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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice
This special anniversary collection has a double dose of inspiration—new stories from our readers paired with the Chicken Soup for the Soul story that changed their lives!
We’re 20! And as part of our 20th-anniversary celebration, we asked our readers to tell us how their favorite Chicken Soup for the Soul stories affected them. You’ll find the stories in pairs in this volume—a new story written just for this book, followed by the story or poem that the reader found so inspiring in one of our past 250+ titles.
You’ll read about the military wife who was mentally prepared for “the phone call” the morning after she read a story about a soldier who lost his limbs. You’ll read about the Vietnam vet who discovered that one of the soldiers he rescued went on to win the Super Bowl four times, which he learned decades later in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story. You’ll read about a birth mother whose 23-year-old found her through one of our stories.
All in all, you’ll read 100 stories about epiphanies, attitude adjustments, great advice, motivational tips, doing good, and the amazing connections that people made as a result of these stories.
We’re 20! And as part of our 20th-anniversary celebration, we asked our readers to tell us how their favorite Chicken Soup for the Soul stories affected them. You’ll find the stories in pairs in this volume—a new story written just for this book, followed by the story or poem that the reader found so inspiring in one of our past 250+ titles.
You’ll read about the military wife who was mentally prepared for “the phone call” the morning after she read a story about a soldier who lost his limbs. You’ll read about the Vietnam vet who discovered that one of the soldiers he rescued went on to win the Super Bowl four times, which he learned decades later in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story. You’ll read about a birth mother whose 23-year-old found her through one of our stories.
All in all, you’ll read 100 stories about epiphanies, attitude adjustments, great advice, motivational tips, doing good, and the amazing connections that people made as a result of these stories.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2013
About the author
Jack Canfield
1,309 books1,769 followersJack 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 17, 2024
Great collection of stories.
September 24, 2024
The Chicken Soup ouroboros/chicken soup just being up its own ass comes to fruition with this volume. The stories are reader submissions that were inspired from the author reading or responding to previous entries in the Chicken Soup ‘verse
June 11, 2023
Good beach read
October 8, 2025
Love me some chicken soup for the soul 🥺♥️
September 24, 2013
GIVEAWAY: For your chance to win 1 of 3 copies of this book, visit Create With Joy through Oct 9, 2013 and enter the Chicken Soup For The Soul – Reader’s Choice Giveaway!
Twenty years ago, two motivational speakers – Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen – had a dream. They wanted to publish a book filled with heartwarming stories that had the power to change people’s lives. They named their book “Chicken Soup For The Soul” because they believed that just as chicken soup was good for the body, a book filled with timeless inspiration would be good for the soul.
Twenty years later, their vision has been realized in ways that surpass their wildest dreams!
• In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup For The Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
• In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
• Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup For The Soul series the “publishing phenomenon of the decade”.
To celebrate 20 years of success, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Amy Newmark have released Chicken Soup For The Soul – Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition: The Chicken Soup For The Soul Stories That Changed Your Lives.
This is easily one of my favorite books in the series to date!
What I love most about this book is...
To read the remainder of this review - and to enter the giveaway - please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Twenty years ago, two motivational speakers – Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen – had a dream. They wanted to publish a book filled with heartwarming stories that had the power to change people’s lives. They named their book “Chicken Soup For The Soul” because they believed that just as chicken soup was good for the body, a book filled with timeless inspiration would be good for the soul.
Twenty years later, their vision has been realized in ways that surpass their wildest dreams!
• In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup For The Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
• In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
• Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup For The Soul series the “publishing phenomenon of the decade”.
To celebrate 20 years of success, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Amy Newmark have released Chicken Soup For The Soul – Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition: The Chicken Soup For The Soul Stories That Changed Your Lives.
This is easily one of my favorite books in the series to date!
What I love most about this book is...
To read the remainder of this review - and to enter the giveaway - please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
November 13, 2013
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a nice idea. I have read three of these books now, (over the years,) and I always find them interesting. I think the best aspect of the Chicken Soup series though, is that it allows people to talk about their struggles, dreams, and discoveries, which, as someone who loves writing, I highly value. In this particular edition, readers comment how past stories have influenced their lives by telling their own story. The original follows.
While there is something to be said about a personal narrative, the quality of writing was, (I know this sounds awful,) sub-par. I think I'm empathetic and easily inspired, but for some reason, most of the writing just didn't do it for me. The book was full of cliche themes and quotes. The ones I appreciated the most were raw, unique, and well-written.
My rating does not diminish the events themselves, or, of course, the people. I think everyone in the book has demonstrated courage, and I'd hug them if I could. :)
While there is something to be said about a personal narrative, the quality of writing was, (I know this sounds awful,) sub-par. I think I'm empathetic and easily inspired, but for some reason, most of the writing just didn't do it for me. The book was full of cliche themes and quotes. The ones I appreciated the most were raw, unique, and well-written.
My rating does not diminish the events themselves, or, of course, the people. I think everyone in the book has demonstrated courage, and I'd hug them if I could. :)
June 4, 2013
So happy, I am a contributor and I have to say I am so pleased to have my story published amid so many other great stories. I have to say when reading the book it seemed to me as if the hands of every contributor were reaching out to one another to cry and hold each other. I think that is the true magic of these books being among others who have struggled with things and haven chosen to rise above those problems.
April 29, 2014
A very effective reading for nourishing our soul, this kinda special series books is really effective to go through people's experiencing finding their a-chicken-soup-for-soul moment as the contributor shares their life journey inspired by the book series!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews