“A perfect distraction and inspiration, and a collection that begs to be shared.” — Denver Post

Love wounds the heart and soul . . .

From the editors of the New York Times bestseller Not Quite What I Was Planning comes another collection of terse true tales—this time simple sagas exploring the complexities of the human heart. Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak contains hundreds of personal stories about the pinnacles and pitfalls of romance. Brilliant in their brevity, these insightful slivers of passion, pain, and connection capture every shade of love and loss—six words at a time.

LARRY SMITH is an adjunct associate professor of economics at the University of Waterloo and a recipient of the University of Waterloo’s Distinguished Teacher Award. During his longstanding tenure, Smith has taught and counselled more than 23,000 students on the subject of their careers, representing more than 10 percent of UW’s alumni. Smith has worked with more than 500 teams of student entrepreneurs, advising them as they have created companies of significant size and success across industries as broad-reaching as communications, software, robotics, entertainment, design and real estate.

Smith is also president of Essential Economics Corporation, an economic consulting practice that serves a wide range of public and private clients. “Why You Will Fail to have a Great Career,” his TEDx Talk based on his experience counselling students, has been viewed by over six million people.

Larry Smith's profile page

Rachel Fershleiser is SMITH's memoir editor and has written for the Village Voice, the New York Press, Print, and the National Post. Rachel lives in New York City.

Rachel Fershleiser's profile page

“The exercise in brevity certainly inspires.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Perfect for the American attention span...Will thrill minimalists and inspire maximalists.” — Vanity Fair

“The brilliance is in the brevity.” — New York Post

“Irresistibly clever.” — Chicago Tribune

“You could spend a lifetime brainstorming.” — The New Yorker

“The pithiest of life stories.” — O magazine

“A perfect distraction and inspiration, and a collection that begs to be shared.” — Denver Post

“Compulsive reading...as insightful as any 300+ page biography.” — Publishers Weekly

“Six-word review: Buy it, keep it in bathroom.” — Philadelphia Magazine