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Be Kind: A Year of Kindness, One Week at a Time
Produced in partnership with the nonprofit organization Kindness.org, Be Kind emboldens you to perform a simple and effective act of kindness every week for a year, benefiting others and yourself while deepening connections in your communities big and small.
Each of the 52 weeks of kindness includes a dose of inspiration (e.g. a quote from an influential person or an authentic personal gratitude letter); a fascinating stat or fact about kindness that has been researched by Kindlab (e.g. 72 percent of employees think it is important or very important for an employer to recognize kind acts in the workplace.); and a suggestion for an act of kindness to perform in one of the following areas:
Kindness to self
Kindness with kids
Kindness toward those around you(service workers, people experiencing homelessness, etc.)
Kindness as a group
Kindness to the environment
Kindness at work
Cyber-kindness
Fully illustrated, engaging, and inspiring, Be Kind will have you changing not only yourself and your communities, but also the world, one week at a time.
Each of the 52 weeks of kindness includes a dose of inspiration (e.g. a quote from an influential person or an authentic personal gratitude letter); a fascinating stat or fact about kindness that has been researched by Kindlab (e.g. 72 percent of employees think it is important or very important for an employer to recognize kind acts in the workplace.); and a suggestion for an act of kindness to perform in one of the following areas:
Kindness to self
Kindness with kids
Kindness toward those around you(service workers, people experiencing homelessness, etc.)
Kindness as a group
Kindness to the environment
Kindness at work
Cyber-kindness
Fully illustrated, engaging, and inspiring, Be Kind will have you changing not only yourself and your communities, but also the world, one week at a time.
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2020
8 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 8, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This is a beautiful book that reminds us and teaches us what kindness is all about and how there are so many different ways to be kind and show kindness.
This book has a section for every week of the year and has some beautiful quotes and some really good activities within it to help you practice kindness and be more active in community-based kindness as well as self kindness and kindness towards others.
I really enjoyed this book.
This is a beautiful book that reminds us and teaches us what kindness is all about and how there are so many different ways to be kind and show kindness.
This book has a section for every week of the year and has some beautiful quotes and some really good activities within it to help you practice kindness and be more active in community-based kindness as well as self kindness and kindness towards others.
I really enjoyed this book.
May 10, 2020
This valuable book is part of a nonprofit organization called kindness.org. Be Kind challenges the reader to try an act of kindness every week for a year, benefiting others and yourself while deepening connections in your community.
Each of the 52 weeks of kindness includes story of inspiration, along with your challenge. A key fact is that kindness improves the well-being of both the giver and the receiver.
Listed below are subjects of the acts included.
Kindness toward those around you (service workers, colleagues, neighbors)
Kindness to self
Kindness with kids
Kindness as a group
Kindness to the environment
Cyber-kindness
I was granted the ARC of this book and I must warn that it is rather difficult to read online. It is a very colorful book where the pages might be colored lime green with a different shade of green for the text.
I will be ordering my own personal copy of this guide to kindness so I too can reach out to the world one week at a time.
Each of the 52 weeks of kindness includes story of inspiration, along with your challenge. A key fact is that kindness improves the well-being of both the giver and the receiver.
Listed below are subjects of the acts included.
Kindness toward those around you (service workers, colleagues, neighbors)
Kindness to self
Kindness with kids
Kindness as a group
Kindness to the environment
Cyber-kindness
I was granted the ARC of this book and I must warn that it is rather difficult to read online. It is a very colorful book where the pages might be colored lime green with a different shade of green for the text.
I will be ordering my own personal copy of this guide to kindness so I too can reach out to the world one week at a time.
March 13, 2020
Be Kind: A Year of Kindness One Week at a Time is by Melissa Burmester and Jaclyn Lindsey, the founders of Kindness.org. The book is based on their mission to "educate and inspire people to choose kindness."
The book is divided into 52 weeks, and for each week there's something to learn, do, and reflect on. There are quotes, research findings, Q&A's, and stories submitted to Kindness.org, and the targets of kindness include the self, others, and the planet.
Some of the kind actions suggested were giving blood, responding with kindness to a negatve post online, and letting a stranger go ahead of you in line. My favourite quote in the book was "if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else" (Booker T. Washington). And did you know that spending money on others lowers blood pressure and brings greater happiness than spending money on yourself?
The book has beautiful watercolour backgrounds, so it's aesthetically pleasing as well as having inspirational content. It would make a lovely gift.
I received a reviewer copy of this book from www.netgalley.com.
The book is divided into 52 weeks, and for each week there's something to learn, do, and reflect on. There are quotes, research findings, Q&A's, and stories submitted to Kindness.org, and the targets of kindness include the self, others, and the planet.
Some of the kind actions suggested were giving blood, responding with kindness to a negatve post online, and letting a stranger go ahead of you in line. My favourite quote in the book was "if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else" (Booker T. Washington). And did you know that spending money on others lowers blood pressure and brings greater happiness than spending money on yourself?
The book has beautiful watercolour backgrounds, so it's aesthetically pleasing as well as having inspirational content. It would make a lovely gift.
I received a reviewer copy of this book from www.netgalley.com.
July 4, 2021
Not a long read and possibly one to dip in and out of.
I like the philosophy and applaud the thought behind it all. I was reading a digital version of it and wonder if the presentation of the hard copy would have added to its impact as this was not a long or difficult read.
It is not a bad book, it is a book trying to make the world a better place.
By the end however it felt like there was some repetition and the letters given as examples began to grate. They ended up feeling like filler.
This may have been because I was not consuming the book as intended.
I like the philosophy and applaud the thought behind it all. I was reading a digital version of it and wonder if the presentation of the hard copy would have added to its impact as this was not a long or difficult read.
It is not a bad book, it is a book trying to make the world a better place.
By the end however it felt like there was some repetition and the letters given as examples began to grate. They ended up feeling like filler.
This may have been because I was not consuming the book as intended.
March 5, 2020
I believe being kind to others in some small, unexpected way, should be part of each and every day for everyone. It would totally change our perceptions about personal interactions and the ripple effect of it would certainly make the world a much nicer and happier place. This book will help you achieve that.
Follow this book from cover to cover, whether reading it through or taking one week at a time, or dip into it as you please, the important thing is that you open the book and act on it.
Written in a learn (the reader is given a piece of relevant scientific research), reflect (via an anecdotal story or a quote), and do (suggested actions) format, the reader is given everything they need to become an advocate and example of kindness.
Its theme as well as its pleasing look makes this appropriate for gift-giving.
It's rather sad that we need books to tell us to be kind, but this book will educated you on how the act of simply being kind will benefit you and others immensely.
My thanks to NetGalley and Rock Point for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Follow this book from cover to cover, whether reading it through or taking one week at a time, or dip into it as you please, the important thing is that you open the book and act on it.
Written in a learn (the reader is given a piece of relevant scientific research), reflect (via an anecdotal story or a quote), and do (suggested actions) format, the reader is given everything they need to become an advocate and example of kindness.
Its theme as well as its pleasing look makes this appropriate for gift-giving.
It's rather sad that we need books to tell us to be kind, but this book will educated you on how the act of simply being kind will benefit you and others immensely.
My thanks to NetGalley and Rock Point for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
May 6, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Be Kind: A Year of Kindness, One Week at a Time is a tutorial and action guide arranged around week by week prompts for changing our interactions and lifestyle over the course of a year of actively choosing to be kind. Released 14th April 2020 by Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 240 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a beautifully written book. I personally have curtailed much of my interaction with the outside world because it's so distressing and violent (and in a pandemic, dangerous). Everything I see on TV/media/facebook is more hostile, ignorant, mean spirited, hateful, spiteful, and awful. The authors have written a book with a sensible and realistic plan including exercises which will create ripples of kindness and positivity and not least, make us, ourselves, happier and more content.
The introduction (which includes some short and general discussion of the physiological and mental benefits of altruism) is followed by a week by week spread, arranged in a 4 page layout with a three main themes: reflect, do, and learn, appealing pastel graphics (I want this as stationery or a bullet journal color scheme). The lessons and guidance are short and easy to understand and digest. There's quite a lot to process and assimilate.
I think that using this book over a long period of time (months to a year) and actively trying to incorporate kindness in our day to day lives has the potential to make a profound difference.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Be Kind: A Year of Kindness, One Week at a Time is a tutorial and action guide arranged around week by week prompts for changing our interactions and lifestyle over the course of a year of actively choosing to be kind. Released 14th April 2020 by Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 240 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a beautifully written book. I personally have curtailed much of my interaction with the outside world because it's so distressing and violent (and in a pandemic, dangerous). Everything I see on TV/media/facebook is more hostile, ignorant, mean spirited, hateful, spiteful, and awful. The authors have written a book with a sensible and realistic plan including exercises which will create ripples of kindness and positivity and not least, make us, ourselves, happier and more content.
The introduction (which includes some short and general discussion of the physiological and mental benefits of altruism) is followed by a week by week spread, arranged in a 4 page layout with a three main themes: reflect, do, and learn, appealing pastel graphics (I want this as stationery or a bullet journal color scheme). The lessons and guidance are short and easy to understand and digest. There's quite a lot to process and assimilate.
I think that using this book over a long period of time (months to a year) and actively trying to incorporate kindness in our day to day lives has the potential to make a profound difference.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 29, 2021
Be Kind: A Year of Kindness, One Week at a Time by Jaclyn Lindsey and Melissa Burmester is a wonderful guide to make kindness a part of your life. Each week you get a kind of challenge to spread kindness in the world. Research is presented and personal stories are shared to show how kindness can change someone's life and the world.
I have known kindness.org for quite some time now and love they challenges and tips to make the world a kinder place. Kindness has always been a part of my life and I try to implement it as much as possible to make living easier for others. I am glad I bought this book and read through it this year. I learned new facts, got inspired to do new challenges and actually wrote down some notes for future references! Most challenges can be done with children or pupils as well, which I am looking forward too.
This book is a nice guide to bring more kindness into one’s life. I enjoyed it and will take a few looks into it in the future again!
I have known kindness.org for quite some time now and love they challenges and tips to make the world a kinder place. Kindness has always been a part of my life and I try to implement it as much as possible to make living easier for others. I am glad I bought this book and read through it this year. I learned new facts, got inspired to do new challenges and actually wrote down some notes for future references! Most challenges can be done with children or pupils as well, which I am looking forward too.
This book is a nice guide to bring more kindness into one’s life. I enjoyed it and will take a few looks into it in the future again!
April 8, 2020
'Be Kind: A Year of Kindness, One Week at a Time' - this was a lovely book based on a clear edict of 'Learn, Reflect, Do,' for 52 weeks of the year, accompanied by real life examples and inspirational quotes. It's not too wordy, enabling a clear, concise message which is easily understood, making it easier to follow through with actions. The use of different fonts gives the illusion of someone writing directly to the reader as a friend.
This is an accessible book with a message for us all; Be Kind!
4 stars.
This is an accessible book with a message for us all; Be Kind!
4 stars.
February 29, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received the ebook version of this book and I imagine the actual book will be very nice. The colors and script were pleasant. This book is meant to be read throughout the year, with 1 part read per week. Lots of great ideas and interviews on kindness and how we can do even small things to be kind to one another.
I received the ebook version of this book and I imagine the actual book will be very nice. The colors and script were pleasant. This book is meant to be read throughout the year, with 1 part read per week. Lots of great ideas and interviews on kindness and how we can do even small things to be kind to one another.
April 26, 2020
This book is perfect for anyone who would like to take simple steps to add kindness to their lives. The consistent weekly format used by the authors - Learn, Reflect, Do - means that each week you can learn something about kindness, read a short account from someone who has experienced that type, and then go forward and perform an act. The writings are brief and easy to follow, and the simple structure makes this a great book to add to your own busy life.
March 9, 2020
This was such a lovely book! I may purchase one for myself and several as gifts. This book is laid out in 1-week chapters - they list a kindness goal, an associated story and quote with brief statements about the scientific benefits of kindness. The colors and fonts are gorgeous. I highly recommend Be Kind!
Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!
Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!
June 6, 2020
I can't imagine a time when kindness is more necessary. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it gives helpful framing and action steps to live a kinder life. I also loved the quotes for each week which were fun to post around my house as a perpetual reminder. It's beautiful, simple and transformative.
October 13, 2020
The book explains a lot about how kindness can affect your life in both the present and future. It is very thought-provoking.
February 1, 2023
Somehow exactly 2 years later… the “year” of kindness is done.
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars- lots of great info and ideas on how to be more kind in your life. I enjoyed it and took notes!
December 29, 2024
This is a good primer for those who are just starting out on a kindness journey, and has helpful ideas for those a little further along.
February 22, 2020
I received an e-version of this book, I think if I had received it as an actual book, I would have thought it was beautiful. I really like the colours, style and layout. It is meant to be followed for a year, week by week. However, I think once you have completed it, it would still be a good reference book to dip into to be reminded of how to be kind.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
February 24, 2020
This book needs to be a calendar or a planner ASAP! I was obsessed with everything that was in this book and would recommend this to anyone and everyone. There’s even a cool checklist at the end of the book that are great habits. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 25, 2020
This has been a difficult spring for all of us so reading this heartfelt book was pure joy to read. This guides you through an entire year’s worth of weekly thoughts to put into practice helping to make the world a kinder place, however I’ve been using them at an advanced pace to help both myself & others to be more compassionate.
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November 20, 2022No Rating / Review 📖
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews