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Maria Popova

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A Velocity of Being: Letters to A Young Reader Kindle Edition

by Maria Popova (Editor), Claudia Bedrick (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 675 ratings

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A Brain Pickings Best Children's Book of the Year
"An embarrassment of riches." —The New York Times

An expansive collection of love letters to books, libraries, and reading, from a wonderfully eclectic array of thinkers and creators.

In these pages, some of today's most wonderful culture-makers—writers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and philosophers—reflect on the joys of reading, how books broaden and deepen human experience, and the ways in which the written word has formed their own character. On the page facing each letter, an illustration by a celebrated illustrator or graphic artist presents that artist's visual response. Among the diverse contributions are letters from Jane Goodall, Neil Gaiman, Jerome Bruner, Shonda Rhimes, Ursula K. Le Guin, Yo-Yo Ma, Judy Blume, Lena Dunham, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Jacqueline Woodson, as well as a ninety-eight-year-old Holocaust survivor, a pioneering oceanographer, and Italy's first woman in space. Some of the illustrators, cartoonists, and graphic designers involved are Marianne Dubuc, Sean Qualls, Oliver Jeffers, Maira Kalman, Mo Willems, Isabelle Arsenault, Chris Ware, Liniers, Shaun Tan, Tomi Ungerer, and Art Spiegelman.

This project is woven entirely of goodwill, generosity of spirit, and a shared love of books. Everyone involved has donated their time, and all profits will go to the New York Public Library systems.

This stunning 272-page hardcover volume features a lay-flat binding to allow for greater ease of reading.

Reading age

6 - 11 years, from customers
Print length

266 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Enchanted Lion
Publication date

May 25, 2020
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On Kindle Scribe
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A CBC "Hot Off The Press" Selection of December 2018
Featured in Green Source DFW December 2018 gift guide

"Impelled to defend the dignity and authority of books, and the transformative power of continuing to read them in the digital age, Maria Popova and Claudia Zoe Bedrick spent eight years collecting the words and artwork for A Velocity of Being, a treasury of thoughtful, quirky, heartfelt letters from notable adults to the young reader. ...For adults devoted to raising strong readers amid what Ms. Popova calls the 'fragment fetishism' of the internet--and for book lovers of any age on a Christmas list--A Velocity of Being has arrived not a moment too soon." --Wall Street Journal

"This feast of a book provides ample food for thought, with some dazzling visuals, to boot. But like many feasts, this one goes on at length, with flavors and courses that tend to overlap. Still, the collection will nourish readers of all kinds, deserving a permanent place on our bookshelves." --Joan Silverman, The National Book Reveiw

"This should live on the nightstand, be picked up regularly, and savored. A treasure trove for anyone who loves words and pictures." --Amina Chaudhri, Booklist

"The heft of A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader makes it feel grand and immense; momentous on its first page turn yet deeply personal. It's a collection of letters and art for readers young and old from a community of writers, artists and other notable figures who speak about the deep magic of falling headlong into a story, the transformative power of words--stories settling into us, burrowing into our souls, running through our veins and becoming a part of who we are. ... Reading through compelling letter after letter is overwhelming in the best way possible. What are we without words, stories and books?" -- Michelle Sterling, Avery and Augustine

About the Author

Edited and introduced by Maria Popova, who has been writing since 2006 about what she reads on Brain Pickings (brainpickings.org), which is now included in the Library of Congress archive of culturally valuable materials; Edited by Claudia Bedrick, publisher, editorial and art director of Enchanted Lion Books.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08914X93Q
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Enchanted Lion (May 25, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 38543 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 266 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,217 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #81 in Children's Philosophy Books (Kindle Store)
- #81 in Children's Literary Biographies (Kindle Store)
- #438 in Children's Literary Biographies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 675 ratings

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Maria Popova is a reader and a writer, and writes about what she reads on Brain Pickings (brainpickings.org), which is included in the Library of Congress permanent digital archive of culturally valuable materials. She is the creator and host of The Universe in Verse—an annual charitable celebration of science and the natural world through poetry.

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4.8 out of 5

675 global ratings

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Janet Bickel

I wish this book into the hands of every adult and child

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2019

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With this book maria popova offers the world an enduring gift. I would wish it into the hands of every adult and child and all those in between. Here are a few of my favorite take-aways (from just the first half!):

*The most enduring relationships are the ones we have with ourselves and God (books deepen our growth in this direction too)--they help us learn what is true for us
*Where the reader and writer meet they create something which has never existed before...also there is a meeting of a tree (from which the paper derived) and human gifts
*You only have one life but reading gives you many, ditto re personality – you get to be inside another heart and mind.
*Experiencing the elegance of language is one of the greatest pleasures of consciousness
*Reading let's you be quiet in a chaotic world and commune with people who happen to be dead now
*Reading takes apart our world and expectations and rearranges them...souls meet and find the way together
*Barriers of personality fall, joys and sorrows accumulate, the individual pours himself into the collectivity and unreservedly experiences whatever is allotted to humanity--an expansion takes place
*Reading is a great extension of time, a way for one person to live a thousand lives in a single life span, to watch the great impersonal universe at work, to watch the great personal psyche spar with it, until the very dizziness of it all becomes a source of compassion for ourselves

9 people found this helpful

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C. Malone

If you grew up loving books beyond your own comprehension...this will help you understand why.

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019

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Growing up in Rawlins, Wyoming until 5th grade and then moving to Casper, I was lucky enough to discover the libraries in both towns. Big stone buildings, huge stairs leading up to the doors, high ceilings, endless shelves of books. I was enthralled and so it all began. My love of books, being transported to worlds beyond small town Wyoming. The smell of books, the texture of paper, the titles, storylines...it was all a wonder, magic. This incredible book, A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader--eight years in the making just made my heart sing. When I read about it I immediately went to the small but wonderful library in our small town of Hailey, Idaho and tried to check it out. The librarian was captured when I described the book. We looked it up on Amazon and when she saw the list of people writing letters to youngsters about books, why they read them, loved them and how they shaped their lives--she scanned the libraries of Idaho to try to get it for me. When there were NO libraries that had the book she immediately decided to order it. So the FIRST library in Idaho to get this book allowed me to be the first person to check it out. This renewed my gratitude, love, appreciation and joy for libraries as an adult with the wonder of a child. This book is a delight... the words and graphic designs capturing every element of what reading can bring to your life by firing up your imagination and launching you into other worlds. Every library, school and parent should have a copy. I am making sure that happens in my community!!!

39 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Worth the wait. Worth the price.

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2019

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The first time I ordered this book--on the first of January, two weeks after its release, it was already on back order. I waited patiently for it for 7 weeks; at the end of February, I was told that my order couldn't be fulfilled and it was canceled. On the 9th of March, I was able to re-order it for $20 more than the original price. The price hike was disappointing--but the book, which arrived in under a week, is simply wonderful. It's substantial and gorgeous--about an inch thick, with more than 250 letters and illustrations. Some are moving, some are funny--all remind the young reader that they're not alone. Here's a community of people who influence the world, and who passionately champion the world of books. A treasure.

3 people found this helpful

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Veronica

A Magnificent Compilation

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2018

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The all-star cast of writers and illustrators does not disappoint. Each author (many of them are known for multiple talents) brings a fresh and entertaining perspective to the topic of encouraging young people (and old!) to read. Eloquent writing keeps their messages from getting too repetitive. Though many of the illustrators are known for children’s picture books, the art they’ve created for this compilation will appeal to adults as well. You can flip through and enjoy the eye candy or spend time sinking into each illustration.

With a few artistic exceptions, each of the 121 letters is opposite a full-page illustration. Short bios of the authors are given below their letters. Short bios of the illustrators are compiled at the end, but each illustrator is identified above the letter. It is a comfortable size to hold while being large enough to do justice to the art.

55 people found this helpful

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A. Stone

unexpectedly enchanting

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2019

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Each page is a letter to a reader. Some are short, some are the full page. Some are written by people you'll know, others by those who have amazing credentials but are not commonly known.
The letters are good. The reason for the 5 is the visuals. Each right side page is a visual which loosely or closely follows the advice in the letter. Some of them are breathtaking. The artists are so gifted and creative that you could arguably treat this is a picture book with interesting "stories" shared on the left hand side. However you consider it, its' a lovely break to immerse yourself in other's perceptions and ideas on the importance of books. Done in a book that is worth owning and treasuring.

4 people found this helpful

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Jennifer Christian

Poor title, good book -- fun for kids and grownups. I read essays; we all look at pictures

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

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The title of this book is a VERY poor fit with the content. The book is nominally about BOOKS but it is really about READING and all the places where it can take you, and the people you can meet in them. Caltha is a sensitive and lively 7 year old book-aholic. She is avidly reading "chapter books" to herself in second grade. Camellia is 5 and artistically-minded. Both of them were happy to pore over the pictures in this book WITH ME, but I'm not sure they would have done it on their own. However, I've seen both of them quietly studying the pictures in other books for prolonged periods.

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023

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I leave this out at all times so when I feel the need to check my phone, I can read a letter or two. It is important for my kids to see me read a physical book and this is one with content that I share read on my own AND with my girls:) We can also talk about the art work.

One person found this helpful

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Alejandro Meraz

Bonito!

Reviewed in Mexico on May 19, 2021

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Esta muy bonito pero el papel no me gusto, la calidad de las impresiones me las imaginaba mejor.

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Mr D. Pye

Special

Reviewed in Sweden on August 24, 2023

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Every now and again a book comes along that is special. If only all books could delight like this.
Great for your library and brilliant as a gift.

Gordon Otto

Such a special, special book

Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2020

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A remarkable collection of letters matched each with bespoke artwork that together delivers memorable and moving stories for and about young readers and reading that will resonate with every parent. I’m so pleased I found my way to it. I immediately bought three more to give away. I cannot imagine a better gift for a parent of a young reader, or especially also for a parent of readers who were young not that long ago (including themselves).

2 people found this helpful

Vivi Figueira

Amor pelos livros!

Reviewed in Brazil on January 27, 2020

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São mais de 100 cartas endereçadas às crianças, de pessoas de áreas diferentes mas com uma coisa em comum: o amor pelos livros. Cada carta vem acompanhada de um ilustrador, todos maravilhosos, vários dos melhores ilustradores da atualidade, por sinal.

Existem três exceções aqui, nas quais texto e ilustração pertenciam a uma só pessoa. É o caso de Tomi Ungerer ou os quadrinhos de Roz Chast e Ariel Schrag. Estes três artistas foram os únicos a fazerem ambas as coisas: texto/imagem. Mas isto é só uma curiosidade. Todas as cartas e ilustrações são bonitas de se ler/ver.

Envio fotos com o índice para vocês conhecerem todos os artistas que estão neste livro maravilhoso, de 280 páginas, formato próximo de A4 e capa dura.

6 people found this helpful

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Stiven Skyrah

Beautiful and vast

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2020

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A Velocity of Being: Letters to Young Readers, a beautiful and huge, 280-page hardcover brick of a book compiled over eight years or more through their asking dozens of leading people in the public sphere—many of them not surprisingly writers—about the way reading had been central in the shaping of their lives (no one said it hadn’t been important, of course; I assume any such letters were respectfully not included. I was imagining some of the letters from some of my high school students many years ago as a counter-argument).
.
Some letters I liked came from Jane Goodall, Neil Gaiman, (educational psychologist) Jerome Bruner, Ursula K. Le Guin, Yo-Yo Ma, Judy Blume. I liked most of them, don’t get me wrong, but after a time I wondered about the audience for such a book. Pro-reading types, of course: Librarians, English/language arts teachers, Goodreads readers!! as well as the target audience stated in the title, young readers, but if they already like to read they would mostly rather read a book than talk about why books are so great. And the kids (or adults) who hate reading, well, this book ain’t gonna talk ‘em into it. But many of the statements are lovely, what any of us might have said, though why have a book what we said, we want to know what successful said about how reading help shape them and become world-renowned. It’s a kind of well-written confirmation of most readers’ generally held views, some of them a bit short and obvious.

But this is one gorgeous artifact, a coffee-table book every school and library oughtta have on display. I’ll tell you why I would personally want it, though. Popova also knows thousands of terrific illustrators, and she gets some of the best I know, a one page illustration per letter: Isabelle Arsenault, Chris Ware, Oliver Jeffers, Maira Kalman, Shaun Tan, Art Spiegelman. Almost every page is gorgeous, just stunning, like visual poems about reading. That’s the primary reason why this book gets five stars from me.

I loved Chris Ware’s two page illustrated story, one of my faves.

I liked this story: Author Elizabeth Gilbert skipped school to stay home and read Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. She got caught lying and was grounded. Yet she never forgot that day or that book. (How many days would I have preferred to stay home from school and just read a book all the way through!? Many of them!)

Holocaust survivor Helen Fagin once lived in a Polish ghetto where reading was punishable by hard labor, even death (like slaves in this country!), but she risked her life running a secret school for kids, though it couldn’t be about facts, she soon realized:

“What they needed wasn’t dry information but hope, the kind that comes from being transported into a dream-world of possibility. There are times when dreams sustain us more than facts.”

Though I generally liked school, that’s why I would have wanted to stay home from time to time, as learning in school was often configured as an accumulation of facts and skills rather than passionate engagement with the world through the imagination. You and I already know this, but it is nice to see it confirmed here again and again in this book.

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