Một năm sống tử tế

by Donna Cameron, Linh Vũ (dịch), Vũ Hà Thanh (dịch)

2020 New York City Big Book Awards Winner in Motivational
2020 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Award-Winner in Self-Help Motivational
2019 IPPY Gold Medal Self Help
2019 Nautilius Book Awards Gold Winner in Personal Growth & Self-Help
2019 Next Generation Indie Book Gold Medal Winner in Motivational
2019 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in Nonfiction Self-Help
2019 Eric Hoffer Award Self-Help
2019 Independent Author Network Book of the Year First Place in Self-Help
2019 Chanticleer I & I Book Awards for Instruction and Insight Finalist
2019 International Book Finalist, General
2019 Nancy Pearl Best Book Finalist in Memoir
2019 Eric Hoffer Montaigne Finalist
2019 Foreword Indies Adult Nonfiction―Self-Help
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018

Being kind is something most of us do when it’s easy and when it suits us. Being kind when we don’t feel like it, or when all of our buttons are being pushed, is hard . But that’s also when it’s most needed; that’s when it can defuse anger and even violence, when it can restore civility in our personal and virtual interactions. Kindness has the power to profoundly change our relationships with other people and with ourselves. It can, in fact, change the world.

In A Year of Living Kindly ―using stories, observation, humor, and summaries of expert research―Donna Cameron shares her experience committing to 365 days of practicing kindness. She presents compelling research into the myriad benefits of kindness, including health, wealth, longevity, improved relationships, and personal and business success. She explores what a kind life entails, and what gets in the way of it. And she provides practical and experiential suggestions for how each of us can strengthen our kindness muscle so choosing a life of kindness becomes ever easier and more natural. An inspiring, practical guide that can help any reader make a commitment to kindness, A Year of Living Kindly shines a light on how we can create a better, safer, and more just world―and how you can be part of that transformation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Psychology, Adult, Philosophy

422 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Cheryl Suchors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could tell you this book is well-written; I could tell you the author is thorough yet not at all preachy; I could tell you that you’ll be as engaged with the author, as a person on a quest, as you are with the material she explores. I could promise you, you’ll learn things (like the difference between being “nice” and being “kind”) which after all is one of the best reasons to read. But what I really should tell you is that this book changed me.

I think about what Cameron says about being kind when it’s not at all convenient when I’m driving. I hear her crystalline, clear voice and feel her keen heart when I’m about to criticize someone harshly, and I zip it. Don’t get me wrong; I’m still pretty critical and judgey. But I’m learning, and trying. Because of this book.

Do yourself and those around you a favor and read “A Year of Living Kindly.” You will be so happy you did. A must read, especially in these times!

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: I now have a full post on this book and how to be more kind! Please find it here:
http://avalinahsbooks.space/year-of-l...

I know I'll be talking about A Year of Living Kindly more properly in a bigger post at some point, but since it's been recently published, I just want to mention it at least in short now. This book talks about how, despite popular belief, kindness shouldn't be considered a weakness, but rather a strength, and that it is more likely to bring you success in life rather than get you trampled on. What I loved about it the most is that it analyzes kindness outside of the religious viewpoints, so it works for absolutely anyone. A Year of Living Kindly is comprised out of separate topic chapters, at the end of which you will find actionable insights on what things you should focus on in your own day to day life to help you strive to be more kind. It also explains in detail just WHY kindness is WORTH IT, and why you should try to be more kind, and I mean truly kind to others – not just nice. This book was amazing and I was so happy to find good thoughts on a topic that nobody really talks about, but everybody desperately needs to start discussion on, and especially OUTSIDE the religious context (because that is often something that builds more barriers between people, rather than encourage positive change.) I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart and think everyone should read it.

I thank the publisher for sending me a copy for review in exchange for my honest opinion. It doesn't affect my opinion.

Full Review on my Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read! I listened it to on audio and the narrator did a great job.

There was nothing totally new in the book but a great reminder to be patient and kind. There were a lot of inspiring quotes as well.

[Anastasija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging writing, research-based, gives inspiration…

Cameron’s writing is relatable and engaging. She shares her own journey of going through a year with kindness. She uses stories, humor, and observations, making the content enjoyable. It’s a good source of inspiration for incorporating some kindness into our everyday lives. My grandma taught me that it’s the small things/acts that matter, and that’s the affirmation I live by today. It doesn’t cost us anything to smile and greet our neighbor in the morning, or let the car that is trying to get in front of us… It doesn’t cost anything, but it can make a big impact… Think about it!

Yeah, we all need some kindness in our lives… Just try it and see if you like it… I sure did :)

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's irrefutable that being kind—on purpose—improves health and wellness. With fifty-two delicious, bite-sized chapters containing actionable examples that help readers weave intentional kindness into their daily lives, you can be sure A YEAR OF LIVING KINDLY is a book I'll prescribe to my clients.

[cailleach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifty Two short chapters, one to read each week. The idea of the book is that you can dip in when you like and wherever you like. At the end of each chapter is a KIndness in Action section with ideas of what you can do to develop a habit of kindness. I was a bit wary of this book when I read it was based on a blog. I'm cynical and imagine the blog has been written purely with an eye to writing a book based on it and that the writer may not be genuine in their quest or desire. However, I do believe this writer is sincere in wanting more people to embrace a lived kindness.

I found the writing confused at times. The writer was keen to entreat us not to be nice, by say holding a door open or thanking shop staff but then gave them as examples of everyday small acts of kindness. The difference was later explained as being intent. You need to genuinely hold a door open with a desire to care for the recipient of your kindness rather than with a vague, removed politeness. You need to perhaps go outside of your comfort zoe and look shop staff in the eye when thanking them. Some issues also seem unresolved . Several mentions are made of giving street beggars money. The author believes we should give the beggar the benefit of the doubt about whether they are a scammer, we should look them in the eye and engage and have a brief chat and wish them well. She thinks a friend who scolds her for giving a guy who asks for money on the street a few dollars is wrong. The friend points out that the money would be better donated to charity or questioning rather than facilitating drug purchase and encouraging more aggressive begging with menaces . It is a kind thing to do no question. Hmm. Perhaps she should visit my town.

There are not tjat many examples of the writer actaully being kind. She gives money to beggars and anyone who asks on the street and is kind and patient with work clients and employees. She entreats us several times to let cars merge in the traffic, to imagine that irate drivers and overbearing customers ad bosses are having a hard time. She mentions several times that we could offer our neighbour leftover soup and bread as a kindness? Really? Maybe if they were old and infirm but otherwise I'm not sure my neighbour would be impressed. She also mentions several time that she is not Mother Teresa ( nor do we need to be) and still has the odd cranky thought herself(has she read about Mother Teresa's views on many issues?). We are also entreated to never gossip or grumble with colleagues and to intervene when others are and to not gossip or complain about other s at home (in earshot of children). We are also entreated to do random acts of kindness .Pick up a strangers coffee shop tab, pay their parking. This diturbed me as a lot of the kindness seemed to involve money. She also entreats us to not keep score in a relationship as regards housework and chores. Empty that dishwasher, clear up your room mates mess but when is it a kindness (do they even notice?) and when are you just being a doormat? is not discussed.

By the end of the book I felt quite disgruntled. She is a right Pollyanna. I do think we should all practice loving kindness, but jeesh! everyone needs to let off a little steam sometimes. Sunshine and light with no degree of shade. Very middle class, money orientated, liberal luviedum. Too sugary for me

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

52 chapters each building upon kindness are explored in this book.
I loved the personal insights shared by the author and the ease of writing she uses in this book. It makes for light but reflective reading. My absolute wake up call was chapter nine, "The Power of the Pause," and with social media explosion, I realized that I rarely take a step back to reflect before acting and now I am conscious and working on it.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Marlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled in by the title—I took on the book--although I think of myself as empathetic, having been raised by a large extended family in Latin America, where being polite, responsive, and thoughtful of others is taught at the cradle. I read the book slowly to think about the issues and discovered some things about myself: I am unkind when I am tired. I am unkind when I receive an obvious put-down. I am less resilient when someone close to me easily accomplishes something that is hard for me. I am unkind enough times to my good husband of many years. So stopping to notice--the pause--is a key ingredient in living life more kindly. I’ve been working on this now for several weeks after reading the book, and I feel more present and aware.

Donna Cameron provides extensive research to support the idea that kind people are happier, that being kind is a magical ingredient that influences others to pay it forward. She quotes studies that confirm that companies with kind cultures are significantly more productive. Among the many techniques she offers, “holding back and allowing others to fumble is sometimes the kindest path,” is one of my favorites. The book is rich and deeply meaningful. worth dipping into time and again. I highly recommend A Year of Living Kindly.

[Angelle Barbazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Cameron couldn't have released "A Year of Living Kindly" at a better time. There's an abundance of turmoil in the world right now -- socially, politically, culturally -- and after reading her book, I'm convinced that a little kindness could go a long way. It sounds simple, doesn't it? But if you think about it, living a kind life and demonstrating kindness is a lot more challenging that you may realize. And it's more than just being "nice." Yes, there's a difference! "A Year of Living Kindly" is insightful, eye-opening and most of all, uplifting.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The table of contents alone speaks to the author’s authority on this topic. She didn’t just spend a year practicing being kind, she researched, thought about and studied kindness.
The book was a 3 for me in terms of the content. Once I learned the difference between being kind and being nice and was reminded of the importance of paying attention and pausing, there wasn’t a lot here to hold my interest. But in terms of scholarship, thoroughness, and readability, ‘A Year of Living Kindly’ is a solid 4.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've rarely had such a relatively small book effect me in such a big way. The book draws on the author's experiences of devoting a year of her life to enhance her ability to be truly kind to others. Anyone can be nice, but Cameron insists there's a difference between nice and actual kindness--and she's right. You can be nice and be artificial and insincere. The art of being truly kind strips away all the insincerity and forces you to put yourself out there. But Cameron points out that kindness is the very opposite of weakness. Those who exhibit genuine acts of kindness are actually anything but weak, and she provides solid science that indicates that kind people are far happier and even healthier than those who prefer carping criticism and snarky sarcasm to kindness.

The book is divided into four sections she calls seasons, and within those sections are 52 chapters that emphasize different areas of kindness. There's also an action section that summarizes what you've read and helps you assimilate the information into a new kinder you.

I need this book, especially now. So do you. It offers practical advice, compellingly draws on the author's experience of deliberately striving for kindness for a year, and allows you to soul search and determine areas where your ability to build bridges of kindness to others can be strengthened.

Randye Kaye's narration is itself a kindness you won't soon forget. She does a beautiful job with this narration; her voice is perfect for the book. The narration alone is a 10-star experience.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enough can't be said about the need for kindness in our crazy world. In a Year of Living Kindly, Donna Cameron comprehensively covers all of the ways we can bring more of this important virtue into our lives. Written in the form of a chapter on some aspect of kindness to consider for each week over a year's time, Cameron talks about the choices we make on a daily basis that can bring more and more compassion and caring into our hearts and into our communities. And she goes deep here: e.g. delving into our true motivations for being kind; our desire to avoid conflict when perhaps we should be speaking up to prevent bullying or hurtful behaviors we see; and the ways that we have a responsibility to extend our kindness to the earth in this time of climate crisis and environmental devastation. Not only does the book define some of these issues as they relate to kindness, but it also includes numerous suggestions and action steps that give concrete examples to inspire the reader in cultivating a kinder heart that can deepen over time. There is truly so much inspiration here for anyone wanting to elevate kindness to a more and more conscious part of their daily life.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep A Year of Living Kindly by your bedside or in your bathroom -- somewhere you are likely to browse often – so that its gentle wisdom can seep into your daily activities. Donna Cameron’s book is like a melody that sings softly to you about what we can all do to make our own lives and relationships more beautiful and fruitful, and in the process create a more peaceful world. Suffused with revealing and often amusing personal examples, you can feel that the author has taken her own words to heart and lived them out. The book is full of practical advice as well as more philosophical reflections on why kindness matters and what it looks like. You’ll find quotable quotes throughout. One of my favorites is “We can’t live a life of kindness toward others if we aren’t kind to ourselves.” Don’t try to take this wise book down in one dose. It’s more like vitamins that need to be taken every day, and you’ll be glad you did. So will everyone around you, if you take the book to heart.

[Kathryn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have yet to pick up Donna Cameron's book, you owe it to yourself to get a copy and keep it close at hand. You may think that you do not need another personal guide. You may think that you are already kind. Yet what you will discover is that there is always room to develop and grow. Cameron provides gentle reminders that the important key to being the best that we can be is to remain mindfully aware of our inner thoughts and motives. She offers reflections on overcoming the inner voice of judgment toward others that we maintain within and suggests that only through the elimination of those judgmental voices, do we really attain true kindness-and thus improve not only our own lives, but the lives of everyone with whom we connect.

[Cathy Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a psychotherapist and avid reader of personal growth books, Donna Cameron’s A Year of Living Kindly has risen to the top of my current favorites for its timely and valuable message. In a time when disconnection seems to abound and kindness often feels lacking, Cameron makes a compelling case for kindness as a path toward significant change in our lives. She offers practical suggestions for creating a kinder world in short chapters that can be read as daily or weekly inspiration. With well-placed quotes and research, as well as her own experiences and wisdom, Cameron’s inspiring and heartfelt book is one that I will be recommending often.

[Jenny Houle · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a little in love with this book. A YEAR OF LIVING KINDLY brings us on a journey to uncover the importance of kindness and reminding us of ways to bring it back into our lives. Cameron even points out that if she did these things all the time, she wouldn't have created the book. I appreciated her sharing that vulnerability so honestly. It's hard to follow a book like this if the author comes across as condescending and/or preachy.

I also enjoyed the "kindness in action" tips at the end of each section. It's nice to have a concrete way to incorporate lessons into your life in books like these.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has now become my sacred text. I will continue to flip through this book well into the future as it is full of prompts to reflect on kindness. Are all the ideas in this book totally ground-breaking? Not really. But Donna Cameron creates a space to consider your relationship to kindness, and how that shapes your perception of the world.

[Madara · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wasn't taken up with the book. But then what she said really started to make sense and I ended loving it. It allowed me to see when I was unkind and when I was kind. Recommended for those who struggle with being kind as well as those who would like to be more kind.

[Pamela A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept was very good. I learned a lot, but there was so much repetition in the writing.

[Courtney Sidoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may have enjoyed more if I had read the chapters in little chunks opposed to in a few sittings. A good reminder but nothing new.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good audiobook, I found the perspectives a great reminder and it made me stop and think about my daily actions and for living a kinder life.

[Lori Palen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really great message. Execution was very repetitive when read over the course of a couple weeks. Also, the title was misleading for me…I expected much more personal narrative.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is informative, encouraging, and kindly challenging. It left me feeling inspired. I like how this book is organized. I'm paraphrasing the author's description by saying that the short chapters, which I would refer to as reflections, are organized by four seasons (Discovery, Understanding, Choosing, Becoming). Each chapter ends with "Kindness in Action" ideas and occasional "Check In" chapters help you set kindness goals.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit belabored, but also a good collection of practical ideas to bring more kindness into your life and find your barriers to being more kind.

[Veda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read this while I was still a teacher. It has many activities that I could have easily incorporated into my classes.
Overall, it was okayish. Nothing new. It's a good teapoy table book.

[Vui Lên · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Mình đã có kì vọng là tác giả sẽ chia sẻ một năm sống tử tế được gì mất gì, tuyệt vời khó khăn ra sao...

Nhưng không có gì cả.

Sách chủ yếu hướng dẫn, chia sẻ về giá trị của tử tế và cách mà ta có thể mang tử tế vào cuộc sống. Đọc thì cũng có nhiều điểm sáng, nhiều cảm xúc nhưng không đọng lại được quá nhiều điều có giá trị.

[Chloe Bemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. You may think - how can someone write 300 pages about kindness??? How repetitive??? But that is not the case. I’ve been reading this for over a year, just a few chapters at a time every so often. I am on a kindness journey and this book helps me to remember to choose kindness in my every day encounters.

I think I will keep this on my nightstand and continue to re-read chapters to keep my mind focused on kindness 💅🏻

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give out many 5 star reviews, but this one earned it. I'd like to read this again, one chapter a week rather than all in a few sittings as I did this time around. Spreading out the chapters would give more time for thought and time to work on implementing the various suggestions. As it was, I still got a lot out of this book - truly, judging by the number of highlights! Kindness is something our world is in dire need of these days. I grew up in the Midwest US which is known for being "nice". Now, as an adult, I'm working on changing some of those "nice" tendencies to true kindness. Learning to pause before we respond (I'm especially looking at you, social media), trying to assume the best of people rather than the worst and being more aware of what's going on around us so we can see opportunities to show kindness are main themes here. Most of the book focuses on kindness toward other humans, but I was happy to see a chapter included near the end regarding showing kindness to animals and the earth. The quarterly reviews are a nice touch as well. Each looks back at topics covered in the preceding 3 months of entries. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this thought-provoking book! All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindness is something I always need help with. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. I've copied down the Kindness Manifesto in order to help me be kinder.

[MsChris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with simple chapters on leading a kinder life. I think it would be best if each chapter is read and practiced in a week rather than readying all the way through the book in a couple of sittings. It becomes repetitive if read all at once but if read over a year would provide good reminders on living kind.