Book Review: All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten

Name of the book: All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten

Author: Robert Fulgham

Book genre: Reference work

Year of publication: 1988

Indeed, this book is a collection of essays that basically talks about human life from a different perspective. It came at the cost of real life experiences that the author of the book had felt when his young school days had gone long ago but what remains behind are all his memories. That hunted him and at times made him overly sick of the life at his kindergarten. As you read down through different topics, one can get a bit of guidance, inspiration and way of life. Above all, some of the topics in the book illustrate that some of the most important life lessons are the ones that we learn early can be used for the rest of our life. It is this book that gave me a lot of my past memories that I had like the author in my school days both in primary and high school. All are gone but memories are still clear and some of the actions and habits I had learnt are impeccable and helped me shape my teaching career. 

 

The book has 198 pages that also includes about the author and few of his last words. It is important to read in order of the book over random selection in order not to miss some of the author’s humor and message, since I found each essay presents some unique learning experience and reflection from his life.

The book opens up with the idea that explains the title and features a poem like creed in a little different sense but the message is still clear. Through the series of essays the author shares how we really need to know about how to live a good and a content life based on some basics learned in schools. 

I found the book very clear and very nice reading through the essay one after another. Short but very precise and clear and meaningful. For a good reader this book can be done in a few sittings or even one sitting for a crazy reader. However, I did in one-week time, as I read three books at a time. Somewhere half way through, it gave me a feeling that how it may apply in different individuals beliefs and life. 

Same like the author, I also had a series of interesting lessons learnt from my childhood that is helping me today to proceed with life –Don't hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, don’t take things that aren’t yours, wash your hands before you eat, live a balanced life and son on. 

Therefore, this book is very much applicable in our daily life. One must know habits are built-up in a series of different actions repeated in childhood and at schools. This book is equally thrilling like any other modern classic books that I felt in love for so long. 

Please, read and reflect your everyday life!