These Stories Will Renew Your Faith in Humanity

The holiday season can be joyful, stressful, difficult, or beautiful. It all depends on what you’re going through.

Regardless of your unique circumstances, I suspect you’ll feel a little lighter and brighter after reading ​HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time​.

This national bestseller brought tears to my eyes. With uplifting stories of hope and kindness, it’s an antidote to all the negativity in the media and the world, and proof that small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect and transform thousands of lives.

It’s also a gift to mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). One hundred percent of the author’s royalties go to BBBS.

You might recall that I’ve recommended this book a few times before. I particularly enjoy sharing it around the holidays, since it’s the perfect stocking stuffer, and it supports a great cause.

Author Brad Aronson was inspired to write ​HumanKind​ when his family went through one of the most difficult times of their lives. His wife, Mia, was in the middle of two and a half years of treatment for leukemia when a patient advocate suggested that Mia, Brad, and their five-year-old son, Jack, create projects to provide a purpose, a distraction, and a focus for the hours they were spending in the hospital every week.

For Brad’s project, he wrote about the small acts of kindness by friends and strangers that carried his family through Mia’s treatment and recovery.

But when he was done, he felt compelled to keep going. What about all the other stories out there? Other stories about seemingly small acts of kindness that had an extraordinary impact, often changing thousands of lives? He decided to seek them out—and those are the golden threads that weave a heartfelt tapestry in this book.

In ​HumanKind ​you’ll meet Rita Schiavone, who decided to cook an extra portion of dinner every night to feed to someone in need. Her evening ritual led to a movement that now provides more than 500,000 meals a year.

You’ll also meet Larry Stewart, who was homeless when he received a $20 gift that inspired him to become a Secret Santa when he got back on his feet. He went on to give a total of $1.5 million to strangers in need and build a team of thousands who serve their own communities as Secret Santas.

Then there’s six-year-old Gabriel, whose simple request started a global kindness movement. And these are just a few of the many ordinary heroes you’ll learn about.

​HumanKind​ will not only restore your faith in humanity, but it will also inspire you to make your own impact. Each chapter has a “What We Can Do” section with practical tips to help you spread kindness in your daily life.

You can grab a copy here: ​Amazon ​— ​Barnes and Noble​ — ​45% discount on 5+ copies here​ — ​Other retailers​

If you’re looking for an uplifting stocking stuffer for your entire family, your colleagues, or employees, you can purchase 5+ copies for only $8.50 each this week. Use code “Friend” at ​checkout here​!

I hope you enjoy this life-affirming book as much as I did!