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Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song: The Exclusive Personal Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Songs
Songs tell a story and now popular singers and songwriters are sharing more of the story! These artists reveal the inspiration, influence, and background, and when and why they wrote their most famous songs, in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2009
18 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Jack Canfield
1,042 books1,753 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.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 20, 2024
This read wasn't my favorite of all the Chicken Soup books I've read, but it a great departure from their usual format. My aide, Sherry, who was reading it to me, would sing the 101 songs, and my nurse, Veronica, would sing backup! It was fun.
July 12, 2016
This is the first book I have read in the Chicken Soup series. The books never appealed to me until I got this at my local library. I love reading stories on how my favorite songs came to be developed or the motivation behind the songs, which I feel is usually lacking in most of the artist's autobiographies. This book was such a good read that I couldn't put it down and read it all in one day.
The collection has several interesting aspects that I did and did not know about certain songs. Several examples are the song "That's What Friends Are For" was originally done by Rod Stewart for the Night Shift movie but since the movie did not do well, the song was not pushed, "Tell Laura I Love Her" was originally about a rodeo, not a car race, and "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" was part of a concept album for Kenny Rogers.
Some more stories talk about how Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" was first titled "Don't Talk To Strangers," which he used for a later hit, and Larry Gatlin's "All The Gold In California" was written on a Hertz rental receipt. I loved the fact that Gunnar Nelson tells about how Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party" was created (a story I love and already knew about).
The book has stories told by acts like David Cassidy,Stephen Bishop,Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Richard Marx, Mick Jones of Foreigner, Huey Lewis,Hall and Oates, Iggy Pop, Richie Sambora, Aaron Tippin, and even Kayne West among many others.
This is a great collection of information for music lovers like me, and once reading it, the reader may have several tidbits in music trivia that they can pass along to their friends. This is definitely worth reading or even getting for a music lover's collection.
The collection has several interesting aspects that I did and did not know about certain songs. Several examples are the song "That's What Friends Are For" was originally done by Rod Stewart for the Night Shift movie but since the movie did not do well, the song was not pushed, "Tell Laura I Love Her" was originally about a rodeo, not a car race, and "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" was part of a concept album for Kenny Rogers.
Some more stories talk about how Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" was first titled "Don't Talk To Strangers," which he used for a later hit, and Larry Gatlin's "All The Gold In California" was written on a Hertz rental receipt. I loved the fact that Gunnar Nelson tells about how Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party" was created (a story I love and already knew about).
The book has stories told by acts like David Cassidy,Stephen Bishop,Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Richard Marx, Mick Jones of Foreigner, Huey Lewis,Hall and Oates, Iggy Pop, Richie Sambora, Aaron Tippin, and even Kayne West among many others.
This is a great collection of information for music lovers like me, and once reading it, the reader may have several tidbits in music trivia that they can pass along to their friends. This is definitely worth reading or even getting for a music lover's collection.
September 7, 2011
Since I'm a self-professed Chicken Soup for the Soul nut I liked this book from the beginning, but the premise of this particular book was ESPECIALLY awesome. It melded two of my favorite things: Chicken Soup for the Soul and music.
I loved to read the stories behind songs like Lisa Loeb's "Stay", Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror", and many others. Now when I hear certain songs on the radio it's fun to know the inside scoop! I would definitely recommend this book for lovers of music everywhere!
I loved to read the stories behind songs like Lisa Loeb's "Stay", Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror", and many others. Now when I hear certain songs on the radio it's fun to know the inside scoop! I would definitely recommend this book for lovers of music everywhere!
March 5, 2020
The book was interesting in of itself, but I guess I was hoping more for more of the popular rock, soul, mellow and love songs of the 60's and up.
Some of these songs I had never even heard of and I'm really involved with the older 60's & 70's music. Other stories were just basic things and none really went into much detail, or at least they had nothing that I hadn't read about before.
I've always enjoyed the Chicken Soup books, but this one was unfortunately, one that just wasn't what I personally hoped it to be.
Some of these songs I had never even heard of and I'm really involved with the older 60's & 70's music. Other stories were just basic things and none really went into much detail, or at least they had nothing that I hadn't read about before.
I've always enjoyed the Chicken Soup books, but this one was unfortunately, one that just wasn't what I personally hoped it to be.
April 18, 2023
It was ok overall. Not as deep meaningful as the ones I read in some original Chicken Soup series.
I guess most of these songwriters wrote because its for their "job" and that deeper meaning was not really presence here.
Though there are a couple of exceptions where their story really touches me.
I guess most of these songwriters wrote because its for their "job" and that deeper meaning was not really presence here.
Though there are a couple of exceptions where their story really touches me.
October 1, 2017
I've read these Chicken soup books fairly consistently since my young teen years. This one was decent, especially if you're a music lover who wonders about the lyrics to a song and what the song writer was thinking.
April 21, 2020
Amazing
This was an amazing book! It was good to read about the stories behind each song and knowing what made them the hit songs they are today.
This was an amazing book! It was good to read about the stories behind each song and knowing what made them the hit songs they are today.
October 16, 2023
Meh…I hadn’t heard of 1/2 the songs and most of them didn’t actually have a “story”. It was just a couple of paragraphs about not much.
November 2, 2024
I like this book. I kept it in my car and read it gradually. Some of the songs and artists were unfamiliar to me but I still found it interesting.
January 18, 2025
Fascinating stories behind some of the songs, but others are mundane.
July 12, 2021
I rate this book three stars because 1) out of the 101 featured songs, only a handful were noteworthy songs that I like (and I'm an avid music lover!); 2) the stories weren't particularly interesting; and 3) there was too much focus on stories about getting together to record the songs or technicalities rather than stories behind the actual lyrics and/or tunes. "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" were featured, but their stories weren't remarkable.
What I could conclude from the reading was that most songs came about by luck, were uninspired, written at the spur of the moment, were pieced together, were developed for commercial success, and included some pieces of personal, biographical influence. A few people wrote songs for their spouses, such as Captain and Tennille in "Do That To Me One More Time." I liked that Rick Springfield's song "Jesse's Girl" is biographical. There were some good country song stories and, of course, Bette Midler's "The Rose." I like how the lyrics to each song are included.
What I could conclude from the reading was that most songs came about by luck, were uninspired, written at the spur of the moment, were pieced together, were developed for commercial success, and included some pieces of personal, biographical influence. A few people wrote songs for their spouses, such as Captain and Tennille in "Do That To Me One More Time." I liked that Rick Springfield's song "Jesse's Girl" is biographical. There were some good country song stories and, of course, Bette Midler's "The Rose." I like how the lyrics to each song are included.
July 5, 2017
Remember, I'm a big Chicken Soup for the Soul fan. I love to read one of these stories each day. Story Behind the Song is not your typical collection. It appealed to me as I love music and often it is the words of the song that captures me, at least when I can understand them.
There's a nice blend here of old and new performers and believe it or not some heartwarming stories. Regardless, it's neat to find out what the inspiration is behind the song. Enrique Iglesias says most of his songs are autobiographical. As you read the stories of the entertainers, many songs come from life experiences.
This was a solid 3 star and as always, I enjoyed my daily dose of chicken soup.
There's a nice blend here of old and new performers and believe it or not some heartwarming stories. Regardless, it's neat to find out what the inspiration is behind the song. Enrique Iglesias says most of his songs are autobiographical. As you read the stories of the entertainers, many songs come from life experiences.
This was a solid 3 star and as always, I enjoyed my daily dose of chicken soup.
April 5, 2017
Satisfied some curiousity. I remembered some of my old favorites, introduced to some titles/artists and spend some money on iTunes as a result.Sometimes I wanted to know more about the lyric's meaning and less about the artist.
Currently reading
January 1, 2010The song "With You I'm Born Again" one of my favorite songs. It was written by Carroll Conner about her lover at the time actor Robert Culp.....Who knew????/
August 7, 2010
I really enjoyed the artists' recollection of their stories which inspired theses songs and even though I would have liked to see some of their more prominent songs I still liked the stories.
June 1, 2011
Sloooow reading. I liked the look at the stories that inspired the lyrics, or the stories of how the songs came to be. Some were amazing. Others funny. This book was good to read at a slow pace.
September 7, 2011
I loved this book! I requested this book for Christmas because I knew that Aaron Lewis had a part in it. He was the reason for me reading it and it was truly amazing!
January 6, 2014
Interesting to read the stories behind the birth of the songs featured in this book.
February 7, 2016
I preferred the one on country music more this book has a mixed kid of music and the reasons or ideas behind writing the song.....
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews