2019 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Self HelpKirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018Being 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 … 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.
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If ever there was a book that needs no introduction beyond its title. If ever there was a book that arrived on the planet at exactly the moment in time it is most needed. If ever there was a book that defies in the kindest possible way the resistance of “I don’t have time to read.” You have time for this. Structured in 52 bite-size chapters with gentle action/reflection items at the end of each, it is a book designed to be assimilated slowly (although devouring it won’t cause indigestion). I took a generous number of months to make my way through, the opposite of my usual reading pace and discipline. The opening salvo that being nice isn’t the same as being kind grabs the reader’s attention (nice = no action required; kind = requires extension into deed). And for some, the greatest head-slap may come toward the end of the book with a chapter entitled When My Kindness is Your “Yuck!” Here we confront the hoary old golden rule “do unto others as you would have done unto yourself” and acknowledge that it’s selfish and lacking in empathy, that treating others *as they wish to be treated* is the higher rule. Read this book with a highlighter pen in hand only if you like large, solid blocks of yellow.
I thought I would breeze right through A Year of Living Kindly. Then I started reading. I found myself stopping to think so many times that I soon realized this book is one that should be savored, not just read. There are many arresting ideas here: if rudeness is contagious (as studies show it is), then perhaps kindness is also contagious. And: instead of asking ourselves what’s the worst that could happen in a given situation, what if we thought “what’s the best that can happen?” Deftly written, deeply thoughtful, with many unexpected, pithy assertions, this book is one you’ll want to turn to again and again.
Excellent book! Great reminders of many ways you can make kindness part of your daily life! At first it mind take consciously looking for ways to show kindness but soon it is part of your being and becomes almost automatic! Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone realized how connected we all are; everyone just trying to get through their day, and instead of hateful dealings with each other we took the time to give a compliment, encouragement or help each other any way we could!
Would have liked more discussion on kindness itself – how to know what the kind thing to do is, what to do when what you think is kindness is rejected or even resented (how to examine and learn from it), how to accept kindness, and so on. It was mostly just exhorting the reader to “be kind” whatever that means…
Beautiful and inspiring
We can all use this wonderful book as a reminder to live more kindly. Donna Cameron’s beautiful book is an inspiration to change the way you look at life.
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.
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.