this is great, but speaks to a specific, probably privileged and middle-class group

An interview with David McCullough Jr., author of You Are Not Special (HarperCollins, April 2014). The interview is conducted by Karen Dziekonski, Executive Producer @HarperAudio_US.

A profound expansion of David McCullough, Jr.'s popular commencement speech—a call to arms against a prevailing, narrow, conception of success viewed by millions on YouTube—You Are (Not) Special is a love letter to students and parents as well as a guide to a truly fulfilling, happy life.

Children today, says David McCullough—high school English teacher, father of four, and son and namesake of the famous historian—are being encouraged to sacrifice passionate engagement with life for specious notions of success. The intense pressure to excel discourages kids from taking chances, failing, and learning empathy and self-confidence from those failures.

In You Are (Not) Special, McCullough elaborates on his now-famous speech exploring how, for what purpose, and for whose sake, we're raising our kids. With wry, affectionate humor, McCullough takes on hovering parents, ineffectual schools, professional college prep, electronic distractions, club sports, and generally the manifestations, and the applications and consequences of privilege. By acknowledging that the world is indifferent to them, McCullough takes pressure off of students to be extraordinary achievers and instead exhorts them to roll up their sleeves and do something useful with their advantages.

You Are Not Special by David McCullough Jr.

Introducing Remember Reading, a podcast about classic children's books coming January 2019. In the show, host Lindsay Jacobsen searches to discover the meaning of a classic book. You'll hear from readers, the authors themselves—from archived interviews or in person with us in the studio—as well as contemporary, award winning authors as they reflect on the famous children's books that inspired them. Subscribe and be the first to know when our pilot episode airs. And hey, we want to hear what YOU remember reading. Submit your story of your favorite classic story via Twitter @readingpod or emailing us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Visit rememberreading.com to learn more!

Remember Reading | Podcast Trailer

Do you remember reading Charlotte's Web? In this episode, Lindsay uncovers the famous children's book about a pig and a spider and discovers author EB White's story behind this Newbery award-winning book. Authors Jodi Kendall (The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City) and Lisa Greenwald (TBH: This is So Awkward) reflect on themes of loss and friendship and how a tough topic like grief, handled with care, makes Charlotte's Web a special book for kids. Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Charlotte's Web (ft. Jodi Kendall & Lisa Greenwald)

Ella Enchanted is a modern day fairytale that has captured the hearts of many—so many, in fact, that it has legions of loyal fans! The story is celebrated for its feminist undertones and romance #goals. In this episode, author Gail Carson Levine shares the story behind the Ella Enchanted book as well as some touching fan mail. You'll also hear from Huffington Post culture writer and Ella super-fan, Claire Fallon, and other fans like Lorraine Boissoneault, Charlotte Stauffer, and Laura Hankin. And later, Gail's editor, Rosemary Brosnan, joins us to give us a little behind-the-scenes insight. Gail now has a follow up to Ella Enchanted called Ogre Enchanted. Check it out: http://bit.ly/2Br4Tf3
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Ella Enchanted (ft. Gail Carson Levine)

A Series of Unfortunate Events begins with a warning... that this story is NOT for the faint of heart. Readers are determined to go on and prove their bravery. Listen as we talk to Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, on how he developed SUE and how fans have expressed deep connections with the harrowing circumstances of which its characters, The Baudelaire Siblings, are dealt. Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil series, joins us to talk about the kindred voice he felt for Lemony Snicket as well as his love of fairytales. We also get into evil itself and how a villain coming back again and again is an important lesson for kids. Also joining us is Handler's editor, Susan Rich who explains how the story was presented to her by Handler. She reflects on her reaction to the concept and why the series enchants its readers. 
To learn more about A Series of Unfortunate Events, visit http://bit.ly/SUE_RR
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Buy the book

A Series of Unfortunate Events (ft. Daniel Handler aka "Lemony Snicket" & Soman Chainani)

Beverly Cleary is a living legend and one of the most beloved children's book authors of our time. She's the prolific writer of The Mouse and the Motorcycle, The Ramona Quimby series, and many other famous children's books, but did you know that, when she was younger, she *hated* reading? In today's episode, we talk about Beverly Cleary's resistance to reading and how The Mouse and the Motorcycle was created for reluctant readers like her former self. Tune in as we talk with Leslie Connor, author of the acclaimed kids book, The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle, about fantasy, writing, alternative education, and how in some cases, the thing that inhibits us most can turn out to one day be our biggest strength. 
To learn more about The Mouse and the Motorcycle, visit bit.ly/MouseRR
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (ft. Leslie Connor)

It's a pod-crossover, as we chat with the authors of Riverdish, Ryan Bloomquist and Sam Gold!

Subscribe to the pod here: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/harpe…ents/id806303320

It's a book based on a podcast based on a tv show based on a comic strip. It sounds confusing, but it's actually just fun. Tyler chats with the infectious hosts and authors of Riverdish, Ryan Bloomquist and Sam Gold. Then, we play an early snippet of the upcoming audiobook edition of Riverdish.

Subscribe Here

S2E4: Riverdish (with Ryan Bloomquist and Sam Gold)

"Wayside School is a really warm happy place where everyone accepts everyone..." This week, we’re in conversation with bestselling, award-winning author of the Wayside School series, Louis Sachar (also author of Holes) to talk about the origins of Sideways Stories from Wayside School and its zany staff, including his own literary cameo. We’ll also sit with special guests Erin Entrada Kelly, Hello, Universe and Dan Gutman, My Weird School series, to talk about diversity in kidlit, allowing child readers to laugh at adults, and embracing the power of weird.
To learn more about Wayside School, visit bit.ly/RRWayside
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Wayside School (ft. Louis Sachar, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Dan Gutman)

On this week's episode, Lainey sat down with Elle Keck, Associate Editor, and Nicole Fischer, Editor, at Avon books to discuss the upcoming  journal from the editors at Avon Books, HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE, coming out on July 9, 2019. 

Stay tuned at the end of the podcast for a clip from the HarperAudio Presents podcast where they test romance audiobook narrator Mary Jane Wells on her Regency-era vocabulary.

Buy the Book

Editors Unedited: The Editors of Avon Books on HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE

Life is unpredictable, and if you've ever read Katherine Paterson's popular children's book, Bridge to Terabithia, you may still feel a lingering grief from this tragically beautiful tale. On today's show, Lindsay talks to Katherine Paterson about the book's creation and its lasting effect on readers. Katherine walks us through the shockingly true and emotional story behind this story. Authors Laurel Snyder (Orphan Island) and Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Greystone Secrets) will discuss what the book means to them, personally and professionally, and how they've brought their own personal experiences into their stories. They'll also talk about the importance of reading books that scare you, no matter your age.
Intercut with audio excerpts from the book, this episode will take you on an emotional journey through a book's important history, its cultural impact, and how we cope with life's great big unknowns.
To learn more about Bridge to Terabithia, visit bit.ly/RRTerabithia
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Bridge to Terabithia (ft. Katherine Paterson, Laurel Snyder, & Margaret Peterson Haddix)

Stuart Little is a famous mouse (or...is he?) best known for his small but mighty reputation. On this episode, we're talking about imagination, growing up, and the wonder that nature inspires as we discover Stuart Little "the story"—a beloved and at one time *banned* book—as well as Stuart Little, "the character"—a mouse who is also a human. We'll also talk about E.B. White's creative process and hear some of his real letters read aloud throughout the episode. Our guests include acclaimed authors, Katherine Applegate, ENDLING, ANIMORPHS, and Kathryn Lasky, TANGLED IN TIME, GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOL, who share a keen sense of nature and fantasy as well as a love for this popular children's book about a mouse-boy. 
To learn more about Stuart Little, visit http://bit.ly/StuartLittleBook
Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Stuart Little (ft. Katherine Applegate & Kathryn Lasky)

The podcast that celebrates all-things Audiobooks  – Whether we're chatting with authors and narrators, playing games and giving away prizes, or sharing clips of the best new audiobooks, HarperAudio Presents aims to highlight the fun in the world of audiobooks. New episodes every other Wednesday.

You Are Not Special by David McCullough Jr.

Harper Audio Presents

Recent comments

Laura Smith

prorockman

Dj cato is Døbbe Tøbbe

Christopher Cornett

Related tracks