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What I Learned from Mom: 27 Celebrated Individuals on How Mother's Wisdom Shaped Their Lives
AS SEEN ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
The CEOs behind Sesame Street bring you the inspirational and life-changing lessons and parenting insights that successful people learned from their moms.
The first and most important teacher in life is mom. Her lessons start in early childhood and last a lifetime. Behind many successful people is a mother who gave her child the example, the insights, and the drive that helped them live their extraordinary life and become a better parent themselves.
In this inspiring book, the past and present CEOs of Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street, capture the stories and love these remarkable people have for their own mothers and how this shaped their lives. This book is a love letter to mothers everywhere.
Learn how Al Roker, Ali Wentworth, Anna Cathcart, Chelsea Clinton, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Clarissa Ward, Danny Meyer, Darren Walker, Diane von Furstenberg, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Hoda Kotb, Kaia Gerber, Katie Couric, Ken Burns, Kevin Nealon, Laura Jarrett, Ms. Rachel, Noah Kahan, Robin Roberts, Soledad O’Brien, Steve Guttenberg, Susan Wojcicki, Tatyana McFadden, Téa Leoni, Tory Burch, and Governor Wes Moore found their lives shaped by the lessons they learned from their mom.
The CEOs behind Sesame Street bring you the inspirational and life-changing lessons and parenting insights that successful people learned from their moms.
The first and most important teacher in life is mom. Her lessons start in early childhood and last a lifetime. Behind many successful people is a mother who gave her child the example, the insights, and the drive that helped them live their extraordinary life and become a better parent themselves.
In this inspiring book, the past and present CEOs of Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street, capture the stories and love these remarkable people have for their own mothers and how this shaped their lives. This book is a love letter to mothers everywhere.
Learn how Al Roker, Ali Wentworth, Anna Cathcart, Chelsea Clinton, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Clarissa Ward, Danny Meyer, Darren Walker, Diane von Furstenberg, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Hoda Kotb, Kaia Gerber, Katie Couric, Ken Burns, Kevin Nealon, Laura Jarrett, Ms. Rachel, Noah Kahan, Robin Roberts, Soledad O’Brien, Steve Guttenberg, Susan Wojcicki, Tatyana McFadden, Téa Leoni, Tory Burch, and Governor Wes Moore found their lives shaped by the lessons they learned from their mom.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 12, 2026
“What I Learned from Mom” is a collection of essays in which the authors share significant memories from their childhoods and even into adulthood that highlight the important lessons that their mothers passed on to them and love they experienced in their care.
The mothers in this book are all amazing women. Even though many of them faced numerous challenges throughout their lives they still strove to guide their children well and make an impact in their lives.
I appreciated the advice shared for moms who feel those doubts of “am I doing enough?” One author writes, “the only thing that matters is that your children feel deeply loved, secure and stable and that they have a happy home they thrive in.“
There are some good nuggets in here, but not every story was super engaging. Readers may need to glean what they can and leave what they do not find personally applicable.
Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC!
The mothers in this book are all amazing women. Even though many of them faced numerous challenges throughout their lives they still strove to guide their children well and make an impact in their lives.
I appreciated the advice shared for moms who feel those doubts of “am I doing enough?” One author writes, “the only thing that matters is that your children feel deeply loved, secure and stable and that they have a happy home they thrive in.“
There are some good nuggets in here, but not every story was super engaging. Readers may need to glean what they can and leave what they do not find personally applicable.
Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC!
April 11, 2026
What I Learned from My Mom is a reflective memoir that offers a personal perspective on the influence of a mother’s guidance and values. Written initially from a male viewpoint, the book explores how maternal lessons shape identity, relationships, and personal growth over time. It serves as a tribute to motherhood, emphasising the idea that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” and highlighting the enduring connection between parents and their children.
Throughout the book, themes of strength, resilience, and willpower are consistently present. The author presents a series of short stories through the perspective of well known influential people and their reflections that illustrate how mothers often discover and define themselves through the act of raising their children. These moments aim to capture both the beauty and complexity of motherhood, offering insight into the emotional and moral foundations passed down through generations.
The structure, composed of brief anecdotes and perspectives, makes the book accessible and easy to follow. However, the tone remains quite consistent throughout, which may not appeal to all readers. While the sentiment behind the stories is clear and heartfelt, the overall delivery can feel somewhat uniform.
Overall, What I Learned from My Mom is a sincere and thoughtful homage to maternal influence, best suited to readers who appreciate reflective, theme driven memoirs centered on family and personal values.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Throughout the book, themes of strength, resilience, and willpower are consistently present. The author presents a series of short stories through the perspective of well known influential people and their reflections that illustrate how mothers often discover and define themselves through the act of raising their children. These moments aim to capture both the beauty and complexity of motherhood, offering insight into the emotional and moral foundations passed down through generations.
The structure, composed of brief anecdotes and perspectives, makes the book accessible and easy to follow. However, the tone remains quite consistent throughout, which may not appeal to all readers. While the sentiment behind the stories is clear and heartfelt, the overall delivery can feel somewhat uniform.
Overall, What I Learned from My Mom is a sincere and thoughtful homage to maternal influence, best suited to readers who appreciate reflective, theme driven memoirs centered on family and personal values.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 14, 2026
I received this ARC read from NetGalley for an honest review!
I have honestly been loving memoirs lately, which I used to have zero interest in previous years. This one wasn't one of my all-time favorites thus far. HOWEVER, let me say that having this be all about the lessons that one has learned from their mothers, I enjoyed the wisdom through the different eras. Not only did I enjoy the overall wisdom, but I also enjoyed that it was from the sons and daughters of powerful and influential women. Mothers are some of the strongest, most powerful, wise, astute, and in tune. I enjoyed the different stories about these women! I enjoyed the lessons that these sons and daughters learned from their moms, whether the women intended to teach any lessons or not.
This is such an insightful and genuinely feel-good read just in time for Mother's Day! I already recommended this to a bunch of mom friends, as well as some relatives that I have who would find this amazing. Go give it a try, you won't regret it.
I have honestly been loving memoirs lately, which I used to have zero interest in previous years. This one wasn't one of my all-time favorites thus far. HOWEVER, let me say that having this be all about the lessons that one has learned from their mothers, I enjoyed the wisdom through the different eras. Not only did I enjoy the overall wisdom, but I also enjoyed that it was from the sons and daughters of powerful and influential women. Mothers are some of the strongest, most powerful, wise, astute, and in tune. I enjoyed the different stories about these women! I enjoyed the lessons that these sons and daughters learned from their moms, whether the women intended to teach any lessons or not.
This is such an insightful and genuinely feel-good read just in time for Mother's Day! I already recommended this to a bunch of mom friends, as well as some relatives that I have who would find this amazing. Go give it a try, you won't regret it.
July 6, 2026
First, thank you NetGalley for the ALC!
This collection of essays from well known figures centers on a central question- what do we learn from our mothers? Some contributions focus on achievement and perseverance, while others center acceptance and learning to lean into love. It was a delightful listen preceding Mother’s Day, and would likely be a lovely gift if accompanied by one’s own insert of insight from mom.
The overarching themes of love, dedication, the abundance of grit and pride radiate across essays. It can at times bring tears and laughter and may make you want to pick up the phone and call your own mom. A delightful listen, and one I’d be happy to read again when feeling a little sentimental. It also serves as a lovely reminder that as long as you’re trying, your little ones will likely remember the goodness of what you give. A merry goal indeed!
This collection of essays from well known figures centers on a central question- what do we learn from our mothers? Some contributions focus on achievement and perseverance, while others center acceptance and learning to lean into love. It was a delightful listen preceding Mother’s Day, and would likely be a lovely gift if accompanied by one’s own insert of insight from mom.
The overarching themes of love, dedication, the abundance of grit and pride radiate across essays. It can at times bring tears and laughter and may make you want to pick up the phone and call your own mom. A delightful listen, and one I’d be happy to read again when feeling a little sentimental. It also serves as a lovely reminder that as long as you’re trying, your little ones will likely remember the goodness of what you give. A merry goal indeed!
May 9, 2026
This is a most lopsided book that will appeal to liberals only, since all of the people interviewed are just that. This is not a global look at motherhood across the board, as no conservatives were included. And Wes Moore? Really? As our Maryland governor, he has made abortion his No. 1 priority upon getting elected into office, and Maryland now ranks in the top 10 abortion states in the country. Wouldn't you think that abortion is antithetical to motherhood? A pre-born baby at 5-6 weeks has a beating heart, and here is Wes, hugging his mom, as if he was the most decent son on the planet. What decent mother would be proud of a son who successfully advocates for killing pre-born babies? Maybe just the mothers of these people and their ilk.
May 25, 2026
Great collection of stories about all types of mothers. Both inspiring and affirming to read as a mother myself. Wish it was read by each author though.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews