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Uplifting Stories: True Tales to Inspire You to Take Action
This collection of inspirational narratives, curated by the popular founder of Uplifting Content, is sure to change your perspective—and maybe even restore your faith in humanity.
If you can’t bear to watch the news lately, you’re not alone. Luckily, Ione Butler is here to offer you some respite. As the founder of Uplifting Content, a social media platform followed by over 1.5 million people, she understands the power of inspirational true stories—the kind we don’t see covered enough these days. Here, she presents an eclectic group of narratives—some from people she’s met in her own travels; others crowdsourced from the uplifting content community or taken from the headlines.
You’ll meet remarkable individuals like Danny Chew, an avid bicyclist who became paralyzed from the waist down after a road accident, yet kept right on going; Daniel Kish, a blind man who learned to “see” using echolocation; and Destiny Watford, a high school student whose passionate activism helped save her town, once known as “the most polluted zip code in America.”
The stories are grouped around themes like human connection, overcoming adversity, acts of service, and pursuing your passion. Butler also shares her own narrative of depression, and her firm belief that focusing on the good in the world brought her back from the brink. Now, she hopes to do the same for others who might be struggling. Uplifting Stories reminds you that most people really are good at heart—even if their voices sometimes get lost in the noise.
If you can’t bear to watch the news lately, you’re not alone. Luckily, Ione Butler is here to offer you some respite. As the founder of Uplifting Content, a social media platform followed by over 1.5 million people, she understands the power of inspirational true stories—the kind we don’t see covered enough these days. Here, she presents an eclectic group of narratives—some from people she’s met in her own travels; others crowdsourced from the uplifting content community or taken from the headlines.
You’ll meet remarkable individuals like Danny Chew, an avid bicyclist who became paralyzed from the waist down after a road accident, yet kept right on going; Daniel Kish, a blind man who learned to “see” using echolocation; and Destiny Watford, a high school student whose passionate activism helped save her town, once known as “the most polluted zip code in America.”
The stories are grouped around themes like human connection, overcoming adversity, acts of service, and pursuing your passion. Butler also shares her own narrative of depression, and her firm belief that focusing on the good in the world brought her back from the brink. Now, she hopes to do the same for others who might be struggling. Uplifting Stories reminds you that most people really are good at heart—even if their voices sometimes get lost in the noise.
- GenresNonfictionShort Stories
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2020
15 people are currently reading
1956 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 11, 2020
The stories in this remarkable book are about the best in humanity. Our desire for connection with others, our determination to pursue dreams, and our generosity in serving others or a greater good of some kind. The author offers these stories as a model for our higher angels to follow, a remedy for the pernicious news and argumentative social climate that confront us every day. By focusing on the good, we can learn the joy of moving ahead with life rather than feeling immobilized. This book changed the way I look at life and people. It will give you a positive outlook on everyday things. A must read.
December 11, 2020
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Let me start by saying that as soon as I started reading this, I knew *immediately* that I was not the right audience for this book. It's written at a very low reading level, with a tone that seems more in line with social media than a proper book - conversational and overly familiar. There's also a serious case of "methinks the lady doth protest too much" with a lot of the stories - i.e. I'm not a racist, look at me talking to insert POC here! or Yup, it's good to treat women like actual people! It made it feel rather cringey and combined with the lower reading level made it feel as though the author was really talking down to the audience.
That being said, that's why the book isn't for me. Now, would I throw this book to a middle schooler? Yeah, in a heartbeat. Now I'm not advocating talking down to kids, or using that type of poor justification, but would a kid get more out of this - increased potential for tolerance and the like based on content, perspective, tone, and so on and so forth? Yes, particularly when it's got the whole internet tone behind the entirety of the text. So, sure, grab it, toss it to a fourth or fifth grader, and you'll be doing just fine. Is it adult reading? Not by a long shot, but it does have its place and if put in that proper place, could do the good that it tries to do. That being said, if the book was appropriately marketed to the audience that it is best suited for, it should nix the rape story. That type of perspective regarding rape is never okay. The perspective of "At least it was just rape" is about as helpful as "at least it's just a hole in the head" or "at least my car is only completely totaled and I've only got 20 broken bones, and hey sure, I'll need years of therapy, but that's a small thing"
Let me start by saying that as soon as I started reading this, I knew *immediately* that I was not the right audience for this book. It's written at a very low reading level, with a tone that seems more in line with social media than a proper book - conversational and overly familiar. There's also a serious case of "methinks the lady doth protest too much" with a lot of the stories - i.e. I'm not a racist, look at me talking to insert POC here! or Yup, it's good to treat women like actual people! It made it feel rather cringey and combined with the lower reading level made it feel as though the author was really talking down to the audience.
That being said, that's why the book isn't for me. Now, would I throw this book to a middle schooler? Yeah, in a heartbeat. Now I'm not advocating talking down to kids, or using that type of poor justification, but would a kid get more out of this - increased potential for tolerance and the like based on content, perspective, tone, and so on and so forth? Yes, particularly when it's got the whole internet tone behind the entirety of the text. So, sure, grab it, toss it to a fourth or fifth grader, and you'll be doing just fine. Is it adult reading? Not by a long shot, but it does have its place and if put in that proper place, could do the good that it tries to do. That being said, if the book was appropriately marketed to the audience that it is best suited for, it should nix the rape story. That type of perspective regarding rape is never okay. The perspective of "At least it was just rape" is about as helpful as "at least it's just a hole in the head" or "at least my car is only completely totaled and I've only got 20 broken bones, and hey sure, I'll need years of therapy, but that's a small thing"
September 22, 2020
I hate to be negative about a book that is literally about being positive but I had high expectations for this book and unfortunately I don't think it lived up to them. While there were a few stories of interest to me for the most part I felt pretty uninspired and even bored. It took me months to get through this short book that should have taken a couple hours max. I realized today as I pushed to finish it that my biggest issue with it was the writing style, it is very amateur and reads like an essay or paper a 7th grade student would turn in.
May 1, 2020
This is essentially a non-fiction anthology from one author. All of the stories are meant to be positive in some way and they succeed. Congrats to the author, and thanks. We can all use some uplifting stories, particularly when they're true, which makes them more impactful. Recommended.
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
April 20, 2021
Uplifting Stories was exactly that and more! Every single story was uplifting and a joy to read whether you agree with the persons reason or reasons why they did something such as Doniece Sandoval helping the unhomed as she called it (and I now prefer to use that term vs homeless) to regain their dignity one shower at a time; Kouhyer and Greg becoming the best of friends despite their difference of opinions politically by showing that people on opposite sides can talk freely about what they believe in without condemning one another; Destiny Watford finding that her true destiny (her first name is so fitting) was to show people that young people are intelligent and armed with the facts she fought for her neighborhood and convinced others to fight as well to those who had to overcome handicaps such as blindness or being quadriplegic to show that they can live a normal and happy life and that in the end they're not that different from you and me.
I cannot wait for Ione Butler to publish her second book of uplifting stories. Each story was uplifting to me and even if I don't put some of the ideas at the end of each story in to play in my own life I at least had a smile on my face after reading the individual stories presented here. A fast read that you will really enjoy! So much better than all the negativity around us. And I have stopped reading the negative news on the internet as Ione challenges you to so at the beginning of her book and I hope to continue to do that and only focus on the good stories...even those that may make me cry!
Thank you to Goodreads, Ione Butler and Tiller Press (Simon and Schuster) for allowing me to win this book!
I cannot wait for Ione Butler to publish her second book of uplifting stories. Each story was uplifting to me and even if I don't put some of the ideas at the end of each story in to play in my own life I at least had a smile on my face after reading the individual stories presented here. A fast read that you will really enjoy! So much better than all the negativity around us. And I have stopped reading the negative news on the internet as Ione challenges you to so at the beginning of her book and I hope to continue to do that and only focus on the good stories...even those that may make me cry!
Thank you to Goodreads, Ione Butler and Tiller Press (Simon and Schuster) for allowing me to win this book!
September 22, 2020
Uplifting Stories by Ione Butler is a collection of essays written by individuals who are resilient against all odds and represent a source of hope and inspiration. The author runs a website by the same title and is to help provide some everyday positivity in the lives of over 1.5 million viewers. The stories are arranged by topics of Human Connection, Overcoming Adversity, Acts of Service, Game-Changers, Pursuing Your Passion and Purpose, and The Unimaginable. Although there were some good essays, the writing structure was awkward at times that made it seem a bit clunky at times. In addition, I struggled with the first essay as the majority of the first essay was centered mostly around Greg and not Kouhyar as much. It was also a bit weird how they through in an anecdote about a black woman in Better Angels when it was about Greg and Kouhyar which made it come across as trying to justify Greg as not a racist and pander on how he's a really good guy. I see the value in combatting polarization and I think there is great value in sharing similar stories to this, but the rhetoric used by Greg and how the story was portrayed was concerning.
Many thanks to the publisher Tiller Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher Tiller Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
November 5, 2020
***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***
The world is on fire right now and a book of light, uplifting stories sounded exactly like what I needed. Unfortunately, it's hard to get into that mental space when there is just so much going on that is the very opposite of light and uplifting. Because of this, I think I struggled to really appreciate the book til I was at least halfway through. Does that flavor my review? Probably, but I've tried to account for it as much as possible.
As with any collection of stories, this book has its ups and downs. I felt the book ended on a strong note with 3 fascinating, inspiring stories about doing what seems impossible. On the other end of the spectrum, some stories fell incredibly flat. For example, the very first story is about a Democrat and Republican finding common ground and becoming close friends. Great! But the story as told is so shallow, it makes their journey sound so easy and effortless that I really am not sure what we are supposed to gain from it.
Overall, I liked this book but I wish it had had a little more oomph. I really want to understand the motivations and challenges of the people in the stories, but felt I got too little of that.
[Trigger Warning: rape]
The world is on fire right now and a book of light, uplifting stories sounded exactly like what I needed. Unfortunately, it's hard to get into that mental space when there is just so much going on that is the very opposite of light and uplifting. Because of this, I think I struggled to really appreciate the book til I was at least halfway through. Does that flavor my review? Probably, but I've tried to account for it as much as possible.
As with any collection of stories, this book has its ups and downs. I felt the book ended on a strong note with 3 fascinating, inspiring stories about doing what seems impossible. On the other end of the spectrum, some stories fell incredibly flat. For example, the very first story is about a Democrat and Republican finding common ground and becoming close friends. Great! But the story as told is so shallow, it makes their journey sound so easy and effortless that I really am not sure what we are supposed to gain from it.
Overall, I liked this book but I wish it had had a little more oomph. I really want to understand the motivations and challenges of the people in the stories, but felt I got too little of that.
[Trigger Warning: rape]
October 4, 2020
DNF - Spoilers and major trigger warning.
From the very first story, I knew this was going to end badly. Blatant racism is NOT something someone should be acknowledged for let alone a whole story written about. On top of that, saying rape is an adversity to overcome is.... I have no words for that. Downplaying it and only broadcasting how the victim overcame it, moved on from and said, "at least only one raped me", "at least I'm not dead" sounds like quotes from a woman who is trying to push down what happened, not someone who has dealt with her trauma. I definitely do not want to criticize her healing, and also, I have known MANY survivors and all of them wished they had died. Which again, is not to dismiss someone else's experience, however, this whole book came across ingenuine, thrown together, thoughtless and purely published to make money in a time when so much darkness has overcome us.
From the very first story, I knew this was going to end badly. Blatant racism is NOT something someone should be acknowledged for let alone a whole story written about. On top of that, saying rape is an adversity to overcome is.... I have no words for that. Downplaying it and only broadcasting how the victim overcame it, moved on from and said, "at least only one raped me", "at least I'm not dead" sounds like quotes from a woman who is trying to push down what happened, not someone who has dealt with her trauma. I definitely do not want to criticize her healing, and also, I have known MANY survivors and all of them wished they had died. Which again, is not to dismiss someone else's experience, however, this whole book came across ingenuine, thrown together, thoughtless and purely published to make money in a time when so much darkness has overcome us.
March 17, 2024
A truly enjoyable book that helps your realize humanity is not lost.
December 29, 2020
Ione Butler's collection of Uplifting Stories is pretty predictable and cliché. It is easy to read, and I actually enjoyed some of the sugary positivity. Each story includes a way to "take action" which shifts this book from a collection of biographical essays to one with a very clear self-help agenda.
February 19, 2022
Has the pandemic got you down, depressed, unmotivated, feeling like you lack a reason to turn off the television? Read this book before you start the next episode of Shameless. Uplifting Stories is a compilation of tales brought together by Ione Butler, the founder of Uplifting Content. Ione believes that focusing on the good in life is what pulled her out of depression and she wants to share the magic with the world.
I tried to read this book before bed. This was not a good idea. At the end of each story I was motivated to go out and change the world, not the best state of mind to try to head to dreamland quickly. This would be a great book to read in the morning while savoring a nice cup of coffee or tea. These stories will leave you ready to make the most of your day. If you are in a place where you do not know what to do next, try the activities that are part of each section introduction. They will help you learn about yourself and what is important to you. One of these stories may resonate more than the others. Ione has a Take Action section for each one that will give you ideas for how you can take steps towards your world changing future.
I tried to read this book before bed. This was not a good idea. At the end of each story I was motivated to go out and change the world, not the best state of mind to try to head to dreamland quickly. This would be a great book to read in the morning while savoring a nice cup of coffee or tea. These stories will leave you ready to make the most of your day. If you are in a place where you do not know what to do next, try the activities that are part of each section introduction. They will help you learn about yourself and what is important to you. One of these stories may resonate more than the others. Ione has a Take Action section for each one that will give you ideas for how you can take steps towards your world changing future.
January 6, 2022
Feel good stories.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews