Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

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.

Synopsis - 

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. Now a Hulu Original Series.

Review - 

I can't remember how I stumbled across Tiny Beautiful Things, but it was definitely a surprise. I had no idea that author Cheryl Strayed had written an online advice column anonymously for 2 years, from 2010 to 2012.  Called Dear Sugar, this column on The Rumpus was a source of support for many struggling with difficult choices or situations. It must have been hard to decide which to answer, and which to set aside.  Tiny Beautiful Things, first published in 2012, is a collection of these columns.  This is an updated edition.

Talking about Tiny Beautiful Things on Bay Sunday

Strayed is neither a professional counsellor, nor does she have specific training in this area.  What she does have is a wealth of incredible life experiences from childhood abuse, to relationships, to personal growth.  I was impressed with the thoughtfulness of her replies. Each answer offered a look at the problem from a wider perspective, relevant experiences shared from her life, and thoughts on ways to move forward.  I don't think I read her once saying, "Here's what you have to do."  They can try her suggestions, or use the insight to find their own. That many followed up by writing in again to thank her says it all. The only thing I found off-putting was the cutesy names she sometimes uses for those who wrote in, names like  Sweet Pea and Honeybun. Never been a fan of cutesy names.

This isn't a book to speed read, or finish before you start another. The sheer wide range of questions as well as depth of despair at times is best taken in smaller amounts - a chapter or two at a time. If you buy it, put it in a place you stop - by your bed, by your favorite couch or chair - so you can pick it up in those random quiet moments. And somewhere in there you will read one that touches on something in your life.

Buy the Book: Amazon US ~ Amazon CA

Meet the Author - 

Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide and was made into an Oscar-nominated major motion picture. Her book Tiny Beautiful Things is currently being adapted for a Hulu television show that will be released in early 2023. In 2016, Tiny Beautiful Things was adapted as a play that has been staged in theaters around the world. 

Strayed is also the author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, Torch, and the collection Brave Enough, which brings together more than one hundred of her inspiring quotes. Her award-winning essays and short stories have been published in The Best American Essays, the New York Times, the Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Salon, and elsewhere. She has hosted two hit podcasts, Sugar Calling and Dear Sugars. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

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