'Fail Better' — by Zadie Smith

Part 1 appeared in The Guardian on January 13, 2007.

It's far better read from the printed page than on a computer screen (of course, what isn't?) so I recommend printing it out.

Besides, Part 2 has already been disappeared from the Guardian website, and you never know when Part 1 will follow it down the memory hole.

An aside: any reader who happens to have Part 2 in digital form or knows where it can be found online, would you be so kind as to send such to me so I can add it to this post?

Smith's audible book entitled "How to Fail Better" was recorded live at the 2006 New Yorker Festival.

It's 80 minutes long and you can listen to a 10-minute-long free sample here.

The full 80 minutes will cost you $7.46.

Here's a link to a page full of links allowing a deeper exploration of this superb author's life and work.

FunFact: She was born "Sadie Smith" and changed her name to Zadie when she was 14.

FunFact #2: "Fail Better" is from Samuel Beckett's "Worstward Ho."

[via Colleen E. Daly]