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Tiny Beautiful Things (10th Anniversary Edition)

By: Cheryl Strayed
Narrated by: Cheryl Strayed, Steve Almond - introduction
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Editorial review


By Madeline Anthony, Audible Editor

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS FINDS UNIVERSALITY BY HONORING THE SPECIFICS

This insightful book, a compilation of advice columns for online literary magazine The Rumpus, penned by critically acclaimed author Cheryl Strayed under her beloved pseudonym 'Sugar', is one I find myself drawing wisdom from time and time again. Somehow, it’s as if the people in these stories are not strangers but close friends who just so happened to reach into the void (aka the internet) for guidance. I first discovered Tiny Beautiful Things while browsing an adorable shop in my neighborhood, and after leafing through its pages, I knew I had to read it. That same weekend, I planned to make the eight-hour drive from Brooklyn to my hometown in upstate New York, so I opted to listen to the audiobook, making Strayed, who narrates her work, my sage companion for the ride.

My hunch is that the unique staying power of each column has a lot to do with the uniqueness of 'Sugar' herself. Rather than take on the role of All-Knowing Guru, Strayed bares her soul, sharing her deeply personal experiences so that the advice seeker may mine her life for wisdom rather than take advice the way one might take a pill. She is refreshingly honest, affirming the letter-writer's feelings two breaths before telling them why they are wrong. Listening to Strayed, I was reminded of one of my wisest and truest friends who, whenever I approach her for advice, will listen intently, tell me she loves me, and then announce, "I’m gonna scrape your face against reality," before dispensing some profoundly helpful but often uncomfortable tough love. The columns and stories are tangible threads, intertwining specific yet universal human experiences with such poignancy I couldn’t make it through the introduction without tearing up.

While most letters stand firmly on their own, independent countries in Sugar’s world of wisdom, one section of the book responds to multiple letters at once, all centering on the topic of yearning to leave relationships that don’t have any glaringly ugly problems. In this chapter, the individual letters seem to be in conversation with each other—words penned by people on opposite sides of the country seeming to effortlessly finish each other’s sentences. The result is a feeling of kinship with a largely unknown world. How can one deny the universality of the very problems that make us feel so alone when listening to these converging stories, one after the next?

Of course, certain columns spoke to me more than others, but I was pleasantly surprised by my ability to relate to nearly every selection in some way or another. While the column "Write Like a Motherf---er" spoke to me on a gut level, unsurprisingly, as the focus was on a woman in her late 20s who was struggling to move forward as a writer, a column about a long-married woman whose husband had betrayed her left me equally teary-eyed as I shifted through newfound feelings around the concept of forgiveness.

Strayed has often said of her work, "the only thing I ever hope to do as a writer is to make people feel less alone," and that is precisely what she has accomplished with this radically empathetic collection.

Continue reading Madeline's review >

Publisher's summary

NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • An anniversary edition of the bestselling collection of "Dear Sugar" advice columns written by the author of #1 bestseller Wild—featuring a new preface and six additional columns.

For more than a decade, thousands of people have sought advice from Dear Sugar—the pseudonym of bestselling author Cheryl Strayed—first through her online column at The Rumpus, later through her hit podcast, Dear Sugars, and now through her popular Substack newsletter. Tiny Beautiful Things collects the best of Dear Sugar in one volume, bringing her wisdom to many more readers. This tenth-anniversary edition features six new columns and a new preface by Strayed. Rich with humor, insight, compassion—and absolute honesty—this book is a balm for everything life throws our way.

©2012 Cheryl Strayed (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“To say that Cheryl Strayed is an Internet advice columnist does not do her justice. Tiny Beautiful Things is a gob-smacking high, a brilliant reinvention of the Miss Lonelyhearts genre. . . . This collection of poignant insights into the complexities of the human heart offers a form of radical empathy and inspired compassion from a fellow traveler—one who not only feels the pain of others but leads them toward light and art.” (Elizabeth Taylor, The Chicago Tribune)

"These pieces are nothing short of dynamite, the kind of remarkable, revelatory storytelling that makes young people want to become writers in the first place. Over here at the Salon offices, we're reading the columns with boxes of tissue and raised fists of solidarity, shaking our heads with awe and amusement." (Sarah Hepola, Salon)

“In this collection of her columns, Strayed proves herself to be an astute amateur psychologist, as well as a compassionate, thoughtful and occasionally tough counselor. As with all personal advice columns, the questions that readers pose to Sugar are at least as intriguing as the answers. Strayed . . . uses her own foibles and misdemeanors to show that ‘we all suffer, we all fail, we all struggle and triumph and struggle again.’” (Cynthia Crossen, The Wall Street Journal)

Featured Article: How to Build Self-Esteem


Often when we talk about the importance of confidence, we neglect to talk about how one might improve their self-esteem in the first place. Self-esteem is, to put it simply, trust and self-assurance in yourself and your own abilities, and your own sense of worth. There are a number of ways to build self esteem and confidence, and your path might vary depending on your personal situation and life goals. If you're looking for some ways to start building your self-esteem, we've got a few tips and some excellent audiobook recommendations to help you in your journey.

What listeners say about Tiny Beautiful Things (10th Anniversary Edition)

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Love it!

This book stayed on my bookstore's staff pick section for 5 months. Courtney wrote the review and her words "it's a book you'll keep coming back to" could not be truer. I have read the book 6-7 times and listened to it twice. I laugh, cry, nod my head at different and the same places every time. I talk about her thoughts with people I love and I consider her an honest friend. She's real, raw, respectful, often right and sometimes wrong. She reminds me to reach over and over again and restored my desire to "love like a motherfucker" when I almost gave up. Read it. Find the connections. They're there.

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Beautiful

I absolutely loved it. I know I'll come back to this in future years and listen to it again. Highly suggest it.

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Simple Beauty Lives Hear As I Relisten

Would you consider the audio edition of Tiny Beautiful Things to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed both. The audio version gives a deep insight into the compassionate being we all seem to want to be. Brava to this fine author and amazingly well versed giver of advise.

What did you like best about this story?

Candid. Truthful, heart on her sleeve approach to the not so easily traveled paths of real life.

What about Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond (intro) ’s performance did you like?

The elegant and easy. The tempo and truthful underbelly so rarely experienced in today's world.

What did you learn from Tiny Beautiful Things that you would use in your daily life?

Compassion. Listening, Awareness.

Any additional comments?

Loved Loved Loved

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Great Book

Would you consider the audio edition of Tiny Beautiful Things to be better than the print version?

Yes, I felt like the audio edition added to the emotion in this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tiny Beautiful Things?

When the author writes about her work with inner city girls

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never wanted it to end!

Beautiful and hearthwrenching... deep and funny.... makes you take a step back and consider the truly meaningful parts of our lives and what will matter when we're gone.

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I didn't know what to expect!

I cried and laughed out loud. My heart ached and swelled. Thank you for sharing this!!!

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Thoughtful beautiful heartfelt

The Tao de Ching says beautiful things are not true and true things not beautiful, but this is both.

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It’s never to late

Fabulous real life stories of other people anyone can relate to themselves at sometime during their life time. I’m 59...been there. Oh how I wish I had the opportunity to listen to this book in my 20’s. But then we didn’t have audible on an iPhone. Lol

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Beautiful - Heartbreaking-Thought Provoking

Thank You for a beautiful book- so many points of life have been brought up for me. So many Tears and so many smiles. Thank you for every bit of wisdom here.

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beautiful

absolutely amazing to listen to. love how it's read. so much wisdom about so many different topics.

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