Tim Minchin’s new book is a collection of his three favourite university commencement addresses and other musings. In 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by UWA for his contribution to the Arts    and the video of this speech went viral. He wasn’t sure if it would work as a text, but it does. He’s combined it with a fun illustrations and a neat typographical look in a small hardback. 
Tim Minchin is a very funny, very smart man who thinks about a lot of things.  In these speeches, accompanied by new introductions, he shares his advice on life, love, art and the importance of getting the most out of whatever you choose to do.  Be the best YOU, you can be.  Sounds simple but as he points out in ‘The Trick’ (his WAAPA address) “comparing yourself to others in any area of your life is poison.” You need to work hard at what you love, be authentic to what you can do. For him, the moment he did, his life changed.
​In his hilarious “You’ve always wanted to be an actor” address given at London’s Mountview Academy comes some very liberating advice. He points out how success can come in many different forms and may or may not be what you thought it would be or what society thinks it should look like. I especially love lesson eight in his UWA address “Nine Life Lessons" - which ends with “I don’t care if you’re the most powerful cat in the room, I will judge you on how you treat the least powerful. So there.” Kindness he often points out, is one of the most important things we can give each other.  
Tim is back in Perth this weekend for the start of his Australian tour with two in conversation shows.It is tipped as a “rallying cry for creativity, critical thinking and compassion in our daily lives and set to touch the science-loving reality-romantic in us all”.  I think that sums up the book pretty well too. It is a perfect memento for university & high school graduates or just anyone who could benefit from a bit of inspiration minus the pressure and laced with a lot humour.