A Year of Doing Good: One Woman, One New Year's Resolution, 365 Good Deeds

by Judith O'Reilly

Judith O'Reilly, author of the hugely popular blog and book Wife in the North embarks on a year long social experiment in the witty A Year of Doing Good.

Fed up of New Year's resolutions involving diets and exercise abandoned on January 2nd, Judith is attempting to be good. For one whole year.

She embarked on a mission to do one good deed every day. Some called it a social experiment. At times she called it madness.

Juggling family, friends and a variety of neighbours in the small Northumberland village she calls home, she recounts the ups, downs, moments of doubt and sheer bloody hard work of doing good.

From the small - babysitting a friend's child, clearing up her neighbour's dead mice and feeding her friendship cake Herman the German, to the slightly larger - trying to raise 10,000 for charity with her Jam Jar Army and teaching a severely handicapped child to write - she describes what she learns along the way: that no good deed is too small and that being good makes you happy. Well, most of the time.

'A funny, uplifting and admirable book' Observer

'Banish January blues with A Year of Doing Good by Judith O'Reilly who resolved to do one good turn day. . . utterly uplifting' Woman & Home

'Fizzing with energy Judith's writing is open-hearted and funny. . . though not a guide to doing good, Judith's story may inspire you to do a little more for others this year' Express

'Glorious sincerity. . .the admiring accounts of others' lives, the detailing of the deeds gladly done or furiously resented, the unending chaos of family life - all are rendered honestly, colourfully and occasionally hilariously' Lucy Mangan, Sunday Times

A Year of Doing Good inspires the reader with the day-to-day journey of meaning, gratification and joy that comes from contributing to the lives of others in so many creative ways. For those who want to put "do unto others" in the centre of their lives and reap the unexpected benefits of happiness and health, this is the book for you. Elegantly written, the words jump off the page' Stephen G. Post, PhD, author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping

Judith O'Reilly is a writer and journalist. Her first book Wife in the North was based on her blog of the same name and was a bestseller. Her second book, a novel, is living in a drawer. Her third book is this one. She is married with three children, and for one year she tried to be good.

Genres: Nonfiction, Unfinished

306 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2012

About the author

Judith O’Reilly's claim to fame is that one of her books was a Radio 4 Book of the Week. As far as she's concerned that's as good as it gets.

Judith has written three books. Her latest book is called Killing State and is out in November. It's a commercial political thriller and her first novel – at least the first one she's allowed to leave the house without her. She likes to describe it as a Lee Child meets Robert Harris, with a young and very British action hero and compelling and dynamic female characters. She may be the only person who ever thinks that. We'll have to see.

Judith's a former political producer with BBC 2’s Newsnight and ITN’s Channel 4 News, and a former education correspondent with The Sunday Times where she also covered politics, undercover reporting and general news. She still writes for The Sunday Times.

Her two non-fiction books were called Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good (both published by Viking Penguin, in 2008 and 2013 respectively). Wife in the North reached number three in the UK bestsellers’ chart and was in the top ten for five weeks. It was also a top ten bestseller in Germany. It sold into ten countries, was serialised by The Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week (has she mentioned that already?), and was based on Judith’s eponymous blog which was named as one of the top 100 blogs in the world by The Sunday Times. Judith’s blog is credited with kicking off the popularity of domestic blogging in the UK. For A Year of Doing Good, she did a good deed a day for a year. It did not make her a better person. She has taught memoir and blogging at Newcastle University, and occasionally advises on strategic communications. Most of all though, she writes and drinks a lot of tea. Occasionally, she shakes things up and drinks covfefe.

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith is an engaging diarist and this her second book is both thought-provoking and funny. Very funny in places! I was sorry to finish it and it left me contemplating the effect we have on each other in life. Small acts of benevolence and kindness can and do change the recipient's day/mindset/life.

It is also personal and poignant - achingly so on maternal love.

I look forward to the day when her novel breaks out of the drawer, I really do -

[Sagittarius Scholar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

I enjoyed reading this and it was very funny and sent me into bouts of laughter. But I skimmed a bit towards the end, because I felt it was repeating itself too much.

I'm genuinely happy right now, just because I finished reading this book.

Now I just need to find Wife in the North...

[Vicky Thomasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the concept of this book was really good. I could relate to a lot of what O'Reilly wrote because I too have lost a child and know how difficult it can be to help people (I recently was told I couldn't help the homeless at christmas because I didn't have the right qualifications!). The only problem I have with this book is that I am a Tory girl through and through! I thought it was funny and realistic. Definitely worth a read.

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was originally quite put off this book when I realised that it was a factual account of someone doing good deeds for a whole year, explained in detail day by day. However, I soon got into it and loved the author's cheeky sense of humour, occasional expletives and mercifully few deep investigations into the psychology of what she was doing. It was funny, sad, well observed and thought provoking and I was very sad when I reached the end. Very inspirational.

[Gina Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book, I didn't really care for the narrator. How does one woman complain so much about doing good deeds? However, as you get to know her, you realize that she is basically every woman: doing too much every day and never having enough time for herself. I did not expect to want to quote almost every page (which is why it took me so long to read it). Nor did I expect to cry. However, there are some genuinely sad parts in this book, along with real snorts of laughter. The pain over her son, the friends with autistic children, Chrissy trying every week to outgrow her painful body and soar...all of it was filled with a quiet loveliness. By the end, the narrator felt like she could have been any one of my girlfriends. I was genuinely sad to finish this book...and it inspired me to do one thing every day this year. (Not a good deed a day-although that sounds like a challenge for another year...but for my ADHD brain, completely finishing one task per day is a challenge in itself).

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, following a family of 5 throughout a year of a good deed a day. It had the odd little interview with a psychologist or philosopher and raised some interesting issues. What counts as a good deed? Not what you should do anyway like caring for husband and children. Should you enjoy it yourself or should there be an element of pain or is it how the recipient reacts? And when gifts are given in thanks it becomes exchange perhaps. And then there are the dreadful jam jars. We have collected them and are always rather horrified at how little a whole jar of coppers adds up to. But they prove to be a big community binder and in that respect, Judith gets more faith in humanity by the end of her year.

[Saffron · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was chosen by our book group, so wouldn't normally be something I would go for. I managed up to 6th May before giving up completely.

Really not for me. By reading this diary, I feel that the author would be someone I would not want to spend time with (I am sure she would feel the same about me!).

However the consensus in the group was positive and most enjoyed it, so I think my review probably says more about me than Ms O'Reilly.

[Nandini · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was wonderful in many ways, Judith's witty nature combined with her quest to do a good deed every day was highly enjoyable and I look up to her for being able to reach out and help so many people.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although inspired me a bit to do some good deeds myself, hit the doldrums in this book about halfway through as it's essentially a list of good deeds with a tiny bit of story interlaced - monotonous - has put me well behind on my reading challenge!!

[Jenny Magalona · Rating 3 out of 5]

www.herbooksandthoughts.wordpress.com

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uplifting and funny

[L Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book from the library's display of 'New Non-Fiction' because Catholicism is mentioned on the back cover but nearly didn't read it beyond the introduction once the author had made her views on some of the Church's teachings clear. I thought Ms O'Reilly and I were too far apart in view to find a common ground and that reading her book would provoke me to anger. I, of course, am a perfect Catholic who agrees with the Church in every detail of her teaching.

No. I am not a perfect Catholic. And there are plenty of the teachings which I find, at best, challenging. They're just different bits to those which Ms O'Reilly objects to. So I decided to set our differences aside and dig in. And I'm so glad I did. So glad, in fact, that I'm considering starting a jam jar fund (but for which charity?) and wondering where my own opportunities for good deeds might be.

Ms O'Reilly decided to do one good deed every day for an entire year to become a better person and set a good example to her children. She proceeded to do so and to write about it. En route she raised over £10,000 for a local hospice, talked to the experts who study altruism from psychological and philosophical perspectives, rescued children, ate at the House of Lords and picked up a lot of litter. Her writing is warm and engaging with several moments which had me giggling and wishing I wasn't sitting on public transport. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for the nicer side of human nature. Warm fuzzies await you.

[Di McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fed up of New Year's resolutions involving diets and exercise abandoned on January 2nd, Judith is attempting to be good. For one whole year.


She embarked on a mission to do one good deed every day. Some called it a social experiment. At times she called it madness.


Juggling family, friends and a variety of neighbours in the small Northumberland village she calls home, she recounts the ups, downs, moments of doubt and sheer bloody hard work of doing good.


From the small - babysitting a friend's child, clearing up her neighbour's dead mice and feeding her friendship cake Herman the German, to the slightly larger - trying to raise £10,000 for charity with her Jam Jar Army and teaching a severely handicapped child to write - she describes what she learns along the way: that no good deed is too small and that being good makes you happy. Well, most of the time.


My thoughts...
This book started really well and made me chuckle if not even laugh out loud. However as Judith got disenchanted with her 'task' I got the feeling she was just writing down anything to tick the Good Deed box. Many of these were in fact things that we'd all do naturally in our daily lives without classing them as good deeds. I got a bit bored with the book about half way through, as it would seem so did the author

[Wren · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Judith O'Reilly announces on January first to her family and friends that she intends to do a good deed each day for the entire year, her husband puts his head in his hands and groans; setting the tone for this account of one ordinary, fallible woman inspired by the idea of doing good, doing things for others where she can.

Her writing is honest and humorous. She isn't afraid to let it be known that her good deeds can be frustrating as well as rewarding, and that at times she would really rather not be doing anything for anybody else today – but the quest is set.

There are diary style entries for each day, sometimes just a one sentence description of today's good deed, but more often a longer journal entry delving into her daily life, occasionally including musings on the science and perceived health benefits of doing good for others.

A mother of three, O'Reilly includes much of her sometimes hectic family life in her story, interwoven with friends and strangers she meets in the small Northumberland village where she lives. Good deeds range from helping out other harried mothers to starting a charity initiative to raise £10,000 for hospice.

This biography proves (without being preachy) that anyone can make a positive difference to those around them if they are willing to put in the effort.

[Juliet Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith O'Reilly made a New Year's resolution to do a good deed every day and in this book she records the deeds she did, how she felt about them and muses on the meaning of doing good. Along the way she makes friends, meets philosophers, carers, lifeboat volunteers and others who spend their lives 'doing good' or in the case of philosophers thinking about doing good.

Some of the good deeds are small, like letting people in front of her in queues, some are large (and ongoing) like teaching a disabled child how to write stories (I love the fact that one of the stories they worked on was called Bunny's Bad Day!). In addition she set up a fund-raising scheme for her local hospice, the Jam Jar Army which is still raising funds for good causes.Oh and she picks litter too.

This is a very entertaining book, which really gets the reader thinking about doing good deeds and being a good citizen.

A Year of Doing Good by Judith O'Reilly published by Penguin

Disclaimer - I won this copy of this book from Penguin's Readarama project.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about this book a while a go, then entered a competition to try to win a copy, finally I got my book! It is a true inspiration, written with humour and honesty. It is not pious or in your face, it's about everyday human life. The day I started reading it I began writing down any good deeds I had done that day, it's not easy it often requires effort, but at other times you can surprise yourself with the ease of doing something good for others. Having now finished, I intend to hunt out a jam jar and start filling it, either with a coin a day or what I can afford. I urge you to read this book and improve your life and the life of others. A Brilliant book Judith!

[penelopewanders]

I signed up for this ring, and the irony is that while I was reading it I attended a conference at which one of the speakers confirmed one of the premises of this book - ie doing good does good, and not just for the recipient. I had a number of loud chuckles when I began reading this, but have to confess that after a while I found it a bit of a slog. Some parts were quite interesting, and the question of who benefits the most was worth contemplating. I found I engaged more again towards the end, but I think there were moments where the basic concept - do 365 good deeds and write about them - dragged. I'll try to be good and send this on soon!

[Fab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting idea & one I'd thought of s a New Year's resolution so it seemed an apt time to read the book.

On one hand, she did a lot of good and made a lot of effort. On the other, some of the deeds - randomly posting books and phoning relatives, not to mention the poor ex-pats who get a rough deal- or at least a lousy reputation, seem like a bit of a cop out.

I had thought of doing the same, but on a quiet Sunday with family you resort to flinging a couple of quid at the nearest charity to save your conscience, then you realize, that as with most things, quality beats quantity.

[Catrinamaria]

Easy, enjoyable read that has made me think about goodness and kindness. Find myself lacking of course-big time. And I don't have children or sick parents to stop me. Landscapes and towns of Northumberland which I know and love so well, clearly drawn and atmospheric. Strongly drawn relationships -particularly teaching Chryssie to write-and learning so much from her. I do think Judith should write the screenplay next and leave the novel until later. Surely One Day's Author would help as his good deed?

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine book, easy to read but somehow it didn't work. I wanted to be left overall feeling inspired but actually my end point feeling was a tad of envy of the author because she has this amazing network of family and friends! Just missing something to give it that elusive appeal that the author is one of us all along ...

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this - it was honest and down to earth - and it was about every day people not something pie in the sky. It makes you think about your contribution and yes I have a jam jar on the go..... love this and my favourite bit - Northumberland all big skies and sheep It captures this part of the world perfectly!

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith O'Reilly pledges to do one good deed a day for a whole year. Despite the occasional resentment or reluctance to carry out certain good deeds which entail a substantial degree of personal inconvenience, she carries them out regardless and remains true to her pledge. A lovely and inspiring read; would recommend to anyone.

[Tracy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a good read for a sour puss thinking audience...you know, those people who struggle to see the "good" in mundane things & think you have to always be challenged. But does it really count to write down things you do naturally? Haha I snicker with some of the ideas having cause myself thinking parallel to what was written a time or two ;)

[Corissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and engaging read of one woman's goal to do a good deed each day. Throughout it she also researches why people do good deeds. I especially enjoyed the scientific and religious studies research that she did in her year and the personal stories of many everyday people living their lives through successes and trials.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author had a wonderful way of telling her year long quest, without making herself seem flawless in the process. Her curiosity and her discussions with leading experts makes it a delight to follow along. Certain passages resonated with me. Even after finishing the book they were still turning around in my mind, making me think more seriously about the deeper philosophical questions of life.

[Christine Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book very inspirational ... sad in places but mainly made me smile a lot and laugh out loud often! I think there are sections in the book which everyone will be able to associate with .... overall enjoyable read and a pleasant change form doom and gloom in lots of novels.

[Nastassja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't even bring myself to finish the book. I personally felt the good deeds would be more than putting money in charity tins and picking up her friends kids from school. I found the book very uninspiring which is a shame because I bought it thinking it would be.

[Emma]

This is a memoir and the author is really irritating (and her descriptions of disability whilst honest are really shocking in this day and age) but I still had to finish it because I wanted to know what happened.

[Pippa Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and thought provoking read which sees the author undertaking a good deed every day for a year. The book examines the various ways in which people 'do good' and the effects and motivation for doing so.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable account of the author's attempt to spend a year of her life doing one good deed a day.