You Are Not Special: ...And Other Encouragements

“Every year, thousands of high school and college commencement speakers deliver ringing homilies about climbing the ladder of personal success. At Massachusetts’s Wellesley High School, David McCullough, Jr., delivered a graduation message so different from such moral uplift that it soon became a viral sensation. This mild-mannered high school teacher made a sensation by suggesting that graduates seek involvement with life, not grasp after corporate success or stardom. For many parents and graduates, this tough-love talk struck a chord of deep agreement. (P.S. McCullough is the son of famed historian David McCullough.)” —Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review

“To open You Are Not Special…and Other Encouragements is to enter a deeply intellectual and thought-out analysis of the forces that shape modern teenage life, both at home and in the classroom…This is essential reading.” —Swellesley Report

“McCullough scores an A+ with this volume for teens and parents. Rich in literary references and poetic in cadence, the author...offers plenty of hilarious and pointed comments on teens and today’s society.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The author tackles big issues…with searching sincerity, open-heartedness, and a deft, light touch.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In his commencement speech at Wellesley High School, where he teaches English, McCullough told graduating students they weren’t special: ‘Even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you.’ The speech went viral. Here McCullough expands on the idea that students should rethink the standard definition of success.” —Library Journal

“McCullough really gets where kids are coming from—he understands them on a level that’s, like, micro…When it comes to closing the gap that exists between teens and adults, McCullough proves an expert bridge builder. In his book, he uses his now-famous speech as a jumping-off point, encouraging young people to cultivate intellectual curiosity, compassion, and self-reliance. He also demystifies parental behavior—an undertaking for which he’s overqualified as a father of four. Smart but not condescending, knowing but never a know-it-all, McCullough—a longtime high school teacher—issues small admonishments to teens (text less, read more) in a tone that’s exceedingly collegial.” —BookPage