Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul: Your Personal, Portable Support Group with Stories of Healing, Hope, Love and Resilience

by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen

Find inspiration for change and personal growth in each story as people in this dynamic community share their experiences of transformation, of lives reclaimed, of relationships renewed and futures full of promise.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2004

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

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a number of the stories in various editions of the Chicken Soup series. This particular one, by far, is the best I've read. But then, in my experience, the people in 12 step programs already tend to be walking, breathing examples of such stories in their daily lives anyway.

I've only gotten through maybe 10% of the book so far, but I already have a favorite story that had me sobbing yesterday...

!!SPOILER WARNING!!!

An alcoholic flight attendant had just come out of a month-long rehab program and was back at work. She got off a flight and felt herself on shaky ground in the airport when the overwhelming desire to drink suddenly gripped her. She sincerely didn't want to drink, but felt powerless to stop it. Desperate for help, she hurried to airport staff and had the following page issued all across the airport:

"Friends of Bill W., your party is waiting at gate X. Will friends of Bill W. please go to Gate X?" (For those who are unaware, a "friend of Bill W." is AA-speak for an AA member).

Fifteen people, from all over the airport, showed up at Gate X. Two of them were boarding and decided to miss their flights so they could go help this fellow member. They had a meeting on the spot, right there at the gate.


It's a beautiful thing. Not only the lengths to which we will go for recovery, but the lengths to which others will go for us as well.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating these types of books really isn't fair on my part. Because I seek out certain types of books for a reason. My job. This would be one of those books. As you can tell from the title I work with patients who struggle with addiction. This book gave me an opportunity to share many experiences with them and get them thinking about there own lives hopefully. Even outside the context of my job I enjoyed reading the hopeful stories that were shared.

[J. R. Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a great read. The stories ate deep, emotional, but inspiration comes from each narrative. I recommend this book to people who feel they can't hang onto hope. What I learned from this book is that Recovery comes from all areas of life.

[Mandy Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book as always! blog to come!

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short accounts on the various forms and facets of recovery. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, poignant, and funny.

[Cari608 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Whitney Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that offers many different stories of hope in Recovery from addictions. I would highly recommend this book to people who need to hear of stories of hope, healing, as well as know that they are not alone along their journey of recovery. I know that if I would have found this book about 7 years and a few months ago as I began my own Recovery journey I would have realized that I was not the only 21-22 year old who was going to start the Recovery Journey at a young age. I will say that I have learned many things from the book as I read each and every one of the stories that took place through out the book and could easily see where my own story could easily fit in with theirs. I guess that is the power of knowing what its like on the Recovering addict side.

[Tori Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting and heart touching that these different people went through so many different obstacles in their lives. Each person had faced different situations in their life that had led them to challenge them in some way. In their shared stories, they also found the courage to change some piece of something in their own life to guide them to becoming a better person for different reasons.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Chicken soup series but this is my favorite one. I enjoyed the stories because I struggle with depression and need constant reminders that I can overcome. These people have overcome just I am working on doing through my twelve step work, God, family, therapist, doctor, and my church. I have read the book twice and will probably re-read it at sometime in the future.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patience, understanding, serenity...

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

took this to rehab with me and found it inspirational. great for newcomers to the program.

[Pixismiler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't know this book was for alcoholics.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good book and a must read