Practice Random Acts of Kindness: Bring More Peace, Love, and Compassion Into the World

by Harold S. Kushner (Foreword)

From the creators of the Random Acts of Kindness series comes this practical guide to kindness. Full of inspiring meditations, affirmations, and true stories, this book acts as a guide to creating real change in our world through acts of kindness. Join the kindness revolution. All over the nation and beyond, people are realizing the power of kindness. With one act, you can change someone’s day―and make the world a better place. It doesn’t take much to offer kind words or deeds to someone, but it can change the whole course of their day. When we participate in random acts of kindness, we join the movement of building a better future. This book by the editors of the Random Acts of Kindness series, with a foreword by Rabbi Harold Kushner, presents readers with a motivational guide to living out kindness each day of our lives. Inspirational stories and simple suggestions. From the wake of Hurricane Katrina to the tragedy of the tsunami to troops in Iraq performing acts of daily compassion, this book highlights the ways in which people are working towards creating a more benevolent world. It demonstrates the weight that a single act of compassion can have and how powerful our actions can be when we all join together. In addition to inspiring true stories, this “course in compassion” includes meditations, affirmations, and suggestions for how you can go out and make a difference. Filled with practical wisdom and motivational quotes, this book is your go-to guide for turning the kindness spark into a flame. Learn more If you’ve read books like Chicken Soup for the Soul , The Power of Kindness , Go Be Kind , How Can I Help? , or A Year of Positive Thinking , you’ll love Practice Random Acts of Kindness .

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Harold S. Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in the Boston suburb of Natick, Massachusetts. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he is the author of more than a dozen books on coping with life’s challenges, including, most recently, the best-selling Conquering Fear and Overcoming Life’s Disappointments.

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world would be a much better place if we all practiced random acts of kindness on a regular basis. It only takes a simple act, a kind word, or some small amount of kindness to change a person's whole day. Even the crankiest person, when given the chance, can actually show that their humanity. Moreover, kindness is highly contagious, so it is the gift that keeps giving. In return, we are able see people in a different light, feel more connected, and ultimately change the world just a little.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness is truly awe-inspiring. From the title, I expected that this book would include very specific lists of things that I could do to practice random acts of kindness in my own life. I was fully ready to pour over several hundreds of pages of ideas until I found one or two acts that I could actually do.

I was happily surprised. As I read though the pages, I came up with dozens of things that I could actually do in my daily life. Instead of long lists to peruse, this book examines important topics associated with helping others such as understanding what you expect to get out of being kind, how seemingly small acts go a long way, and most importantly that the best time to do an act of kindness is when you don't feel like it (for someone who might not be so appreciative). Each section includes an inspirational quote and stories of those who received or witnessed acts of kindness. This format allowed me to be creative and find ways to use my own talents, abilities, and circumstances to make the world just a little better.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is divided into six sections containing short stories or examples of kindness. Each story is paired with a quote. I began reading this book several years ago and only recently focused on finishing it. It's the kind of book that works well on a coffee table or bedside stand as it's best read a few stories at a time. It would also be a great book to reread on occasion.

[Stella Duvidzon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes it's great to do random acts of kindness. It's probably going to be just me again but why is it when people are talking about kindness, it's only referring to kindness to other people, rarely animals and if it is animal, it's generally either pets or maybe a random wild animal.

What about kindness to the billions of land animals that live short, miserable, horrible lives and then get slaughtered. Maybe it's karma that heart disease is our#1 killer.

Want to really be kind- go vegan!! 💚

"One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Lynnea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a VERY quick read! Some great stories/life exerpts that did not need the explanation and preachiness after each one.

[Martin Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring book. Very, very, well written.