Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade: 101 Positive, Practical, and Powerful Stories about Making the Best of a Bad Situation

by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Amy Newmark

From lemons to lemonade; from heartbreak to happiness; from victim to victorious. Have you ever wondered how other people overcome their challenges and move forward with such a positive attitude?

You’ll meet 101 inspiring people in these pages, role models who share revealing personal stories about improving their lives despite hardship. These people figured out how to find the positive, no matter their situations, and they share how they did it.

You’ll be struck by the resilience of the human spirit, as men and women successfully fight health, financial, career, or relationship battles. You’ll feel energized and encouraged every time you pick up this book. There are lessons in these pages for all of us.

Genres: Inspirational, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Jack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.

Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.

Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.

In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.

Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.

Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.

Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.

Reviews

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I know why I didn’t immediately started reading this book when I bought it. It was meant to be read at a difficult phase in my life. A book to be read as such a time as those seemingly lonesome days. And then I thought, my heartache doesn’t even compare to the gravity of pain, loss & heartaches in some of the stories in the book, if they came out ok, so am I. Indeed God heals all wounds.

[Qunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oke, ini waktu terpanjaaaaaaaang yang pernah saya butuhkan untuk membaca sebuah buku. Mungkin karena waktu yang hectic, atau mood yang naik turun untuk membaca. Padahal, ini adalah jenis buku yang perlu saya baca di masa-masa saya yang seperti ini.

Karena waktu yang lama, feelnya juga jadi agak hilang.

Huhu, sedih deh.

[Divia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am happy to have read this book. Many stories touched me deeply. Reading the way people find strength in the face of difficulty is truly inspiring. Each story is different. Each experience is different. But in the end they find a way to cope. It sounds easy and at times I think that the simplicity of making lemonade of lemons is not enough to capture the emotional journey that people go through to get to a good place. I often felt at times that it was for other people and that it doesn't happen all of the time and it would not happen for me. However, I feel like whatever troubles you are faced with you need to keep trying and cope with it. Words cannot truly express how difficult that process is. I, at least, cannot express it well enough right now. It hurts. It hurt reading some of these stories. And I was glad that there was some solace found by everyone who was brave enough to share.

[Ginny Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I'm friends with one of the contributors, and then as I was reading I discovered another story by someone I've met online! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book since I usually read novels, not anthologies. I began to read a story before I went to bed each night. The stories were so uplifting and encouraging that I was able to put aside my worries, relax, and wind down for the day. Some nights I couldn't stop at reading just one, and read several stories!

[Bodhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories were full of forced optimism and did not seem realistic or relatable.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great reference book to open on days you do need a bit of a lemon turned into lemonade story to boost your day. As sad it is to read someone else’s turmoil it does provide a prospective to appreciate your life and not take it for granted. Also to continue to be positive in all walks of life and trials, keep pushing always ❤️

[Zuzana Zábranová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sbírka 101 povídek o tom, že když vám život nadělí citrony, máte si z nich udělat limonádu.
Nejsem cílovou skupinou pro tenhle typ příběhů, četla jsem v rámci výzvy. Některé příběhy mi z pohledu Evropana přišly zvláštní, ale kniha určitě plní svůj účel.

[Deevena Jemima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Inspiring.

[Sue J · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, a very uplifting book!!

[Hayley Shaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was better than many other Chicken Soup books. Unlike others, most stories in his book were very interesting.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't help myself....I just love "Chicken Soup for the Soul!" When I'm stressed or wound up at the end of the day, I read a couple of Chicken Soup stories and always feel better!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star rating

[Lindsey Silvestrini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can CSS possible come up with a new creative, original theme for a book? Why yes, yes they can! From Lemons to Lemonade is one of those cliches in life we have all heard a thousand times and are more than familiar with so why not turn it into the theme for a book? Brilliant!

We all go through hard times and have those moments in life where we think there couldn’t possible be a point or a silver lining. This is a beautiful collection of stories where people took their circumstances and well, made lemonade out of those lemons!

This is one of my favorite collections so far. It had me tearing up more than usual but out of happiness. It’s inspiring to see the things that people go through and what they gain from it. It makes me realize my life isn’t so bad and that if these people can turn their tragedies into something positive, I can do anything!

CSS From Lemons to Lemonade really is one that makes you do some soul searching and come out positive on the other side. If I’m feeling down I can just read a couple of these stories to gain a whole new perspective and then go on with my day with a positive outlook.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there’s any one saying that has been embedded in me it’s “This too shall pass”. If there’s anyone I know that’s been through a lot in life, it would be me. Life is challenging and getting through it is a struggle; but as they say, “you have to make lemonade from lemons”.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade has many (101 to be exact) powerful, yet inspiring, stories that promise to uplift you. These personal stories will reflect how their authors overcame challenges, struggles, and even hardship. Indeed, these men and women took Lemons and made Lemonade in spite of their battles. These wonderful people managed to see the positive and now, sharing their stories, give practical tips that you can use to turn your life around.

This book will inspire you.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for anyone who might be struggling with life. There are a mix of stories on different themes from being a victim and rising above it to using faith to make things better. It was never preachy or talked down to me as a reader. This is the perfect book to read slowly and read more than once because you will always discover something new.

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always fascinated how the chicken soup for the soul series gets to warm my soul. I bought this book 3 yrs ago but only got to read and finished it this week. It maybe is because the book was meant to be read at such a time as this.

From Lemons to Lemonade. We all need to do just that and enjoy the lemonade.

[Ema · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first time reading the chicken soup thing.
It's a fun reading.
Although some of the stories are like repeated but it's all about perception of the beholder.
Maybe I read another series next time.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful inspiring stories about real people who have overcome challenges and figure out how to stay positive.

[Samatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wall-to-tragedies, but all with a positive note. Still a little sad though.