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Wonderful
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker's third collection celebrates what it is to be alive. Following on from the success of Unashamed, Baker combines the insight of a mathematician with the vulnerability of a poet to find wonder in the little things that make life so precious.
From planning his own funeral to searching for a decent pair of wellies, these poems capture Harry's signature playfulness and vulnerability that have enabled him to connect with millions all over the world.
Holding joy and grief with equal tenderness, Wonderful is his most honest, warm, and hopeful work to date.
From planning his own funeral to searching for a decent pair of wellies, these poems capture Harry's signature playfulness and vulnerability that have enabled him to connect with millions all over the world.
Holding joy and grief with equal tenderness, Wonderful is his most honest, warm, and hopeful work to date.
- GenresPoetryContemporary
128 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2024
61 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Harry Baker
3 books85 followersI have loved words from a young age and been a full-time poet since I graduated from Bristol with a maths degree in 2015. Most commonly this takes the form on standing on stages and sharing my words with others, but I am always looking to collaborate with new people and find new places to take it.
I become the youngest ever Poetry World Slam Champion in 2012, and my first collection of poems The Sunshine Kid was published with Burning Eye in December 2014 - I am currently working on my second collection, as well as regularly giving workshops and performances and having fun touring around the UK as part of Harry And Chris.
I become the youngest ever Poetry World Slam Champion in 2012, and my first collection of poems The Sunshine Kid was published with Burning Eye in December 2014 - I am currently working on my second collection, as well as regularly giving workshops and performances and having fun touring around the UK as part of Harry And Chris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 9, 2024
10/10 absolute banger. Heb de schrijver gemaild of ik een handtekening mag. Erg vrolijke gedichten.
Update: ik krijg een handtekening als ik stroopwafels opstuur.
Update: ik krijg een handtekening als ik stroopwafels opstuur.
June 22, 2025
I'd like to add to the list of things that bring joy... getting into clean bed sheets, toasting the toast to the perfect shade of golden brown, the sound of walking on frosty grass, when someone gets your movie reference, rain pattering on the window, when you give someone a hug and can squeeze really tight... and many more
May 11, 2024
Clever, touching, funny, heartwarming and heart wrenching. It is different reading the poems rather than listening to Harry Baker perform them but it such a joy to be able to read the collection over and over again.
January 20, 2026
My Most Recent Read: "Wonderful" by Harry Baker. Harry Baker is a Poetry Slam World Cup winner that I follow on social media. If my friends and family need to read that sentence a few more times, I understand. I'll wait. . .
Anyway, Baker hails from Margate in Kent, England and this is a collection of his poems. I especially love the one called, "Sunflowers." In it, Baker describes what he hopes for his own funeral and begins by saying that ideally there would be "a hundred benches, every single one of them facing the sea." He goes on to talk about the flowers (sunflowers--a truly inconvenient amount), the food (keep it veggie), and the drink (Negronis, if I pretend to like them then so can you). But the poem is much less about dying than it is about living. He talks about love and connection and ends by saying, " . . . what a thing it is to live a life. . . let's also do this loads before we die." It is better to listen to him than to read him, but I'm still glad to have this little volume in my library. Given I'm writing this review in January, I would be remiss if I did not recommend searching online for his reading of "20 Achievable New Year's Resolutions." When you have heard it, please share your favorite shape. IYKYK
Anyway, Baker hails from Margate in Kent, England and this is a collection of his poems. I especially love the one called, "Sunflowers." In it, Baker describes what he hopes for his own funeral and begins by saying that ideally there would be "a hundred benches, every single one of them facing the sea." He goes on to talk about the flowers (sunflowers--a truly inconvenient amount), the food (keep it veggie), and the drink (Negronis, if I pretend to like them then so can you). But the poem is much less about dying than it is about living. He talks about love and connection and ends by saying, " . . . what a thing it is to live a life. . . let's also do this loads before we die." It is better to listen to him than to read him, but I'm still glad to have this little volume in my library. Given I'm writing this review in January, I would be remiss if I did not recommend searching online for his reading of "20 Achievable New Year's Resolutions." When you have heard it, please share your favorite shape. IYKYK
July 31, 2024
This book made me laugh and cry.
I loved the introductory notes for each poem - the storytelling just flows so smoothly between intro and poem. That complements it beautifully.
As Harry mentioned, there is a poem for everyone in this book. I have bookmarked a few that will definitely take for the years to come.
I loved the introductory notes for each poem - the storytelling just flows so smoothly between intro and poem. That complements it beautifully.
As Harry mentioned, there is a poem for everyone in this book. I have bookmarked a few that will definitely take for the years to come.
November 19, 2024
A "wonderful" collection of poems. Instructions upon my Death, Wonderful, Wellies, Trying, and Dust were some of my favorites. Though, there is something more special about hearing the author perform his poems.
December 18, 2024
As the title says! Baker has become a central part of the Greenbelt Festival experience and seeing these poems emerge there has been wonderful. It's lovely to have a paperback version of him in his wellies too.
May 28, 2024
What an uplifting, hopeful and honest book! I loved the wordplay and assonance and the poems where some letters are excluded are really well written.
July 3, 2024
Hjartahlý og fyndin ljóðabók ❤️
July 15, 2024
So much joy and wonder in a small volume.
January 1, 2026
This book made me happy. 🙂
December 12, 2024
i love my mom and thank her for getting me this lovely lil poem book
January 24, 2025
Wonderful, witty, warming
"When it all feels too much
and there is little you can do,
may you still see the best in people
and may people include you.
May one thing match the gravity
of all you've ever done.
This wonderful reality:
the best is yet to come."
"When it all feels too much
and there is little you can do,
may you still see the best in people
and may people include you.
May one thing match the gravity
of all you've ever done.
This wonderful reality:
the best is yet to come."
October 28, 2025
Just really lovely and heartwarming.
March 9, 2025
“Wellies” was my favourite
The best literary form
Is the kind that lets you see
The words and the person behind
The best literary form
Is the kind that lets you see
The words and the person behind
July 18, 2025
Funderful.
May 31, 2025
“The Barbenheimer of the poetry world” - what a stunning combination of joy and realness - love Harry’s work!
October 11, 2025
I love friends and I love wellies!
January 13, 2025
I bought this book after having heard the author reading from his collection at a "First Fortnight Festival" event in Belfast.
The First Fortnight Festival addresses the vulnerability of people's mental health in the dark first weeks of a new year when the flicker of festive season euphoria has given way to doubt and uncertainty about the future. The festival explores how we can take refuge in art and indeed how as the compere's own poem returned to its refrain - we need to create to see who we can be.
Harry Baker was the final act, following on from some very impressive performers of poetry and music. His 'act' demonstrates how vibrant poetry can be when read aloud - it really is an art that needs to be performed, the rhythm of its delivery, the author's gentle self-deprecation, the careful deliberation in the ordering of words and lines (...and pauses) all making an experience out of art.
I was delighted to find many of the poems he had read so convincingly aloud appeared in the pages of this volume. (Sadly he had no copies to sell on the night having sold them at all at previous gigs on the tour).
The layout of the book, with a commentary on each poem, delightful footnotes, and the interleaving of the poem "Things that bring me joy" between other pieces make this a wonderful* read that manages to capture something of Baker's stage presence.
On the night Baker shared a number of poems about his experience of recent fatherhood to a now 6 month old baby, including one where he set some new year resolutions for his child including "Triple your age." Hopefully those poems, written too late for this collection, will find their way into a future volume.
Given the nature of the festival, Baker's reflections on his own recourse to therapy are poignant as his his poem of "20 Achievable New Year's Resolutions" - including as
6 To tell someone what I do without it sounding like an apology.
In one of his final notes in the collection Baker writes
While I used to believe that the difficult parts of life could be overcome with hope and optimism, or at least if we gave enough oxygen to the good things they could outgrow the rest, I have learned that the painful bits don't just disappear if we ignore them or wish them away, but have to be accepted and acknowledges as part of the whole spectrum of what it means to exist in this wonderful world.
*did you see what I did there?
The First Fortnight Festival addresses the vulnerability of people's mental health in the dark first weeks of a new year when the flicker of festive season euphoria has given way to doubt and uncertainty about the future. The festival explores how we can take refuge in art and indeed how as the compere's own poem returned to its refrain - we need to create to see who we can be.
Harry Baker was the final act, following on from some very impressive performers of poetry and music. His 'act' demonstrates how vibrant poetry can be when read aloud - it really is an art that needs to be performed, the rhythm of its delivery, the author's gentle self-deprecation, the careful deliberation in the ordering of words and lines (...and pauses) all making an experience out of art.
I was delighted to find many of the poems he had read so convincingly aloud appeared in the pages of this volume. (Sadly he had no copies to sell on the night having sold them at all at previous gigs on the tour).
The layout of the book, with a commentary on each poem, delightful footnotes, and the interleaving of the poem "Things that bring me joy" between other pieces make this a wonderful* read that manages to capture something of Baker's stage presence.
On the night Baker shared a number of poems about his experience of recent fatherhood to a now 6 month old baby, including one where he set some new year resolutions for his child including "Triple your age." Hopefully those poems, written too late for this collection, will find their way into a future volume.
Given the nature of the festival, Baker's reflections on his own recourse to therapy are poignant as his his poem of "20 Achievable New Year's Resolutions" - including as
6 To tell someone what I do without it sounding like an apology.
In one of his final notes in the collection Baker writes
While I used to believe that the difficult parts of life could be overcome with hope and optimism, or at least if we gave enough oxygen to the good things they could outgrow the rest, I have learned that the painful bits don't just disappear if we ignore them or wish them away, but have to be accepted and acknowledges as part of the whole spectrum of what it means to exist in this wonderful world.
*did you see what I did there?
July 22, 2025
This is a different kind of poetry to what I’m used to and I’m so glad this was gifted to me so I could experience this style. Wonderful is the perfect balance of silliness and sincerity - playful in tone, yet deeply thoughtful at its core. Harry Baker, both a poet and mathematician, brings a unique voice to the page: precise and logical in structure, yet unafraid to veer off-course into unexpected joy, whimsy or vulnerability.
The notes that accompany the poems are as much a part of the experience as the poems themselves - sometimes hilarious, sometimes moving, always human. They offer insight into his process and personality, grounding even the most abstract verses in real emotion.
For me, the second half of the book really shone. Baker's prose poems are where his voice feels most powerful: using smart metaphors to explore big ideas through the lens of the everyday. Trying, Sunflowers and Wellies were standout favourites - each one balancing emotional resonance with clever, often paradoxical imagery.
As someone who recently visited his hometown, I also appreciated the local references and humour that added a personal, grounded layer to the collection.
Baker is doing something fresh with poetry here - smart without being smug, heartfelt without being heavy-handed. It’s joyful, thoughtful, and above all, wonderfully human.
The notes that accompany the poems are as much a part of the experience as the poems themselves - sometimes hilarious, sometimes moving, always human. They offer insight into his process and personality, grounding even the most abstract verses in real emotion.
For me, the second half of the book really shone. Baker's prose poems are where his voice feels most powerful: using smart metaphors to explore big ideas through the lens of the everyday. Trying, Sunflowers and Wellies were standout favourites - each one balancing emotional resonance with clever, often paradoxical imagery.
As someone who recently visited his hometown, I also appreciated the local references and humour that added a personal, grounded layer to the collection.
Baker is doing something fresh with poetry here - smart without being smug, heartfelt without being heavy-handed. It’s joyful, thoughtful, and above all, wonderfully human.
May 19, 2025
Well, it's all very NICE, isn't it? Baker clearly loves a list poem. I probably enjoyed 'Ingrid' the best, as an interesting technical feat, but it didn't really do a huge amount for me from there.
These are all very NICE poems about nice places and nice people doing nice middle class things, all introduced very NICEly. I could just imagine a room full of people in Lucy and Yak dungarees listening to this. It's perfect for it's audience, and very safe and earnest, but it didn't really have the range or interest I might have expected for the absolutely glowing reviews and it was worryingly predictable in places.
On a more basic level, some of the setting on the page of the earlier poems was really not good as you'd think a poem had ended just to find a seemingly random chunk on the next page. And the page numbering: that can absolutely go in the bin; it's been a long time since I've seen a design detail that infuriated me that much - I'd say irrationally, but some things don't require innovation and page numbering is very very definitely one of those things.
I didn't hate any of it (apart from the numbering) and I'm sure it will reach plenty of the right people. I'm just not those people.
These are all very NICE poems about nice places and nice people doing nice middle class things, all introduced very NICEly. I could just imagine a room full of people in Lucy and Yak dungarees listening to this. It's perfect for it's audience, and very safe and earnest, but it didn't really have the range or interest I might have expected for the absolutely glowing reviews and it was worryingly predictable in places.
On a more basic level, some of the setting on the page of the earlier poems was really not good as you'd think a poem had ended just to find a seemingly random chunk on the next page. And the page numbering: that can absolutely go in the bin; it's been a long time since I've seen a design detail that infuriated me that much - I'd say irrationally, but some things don't require innovation and page numbering is very very definitely one of those things.
I didn't hate any of it (apart from the numbering) and I'm sure it will reach plenty of the right people. I'm just not those people.
November 12, 2024
this was an absolute joy to read !!
…and i’ve found a new favourite poet !! and a new favourite, ever, poetry collection !!
i absolutely loved every poem in this collection. each poem was radiant and completely unique.
when i’m reading a poetry collection if i loved a poem and think i’ll want to return to it i put a little star next to it in the index. this collection had 15 poems and i’ve starred 8 in my book !!
i also love and appreciate when poets talk about the poems they’ve written and this book had a little paragraph about each poem, which was perfect for me.
this collection was absolutely beautiful and i am very glad i’ve read it, it has made me feel brighter today. i can’t wait to read more by this poet asap.
…and i’ve found a new favourite poet !! and a new favourite, ever, poetry collection !!
i absolutely loved every poem in this collection. each poem was radiant and completely unique.
when i’m reading a poetry collection if i loved a poem and think i’ll want to return to it i put a little star next to it in the index. this collection had 15 poems and i’ve starred 8 in my book !!
i also love and appreciate when poets talk about the poems they’ve written and this book had a little paragraph about each poem, which was perfect for me.
this collection was absolutely beautiful and i am very glad i’ve read it, it has made me feel brighter today. i can’t wait to read more by this poet asap.
October 31, 2025
"A book that pierced through".
That is the phrase that described the book for me as I finished it.
It is touching, it is honest, and is precise.
There are many qualities I love about it.
Just a great book.
I love the fact it shares backstories for all the poems. They add so much.
They enrich the conversation you already have with the poem.
Tbh, I never really liked long poems, I prefered them snappy.
Here, I didn't want certain ones to end.
Leaves you wanting more, and reminds you to go get it yourself.
One of the things I'm grateful for is this book,
mostly for reminding me of how grateful I am for many more.
That were always there.
Okay, now I'm rumbling,
just 5/5, get outta here
That is the phrase that described the book for me as I finished it.
It is touching, it is honest, and is precise.
There are many qualities I love about it.
Just a great book.
I love the fact it shares backstories for all the poems. They add so much.
They enrich the conversation you already have with the poem.
Tbh, I never really liked long poems, I prefered them snappy.
Here, I didn't want certain ones to end.
Leaves you wanting more, and reminds you to go get it yourself.
One of the things I'm grateful for is this book,
mostly for reminding me of how grateful I am for many more.
That were always there.
Okay, now I'm rumbling,
just 5/5, get outta here
April 1, 2025
This was a joyful and sometimes silly book of poetry. I really love the earnestness of Harry Baker's spoken word poetry. I had only listened/watched his poems and hadn't ever read any before. There were a few poems in this book that I couldn't really get into, but I loved almost all the insights that he wrote before each poem. Three poems in the second half of the book really moved me. I definitely cried during at least one of them! The poems I most especially loved were: Trying, Sunflowers, and Wonderful. I am planning to dive into his earlier poetry books Unashamed and The Sunshine Kid next.
August 4, 2024
"May you be seriously silly,
may you be wickedly kind.
May you be brilliantly dumb sometimes
and yet stupidly bright.
May you certainly have doubts,
may your weirdness be the norm.
May the coolest thing about you
be your warmth.
May you be powerfully vulnerable,
or at least mightily soft.
May you be a contradiction,
and yet at the same time not.
And, whether you are any, none
or all of the above,
above all, may you know
that you are loved."
i hope i get to read wonderful to my kid one day as they are falling asleep.
may you be wickedly kind.
May you be brilliantly dumb sometimes
and yet stupidly bright.
May you certainly have doubts,
may your weirdness be the norm.
May the coolest thing about you
be your warmth.
May you be powerfully vulnerable,
or at least mightily soft.
May you be a contradiction,
and yet at the same time not.
And, whether you are any, none
or all of the above,
above all, may you know
that you are loved."
i hope i get to read wonderful to my kid one day as they are falling asleep.
October 29, 2025
My first poetry book cover-to-cover and I could not be more grateful to have borrowed a book from Bronté's coffee table.
If you haven't heard of Harry Baker, I would highly recommend his poems Wellies (beautiful and sunshiney), Postcodes (the perfect combination of maths, puns and a hint of Jesus) and Things That Bring Me Joy (speaks for itself). I found reading these outloud brought me far more joy - you should try it!
Also, loved that each poem had a preamble to help give context for the how and why before launching into the poem proper. I felt I got way more out of it!
If you haven't heard of Harry Baker, I would highly recommend his poems Wellies (beautiful and sunshiney), Postcodes (the perfect combination of maths, puns and a hint of Jesus) and Things That Bring Me Joy (speaks for itself). I found reading these outloud brought me far more joy - you should try it!
Also, loved that each poem had a preamble to help give context for the how and why before launching into the poem proper. I felt I got way more out of it!
March 13, 2025
Bought this book after having followed Harry Baker on Instagram for a while and being so moved by his poem Wonderful I cried in the shower whilst listening to the reel in which he performed it three times in a row. I enjoyed this book but it was too short and I wanted more, and more poems like Wonderful and Sunflowers and Trying. Also I think him performing the poems really adds something to them, as his lovely voice and kind demeanour really adds to the whole experience of it.
December 10, 2025
A different style of poetry and I loved the interplay of the shapes of some of the poems with the use of certain letters , using ascenders and descenders, and in another, when the poet only used one vowel.
How interesting that Harry Baker is mathsy and I did enjoy the introduction to each poem. I found his work to be honest and hopeful and the tender subject that resonated with me , was called ‘Trying’.
He ends with an 8 lined verse from Wonderful, which has beautiful affirmations within.
How interesting that Harry Baker is mathsy and I did enjoy the introduction to each poem. I found his work to be honest and hopeful and the tender subject that resonated with me , was called ‘Trying’.
He ends with an 8 lined verse from Wonderful, which has beautiful affirmations within.
February 2, 2026
honestly was hoping to like this more. This book includes a few of my favorite poems ever.
- things I learnt from interrailing
- trying
- sunflowers
- wonderful
I also enjoyed a refugee is and sticky toffee pudding.
but I was hoping for more new work to blow my socks off the way the above 4 had when I first listened to them. maybe it’s bc they’re meant to be spoken not read? Not sure. Still love Harry Baker so much and recommend listening to his poetry to everyone I meet.
- things I learnt from interrailing
- trying
- sunflowers
- wonderful
I also enjoyed a refugee is and sticky toffee pudding.
but I was hoping for more new work to blow my socks off the way the above 4 had when I first listened to them. maybe it’s bc they’re meant to be spoken not read? Not sure. Still love Harry Baker so much and recommend listening to his poetry to everyone I meet.
January 10, 2025
This was so wholesome & made me feel pretty emotional
There are definitely some that don’t translate well on the written word and definitely have to be heard to be felt. But others worked perfectly both ways.
Very emotional topics that are handled beautifully and with grace. Very enjoyable and I’d pick up his other work
There are definitely some that don’t translate well on the written word and definitely have to be heard to be felt. But others worked perfectly both ways.
Very emotional topics that are handled beautifully and with grace. Very enjoyable and I’d pick up his other work
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews