Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

Wise, practical, optimistic life advice from author and leading technology thinker Kevin Kelly

On his 68th birthday, Kevin Kelly began to write down for his young adult children some things he had learned about life that he wished he had known earlier. To his surprise, Kelly had more to say than he thought, and kept adding to the advice over the years, compiling a life’s wisdom into these pages.

Kelly’s timeless advice covers an astonishing range, from right living to setting ambitious goals, optimizing generosity, and cultivating compassion. He has wisdom for career, relationships, parenting, and finances, and gives guidance for practical matters ranging from travel to troubleshooting.

Excellent Advice for Living is aimed primarily at young people, but speaks to all ages. This is the ideal companion for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.

Praise for Excellent Advice for Living:

“A collection of inspiring insights from a wise technology writer . . . [a] wonderful collection of 450 useful aphorisms . . . fresh, inspiring, even exhilarating . . . The title really says it all. Buy more than one, or people will keep stealing it out of your bathroom.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this insightful entry, Kelly, a founding editor of Wired, collects pearls of wisdom for all stages of life . . . the entries are genuinely thought-provoking, and Kelly’s earnestness is leavened with refreshing humor. The result is an unapologetically upbeat offering.” —Publishers Weekly

“The non-linearity of this list is part of its magic.  And one hundred years from now, when so much of the nonsense of our age is forgotten, people will still remember Kevin Kelly and his wisdom.” —Seth Godin

“If you don’t find at least seventeen golden nuggets of advice from Kevin Kelly’s list, you’re not awake.” —Daniel Pink

“Life essentials from a skilled navigator in an uncertain time.” —Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes