Review #1: J. K. Rowling's "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination"

J.K. Rowling's, "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination," at Harvard, is a truly beautiful and motivating speech. Throughout, she never loses her audience because even her speech involves a storytelling. Her techniques involve referencing to her own works, such as the Harry Potter series. Plus, she is humorous, honest, and personal. For example, she humorously and sarcastically explains that the commencement speech made her so nervous that she lost weight in preparation for her presentation at Harvard.

There are also some life lessons that Rowling brings forward in her speech. First, she provides some of her personal experiences and lets her audience know that it's okay to make mistakes because without them we are not truly living life. Because in life, risks need to be made. Sometimes, risks are good. Then, she goes on to explain that imagination is an amazing thing. That our imaginations can save us at certain points. And it's true. If we do not have the capacity of imagining how things can turn out to be, then, we would not be as successful in meeting our goals, needs, and wants.