What do you think?
Rate this book
Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness
Previously available only through free distribution to prisons, this life-changing book is the result of charitable donations from sales of Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul and gifts from thousands of individuals. In the spring of 2000, over 100,000 copies of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul were distributed to prisoners, prison libraries and prison ministries throughout the United States. The hope was that this collection of stories would touch the hearts of prisoners and offer them hope and encouragement, as well as inspire them to transcend the limiting thinking and behaviors of their past. The book was so successful that the co-authors soon found themselves flooded with requests for the book from family members, correctional officers, prison volunteers and others. Because of this huge demand, the decision was made to also release the book to the general public.
348 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1999
About the author
Jack Canfield
1,297 books1,762 followersJack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.
Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.
Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.
In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.
Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.
Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.
Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.
Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.
Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.
In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.
Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.
Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.
Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 18, 2013
I just love the chicken soup books. This one was great. I think it would be a great tool to give to prisoners to inspire them to change their ways.
March 2, 2011
AMAZON REVIEW by Reja
We highly recommend this book for anyone who is incarcerated, has a family member or friend in jail or for anyone who has compassion for their fellow man. We conduct a support group at the local county jail based on this incredible book, "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul". In our group, inmates take turns reading the stories out loud and many times we have to pass the tissues around. These true life stories open all of our hearts as they help us to realize our connection with one another. One man read a story about a Dad and his son and when he was finished he began to cry openly. He shared that he knew he needed to talk to his Dad and that he was so ashamed. Another woman cried as she read the words of a poem, "I'm scared, alone and stuck in this place." These are stories that touch the Souls of those incarcerated since they are so very real and personal. The inmates cherish these books and treat their copies like a treasure. Our second recommendation for everyone is to not only read this book but to buy another copy and ask that it be sent to your local prison library! Thank you Tom Lagana, for authoring this much needed book!
We highly recommend this book for anyone who is incarcerated, has a family member or friend in jail or for anyone who has compassion for their fellow man. We conduct a support group at the local county jail based on this incredible book, "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul". In our group, inmates take turns reading the stories out loud and many times we have to pass the tissues around. These true life stories open all of our hearts as they help us to realize our connection with one another. One man read a story about a Dad and his son and when he was finished he began to cry openly. He shared that he knew he needed to talk to his Dad and that he was so ashamed. Another woman cried as she read the words of a poem, "I'm scared, alone and stuck in this place." These are stories that touch the Souls of those incarcerated since they are so very real and personal. The inmates cherish these books and treat their copies like a treasure. Our second recommendation for everyone is to not only read this book but to buy another copy and ask that it be sent to your local prison library! Thank you Tom Lagana, for authoring this much needed book!
Read
August 2, 2022When you work at a prison and can’t bring books to work you make due with what you have. Found the ebook of this on my work computer. Some of the stories were touching and got me in the feels. But most were too based in religion for me and there were quite a few stories that didn’t age well. I’m not rating it because I definitely wasn’t the target audience, but gosh darn I’m gonna count it towards my reading goal.
February 12, 2017
This book contains some great stories,it is encouraging and uplifting I just thought the majority was so very sad. Prisoners face such hopelessness and sadness already. I would love to see one written with much more encouragement, and stories from prisoners who are able to share their faith and how it sustains them. Positive stuff.
November 12, 2020
An ideal book for prisoners, contain many encouraging and inspiring stories that would give them hope in life.
February 9, 2009
Hard to find...I used it for research for a law school seminar paper on post-incarceration denial of custody as a collateral civil punishment.
November 18, 2012
Inspirational tidbits.
September 11, 2016
garbage but i read it in prison and it killed a few hours. read on h block at ccp.
December 18, 2025
I volunteer with Kairos and the organization is mentioned 3 or 4 times which I found interesting. My favorite chapters were "On Change" and "Over Coming Obstacles".
April 23, 2016
I've been done with this book for a while - but just did not have the time to input a review. Once again I'm on my prison theme - reading anything and everything that has to do with prison. This book definitely opened my eyes. I've read other Chicken Soups, but there were many stories in this one which touched my heart. I borrowed this book from the library but I plan on purchasing this in the future. Some of these stories I would like to re-read again. It amazes me, sometimes I think I'm having a bad day...my days don't compare to those that have to deal with being locked up.
June 13, 2008
This book really helped me a lot!
June 4, 2012
Anyone thats ever dealt with the prison/jail system should have this book on hand.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews