Words I Wish I Wrote: A Collection of Writing That Inspired My Ideas

by Robert Fulghum

In Words I Wish I Wrote, Robert Fulghum reveals the works of writers who have inspired him. During the past four decades he's reviewed and revised the basic principles of his philosophy many times, sometimes as an exercise in personal growth, but more often in response to individual crisis. Then at fifty, seeking a simplicity to counter the complex thinking of his college years, Fulghum wrote a summary essay professing that all he really needed to know he learned in kindergarten. As he approached his sixtieth year, Fulghum became curious about what in his outlook had changed and what had endured. On review, Fulghum explains, everything he has ever said and thought and written is transparent to him now. As hard as he has tried to speak in his own voice, much of what he's said is neither original nor unique. The best ideas are often old and are continually being revived, recycled, renewed. Wherever his search took him, Fulghum found that someone else has been there before. And more often than not, that person has chosen words Fulghum wishes he had written, using language he can't improve upon. To Fulghum, however, this isn't a discouraging realization. It's a recognition n of companionship, which is an affirming consolation.

The confirming statements, quotes, and credos that Fulghum recorded in his journals for years are collected here, representing the most important ideas underlying his living and thinking. They are organized thematically into such chapters as Companions, God, Bene-Dictions, Contra-Dictions, Simplify, and Believe. Each begins with Fulghum's own insightful, introductory words, followed by inspiring passages drawn from a diverse group of sources, from Jerry Garcia to Albert Camus, Dylan Thomas to Franz Kafka. At the end of each chapter, Fulghum offers readers his own personal commentary on the sources--where he was introduced to their words, why he returns to them again and again, and how they may change you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Philosophy, Writing, Memoir, Inspirational, Poetry

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Robert Fulghum is an American author, primarily of short essays.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sit back in my chair, tossing the book a good five feet onto the coffee table with that trademark thump that only hardcover book can make. It skids to a stop, hanging precariously over the edge.

"This should have been called Words I Wish I Wrote So Much That I Put Them Into a Book Under My Own Damn Name Anyway," I mutter.

"Soooo you liked it?" my wife asks wryly.

"Well, it's nothing new or more enlightening than what you'd find on a million quote sites around the Internet or even on GoodReads," I blurt, close to whining. "But hey, I guess I have to cut the guy a little slack, I suppose. The book came out in 1999, prior to the Internet really taking off. How was Flughum--"

"Fulghum," my wife gently corrects me as she looks over curiously at the book's jacket design.

"FULGHUM, sorry. How was he to know how commonplace this practice would become for thousands of bored meatheads around the world brightening the whole of cyberspace one pithy quote at a time."

"Boy, you're in a mood! Anyways, it couldn't have all been bad. You even quoted a few of them to me. Like that Bowles one, was it? That one about infinite tomorrows or something...?"

I pick the book up again and thumb to the passage in question. "… we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well," I read. "Yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."

I close the book and place it back on the table, this time more quietly.

"Okay...I'll admit that a couple of them struck a chord with me but they aren't something you can't get today for free elsewhere."

The air hangs with a kind of damp silence. Off in the distance a dog barks. I reach for another book.

[Carol Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for late night skimming, with inspiring and relaxing quotes from inspiring thinkers all around the world. I love the way Albert Camus and Edna St. Vincent Milly mix with Sanskrit poems. I just wish there was more Mark Twain and less of Emerson and Thoreau.

[Ed Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading Fulgham’s selections is like looking at taxidermied birds in a museum—you just feel sad that they’re not out there in their natural environments living full lives. Even the excerpts I love feel lifeless and exploited.

No good.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of good things in here - worth checking out, but not buying.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Fulghum is one of my favorite authors. That being said, THIS particular book is one of the books I treasure most in my home library.

For someone who loves books, loves to read, this book is like a treasure that leads to other treasures. It is informative, enlightening, prescriptive (in a good way), heart-full, touching, and just all-around, one of the best books I've ever read.

Read it - it will send assuredly send you on to even more books you will appreciate, if not love.

Thank you for being such a wonderful writer, Robert Fulghum.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a while ago and for some reason stumbled upon it again. I love that he is such a great writer and someone who can make you think and smile and cry at the same time. The words are not all his but the meaning is something to ponder. Thank you Mr. Fulghum.

[James Swenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many well-chosen words, all together in one spot, along with some others that were a bit too squishy for my taste, and a whole lot of white space.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best-selling author and Unitarian Universalist minister, Robert Fulghum has here collected quotes retrieved from his journals of many years. Going through those journals was an interesting re-education in his own thought processes. Many things hadn't changed but some had. Some quotes hadn't aged well or his thoughts about them had changed, and so were eliminated. Others were pleasant reminders of something he read long ago and still enjoyed.
He's best known for his best-selling first collection "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," published in 1988. That title also spawned a lot of imitators and parodies.
In this book he collects a lot of quotes ranging in length from a sentence or two to just over a page. From fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Authors from the Tao Te Ching in ancient China to Kurt Vonnegut and other recent writers. Many originally in English, many are translations, though that isn't ever mentioned. He does have Annotations about the authors at the end of each chapter; here he gives a bit about the author and sometimes his commentary.
Quotes are organized by approximate topic: Begin, Choose, Possible, Journey, Simplify, Praxis, Contra-Dictions, Play, Companions, Lafter, Believe, God, No-Thing, and Bene-Dictions.
Given the length of most of the quotes, this makes perfect bedtime reading, giving me something to think about as I lie there hoping to fall asleep. I also get some suggestions as to future reading or people I don't want to read.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author had a graduate school assignment to write a credo -- a personal philosophy. He basically has maintained that documentation and compiles it for us. It is a great exercise for each of us to consider writing down and maintaining the basis of our beliefs. How to go about this? Well, here is a model to follow: topics ("Choose", "Play", :Believe", etc.) for chapters. Then, representational and key quotes, some with explanation. Each source is annotation, that is not just cited but put into autobiographical and developmental context.

Here is a sample quotation compiled here:

You risked your life, but what else have you ever risked? Have you ever risked disapproval? Have you ever risked economic security? Have you ever risked a belief? I see nothing particularly courageous in risking one's life. So you lose it, you go to your hero's heaven and everything is milk and honey 'til the end of time. Right? You get your reward and suffer no earthly consequences. That's not courage. Real courage is risking something you have to keep on living with, real courage is risking something that might force you to rethink your thoughts and suffer change and stretch consciousness. Real courage is risking one's clichés.

- TOM ROBBINS, Another Roadside Attraction

[Miranda Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Našla v kůlně. Přečetla a občas se zamýšlela, četla nahlas a odkládala, četla paralelně s dalšími knihami a nakonec, úplně nakonec, si oddychla. Moc pěkné. Ano, skutečně, pěkné myšlenky, pěkné citáty. SACHARÓZNÍ. Snad by knihu doporučila těm, kteří se stále hledají. Citáty nepředčítala, protože se jí líbily, ale protože doufala, že skrze ně posluchač pochopí své problémy. Fulghum dokonce zveřejnil dva (?) SVÉ citáty. Pohlazení po egu? Snad někomu pomůže, v době internetové však možná ne. Citáty nás přehltily a pohltily.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It gave me several additions to my reading list and some thoughtful insights.

From page 30: "People know what they do; they frequently know why they do what they do; but what they don't know is what what they do does." -Michel Foucault, The Order of Things.

The short essay about the butterfly on page 53 from Nikos Kazantzakis, Report to Greco, was another treasure.

[Sheri Fresonke Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fulghum offers some wise selections of short pithy literature--dialogue, poems, prose that influenced his writing. He offers them as an introduction to thought and writing, walking from beginning of a career to and end of career. Writers can find the selections useful for examining their own thoughts, style, journeys and find them a source of inspiration.

[Donn Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this the first time more than 10 years ago, and just picked it up recently again. Still as relevant as ever, and still as poignant. Rediscovering old gems, and still discovering new ones after all these years.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sort of spiritual bibliography of the author's with themes ranging from justice to recreation and living a life that is good, beautiful, and true. The sources are well curated with movie quotes to classic literature and from to tried-and-true axioms. A fun and inspiring read.

[William C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all. Written well. You can learn about yourselves reading these book.

[Keelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like a literary elite #aestehtic #smart

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me ideas for authors to explore and classics to read (or read again)

[Vicky Wittuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read! Easy reading but very thought provoking. I love these kind of books after reading 3 or 4 “heavy” kind of books. Liked the annotations at the end of each chapter.

[Daniel Oster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book of meaningful quotes

[Emily Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something to be savored

[Claudiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting quotes.

[Simonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Žádná odpověď není.
Nikdy žádná odpověď nebude.
Nikdy žádná odpověď nebyla.
To je odpověď.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fulghum spend two years roaming through his notebooks, journals, and bookshelves to compile a collection of things he wish he wrote i.e. agrees with, similar to things from his writings, things he returns to time and time again.

Better than expected. In fact, probably the best quote book I've read. Even when authors are familiar, the selections were personal to Fulghum, not just standard go-tos. Each section begins with a short 1-3 page introduction and concludes with author annotations that include specific reading recommendations for that person. That style of annotation is so the way to my heart. Did I just give away the fact that I was an English major?

Yes, it's a book of quotes. But, good grief did it make me want to read. And not just read, but read things that challenge me and make me think and help with ideals and junk. I need that kick. I also need to make a list* before I take this back to the library.

And there's this:

"...Then you'd know what makes me laugh and why. And if you laughed as well, we wouldn't need to have a discussion about the meaning and importance of laughter. (new paragraph) Nothing connects me with a person quicker than knowing what he laughs at. Nothing is more valuable in a relationship than loose and easy laughter. (new paragraph) I know no wiser words than the stainless steel truth that he who laughs, lasts." (152)

*Dude actually says that he "read and reread Finnegans Wake." (175) Keep that in mind Jess. Keep. That. In. Mind.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading what others say about books, as we all probably do here at good reads, so this book is filled with 30 some years of the authors favorite bits from books and poems. He starts each of the 14 sections with a synopsis of the theme that is presented in the next set of quotes. He shares many of his lifes thoughts, journeys, loves and even desires for friendship with deceased authors because of the impact they had in his life.
I admit that I wasn't bowled over by every one of his selections and sometimes its just that we are motivated by different ideas. There is also the probability that I haven't thought as deeply about it as he has and I'm missing the point he has clearly seen.
He has selections from Camus, Dylan Thomas, E.E Cummings, The Bard, Tom Robbins, Yeats, Vonnegut, Annie Dillard, James Joyce, W. Whitman, and many others.
I had my favorites that I read over and over and thought profound, one in particular though, I would have shot milk out of my nose had I been drinking it, from Vonnegut in "The Breakfast of Champions" just to darn funny.
I gave it three stars because I didn't agree with some of his ideas and the messages that some of his picks relayed, but that not withstanding I still feel it is worth reading for the bibliophile.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten shares some of the quotes and poems that either helped him write his own work or just helped him get up in the morning and go on living. Some are poignant, some are very deeply philosophical, several are funny ("It doesn't matter whether you call the snake cobra or Mr. Cobra, he will still bite you" - Indian proverb), but all of them are relevant. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with writer's block or anyone who might want another opinion on why we're here or what we should be doing with our lives.

[Anita Sosinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't check out this book from a library, read and return. You just can't. It needs to be owned, cherished, marked, flipped to and fro until it gets dog's ears from intensive use. So full of wise words, but unlike aurea dicta sort of dictionaries doesn't overwhelm with 3,000 quotations, just gives a bunch of them, but they pretty much cover all that has to be sad. Or thought through, as they are not only brilliant phrases, but also points of departure for ones own opinions.
Multum in parvo, bravo!

[Christy Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased and read this at a UU General Assembly where I also heard the author speak. I had already read and loved some of Fughum's other books. This one was less about his own writing and more his brief comments on the power of quotes and excerpts from the writing of others that have inspired him over the years. Still, a good book for inspiration or thoughts on a variety of topics that I've turned to over the years to in turn inspire my own sermons and writing.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read this in one day. It is a compilation of some humorous, but mostly pithy, pensive tidbits from several great writers. I good reminder of important revelations about thinking and the value of love and laughter, the meaning of life... it is also a good source of inspiration for future reading.

[Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, a different sort of Fulghum... what a delight! In it, he provides insight into what words, quotes, essays, etc. that HE loves and which inspire his own life / writing. It's like reading his own notebook... things he's written down that have inspired him. I love it. Have read it a few times. It's one of my favorites!

[Erin Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book tucked away at a flea market and I now think it found me. As a collector of other people’s words, what a surprisingly wonderful find. I see myself coming back to this gem many times more in the future. A great voice, a lovely collection of words, an easy read and one that makes you think a little, chuckle and wonder what else you can learn about each person quoted.