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Conversations on Kindness: How the Power of Kindness Can Change the World
'A beautiful beacon lighting the way... A gorgeous guide to embodying kindness.' Suzy Reading, author of Self-care for Tough Times
Overwhelmed by the constant flow of bad news, Bernadette Russell felt trapped, desperate for something to change. Then, a chance encounter sparked a question that would transform her life.
What if one small act of kindness, every single day for a year, could ignite a light in the darkness?
In Conversations on Kindness, Bernadette embarks on an extraordinary 366-day journey. From moments of unexpected joy and surprise to the times when her well-intentioned kind acts demand much more than she'd bargained for, this is a story of discovery and profound connection.
Along the way, Bernadette explores the deeper possibilities of kindness. In conversations with scientists, artists, activists and academics, it becomes clear that kindness is a powerful driver for healing, understanding and significant positive change – especially when life feels at its hardest.
Conversations on Kindness is a warm, often funny, heartfelt immersion in the power of kindness to bring us back to ourselves, to each other and to change the world.
Overwhelmed by the constant flow of bad news, Bernadette Russell felt trapped, desperate for something to change. Then, a chance encounter sparked a question that would transform her life.
What if one small act of kindness, every single day for a year, could ignite a light in the darkness?
In Conversations on Kindness, Bernadette embarks on an extraordinary 366-day journey. From moments of unexpected joy and surprise to the times when her well-intentioned kind acts demand much more than she'd bargained for, this is a story of discovery and profound connection.
Along the way, Bernadette explores the deeper possibilities of kindness. In conversations with scientists, artists, activists and academics, it becomes clear that kindness is a powerful driver for healing, understanding and significant positive change – especially when life feels at its hardest.
Conversations on Kindness is a warm, often funny, heartfelt immersion in the power of kindness to bring us back to ourselves, to each other and to change the world.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
9 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 6, 2025
This is the story of the author’s 366 day journey to see if daily acts of kindness could change the world. Along the way she lists the acts of kindness she has undertaken, reports on their effect on both the person in receipt of kindness and herself, and she talks to some fascinating people about their experience of kindness.
This is a deeply personal account infused with Bernadette’s joyous and postiive approach to life, but also an account of how things have not always been kind to her and how she came to understand the difference kindness could make. It is an immensely readable book, entertaining, funny, inspiring and informing. I was amazed by the ingenuity of Bernadette’s acts of kindness. I discovered the existence of the most incredible organisations that exist to promote kindness. I learned about a journalist whose life had been saved through the gift of a stranger. Bernadette’s contributors are wide ranging from the Global Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming to a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology of Kindness. I discovered an incredible flower charity called the Flower Bank..
This is the perfect book to read now. A book which will persuade you of the power of good in the world and offer alternative dialogues to those flooding the headlines. It is a wide ranging conversation which looks at the environmental impact of kindness - green ways to be kind - and connections with strangers. I was overjoyed to see a chapter on kindness to animals who are so often left out. This is a chapter which illustrates so powerfully how kindness is so important not only for the receiver but for the giver.
A joyous read from start to finish. Thank you to this wonderful author for reminding the world of kindness and for reassuring me that there is more kindness out there than I had imagined.
Some little acts of kindness which I loved -
Placing a bookmark with a kind message in a book in a charity shop.
Posting a packet of wild flower seeds through a stranger’s door.
This is a deeply personal account infused with Bernadette’s joyous and postiive approach to life, but also an account of how things have not always been kind to her and how she came to understand the difference kindness could make. It is an immensely readable book, entertaining, funny, inspiring and informing. I was amazed by the ingenuity of Bernadette’s acts of kindness. I discovered the existence of the most incredible organisations that exist to promote kindness. I learned about a journalist whose life had been saved through the gift of a stranger. Bernadette’s contributors are wide ranging from the Global Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming to a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology of Kindness. I discovered an incredible flower charity called the Flower Bank..
This is the perfect book to read now. A book which will persuade you of the power of good in the world and offer alternative dialogues to those flooding the headlines. It is a wide ranging conversation which looks at the environmental impact of kindness - green ways to be kind - and connections with strangers. I was overjoyed to see a chapter on kindness to animals who are so often left out. This is a chapter which illustrates so powerfully how kindness is so important not only for the receiver but for the giver.
A joyous read from start to finish. Thank you to this wonderful author for reminding the world of kindness and for reassuring me that there is more kindness out there than I had imagined.
Some little acts of kindness which I loved -
Placing a bookmark with a kind message in a book in a charity shop.
Posting a packet of wild flower seeds through a stranger’s door.
April 19, 2025
One year I made a New Year Resolution that I wouldn't say anything unkind to anyone and that I would try to pay someone a compliment every day that year. It was simultaneously one of the most challenging and rewarding Resolutions that I have ever made.
Because of this I found Bernadette Russell's description of how she decided to do one act of kindness every day for 366 days (to encompass a leap year) really interesting.
Within the pages she gives examples of the acts of kindness she carried out, the diverse reactions of people to those acts and then a wide ranging exploration of kindness in all its forms and the effect it can have on the individual, the community, the environment and the world.
She has conversations with people who have studied kindness, try to use it within their work or help others to explore it.
I have definitely come away inspired and with lots of ideas of things that I would like to start doing.
Because of this I found Bernadette Russell's description of how she decided to do one act of kindness every day for 366 days (to encompass a leap year) really interesting.
Within the pages she gives examples of the acts of kindness she carried out, the diverse reactions of people to those acts and then a wide ranging exploration of kindness in all its forms and the effect it can have on the individual, the community, the environment and the world.
She has conversations with people who have studied kindness, try to use it within their work or help others to explore it.
I have definitely come away inspired and with lots of ideas of things that I would like to start doing.
March 7, 2025
After reading the blurb about this book, I assumed it would simply be a list of all the random acts of kindness the author carried out over a year. However, I was pleasantly surprised and really appreciated the book's structure. The descriptions of everyday kindnesses are interwoven with interviews featuring experts, volunteer group leaders, kindness advocates, and many others. This book highlights various important issues, such as homelessness, the environment, nature, caring for animals, vegetarianism, religion, and kindness—not only toward others but also toward ourselves. I gained many ideas from the author for random acts of kindness, and I especially liked the way she carries around "kindness supplies"—such as sweets, books, and cards—giving me plenty of inspiration. I received a free advanced copy from NetGallery, and this is my honest review.
April 2, 2025
I was already a fan of Russell’s other books on kindness and hope and wonder… so I got this on the week it came out and I was not disappointed! It’s really honest and funny with lots of practical tips for how to increase the amount of kindness in your life. I enjoyed the interviews with scientists and practitioners too although for me the heart of the book was Russell’s own experiences.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
April 13, 2025
"Conversations on Kindness" by Bernadette Russell is a powerful, courageous book that I will probably re-read more than once.
I can't say I agree with some of the ideas presented (both as random acts of kindness and in the interviews with the experts), but it's a good book, that should be read by as many people as possible, especially now that the world seems like such a gloomy place.
I can't say I agree with some of the ideas presented (both as random acts of kindness and in the interviews with the experts), but it's a good book, that should be read by as many people as possible, especially now that the world seems like such a gloomy place.
April 28, 2025
I think this is going to be my non fiction book of the year. Funny, sad, thought provoking and inspirational. A definite read for anyone who wants to change the world but isn't a super hero.
Deeply personal, but highly relatable; this book is full of practical ideas for carrying out acts of kindness as well as looking at some of the reasons why being kind can be beneficial to us all.
Deeply personal, but highly relatable; this book is full of practical ideas for carrying out acts of kindness as well as looking at some of the reasons why being kind can be beneficial to us all.
August 30, 2025
Some really interesting interviews.
I thought it was a shame that so many of the acts of kindness centred around buying gifts…it felt a very materialistic take on kindness, at times.
I thought it was a shame that so many of the acts of kindness centred around buying gifts…it felt a very materialistic take on kindness, at times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews