Quick facts

• Cheryl Strayed took over the "Dear Sugar" advice column from her friend Steve Almond in 2010 and wrote it, anonymously and without pay, until the column ended in 2012.

• Tiny Beautiful Things includes both popular and Strayed's favorite essays from the column, as well as some that were never published on the website.

• Strayed revealed her true identity as Sugar in February 2012, a few months before the book's publication.

• Tiny Beautiful Things debuted at #5 on The New York Times bestseller list in the advice and self-help category.

• Strayed revived her "Sugar" persona in a podcast called Dear Sugars with Steve Almond, which ran for four years.

• In 2020, Strayed launched a new podcast called Sugar Calling in response to readers' requests to bring back Sugar.

Adaptations

Tiny Beautiful Things was adapted into a stage play by Oscar-nominated writer and actress Nia Vardalos and Marshall Heyman. Directed by Hamilton Tony winner Thomas Kail, the play premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in November 2016 and had its Canadian premiere in Kelowna, British Columbia, in February 2023. In 2022, Hulu ordered an adaptation of the book. Starring Kathryn Hahn, the limited series premiered in April 2023.

About the author

Cheryl Strayed (1968-) is an acclaimed American writer and podcast host. She is best known for her memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which became an international bestseller and was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film starring Reese Witherspoon. In Wild, Strayed chronicles her 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995, following the sudden death of her mother and a period of personal turmoil. Wild was selected for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club and spent seven consecutive weeks at the top of The New York Times bestseller list. In addition to Wild, Strayed has written the novel Torch and the nonfiction works Tiny Beautiful Things and Brave Enough.

Strayed was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Minnesota. Her life experiences, including her mother's untimely death and her personal struggles with addiction, have profoundly shaped her writing and perspective. Her works often explore themes of grief, resilience, self-discovery, personal growth, and the transformative power of facing life's challenges head-on. In addition to her writing, Strayed has hosted two popular podcasts, Dear Sugars and Sugar Calling, where she offers advice and insights on life's challenges. She has also taught writing workshops and been involved in various feminist and progressive causes.