Do One Nice Thing: Little Things You Can Do to Make the World a Lot Nicer

by Debbie Tenzer

A few years ago, Debbie Tenzer was feeling overwhelmed by all the crises in the news. But rather than give in to despair, she thought, Maybe I can’t solve our big problems, but I know I can do something. She realized that helping doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive or time-consuming. You can help simply by doing one nice thing. So that’s what she vowed to do, one day a week. Not every day–she says she’s not that nice–but once a week was a promise she could keep.

So she started a website, DoOneNiceThing.com, and each week she posted an easy way to help people around town or across the globe. Good news traveled fast, and now Debbie is the leader of a worldwide kindness movement with fellow Nice-o-holics in ninety countries. They’ve sent . . .

• cans of food to food banks and schools
• notebooks to soldiers who will give them to Afghan children
• gifts to foster children whose birthdays are overlooked
• and much more

Do One Nice Thing has many new, easy ideas for small deeds that anyone can do (and includes explicit information on how exactly to execute the ideas, so you don’t have to go digging for information or resources). There’s even a chapter of nice things you can do in minutes without leaving your desk.

Join Debbie and her army of Nice-o-holics, and give the world some help–and some hope. Best of all, the more help you give, the more hopeful you’ll feel. And before you know it, you won’t be able to stop.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Heidi Johansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book. Makes you feel good

[Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great concept - pick one nice thing and do it, once a week. This is the very definition of a viral idea -- simple, actionable and timely! I hope Debbie Tenzer's book and concept catches on, because it's just what we all need more of -- intentional kindness.

The book is full of over 100 ideas for things you can do by yourself or with friends and family. Pick one a week and act on it -- or do the same thing every week for a month or a year! I really like how Tenzer includes short anecdotes of people who have taken action and made changes.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, and have been reading little bits and snatches over the last several months, but it all seems like its trying to hard to be good. I guess I just like the concept better than I like the ideas of what to do.

[Kara Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, yet it struck a chord with me and inspired me in a lot of ways.

[Jillian Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the idea of the book, doing one nice thing a week… not sure how timely the ideas are in the book.

[Tate Orton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

[Evanston Public Library]

Debbie Tenzer figured the way to balance some of the negativity in the world was to start doing nice things for others- at least on Mondays, which she finds the hardest day of the week. Apparently, her idea struck a chord with others, who she refers to as “Nice-a-holics.” The concept is appealing because people are encouraged to help in whatever way they can, even with low cost items. Sometimes a project works because of the numbers of people contributing or sometimes objects are recycled, like children’s books or clothing. I especially like how people fill in with very specific needs, such as adding velcro to shorts so wounded soldiers have an alternative to hospital gowns. I suspect Tenzer’s challenge now is to stay focused on cultivating kindness instead of media hype and marketing!
(Shira S., Reader’s Services)

[kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't start reading this book on the 14th as listed although that isn't important. i found this book to be interesting but somewhat redundant. I did find some interesting sites that i can do some good by visiting. one site takes old gift cards, etc and melts them down to make new gift cards which is nice since the PVC plastic doesn't decompose. Several sites that offer simple games for us to play and each time an answer is correct the company donates food for dogs, cats and humans. At Kiva.org I can make a $25 loan to a woman in a third country to help with her crafting business and they guarantee the loan will be repaid in full....i will check this out more....several nice things to do for servicemen...etc...

[librarian4Him02 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Tenzer became tired of all the bad news going on in the world. So, she decided to do one nice thing each week. In addition, she started a website where she and others share ideas for random acts of kindness.

The book is conveniently organized by topic, so one can start anywhere in the book. There are ideas for every walk of life and ability from things you can do online to activities that require one to get off the couch and leave the living room.

I found many inspiring ideas in this book and am excited to get started in the coming weeks.

[Leahjoypro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I'm definitely going to have to buy a copy (the one I read was from the library). So many great (and easy!) ideas for helping out others. Even if I don't specifically follow-up on a lot of the ideas, I still got a new perspective: all those extra scarves, canned goods, christmas decorations, and books that I have laying around the house, have a better destination than the trash can now!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me save you the trouble of getting this book by summarizing it.

Do One Nice Thing one day a week for someone else. It will make you feel better and will make the world a better place.

If you want some ideas, by all means read the book. But the book is basically a list of ideas that you can use to do your "nice thing".

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished this in one day at work... very inspirational...challenges you to do one nice thing a week to help make the world a whole lot brighter:) lists great websites to visit that donate money to charities when you answer trivia questions, or search engines you can use that do that same. it put me in a great mood and made me want to be a better person:) highly reccommended!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read book of ideas "to make the world a lot nicer." Love the quotation at the front of the book:
"Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold--but so does a boiled egg." -- Anonymous

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource for ways to "pay it forward". The author provides great ideas how to make Mondays a positive experience by giving to others. I may purchase this book because I am impressed with the book. Debbie Tenzer also has a website called DoOneNiceThing.com.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a list of charities (and a few ideas of nice things to do). I knew about half of the organizations, and most of the ideas weren't novel to me, but I think this would make a nice gift.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed through it briefly while adding it to the catalog. I like the idea of short, simple suggestions of how to make the day better for yourself and others.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for anyone who has ever disliked Mondays. Lots of ideas for little and big good things to do for anytime at all! :)

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational stories of people who want to make a difference.

[Andrea]

Please note that if the title of this book had been "Do Two Nice Things," I would not have put it on my to-read list.

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic, but a good reminder.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay for the kindness movement! This book is filled with good ideas on how to reach out to others in meaningful ways.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and inspiring.

[S. Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been a big fan of the Random Acts of Kindness books back in college this was fun to read-had some new ideas I hadn't thought of before and a few of the tried and true...

[Anna W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reference book for good ideas for "nice things to do for people." :)

[Saralyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the ideas and encouragement to look for more opportunities to help others.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short overview of the concept (you can't end hunger, but you can do something smaller; do one nice thing a week), then a bunch of different ideas of nice things you can do for others.