7, 2014
Everyone has them. A moment in your life that in some way inspires you to find a way to reconcile a wrong or does something to jolt you into action and move forward in your life. These special moments are life changing, whether they are good, bad or even embarrassing.
This is a collection of essays written by 125 writers and artists who share their own personal moments with the reader. Each essay is short, ranging from 1-4 pages, making it a collection that is easy to pick up and put down.
My seven favourite essays were:
Flash by Caroline Paul in which a young flippant firefighter lives through a flashpoint explosion and describes the first moment she ever felt fear.
No Consolation by Neal Pollach in which a perpetually positive young man describes the first and devastating time he really understands failure as the end of all earthly hope.
The Assignment by Ruth Gruber in which a journalist describes the moment when she realized that she would always be both a witness and a participant in life and that she must live a story to write it.
The Secret Life by Elizabeth Gilbert in which she writes about the moment she realized she was not the center of her parents lives, and the sense it brought of being utterly alone, but also being excited about that discovery.
The Night My Mother Refused to Cook Dinner by Michael Castleman describes a time when his very dutiful mother refused to cook dinner because she was so engrossed in her reading that nothing else mattered. He suddenly realized a book could be so powerful that the reader could not stop reading, his first step in becoming a writer.
Landing by Paul Miller describes the terror of arriving on an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific during an earthquake.
My Front Line by Jessica Lutz describes the face paced life of a journalist accostomed to foreign and dangerous assignments in the Middle East. She makes a reluctant and difficult decision to have a child because of her advancing age and is surprised to find she feels grounded rather than stranded by motherhood.
Everyone has a story and it is easy to see a little bit of yourself in each of these remembrances.
This is a collection of essays written by 125 writers and artists who share their own personal moments with the reader. Each essay is short, ranging from 1-4 pages, making it a collection that is easy to pick up and put down.
My seven favourite essays were:
Flash by Caroline Paul in which a young flippant firefighter lives through a flashpoint explosion and describes the first moment she ever felt fear.
No Consolation by Neal Pollach in which a perpetually positive young man describes the first and devastating time he really understands failure as the end of all earthly hope.
The Assignment by Ruth Gruber in which a journalist describes the moment when she realized that she would always be both a witness and a participant in life and that she must live a story to write it.
The Secret Life by Elizabeth Gilbert in which she writes about the moment she realized she was not the center of her parents lives, and the sense it brought of being utterly alone, but also being excited about that discovery.
The Night My Mother Refused to Cook Dinner by Michael Castleman describes a time when his very dutiful mother refused to cook dinner because she was so engrossed in her reading that nothing else mattered. He suddenly realized a book could be so powerful that the reader could not stop reading, his first step in becoming a writer.
Landing by Paul Miller describes the terror of arriving on an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific during an earthquake.
My Front Line by Jessica Lutz describes the face paced life of a journalist accostomed to foreign and dangerous assignments in the Middle East. She makes a reluctant and difficult decision to have a child because of her advancing age and is surprised to find she feels grounded rather than stranded by motherhood.
Everyone has a story and it is easy to see a little bit of yourself in each of these remembrances.
January 8, 2012
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
This is such an inspiring book of essays! It is full of famous and not so famous people relating what moment in their lives was truly something that had a great impact on their lives and the lives of others, even if they didn't realize it at the time. The stories are honest and reflective in a way that can be most surprising to the reader. Each one has somewhat of an Ah Ha moment where the author describes an occurrence of an event that at the time, really didn't seem that important but when they look back upon it, it is special indeed.
I think my favorite one is Melissa Etheridge relating her singing A Piece of My Heart on an award show while she was undergoing cancer treatment at the time. She didn't see it as anything important at the time, but that performance gave strength to breast cancer survivors everywhere. She did it while not looking her best and with no hair. There are alot of little things this book offers most of which, is the wonderful attitude of those who have just done things and then thought about them later. You can easily pick this one up read a few pages and then reread the same pages and get even more out of the stories.
LOVED IT
This is such an inspiring book of essays! It is full of famous and not so famous people relating what moment in their lives was truly something that had a great impact on their lives and the lives of others, even if they didn't realize it at the time. The stories are honest and reflective in a way that can be most surprising to the reader. Each one has somewhat of an Ah Ha moment where the author describes an occurrence of an event that at the time, really didn't seem that important but when they look back upon it, it is special indeed.
I think my favorite one is Melissa Etheridge relating her singing A Piece of My Heart on an award show while she was undergoing cancer treatment at the time. She didn't see it as anything important at the time, but that performance gave strength to breast cancer survivors everywhere. She did it while not looking her best and with no hair. There are alot of little things this book offers most of which, is the wonderful attitude of those who have just done things and then thought about them later. You can easily pick this one up read a few pages and then reread the same pages and get even more out of the stories.
May 26, 2014
It seems that I can't help finding typos and other errors as I read a book. This book had very few errors that I saw or remembered. As I read each story, I would go to the "Contributors" section and read about each author; I enjoyed learning what each author has done since writing his or her contribution to the book.
I felt most of the stories were worth reading, and none of the stories was very long so the reader can read just a little, put the book down, and come back to the book later.
One story bothered me, and it bothered me even more to read what the author does for her occupation. I do not like reading any story that makes using drugs sound like a feel-good experience. Too many people have ruined their lives because of drugs. The book is a compilation of life-changing stories, and perhaps drugs have changed that author's life, but I wish she would have pointed out the problems with drugs, rather than glorifying the experience.
Two mistakes I found were in the page numbers for the contributors, where two of them were slightly off. Also there was a typo on the last page of the contributors, where the "n" was omitted from "known".
I felt most of the stories were worth reading, and none of the stories was very long so the reader can read just a little, put the book down, and come back to the book later.
One story bothered me, and it bothered me even more to read what the author does for her occupation. I do not like reading any story that makes using drugs sound like a feel-good experience. Too many people have ruined their lives because of drugs. The book is a compilation of life-changing stories, and perhaps drugs have changed that author's life, but I wish she would have pointed out the problems with drugs, rather than glorifying the experience.
Two mistakes I found were in the page numbers for the contributors, where two of them were slightly off. Also there was a typo on the last page of the contributors, where the "n" was omitted from "known".
January 17, 2012
What a great little collection this is.
Simple little stories- from artists celebrated to those who are not as well known- about the "Moment" things changed for them. It could be the moment a parent passed away, to the moment where a man in the military in Afghanistan faces death head on and realizes he needs to marry his girlfriend of five years if he survives, to the moment of conception for a couple who had been trying to no avail. It could be the moment a teacher marked "I hope you become a writer" on a little kid's paper, launching their future occupation, or an African American girl realizes racism is rampant- on the school playground. It could be something profound, or it could be something profound on a more personal level to that person. The point of the collection- is that there are such moments in life where things suddenly become crystal clear and very important- and everyone has them, on different levels. I really, really, really enjoyed this collection. It wasn't only easy to read and identify with(many of them, actually) but it was also inspirational.
Simple little stories- from artists celebrated to those who are not as well known- about the "Moment" things changed for them. It could be the moment a parent passed away, to the moment where a man in the military in Afghanistan faces death head on and realizes he needs to marry his girlfriend of five years if he survives, to the moment of conception for a couple who had been trying to no avail. It could be the moment a teacher marked "I hope you become a writer" on a little kid's paper, launching their future occupation, or an African American girl realizes racism is rampant- on the school playground. It could be something profound, or it could be something profound on a more personal level to that person. The point of the collection- is that there are such moments in life where things suddenly become crystal clear and very important- and everyone has them, on different levels. I really, really, really enjoyed this collection. It wasn't only easy to read and identify with(many of them, actually) but it was also inspirational.
January 21, 2012
I thought this would be a little more, I don't know, inspirational, especially given some of the luminaries who contributed. If the thesis is “the moment” that changed everything, I expected a lot more wows than I got. I mean, really, the birth of a child told in several different ways? That’s so expected it didn’t make for profound reading. Yes, we know that having kids changes everything but I picked up this book for a new perspective, a new way to look at moments that have far-reaching effects.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of these moments in the book, just not enough. Some of the tales are quite gripping, others so lame and poorly written they felt like filler. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting premise and a super easy read. Each story is only a couple of pages so it’s good for someone who has to start and stop their books a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of these moments in the book, just not enough. Some of the tales are quite gripping, others so lame and poorly written they felt like filler. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting premise and a super easy read. Each story is only a couple of pages so it’s good for someone who has to start and stop their books a lot.
April 2, 2013
This collection, as a whole, was more enjoyable and well-written than I expected it to be. Along with a smattering of mundane duds, it includes several witty, thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and inspiring stories that made me a better person for having read them.
Each piece is between a paragraph and 2.5 pages long. This literary format -- something like short-story memoir? -- takes a combo of good substance and skillful framing to pull off well, and not every author here has achieved that. But enough of them do to make this book worth reading and dog-earing.
Perfect as travel, before-bed, or waiting-in-line reading.
Each piece is between a paragraph and 2.5 pages long. This literary format -- something like short-story memoir? -- takes a combo of good substance and skillful framing to pull off well, and not every author here has achieved that. But enough of them do to make this book worth reading and dog-earing.
Perfect as travel, before-bed, or waiting-in-line reading.
March 4, 2012
You can't go wrong with 125 true stories about life-changing moments! Every one of them is fascinating. And they run the gamut from the devastatingly emotional to the heart-breakingly funny, so you'll be on an emotional roller coaster throughout. Great for a quick read when you need a reminder of what life is really all about. Of course you'll have to consider this a biased review, since my own story of the creation of my Skull-A-Day project is included, but I really did enjoy reading every moment in this delightful book from the creator of the equally wonderful six-word memoir project.
January 30, 2016
Excellent book. You know you enjoy reading a book when you find yourself sneaking moments to read "just a few more pages." What this book really reminded me was... everyone has a story. Everyone has not one, but many life-changing moments throughout their lives. I suspect most people don't realize it when it's happening but only later can look back and notice, ah yes, that was the day that everything changed.
July 15, 2012
I suppose I had high expectations for this book. But after getting into it, I found that many more of the moments written about seemed contrived. As if the writers were doing it as an assignment in high school. Of course the writing was more clever and more mature...but it was not as reveletory as I had wished for.
November 6, 2013
There isn't a single entry in this book that isn't full-on memorable or inner-self-altering. The curation of the work is par excellence. My moment consists of the few times in my young life that compassion was extended to me when I wasn't so deserving, each instance setting me on a creative, fruitful path. The telling of these stories is for a different day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews