What was the name of J.K. Rowling’s 2012 Harvard University commencement speech?

J.K. Rowling’s 2012 Harvard University commencement speech was titled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.”

Rowling delivered the speech at Harvard’s 361st Commencement on 5 June 2008, not in 2012. The 2012 date is associated with the later publication of the illustrated book Very Good Lives, which reproduced the address. This distinction is a common source of mix-ups.

In the speech, Rowling discussed her experiences before Harry Potter became successful and argued that failure can remove inessential choices and reveal resilience. She also described imagination as a way to understand people whose experiences differ from one’s own.

The speech was later published in book form by Harvard’s publishing arm, with proceeds supporting charitable causes. Its title combines two themes that Rowling emphasized throughout the address: learning from setbacks and using imagination to broaden empathy.