Editorial Review:
Based on her lauded commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College, this stirring essay by bestselling author Ann Patchett offers hope and inspiration for anyone at a crossroads, whether graduating, changing careers, or transitioning from one life stage to another. With wit and candor, Patchett tells her own story of attending college, graduating, and struggling with the inevitable question, What now? From student to line cook to teacher to waitress and eventually to award-winning author, Patchett's own life has taken many twists and turns that make her exploration genuine and resonant. As Patchett writes, "'What now?' represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life." She highlights the possibilities the unknown offers and reminds us that there is as much joy in the journey as there is in reaching the destination.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
Ann Patchett  2008-09-15
Here earlier than expected and now to ready it for a book club at school.
Learning to stare at Fridays 2008-08-12
Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. I loved her description in this book of how she discovered how to be one. Learning to stare figured into that and the now habit of staring also delayed her decision to get married for many years. "I just couldn't imagine living in a house with another person when so much of my life was spent sprawled across the sofa eyes wide open, saying nothing at all."
This book is short, but full of words to live by with thanks for those who have guided her way. It is delightfully highlighted with many photographs.
Great book for retreats  2008-08-05
We used this book for a staff retreat, to get conversation going about ourselves and the college students with whom we work. A short read that staff won't groan about with limited time to complete it, funny and inspiring, thought-provoking as well. Recommend highly.
Nothin Comes From Nothin  2008-08-04
Somebody gave this to me. I have been down on my back for a month or so - lost my jobs - i had a few and have been struggling to make ends meet so my sponser haned this to me casue she thought it woudl make me feel better. my whole life people have tried to help me by handing me books and gicving me lectures but no one ever relaly gives me the help i need - i need money and a job and a way to lose the weight and stay off disability and then here comes some succesful lady tellin me to make choices and hang in there and anything I want i can have as long as i listen to the news and get out there and get it done - but no one thigks about folks like me - I was abused every second of my life since I was a kid - by priests and teachers and the system everybody takin a piece from tonya wantin something for nothin - I was on drugs and sold myself for nothin but I got wise - i had to run away from a man - and then I had to get lots of different jobs to help my kids who don;t even speak to me anymore - but I stayed the course and tried to be string . but I give up when everyone I know accuse me of stealing from them - at jobs - I closed up one night and forgot to take the deposit to a bank so all of a sudden I am in jail for the 5th time and nobody cares. So this lady cna wriote her book and talk to the young ladies at some fancy school but here in the projects i am keepin it real and trying to live another day without getting readdicted to painkillers and tryin to look for a job when nobody wants me - so keep on talkin ann - the people who really need help dont go to soome fancy school - an if you saw me on the street - with my walker and my oxygen - i know you'd walk on past
For grads, parents, and fans of Anna Patchett 2008-07-13
I was interested in reading this edited and longer version of a graduation speech by Ann Patchett because of her perceptive writing style in the novel Bel Canto. Her newest book reveals personal experiences that shaped her both as a writer and person. "What now?" is a useful book for recent college grads facing the challenges of turning their just-earned degree into a stepping stone to life -- a course that can't be taught in college -- and for parents who may not remember the "now what?" uncertainties graduates face. Patchett pays respect to those who influenced her, including a writing professor who encouraged his now famous student to almost completely rewrite the first draft of her speech, suggesting one of Patchett's life lessons is that we're never too old or accomplished to benefit from the wise counsel of others.
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