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The Kindness of Strangers: Travel Stories That Make Your Heart Grow
Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer
Travel opens our minds to the world; it helps us to embrace risk and uncertainty, overcome challenges and understand the people we meet and the places we visit. But what happens when we arrive home? How do our experiences shape us?
'The Kindness of Strangers' explores what it means to be vulnerable and to be helped by someone we've never met before. Someone who could have walked past, but chose not to.
This is a collection of stories by accomplished travellers and adventurous souls like Sarah Outen, Benedict Allen, Ed Stafford and Al Humphreys, who have completed daring journeys through challenging terrain, adventuring from the Calais Jungle to the Amazon, from Land’s End to the Gobi Desert, from New Guinea to Iran and many other places in between. Each has a story to tell of a time when they were vulnerable, when they were in need and a kind stranger came to their rescue.
These are stories that make our hearts grow, stories that will restore our faith in the world and remind us that, despite what the media says, the world isn't a scary place – rather, it is filled with Kind Strangers just like us.
All royalties go directly to fund Oxfam’s work with refugees.
Travel opens our minds to the world; it helps us to embrace risk and uncertainty, overcome challenges and understand the people we meet and the places we visit. But what happens when we arrive home? How do our experiences shape us?
'The Kindness of Strangers' explores what it means to be vulnerable and to be helped by someone we've never met before. Someone who could have walked past, but chose not to.
This is a collection of stories by accomplished travellers and adventurous souls like Sarah Outen, Benedict Allen, Ed Stafford and Al Humphreys, who have completed daring journeys through challenging terrain, adventuring from the Calais Jungle to the Amazon, from Land’s End to the Gobi Desert, from New Guinea to Iran and many other places in between. Each has a story to tell of a time when they were vulnerable, when they were in need and a kind stranger came to their rescue.
These are stories that make our hearts grow, stories that will restore our faith in the world and remind us that, despite what the media says, the world isn't a scary place – rather, it is filled with Kind Strangers just like us.
All royalties go directly to fund Oxfam’s work with refugees.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2018
79 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 16, 2021
Travel is supposed to be challenging, you are out of your comfort zone, you are in unfamiliar places, often surrounded by people who don’t speak the same language as you and have a very different culture. It can pay rich dividends and give you an insight into how people live and how different it is to your way of life. These places that you see, the sunsets that you watch and the interactions that you have with other people, shape who you are.
It is no coincidence that kindness starts with ‘kin’
There are moments though where you are at your lowest ebb or something has happened where you need help and this book is full of those moments where travel writers needed that little bit of compassion from the people around them. There are stories from the well known, such as Benedict Allen and Ed Stafford and other stories from writers that I have not come across, such as Faraz Shibli and Tina Brocklebank.
The stories are as varies as the people who have written them; one writer tries to outrun a blizzard on her bicycle, an out of work forestry worker who would join Ed Stafford on the longest walk of his life and two men who wanted to do the Lands End to John O Groats route starting only in their underwear and who were utterly reliant on the generosity of strangers to clothe and feed them.
I am a part of all that I have met – Tennyson, Ulysses
This is a heartwarming collection of stories from travel writers who have experienced human kindness that was given selflessly by people who were are often in pretty dire straits themselves. That those people who showed compassion and empathy to others in their greatest need shows that as a species we are capable of doing these things.
It is no coincidence that kindness starts with ‘kin’
There are moments though where you are at your lowest ebb or something has happened where you need help and this book is full of those moments where travel writers needed that little bit of compassion from the people around them. There are stories from the well known, such as Benedict Allen and Ed Stafford and other stories from writers that I have not come across, such as Faraz Shibli and Tina Brocklebank.
The stories are as varies as the people who have written them; one writer tries to outrun a blizzard on her bicycle, an out of work forestry worker who would join Ed Stafford on the longest walk of his life and two men who wanted to do the Lands End to John O Groats route starting only in their underwear and who were utterly reliant on the generosity of strangers to clothe and feed them.
I am a part of all that I have met – Tennyson, Ulysses
This is a heartwarming collection of stories from travel writers who have experienced human kindness that was given selflessly by people who were are often in pretty dire straits themselves. That those people who showed compassion and empathy to others in their greatest need shows that as a species we are capable of doing these things.
July 17, 2021
I'm still mulling over my rating for this one. It was an interesting collection of anecdotes from a variety of folks about their different adventures and the moments of life-changing, lovely kindness they were treated to by complete strangers, but I don't find that it really resonated with me on the level I was anticipating.
March 18, 2019
So many good stories of random acts of kindness and so many new books I wanna read
November 16, 2018
This is an interesting and challenging collection of stories, observations and thoughts from travel writers, all circling the theme of kindness from strangers. Most of the stories are of weary travellers shown tremendous generosity by complete strangers, while a few focus on lessons learned through humanitarian efforts. The message throughout the book is clear: wherever you are in the world, you will be astonished at the selflessness of others, even in the face of poverty.
May 3, 2022
Good short stories. It was the perfect book to read in the morning hours.
I was pleasantly surprised by the representation of solo women travelling, quite a few cycling, on these adventures. A reminder for all of us that not all the world is scary and unaccessible as (too often) they (the media) want us to believe.
As a travel lover and cyclist, I found the short stories inspirational, and they provided me with a good list for further reading on this topic.
I was pleasantly surprised by the representation of solo women travelling, quite a few cycling, on these adventures. A reminder for all of us that not all the world is scary and unaccessible as (too often) they (the media) want us to believe.
As a travel lover and cyclist, I found the short stories inspirational, and they provided me with a good list for further reading on this topic.
February 7, 2021
Lots of small stand alone chapters to make you remember that people are kind and sometimes kindness goes a long way. Let's give it forwards ..
January 17, 2019
Smitten by Lois Pryce's 'Revolutionary Ride' which I own a copy of and read last year, and later further enamored by Iran after a two-week vacation just last month, I was intrigued to read more travel narrative books, and learned about this book from Pryce on Twitter. Captivated simply by the synopsis, I didn't hesitate to get a copy immediately from BookDepository.
A 'stranger' can be defined as 'a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted', and in the current age, in most cases strangers are met with skepticism. Especially in modern societies, strangers are often thought to have ulterior motives, and any plea for help from them is met with caution as they might be veiled attempts at tricking, robbing or even murdering you. Especially when one is travelling all alone on foreign soil, he is left to rely only on himself and simply not trust strangers. This book iWritten in the same vein as 'Revolutionary Ride', 'The Kindness of Strangers' is a collection of stories by wanderlust-motivated daredevil adventurers of the British Isles who pushed the envelope of traveling to remote places or achieving traveling feats, such as crossing the entire Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean and cycling through the African continent; the stories are based on their personal experiences when they were touched by kind souls during their arduous journeys around the worlds trying to challenge this perception head on by demonstrating how the kindest acts can come from the most unfamiliar of faces.
Written in the same vein as 'Revolutionary Ride', 'The Kindness of Strangers' is a collection of stories by wanderlust-motivated daredevil adventurers of the British Isles who pushed the envelope of traveling to remote places or achieving traveling feats, such as crossing the entire Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean and cycling through the African continent. Their stories are based on their personal experiences when they were touched by kind souls during their arduous journeys around the world. From the frigid northern lands of Iran to the snow-buried winter plains of the American Midwest, the stories are collected into a book by people bitten fiercely motivated to see the beauty of foreign lands without the company of fellow friends, while keenly dying to know what it would be like to meet local people while on the road.
Traveling alone around the world is a daunting task for many people, including myself years ago, but after my own personal experience in solo traveling, I began to slowly and gradually appreciate it, especially when making serendipitous discoveries, coming face to face with unparalleled local hospitality, and experiencing local people's unbridled kindness. It goes against unconventional wisdom, one that is ingrained since childhood in the form of a parent's advice: 'do not trust strangers'. Yet, perhaps counter-intuitively, by closing ourselves towards strangers we learn to forget what it's like to witness unconditional kindness, one that is not bearing any ulterior motive or motivated by self-interest.
This is a book written by solo wanderlusters for solo wanderlusters, an assemblage of journals that showcase why kindness is a universal language that transcends countries, cultures, language and race; it is an ode to travelers who have had firsthand witness to unrequited kindness that challenges xenophobic sentiments and unfair stereotypes towards selected nations. At the same time, this book is also dedicated to people who doubt the excitement and adventure that solo traveling brings, making them intrigued to go out there and start exploring the world for themselves. It's a book that shows how there is still so much about the human heart that people don't fathom, and learning how to be humble in accepting just how little we know about people in foreign lands, and thereby restoring some faith in humanity.
This is one of the best nonfiction books I own, and I'm even more glad to know that by purchasing a copy of this book, I contributed my part in helping refugees around the world with the help of Oxfam. It's one of the most rewarding experiences I've had, and such books further fuel my ambition to travel around the world on my own and meet different kinds of people while suspending all forms of judgment, skepticism and prejudice. Bravo; an amazing journey in literary form!
A 'stranger' can be defined as 'a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted', and in the current age, in most cases strangers are met with skepticism. Especially in modern societies, strangers are often thought to have ulterior motives, and any plea for help from them is met with caution as they might be veiled attempts at tricking, robbing or even murdering you. Especially when one is travelling all alone on foreign soil, he is left to rely only on himself and simply not trust strangers. This book iWritten in the same vein as 'Revolutionary Ride', 'The Kindness of Strangers' is a collection of stories by wanderlust-motivated daredevil adventurers of the British Isles who pushed the envelope of traveling to remote places or achieving traveling feats, such as crossing the entire Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean and cycling through the African continent; the stories are based on their personal experiences when they were touched by kind souls during their arduous journeys around the worlds trying to challenge this perception head on by demonstrating how the kindest acts can come from the most unfamiliar of faces.
Written in the same vein as 'Revolutionary Ride', 'The Kindness of Strangers' is a collection of stories by wanderlust-motivated daredevil adventurers of the British Isles who pushed the envelope of traveling to remote places or achieving traveling feats, such as crossing the entire Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean and cycling through the African continent. Their stories are based on their personal experiences when they were touched by kind souls during their arduous journeys around the world. From the frigid northern lands of Iran to the snow-buried winter plains of the American Midwest, the stories are collected into a book by people bitten fiercely motivated to see the beauty of foreign lands without the company of fellow friends, while keenly dying to know what it would be like to meet local people while on the road.
Traveling alone around the world is a daunting task for many people, including myself years ago, but after my own personal experience in solo traveling, I began to slowly and gradually appreciate it, especially when making serendipitous discoveries, coming face to face with unparalleled local hospitality, and experiencing local people's unbridled kindness. It goes against unconventional wisdom, one that is ingrained since childhood in the form of a parent's advice: 'do not trust strangers'. Yet, perhaps counter-intuitively, by closing ourselves towards strangers we learn to forget what it's like to witness unconditional kindness, one that is not bearing any ulterior motive or motivated by self-interest.
This is a book written by solo wanderlusters for solo wanderlusters, an assemblage of journals that showcase why kindness is a universal language that transcends countries, cultures, language and race; it is an ode to travelers who have had firsthand witness to unrequited kindness that challenges xenophobic sentiments and unfair stereotypes towards selected nations. At the same time, this book is also dedicated to people who doubt the excitement and adventure that solo traveling brings, making them intrigued to go out there and start exploring the world for themselves. It's a book that shows how there is still so much about the human heart that people don't fathom, and learning how to be humble in accepting just how little we know about people in foreign lands, and thereby restoring some faith in humanity.
This is one of the best nonfiction books I own, and I'm even more glad to know that by purchasing a copy of this book, I contributed my part in helping refugees around the world with the help of Oxfam. It's one of the most rewarding experiences I've had, and such books further fuel my ambition to travel around the world on my own and meet different kinds of people while suspending all forms of judgment, skepticism and prejudice. Bravo; an amazing journey in literary form!
October 20, 2020
My mom sent me this book to read which was so sweet of her! Both my mom and I love to read but sometimes can take a while to finish a book. I’m impressed with her reading kick lately and appreciate that she’s including me.
I hope she enjoys this book a little more than I did. I think my assumptions about it skewed my perspective, as I thought it was about everyday travelers encountering kindness as opposed to world-class adventurers (didn’t know there was such a thing). Their stories felt a little out of touch and while they may be fit for travel I didn’t find all of them fit for writing. Some of the stories were really brief and lack-luster and repeated the same trope of a self-centered traveler being “shocked” by the kindness of someone “other.”
I did jot down a few quotes that I loved and appreciated one author calling into question the self-centeredness of charitable adventuring. That was the most thought-provoking moment.
I hope she enjoys this book a little more than I did. I think my assumptions about it skewed my perspective, as I thought it was about everyday travelers encountering kindness as opposed to world-class adventurers (didn’t know there was such a thing). Their stories felt a little out of touch and while they may be fit for travel I didn’t find all of them fit for writing. Some of the stories were really brief and lack-luster and repeated the same trope of a self-centered traveler being “shocked” by the kindness of someone “other.”
I did jot down a few quotes that I loved and appreciated one author calling into question the self-centeredness of charitable adventuring. That was the most thought-provoking moment.
May 18, 2019
Fantastic little book full of short stories from around the world showing what I always believed - that humans are basically the same the world over. Human nature is human nature no matter your country, religion, colour, sex, etc. People are naturally kind & will help others wherever they can. Yes there are bad people out there but they are in the minority.
The only downside is the stories are so short but it has encouraged me to read more tales from the various authors.
The only downside is the stories are so short but it has encouraged me to read more tales from the various authors.
January 4, 2023
I loved many of the travel stories from this book, and I loved the overall message of it, but I didn't love/like all of the stories (I tend to have that problem with m(any) collections of short stories - they tend to be "uneven", like a box of chocolates - we will end up having our favourite ones, of which there is never enough, and there will be others that will leave us less than satisfied...)
April 28, 2023
Lovely messaging overall around the pure good that exists in all of us. Only downside was that quite a few of the stories were fairly similar to each other.
February 7, 2021
Heartwarming and easy to dip in and out of thanks to short chapters. A good book for a pandemic to remind you that kindness can be found everywhere.
April 1, 2019
Easy read. Short heart-warming stories.
January 1, 2024
This book was not what I expected. I loved the first few stories, but was disappointed that the majority of the book told tales of white people putting themselves in dangerous situations in disadvantaged countries and being shocked that disadvantaged people would help someone. The number of stories about volunteering and making refugees happy or almost dying in life threatening situations speaks to a privilege that most people do not have. I found the stories to be unrelatable as a non-athlete, non- person who can take years off of work. The story about the people who act “poor” on trips but are actually privileged creates a hypocrisy, and I appreciated the stories where people acknowledged their privilege and the color of their skin, as many people who are actually penniless rarely actually receive the help they need.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book! It’s about kindness, strangers becoming friends, traveling, seeing the world from different angles and finding these little moments which make us human. It all boils down to humanity and peaceful interactions with others. Trust. Kindness!
The book consists of a whole bunch of short stories which one can easily squeeze in the hustle and bustle of every days life... but it also lead me to ordering more books by the authors of some stories because I loved their way to tell and their adventures and can’t wait to learn more...
The book consists of a whole bunch of short stories which one can easily squeeze in the hustle and bustle of every days life... but it also lead me to ordering more books by the authors of some stories because I loved their way to tell and their adventures and can’t wait to learn more...
December 5, 2018
Reading this was heartwarming and exciting. With every adventure is a moral story on compassion and keeping minds open, alongside how every corner on earth has good despite the stereotypes or fear towards difference by the majority. Very recent recounts and relevant, alongside addressing current politics in different parts of the world.
January 5, 2019
A nice collection of short stories of random kind acts whilst travelling around the world - a reminder that its cool to be kind and that kindness surpasses all walks of life, countries and cultures.
September 7, 2024
🌍The Kindness of Strangers🌍
Travel Stories That Make Your Heart Grow
In a world that often feels divided, "The Kindness of Strangers" serves as a poignant reminder of the universal language of kindness. Compiled with tales from various authors, this collection touches the soul with every journey, showcasing how unexpected generosity in unfamiliar lands can profoundly change us.
👤 Dalai Lama - Opening the collection, the Dalai Lama sets a serene tone with reflections on compassion and connection across cultures. His story reminds us that kindness is a fundamental human trait that transcends geographical and spiritual boundaries.
👤 Pico Iyer - Iyer’s contribution is a beautifully penned piece on the silent, yet powerful exchanges between people who share no common language but connect through simple human gestures.
👤 Simon Winchester - Winchester's narrative takes us on a historical adventure where kindness emerges as a hero in times of distress, teaching us that the past holds valuable lessons for contemporary society.
👤 Jan Morris - Morris offers a tender view of kindness as seen through the lens of her travels, highlighting how benevolence can often be found in the most mundane interactions.
👤 Tim Cahill - In a more humorous take, Cahill recounts episodes where kindness comes from the most unlikely sources, proving that sometimes, those with the least to give offer the most.
👤 Dave Eggers - Eggers encapsulates the pure essence of altruism when he finds himself in dire need, painting a vivid picture of how transformative receiving kindness can be.
Each story is a mosaic of humanity, crafted with the threads of benevolence, empathy, and the unexpected friendships formed across the invisible lines that supposedly divide us. This book isn’t just about travel; it's about the transformative power of kindness that often goes unnoticed but never unfelt.
📚 Why Read? Dive into this book for a heartwarming journey that reassures you of the good in the world, and inspires you to pass on that kindness. A perfect read for those who seek to travel not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
🔍 Ideal For: #TravelLovers #Bookstagram #InspirationalReads #KindnessMatters #HeartwarmingStories #TravelLiterature #BookReviews
Travel Stories That Make Your Heart Grow
In a world that often feels divided, "The Kindness of Strangers" serves as a poignant reminder of the universal language of kindness. Compiled with tales from various authors, this collection touches the soul with every journey, showcasing how unexpected generosity in unfamiliar lands can profoundly change us.
👤 Dalai Lama - Opening the collection, the Dalai Lama sets a serene tone with reflections on compassion and connection across cultures. His story reminds us that kindness is a fundamental human trait that transcends geographical and spiritual boundaries.
👤 Pico Iyer - Iyer’s contribution is a beautifully penned piece on the silent, yet powerful exchanges between people who share no common language but connect through simple human gestures.
👤 Simon Winchester - Winchester's narrative takes us on a historical adventure where kindness emerges as a hero in times of distress, teaching us that the past holds valuable lessons for contemporary society.
👤 Jan Morris - Morris offers a tender view of kindness as seen through the lens of her travels, highlighting how benevolence can often be found in the most mundane interactions.
👤 Tim Cahill - In a more humorous take, Cahill recounts episodes where kindness comes from the most unlikely sources, proving that sometimes, those with the least to give offer the most.
👤 Dave Eggers - Eggers encapsulates the pure essence of altruism when he finds himself in dire need, painting a vivid picture of how transformative receiving kindness can be.
Each story is a mosaic of humanity, crafted with the threads of benevolence, empathy, and the unexpected friendships formed across the invisible lines that supposedly divide us. This book isn’t just about travel; it's about the transformative power of kindness that often goes unnoticed but never unfelt.
📚 Why Read? Dive into this book for a heartwarming journey that reassures you of the good in the world, and inspires you to pass on that kindness. A perfect read for those who seek to travel not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
🔍 Ideal For: #TravelLovers #Bookstagram #InspirationalReads #KindnessMatters #HeartwarmingStories #TravelLiterature #BookReviews
May 6, 2022
English review below the Greek one...
Υποθέτω ότι ανάλογα με τα πιστεύω και την κοσμοθεωρία του καθενός, διαφορετικά κεφάλαια αυτού του βιβλίου μπορεί να τύχουν διαφορετικής αντιμετώπισης από διαφορετικούς ανθρώπους.
Σαν γραφή, κάποια κείμενα ήταν καλύτερα από άλλα(δεν είναι άλλωστε όλοι όσοι συνεισέφεραν στο βιβλίο συγγραφείς) και ορισμένες ιστορίες πιο ενδιαφέρουσες από άλλες.
Προσωπικά βρήκα τις δραστηριότητες και τις ιστορίες κάποιων ανθρώπων πολύ αξιόλογες και θα ήθελα να μάθω περισσότερα για τη δράση και/ή τα ταξίδια τους, ωστόσο βρήκα κάποιες άλλες μάλλον εκνευριστικές.
Σε ορισμένα κεφάλαια μου φάνηκε σαν να ήθελαν να "δειχτούν" οι συγγραφείς τους ή περιέγραφαν απλά επιπόλαιες και επικίνδυνες δραστηριότητες και καταστάσεις, λάθος αποφάσεις ή ταξίδια με καθαρά εγωιστικά κίνητρα που επιβαρύναν τους γύρω τους, με μία προσπάθεια να αποποιηθούν τις ευθύνες τους ή να παρουσιάσουν τα τεκτενόμενα ύπο τον μανδύα μίας δήθεν φιλανθρωπίας, πνεύματος φιλομάθειας, προσωπικής αυτοβελτίωσης ή ξέρω κι εγώ τι.
Γενικά έχω λιγάκι ανάμεικτα συναισθήματα για το βιβλίο, αλλά τουλάχιστον μέρος των εσόδων πάει στην Oxfam για ανακούφιση των προσφύγων.
This is a collection of short stories/articles by various contributors, non-fiction. I guess we all have our own bias, so different chapters might appeal to different people.
Some of those stories were better written than others (not all contributors are writers after all) and some were more interesting than others. I found some of the stories/activities of some people noteworthy and I wanted to read on on their experiences and to find more about them , while I didn't like some stories so much.
Some actions/adventures or incidents felt a bit like a show-off to me or like absolutely ridiculous/dangerous acts and stupid decisions or even worse...travels for selfish motives that result to transfer one's responsibilities and been a burden to other people, coated with a slim excuse of self-discovery or charity or to prove the world is a nice place or whatever yada yada...
A mixed bag of a book. The royalties go to Oxfam in order to support refugees, so at least it's for a good cause.
Υποθέτω ότι ανάλογα με τα πιστεύω και την κοσμοθεωρία του καθενός, διαφορετικά κεφάλαια αυτού του βιβλίου μπορεί να τύχουν διαφορετικής αντιμετώπισης από διαφορετικούς ανθρώπους.
Σαν γραφή, κάποια κείμενα ήταν καλύτερα από άλλα(δεν είναι άλλωστε όλοι όσοι συνεισέφεραν στο βιβλίο συγγραφείς) και ορισμένες ιστορίες πιο ενδιαφέρουσες από άλλες.
Προσωπικά βρήκα τις δραστηριότητες και τις ιστορίες κάποιων ανθρώπων πολύ αξιόλογες και θα ήθελα να μάθω περισσότερα για τη δράση και/ή τα ταξίδια τους, ωστόσο βρήκα κάποιες άλλες μάλλον εκνευριστικές.
Σε ορισμένα κεφάλαια μου φάνηκε σαν να ήθελαν να "δειχτούν" οι συγγραφείς τους ή περιέγραφαν απλά επιπόλαιες και επικίνδυνες δραστηριότητες και καταστάσεις, λάθος αποφάσεις ή ταξίδια με καθαρά εγωιστικά κίνητρα που επιβαρύναν τους γύρω τους, με μία προσπάθεια να αποποιηθούν τις ευθύνες τους ή να παρουσιάσουν τα τεκτενόμενα ύπο τον μανδύα μίας δήθεν φιλανθρωπίας, πνεύματος φιλομάθειας, προσωπικής αυτοβελτίωσης ή ξέρω κι εγώ τι.
Γενικά έχω λιγάκι ανάμεικτα συναισθήματα για το βιβλίο, αλλά τουλάχιστον μέρος των εσόδων πάει στην Oxfam για ανακούφιση των προσφύγων.
This is a collection of short stories/articles by various contributors, non-fiction. I guess we all have our own bias, so different chapters might appeal to different people.
Some of those stories were better written than others (not all contributors are writers after all) and some were more interesting than others. I found some of the stories/activities of some people noteworthy and I wanted to read on on their experiences and to find more about them , while I didn't like some stories so much.
Some actions/adventures or incidents felt a bit like a show-off to me or like absolutely ridiculous/dangerous acts and stupid decisions or even worse...travels for selfish motives that result to transfer one's responsibilities and been a burden to other people, coated with a slim excuse of self-discovery or charity or to prove the world is a nice place or whatever yada yada...
A mixed bag of a book. The royalties go to Oxfam in order to support refugees, so at least it's for a good cause.
January 28, 2020
Received this for a secret santa present after making a passing reference in a bookshop to it looking interesting with my secret santa within earshot! It makes for a really enjoyable and heartwarming read from some of the UK's top adventurers who have each been met with kindness in times of adversity.
This book both made me want to travel, or more specifically to adventure, to more historically "out of bounds" or perhaps less trodden places but also offered some valuable life lessons. For example, sometimes taking is the best gift you can give (think restoring the dignity of refugees in, for example, the jungle).
What this book also did well was highlight the kindness of the vast majority of us, regardless of where in the world you come from. Also, how bias and media around certain cultures and parts of the world can lead us to assume the worst. Being "run off the road" (hopefully an exaggeration!) by lorries to be given pomegranates in Iran comes to mind. That said, balance should be struck and unfortunately a degree of wariness should still apply to keep you safe on your travels.
This book both made me want to travel, or more specifically to adventure, to more historically "out of bounds" or perhaps less trodden places but also offered some valuable life lessons. For example, sometimes taking is the best gift you can give (think restoring the dignity of refugees in, for example, the jungle).
What this book also did well was highlight the kindness of the vast majority of us, regardless of where in the world you come from. Also, how bias and media around certain cultures and parts of the world can lead us to assume the worst. Being "run off the road" (hopefully an exaggeration!) by lorries to be given pomegranates in Iran comes to mind. That said, balance should be struck and unfortunately a degree of wariness should still apply to keep you safe on your travels.
April 16, 2020
This book is a compilation of stories where different travellers (many on their bike journeys) have met kindness in unexpected or overlooked places. From people who become more than a stranger through their openness and kindness.
Here’s a book that’ll make you fall in love with the world and its people, one story at a time.
Impactful storytelling which caused a few tears, the strange kind of tears that come from witnessing/experiencing an incredible level of generosity. I smiled often. None of these things are happening to me, yet they’re so heartfelt, the moments so important and feeling easily relatable when I think on the kindness of strangers from my travels. I forget to think about it because often, those people aren’t strangers anymore and this compilation of stories has reminded me that gratitude is not situational- that gratitude can still be applied years later.
Thank you for such a brilliant book with exciting stories!
Here’s a book that’ll make you fall in love with the world and its people, one story at a time.
Impactful storytelling which caused a few tears, the strange kind of tears that come from witnessing/experiencing an incredible level of generosity. I smiled often. None of these things are happening to me, yet they’re so heartfelt, the moments so important and feeling easily relatable when I think on the kindness of strangers from my travels. I forget to think about it because often, those people aren’t strangers anymore and this compilation of stories has reminded me that gratitude is not situational- that gratitude can still be applied years later.
Thank you for such a brilliant book with exciting stories!
May 7, 2020
This is a bit of a hotchpotch of travellers' tales with most contributions only a few pages long and one only just over a page and a half. Some of the writing was quite overdone, overwritten and I felt myself drawn much more to the Bangladeshi philanthropist whose kindness almost bankrupted him than to the three women who travelled without paying their way. Some travel writing can be about pretty tedious inner journeys or the self-obsessed or ill-prepared. I am thankful that there were none of those but flitting from one very short story to another was at times quite unsatisfying. Nevertheless there was a lot to ponder, especially the Seeds of the Future piece. I had to be reminded that our beloved Scotland has experienced worse deforestation than anything that has gone on in the tropics! I hope Oxfam makes plenty of money from this collection.
October 5, 2021
A great book to read when most of us are unable to travel due to the current pandemic. The innate kindness of strangers can really go beyond our imagination.
More than 10 years ago, my husband (boyfriend at that time) and I went for an expedition to Syria and it was one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken in our lives.
Just as many stories in the book, such countries are often portrayed badly by the media, however, locals there are often the most welcoming and friendly people you will ever meet. We were often stopped randomly by locals, wanting to chat and to take photos with us, as if we were ailiens from the outside world. It’s one of the few trips that will be forever entrenched in our minds and we would love to share the beautiful stories with our children when they grow up.
More than 10 years ago, my husband (boyfriend at that time) and I went for an expedition to Syria and it was one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken in our lives.
Just as many stories in the book, such countries are often portrayed badly by the media, however, locals there are often the most welcoming and friendly people you will ever meet. We were often stopped randomly by locals, wanting to chat and to take photos with us, as if we were ailiens from the outside world. It’s one of the few trips that will be forever entrenched in our minds and we would love to share the beautiful stories with our children when they grow up.
January 21, 2021
This was really enjoyable to read- a heartwarming collection of essays that lends a bit of good feeling to a year that, well, hasn't been. It was nice to read about kind actions for a change, and some of the essays were absolute stand-outs that either made me laugh or feel all warm and cozy inside. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a bit more diversity amongst the collection, as quite a number of them had to do with people bike-riding across various countries. It would've been nice to have fewer of those (as they tend to feel a bit repetitive), and more variation. But otherwise, a lovely collection.
February 12, 2025
I find it hard to connect with the book because most of the stories were coming from the POV of someone who has the privilege to put themselves in such situations. It was a choice to be in that challenging situation. It constantly had me thinking, "Why would you do that?", "You know it was bound to happen." Well, it gave me a little insight into what goes in the mind of a privileged person.
I must say, it is heart-warming to read about the kindness the world has to offer and inspire me to be a little kinder to those around me.
I must say, it is heart-warming to read about the kindness the world has to offer and inspire me to be a little kinder to those around me.
May 25, 2023
Funds from sale of book go to OXFAM, so they have collected travel adventurer's short recounts of "kindness" on their way .Not what I have expected from the cover ,some are very general ,very short to be even a story. It all sounded more like a promo for each traveler that have their own books ,sites, agendas .Out of the twenty plus participants in the book ,one stood out for me as fun at what he did .I would have appreciated less generalization ,and hear a specific story from each contributor.
April 27, 2024
3.5 / 5 stars
I enjoyed this collection and it’s such a great reminder of the kindness and selflessness that exists in their world! 🌎🫶
My one gripe is that many of the stories felt similar, since they were all written by people who were in the midst of extreme challenges (biking across America, walking across Europe, etc etc etc). Reading those kind of stories back to back to back means they start to blend together.
I enjoyed this collection and it’s such a great reminder of the kindness and selflessness that exists in their world! 🌎🫶
My one gripe is that many of the stories felt similar, since they were all written by people who were in the midst of extreme challenges (biking across America, walking across Europe, etc etc etc). Reading those kind of stories back to back to back means they start to blend together.
April 3, 2021
Really loved this amazingly heart-warming stories about incredible individuals normally doing incredible things but then supported and helped by even more amazing people. ' Very few people are out to cause harm and news reports only tell one side of the story'
A book to restore your faith in humanity
A book to restore your faith in humanity
March 27, 2022
Enjoyed reading all of the travel stories in this book. Favourites were: “The Weichman Sisters” , “Mama Ana”, “The Most Selfless Man I have met” , “The Banksy of Bangladesh” “Walking Across Lake Baikal” “Go and Wake Up Your Luck” and “The Road from Petauke.” Also if you buy the book all royalties go to oxfam’s work with refugees.
February 2, 2021
One of my best books of 2020, will restore your faith in humanity and remind you that no matter how different we seem, we all share the experience of being human trying to find out way! Just beautiful
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