With my congratulations: ‘the little yellow book that everyone finishing school should read’.

The essay *With My Best Wishes: Thoughts on Kindness* is George Saunders’ speech at the Syracuse University graduation ceremony in 2013. Three months after it was delivered, it was published by the New York Times, and subsequently shared and republished across the internet over a million times. It is the best gift for any graduate, a book capable of inspiring every young person, particularly at this significant personal moment when they need to believe in their own strengths and perhaps redefine their outlook on life. He states at the beginning of his speech: ‘For centuries now, a tradition has been developing for this kind of lecture: some old codger, whose best years are behind him, and who has made a whole host of terrible mistakes in the course of his life (that’s me), offers moving advice to a group of brilliant, energetic young people, bursting with life, and who have their best years ahead of them (that is you). I intend to honour this tradition.” George Saunders’ speech, author of the short story collection ‘December 10th’ (Ikaros Publications, 2015), a text that is both powerful and wise, describes kindness as a fundamental philosophy of life, as the ultimate goal for fulfilment in our lives, far removed from our natural tendency to act self-centrically.Above all, however, he reminds us that good literature and art in general can ‘awaken’ us with simple and true words. ‘For goodness, it seems, is a tough business — it begins with smiles and sweetness and expands to encompass... Yes, indeed, everything, the sky with its stars.’ Graduating from university is a significant milestone in people’s lives, as it is the moment when they are called upon to take stock of their strengths, goals and resources. After all, the knowledge students acquire during their studies does not guarantee their success but serves as a means to pursue the virtues of life, such as kindness and generosity.‘The sweetest people, as they grow older, become less selfish and more loving.’ Read an excerpt from the book here.