10 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said [Hardcover]

Charles Wheelan (Author), Peter Steiner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2012

“A book filled with so much wisdom that I have no choice but to recommend it.”—Craig Wilson, USA Today

The antidote to those cotton-candy platitudes that are all too familiar to anyone who’s ever worn a mortarboard, Wheelan’s 10½ head-turning aphorisms—backed up by a PhD in public policy and extensive social science research—set the record straight. Readers everywhere agreed, turning a Dartmouth Class Day speech that had gone viral into a best-selling book.

Whether praising the time “wasted” in fraternity basements; mentioning that, frankly, the worst days of your life still lie ahead; or simply asking that graduates avoid wreaking the kind of havoc that others before them have, Wheelan softens his candid conclusions with good-natured charm and tales of unconventional success. With cartoons sprinkled throughout to keep things light, this volume makes a perfect gift for graduates of all ages. 15 illustrations

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Likely to be a primary source for many a commencement speaker for some time to come . . . well-stocked with valuable (and whimsical) insights.” (Boston Globe)

About the Author

Charles Wheelan is the author of the internationally best-selling Naked Economics and a former correspondent for The Economist. He teaches public policy and economics at Dartmouth College and lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with his family.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (May 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393074315
• ISBN-13: 978-0393074314
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Self-Help & Psychology
  • #48 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Ethics & Morality

More About the Author

Former correspondent for The Economist, current columnist for Yahoo!, and professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, Charles Wheelan lives in Chicago with his family.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life's lessons May 15, 2012

By Dr. Wilson Trivino

Format:Hardcover

One of the most unique opportunities I have had was when I was invited to be the commencement speaker at my undergraduate Alma mater Kennesaw State University. I did not really know what to share with these newly minted graduates. I had sat through my share of commencements and did not even remember my own undergraduate commencement speaker at my graduation.
Now there is a book that will help anyone in that dilemma. In 10 ˝ Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said by Charles Wheelan, the author shares wisdom that he wishes would have been in his hands as a new graduate.
Wheelan got a chance to share his thoughts to his own undergraduate school some twenty years after he left. These ideas are more than the mere pump you up I told you so but real good insight. The book expands from his lecture at the 2011 Class Day Speech at Dartmouth College.
From "your parents don't want what is best for you" they want what is good for you. Parents want their children to be able to survive on their own.
How "It's all borrowed time", this is so true. When we are young we believe our own mortality but we discover that life's a time sensitive adventure.
Most importantly I thought the best was "Don't try to be great" just be solid. Good character and ethic will in the long run not lead you a stray.
I won't list them all so that you will have to get the book, but these gems are a treasure for anyone at any age. It is the perfect gift for the newly minted graduate or someone that needs some might words of wisdom to renew their own journey.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book had been written 40 years ago May 13, 2012

By Joe Tye

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have purchased this book for both of my adult children - both now pursuing doctoral degrees. I wish it had been written 40 years ago, and that I had read it then, and taken it's advice to heart (especially the part about seeking life experience before seeking work experience in the first year after college). The advice Wheelan gives, though, isn't just for people graduating from college - it's for people graduating into life. Highly recommended for anyone.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Be solid rather than great." June 7, 2012

By E. Bukowsky HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

June is a beautiful time of year when, traditionally, couples get married and college graduates earn their degrees. What can be irritating for those who attend graduation exercises is listening to boring speeches that seem to last forever while the assembled throng snoozes, bakes in the sun (if the ceremony is outdoors on a bright day), and dreams of being somewhere else. Occasionally, however, a speaker gets up and tells graduates what they need to know rather than what they want to hear.

Forty-five year old Charles Wheelan (Dartmouth - class of 1988) is a professor of economics and public policy. "Ten and a Half Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said" is adapted from remarks he made to Dartmouth's class of 2011. Professor Wheelan skipped the usual platitudes and dispensed "nonconventional advice." Instead of praising the students for their achievements and assuring them that the world was waiting eagerly for their contributions, he answered the following questions: What is "the good life" and how can we achieve it?

Wheelan warns young people not to be drudges. Although he acknowledges that it is meritorious to work hard towards a goal, doing so may, in some cases, be counterproductive. Those who are too focused on earning money and/or being successful may develop tunnel vision and fail to benefit from enriching social and recreational activities. For example, the author and his future wife, Leah, took time off after college and traveled around the world. Not only was their trip exciting and enjoyable, but it also made them more well-rounded, perceptive, and better equipped to tackle life's challenges.

"Ten and a Half Things" is enlivened by Wheelan's tongue-in-cheek remarks (he advises people to marry up--your spouse should be smarter than you are) and Paul Steiner's wonderfully quirky illustrations. At the core of this slim volume is the notion that we should carefully consider how we want to spend our time and who we want to spend it with. Should we engage in work that will enrich ourselves or would we rather enrich those around us? Sometimes we can do both, but alas, this is not always the case. It is all about striking the right balance between self-interest and altruism; profession and family; imagination and practicality. You may not agree with everything that Wheelan says, but "Ten and a Half Things" is an entertaining, witty, and thought-provoking book that dares to be a little bit different.