Wait, What?

And Life's Other Essential Questions

By: James E. Ryan

Narrated by: James E. Ryan

Joining the ranks of Tina Seelig's What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, Clayton Christensen's How Will You Measure Your Life, Mary Karr's Now Go out There, and George Saunders' Congratulations, by the Way is an insightful guide that reveals the secret to pursuing a rich, fulfilling life: the art of asking (and answering) good questions.

In his commencement address to the graduating class of 2016, James E. Ryan, dean of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, offered remarkable advice to the crowd of hopeful men and women eager to make their marks on the world. The key to achieving emotional connections and social progress, he told them, can be found in five essential questions:

• Wait, what?
• I wonder if...
• Couldn't we at least?
• How can I help?
• What truly matters?

"Wait, what?" is at the root of all understanding. "I wonder if..." is at the heart of all curiosity. "Couldn't we at least?" is the beginning of all progress. "How can I help?" is the basis of all good relationships. And "what truly matters?" gets you to the heart of life. By regularly asking these questions, Ryan promises, you will be prepared to enthusiastically answer yes to one final - and, ultimately, most important - question: "And did you get what you wanted out of life, even so?"

In this thoughtful, illuminating book, Ryan builds upon his wildly popular and universally praised address, which has been viewed more than four million times online. Wait, What? offers further insights into the art of asking good questions, highlighted by hilarious and surprising anecdotes from Ryan's personal and professional lives as well as stories from politics, popular culture, and social movements throughout history.

Engaging and inspiring, Wait, What? will change the way you look at yourself and the world and, in the process, help you get what you want most out of life.

©2017 James E. Ryan (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Practical and Poignant

Why would you not read this book? Just finished the audio version read by the author -- loved every minute of it.

Brilliant ideas for moments in need of compassion.

My friends grandparents are getting divorced after 40 years of marriage. The grandchildren thought they needed to choose sides. This book provides a thoughtful guide to compassionate navigation.

A Bio

A memorable story about an adopted child who had 2 moms and four brothers and sisters. When he met his other family, they just melted right into place.

Entertaining and thought provoking.

The essence of Wait, What? came from a graduation speech given my Mr. Ryan, who then lengthened it and turned it into a book. Some people may have a problem with that, but I don't. Graduation speeches often meant to be inspiring and thought provoking as well a bit reflective. They're laden with pieces of advice that older/experienced speakers are trying to impart to a group of fresh faced youths who are getting ready to enter the real world. And that is what Mr. Ryan does in his speech/and this book. He imparts his wisdom and how he believes that if we remember to ask the right questions throughout our life, we may see things differently. I found his questions and the stories that went along with each to be entertaining and insightful. I don't know that I'll always remember to ask myself the questions he recommends, but I found the time it took to listen to the book to be well worth it, and I won't be surprised if I give it another listen somewhere down the line. Mr. Ryan does his own narration, and as if often the case in a book like this, I feel that's for the best and think he did a very good job.

Entertaining and important advice

I really enjoyed this book about the important questions we can ask and how they can change our lives. There were tons of great anecdotes, but lots of important truth, too. Reminded me of a nonfiction version of David Sedaris.

insightful and simple

five simple questions that make all the difference in the world. The author shares stories examples and personal events in his own life that reflect the importance of asking these five simple questions. Loved it teared up a couple of times.

Good job!

The author did a great job of writing and narrating the story. I enjoyed the book very much.

Loved this!

I bought this book after seeing several of Mr. Ryan's graduation speeches on Youtube and learning he was to become the next president of the University of Virginia. I recommend this book without reservation - it has something for everyone.

Excellent Content

Though simple questions they are thought provoking. As a leader of a home, a family and an organization these are good questions.
The stories made me think. How many times I should have asked these questions rather than taking for granted I already know?
I suspect I’ll be listening again as well as using these questions in my days to day life, a lot.

Insightful, funny, and touching

Funny, poignant, and incredibly useful. I love every minute of this insightful book. I caught many feelings listening to this - so maybe don’t listen to at work or at the gym. Now I have to figure out how to get my friends and family to listen to it so they can understand what I’ve learned.