A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader is a lavishly illustrated anthology edited by Maria Popova of Brainpickings and Claudia Bedrick. It contains a particularly inspiring letter from writer Anne Lamott. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Velocity of Being”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette. I’m having the best time going through a book called A Velocity of Being.
It’s edited by Maria Popova and Claudia Bedrick. And we’ve talked about this book on the show before,
But I just have to talk about it again because it’s so wonderful. It’s this dazzling book of
Letters to young readers. And each letter is paired with this exquisite illustration from a whole group
Of different artists. And the people who write these letters to young readers include Yo-Yo Ma
And Jane Goodall, Ursula Le Guin. Tim Ferriss talks about how he was bullied as a kid and found
Refuge in books. David Byrne, Amanda Palmer, all these people from different walks of life and a
Lot of writers that we all know and love. Another letter is from Shonda Rhimes, the television
Producer. And she writes about how, as a 12-year-old, she was the new girl in school and
Extremely lonely. She wrote, I spent a lot of time alone, except I was never alone. I always had a
Book in my hand. If you have a book, you don’t need to bend and twist to fit. You’re there. You’re in.
You crack the spine, and you’re a welcome member of the group. And I wanted to share the entire
Letter to a young reader from Anne Lamott. It goes, hi, you. I really want you to hear what I’m going
To say because I think it is the truth, okay? I’ll make it fast. If you love to read or learn to love
Reading, you will have an amazing life, period. Life will always have hardships, pressure, and
Incredibly annoying people, but books will make it all worthwhile. In books, you’ll find your North
Star, and you will find you, which is why you’re here. Books are paper ships to all the worlds,
To ancient Egypt, outer space, eternity, into the childhood of your favorite musician, and the most
Precious, stunning journey of all into your own heart, your own family, your own history and future
And body. Out of these flat, almost two-dimensional boxes of paper will spring mountains, lions,
Concerts, galaxies, heroes. You will meet people who have been all but destroyed, who have risen up
And will bring you with them.
Books and stories are medicine.
Plaster casts for broken lives and hearts.
Slings for weakened spirits.
And in reading, you will laugh harder
Than you ever imagined laughing.
And this will be magic, heaven, and salvation.
I promise.
Okay?
Deal.
Love you, Anne Lamott.
Oh, that’s so nice.
What I wouldn’t have given at 10 or 11
To receive that letter from somebody like her.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah, I really think you would love this book.
I would.
And I should say that Facing Each Page is a wonderful illustration.
The one next to Anne Lamont’s is by Andrea DeZoe, who is a Romanian artist,
And it’s really arresting.
This is a gift book.
I know we’re going to give holiday gift book recommendations later in the year,
But I just can’t wait.
It’s called A Velocity of Being,
And all the proceeds go to the New York Public Library System.
Wonderful.
Email words@waywordradio.org.
