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These nuggets of wisdom are offered by an Academy Award–nominated actor (James Woods), a popular comedian (Aasif Mandvi), and a world-famous novelist (Jodi Picoult) to their sixteen-year-old selves. No matter how accomplished and confident they seem today, at sixteen, they were like the rest of us—often unsure, frequently confused, and usually in need of a little reassurance.
In Dear Me, 75 celebrities, writers, musicians, athletes, and actors have written letters to their younger selves that give words of comfort, warning, humor, and advice. These letters present intimate, moving, and witty insights into some of the world’s most intriguing and admired individuals. By turns funny, surprising, raw, and uplifting, this singular collection captures the universal conditions that are youth, life, and growing up.
INTRODUCTION
At age sixteen, I did a lot of staring out of windows—filled with terror, worrying about who I was or what I was going to be. Was I good, clever, hip, decent, fun enough? Was the world going to end? (This was the 1980s, after all, and the cold war was no joke.) Was I going to make it? I wore a troubled brow.
As we get older, some of our teenage intensity will ease, but when in the maelstrom, we don’t know that. When we are young, we so rarely take the advice of grown-ups, but would you have taken advice from someone like you? From your older self perhaps?
My family have always been letter writers, and pens have always been precious to me. My mother’s beautiful italicized script flowing from the left-handed gold nib of her Parker pen always struck me as the height of adult elegance. When, as a child, I would go away from home for any period, there would always be a long and comforting letter from her in my bag. And, of course, writing thank-you letters was as much a part of the holiday season as tinsel.
A few years ago my partner showed me a heartbreaking letter that he had received from a troubled classmate while he was still at school. It made me want to send a hug back in time to say, “You’re okay, you’re just fine.”
But in reality, of course, that’s impossible. (Time-travel mailbox in development anyone?) Instead, the “Dear Me” letter was born. Writing my own letter to myself and hearing what this experience has meant to this book’s generous contributors has proven to me that composing a letter to your younger self is a cathartic process. The act of addressing yourself with kindness and adult understanding can give you a better sense of who you are now—for indeed, in many ways our childhood self is our parent. As Bob Dylan sang, “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”
Reading this collection is to be rewarded with an intimate glimpse into the backgrounds and emotional makeup of a wonderfully varied group of fascinating people, without the filter of the usual interview process.
I hope that you will smile, laugh, shed a tear, and take some comfort from these time-traveling missives and remember once again what it was like to be sixteen.
Joseph Galliano LondonJune 19, 2011
© 2011 Joseph Galliano
J_Lockwood
Posted February 1, 2012
There are several letters that are hand written, rather than typed, and they are not formatted for the Nook which makes them almost impossible to read. You cannot "zoom" in to even see the words properly. Otherwise, this is a good book.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 9, 2013
I have changed it to together forever result 2!
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Posted December 30, 2012
I like this boy and i THINK he likes me back but he likes this other girl better. How do i find out that he likes me? And how do impress him? Also i want t go to the school ance but m parents think im to little. What should i do?
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Posted December 29, 2012
Go to "Help" frst result with only one post.
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Posted December 29, 2012
So i lik this guy but he liks someone elts but hes lik super nice to me and then yheres this nate kid who liks me and on the last day of scholl befor winter break he told me he liked me but befor all of that the kid i lik came and lik picked me up bf and gf stile and nate saw and then he go upset and started crying i dont lik nate i lik the other kid but.......im confussed idk what to do plz help
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Posted December 25, 2012
If ya need advice reply to Meep!#1 thx plus.. nevermind
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Posted December 30, 2012
Dear me second result or hamster third. I think you are locked out.......
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Posted December 27, 2012
I THROW MY SKITTLES IN THE AIR SOMETIMES!! SAYING AYOOO!!! TASTE THE RAAAIIIINBOW!!!!!
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Posted December 20, 2012
Hey, this is fox. I have a boy i like, and he asked me out. We got together and hang out a lot, but i don't think his friends like me very much. I'm to shy to ask them why because i'm scared of what they are going to say. I'm in 7th grade now and i have been bullied by 1st grade all the way to 6th. The only way i can really express how i truly feel is with art. What do i do? ~foxtail36
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Posted December 20, 2012
I need help with this one guy. I like him, but he likes someone else (who likes him too). I'm shy and I really need help with this. We are both Christians (in fact, he goes to my church) and im homeschooled (but he isn't). I'm not outspoken, so please don't say, "Oh, just tell him that you like him!" because that's not my personality at all. Please give advice at lonely heart (I forget which result, but it has a picture of candy hearts on the cover.)
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Posted December 19, 2012
Help! I like this guy but at my school they hang around in packs do i cant ask hom to the scjool dance. There never alone and the girlsdefinition of bf is way diferent then the boys version. All the boys do is says hi in the hall. The firls jusy want to go over to there hoise to talk and hang out. Wat should i do?
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Posted December 22, 2012
Okay i like this boy. He is really really cute and we hang out alot. Soooooo wut r signs tht he likes me?
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Posted December 18, 2012
"1. Trust your gut. 2. They might not be talking about you. 3. Its not about presents."
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Posted December 20, 2012
But shes prety nice actully once you get to knpw her . I did today
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Posted December 17, 2012
Where are you t f c?
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Posted December 18, 2012
I like this one girl and we are doing my churches awana movie tomorrow what should i do
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Posted December 22, 2012
To all who gave leo advice:... first of all thats my advice. And us girls dont really like it when boys play with their hair. We think its gay lol. To leo: if i were you id tease her. Not a lot and not mean. Make sure your smiling when you do. Invent a little game to play with her like taking her stuff and hiding it.
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Posted December 22, 2012
Try to flip your hair at her and stuff. At one point, you should try to "accidentally" kiss her and gauge the reaction.
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Posted December 17, 2012
My girlfriend want me to step it up to the next level what should i do?
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Posted February 4, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
These nuggets of wisdom are offered by an Academy Award–nominated actor (James Woods), a popular comedian (Aasif Mandvi), and a world-famous novelist (Jodi Picoult) to their sixteen-year-old selves. No matter how accomplished and confident they seem today, at sixteen, they were like the rest of us—often unsure, frequently confused, and usually in need of a little reassurance.
In Dear Me, 75 celebrities, writers, musicians, athletes, and actors have written letters to their ...