All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (Paperback)

~ (Author) "EACH SPRING, FOR MANY YEARS, I have set myself the task of writing a personal statement of belief: a Credo..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mother Teresa, Larry Walters, Haiho Lama (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To criticize these random jottings, some of which have appeared in "Dear Abby" columns and Reader's Digest , is perhaps akin to suggesting that the American flag be used as a rag in a carwash. Fulghum, a retired Unitarian minister, does not express uncommon thoughts here: his thoughts are those we all wish were true. The book's tone is set by the title piece, in which the author sets out his credo, ranging from "share everything" to "hold hands and stick together." He goes on to relate stories of a courageous and loving Russian soldier and Mother Teresa. Fulghum approaches each topic here with lump-in-the-throat sentimentality, which is sure to feed the public's perceived hunger for happy talk. First serial to Redbook; BOMC featured selection.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Unitarian minister Fulghum has become something of a celebrity since a talk he gave at a primary school graduation ("Share everything. Play fair. . . . LOOK.") generated such interest that it ultimately found its way into "Dear Abby." Here is more of his philosophyalways go with dreams, imagination, hope, laughter, and loveaccompanied by random musings on dandelions, medicine cabinets, and the vices of excessive tidiness, which are quirky and often thought-provoking. Undergirded by his love for family and (loosely understood) for God, this makes refreshing reading. EC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 15 Revised edition (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034546639X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345466396
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,182 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyday Philospohy, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten (Mass Market Paperback)

Robert Fulghum offers some uncommon insights on everyday occurances. This book made me laugh, cry, relate, but most of all it made me think. Mr. Fulghum casts a new light on everything from the life lessons of primary school, religious philosophies and the minor disaster of walking into a spider web on your way out the door to work. I throughly enjoyed this collection of essays on many levels. As often as it made me laugh, it also made me examine the nuiances of my own life.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be aware of wonder., May 4, 2002

By	Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Betwixt FL and CA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten (Mass Market Paperback)

"A part of this -- the part about what I learned in kindergarten -- was passed around the country until it took on a life of its own. One day it was sent home in the knapsack of a child whose mother is a literary agent..." (Robert Fulghum) Thus history was written -- serendipitous indeed. I have read the chain message, which lists these gems, many times from various Internet friends, throughout the years. Many of the phrases are clichés now because of the truth within the words.

Finding fragments of our own lives in these pages is easy. Fulghum consolidated his extensive Credo of life into a simpler format, such as: "Remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned -- the biggest word of all -- is LOOK." Look both ways... look into the heart of the matter... look at yourself... look at history... look what happened... look at what you missed....

All of the kindergarten principles are found in the first three pages, and then Fulghum reveals how he applied these ideals throughout his life. One example is his encounters with a neighbor who was a "raker and a shoveler." He picked up the leaves and shoveled away the snow, but with the attitude of you "can't let old Mother Nature get ahead of you," and considered Fulghum to be a lazy neighbor. The leaves pile up, become mulch, and make more earth. The snow melts and feeds the land. Nature has taken care of itself for a long time. I imagined someone going into the woods and everywhere else, daily gathering leaves in a constant frustrating battle, and at season's change shoveling the snow from one place to another. Of course, I would want the leaves raked up and the snow shoveled off the driveway and sidewalk, but my dad, who understood the cycle, put the greens in the garden.

Fulghum shows the fallacy of gender encoding through a simple example about cars -- the Y chromosome does not mean a man knows about jumper cables. "Besides, this guy only asked me if I 'had' jumper cables, not if I knew how to 'use' them." He describes an incident where he and the stranded collaborator swaggered around, "being all macho and cool and talking automobile talk." They looked under the hood of the car, and there was no battery. "'Hell,' I said, 'there's your problem right there. Somebody stole your battery.'"

In these marvelous vignettes, Fulghum shows a simpler way to look at those things we confront in life. The book was first published in 1986, and it is still being published. Very few books survive this long -- only the good ones do. Five stars.

Victoria Tarrani

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book from an American Hero, June 21, 2000

By	Henry F. Haskell Jr. (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten (Mass Market Paperback)

Fulghum's outlook on life is refreshing. He finds simple pleasures in everyday life that many people are missing. The core of his book(s) revolves around treating ourselves and others with kindness, exploring everything with wonder our Surroundings, and giving each other that special kind of boost that says I know your their and I'm glad. If you're looking for deep thought and didn't find it here I challenge you to reread it. I would go so far to say that he is the Tao Tzu of out times. In a world so filled with hatred and actions designed to break others down Fulghum has written a book that can bring the kind, wonderous child in all of us out. I cannot recommend it more.

finally, Yes I always buy lemonaid from kids on the street corner even if I have to circle the block. It's worth the smiles :)