Book review: Timeless tales

Sharing amazing real life tales and emotionally uplifting many saddened souls.


Sabina Rizwan Khan July 22, 2011




Book: Chicken Soup for the Soul


Author: Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Genre: Non Fiction

Publisher: Health Communications Inc.

Excerpt:

Many times we have been approached by readers — at a speech or public appearance- who told us how one or more stories were of inestimable value during a period of trial and testing, such as the death of a loved one or a serious illness. We are grateful for having had the opportunity to be of help to so many in this way. Some have told us they keep their Chicken Soup book at bedside, reading one story each night, often reading favourites. Many use these books as a family gathering experience, reading a story aloud with parents and children gathered together in the evening. You may choose the path of readers who have gone before you, or simply enjoy reading this book with no particular pattern in mind, letting each story guide your thoughts in new directions. Find the path that’s the best for you and most all, enjoy!

Book Review:

Chicken Soup for the Soul, in its 5th serving, gives its readers a little something extra ... Chicken Soup for the Soul is a compilation of real life short stories of people from all walks of life.

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were working as professional motivational speakers and yearly came across hundreds of amazing souls with life changing experiences to tell. Soon the authors realised these inspiring stories should not be limited to themselves but be shared. Thus they endeavoured to collect stories from different people about their life-changing experiences. However, it was ensured that these stories were shared with those people’s consent. From the very first edition, this book became the New York Times Bestseller and changed people, their perceptions, and lives drastically.

The interesting thing about this book is that one can start reading it from any point. As each story is unique, one feels that one tale guides you to the other tale with a different message each time. To facilitate readers, these stories have been divided into pertinent sections so that everyone can enjoy the book to its fullest. Starting from On Love, On Parents and Parenting, On Death and Dying and ending on A Matter of Perspective and Overcoming Obstacles, each title suggests that it has a different flavour for every reader.

What makes Chicken Soup for the Soul a great read at all times is its genuine style of storytelling, which everyone feels connected to. Whether you have fought a severe disease or lost a job, whether you earned a moment of wisdom while teaching or are still coping-up with your child’s death, you will find something in this book to relate to. It is for all moments and ages and that is what makes Chicken Soup for the Soul so extraordinary.

Any man, woman, old or young will find a reflection of his or her own life in this book.

The cherry on the top is the separate chapter that has stories of celebrities and famous personalities like Robert Frost, Scott Pippen, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Henry Ford etc. It feels amazing to read how these ordinary people became extraordinary while fighting all odds.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a good bed time story book for kids as well. With summer at its peak and time off from school, what is better than curling up on your sofa and reading about another person’s life-altering experience?





Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

Maryam | 12 years ago | Reply

chicken soup for soul reminds of my college days....we friends were hooked to it and would put a book inside our course books and used to read during the lecture. i remember once being caught too.

good old days!

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