In Very Good Lives, J.K. Rowling’s inspirational and insightful advice takes center stage.

In 2008, J.K. Rowling gave a moving commencement speech at Harvard University that resonated with many people around the world. Now with the publication of Very Good Lives, you can own your own copy of her inspirational words.

The book’s full title is Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination, which does somewhat give the game away in terms of the book’s contents. Then again, it is likely that you have already watched Rowling’s emotional speech, so this isn’t about new content.

Instead, Very Good Lives gives us Rowling’s commencement speech in a brand new context. At just over 70 pages, the simple and bold design places the emphasis on Rowling’s words, which are accompanied by striking black, white and red illustrations. Put simply, Very Good Lives would make a beautiful and thoughtful gift for anyone in your life, at an important moment in their life, whether they are a Harry Potter fan or not.

If you need any further convincing, 10% of Rowling’s proceeds from Very Good Lives will be donated to university-wide financial aid at Harvard University and the other 90% will be donated to Lumos. Lumos is a non-profit organization founded by Rowling, that aims to end the institutionalization of children. Rowling recently launched Lumos in the United States, and Hypable was in attendance.

Nine inspirational and insightful J.K. Rowling quotes from ‘Very Good Lives’:

“There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.”

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”

“The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive.”

“You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.”

“Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.”

“Unlike any other creature on this planet, human beings can learn and understand without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places.”

“I think the willfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.”

“We touch other people’s lives simply by existing.”

“We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard commencement speech is available online, and is well worth the watch. You can even consider it a Very Good Lives audiobook, read by J.K. Rowling herself:

‘Very Good Lives’ by J.K. Rowling is available now.

Graphics by Angelica Yap