Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Dogs: And the People Who Love Them" (2004) Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

From Goodreads ~ Dogs. Our best friends. From thedawn of civilization, we have cherished them as our loyal companions, exuberant playmates, healing and gentle souls. 

From adorable puppies with floppy ears and wobbly steps to full-grown guardinas of our love and trust, there is no other animal that compares to the dog. A playful growl, a boisterous bark, a cock of the head, an inquisitive stare - each inspires us with love and adoration. 

The stories and photographs in this wonderful volume celebrate the humor, loyalty, love, courage and healing power of our canine companions. Each page in this book rejoices in the wonderful and poignant moments we share with our furry friends and the lessons of love they teach us each and every day. 

I love reading stories about animals.  And I've read a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books over the years.

This is a cute quick read.  There are ten short stories about people and their dogs.  Plus there pictures of dogs throughout the book.

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada: 101 Heartwarming and Inspiring Stories by and for Canadians" (2011) Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

From Goodreads ~ With 101 heartwarming and inspiring stories by Canadians and for Canadians, this book will delight, amuse, and invigorate Canadian readers. 

"Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada" is full of inspirational, amusing, and encouraging stories that will touch the heart of any Canadian. Stories include a wide range of topics written by Canadians, from daily life to Canadian holidays, along with tales from tourists and visitors.

I enjoy reading Chicken Soup for the Soul books and have read and enjoyed many over the years.  So when I heard there was one about Canada, I wanted to read it.

The chapters are:

1. Proud to be a Canadian
2. Ice Time
3. Slice of Life
4. The Cultural Mosaic
5. Wilderness and Wildlife
6. Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
7. Holidays and Traditions
8. Summer Memories
9. Life Lessons
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Inspiring Canadians
12. That Famous Canadian Hospitality

There are 101 stories written by Canadians living in Canada, Canadians now living in the States and Americans about Canada.  I found that some were cute but a lot were dull.  Plus the majority of them were so generic and could have been about anywhere, not specifically in or about Canada.  There are A LOT of hockey stories.

At the beginning of each story, there was a quote.  I found it odd that there were lots of quotes by non-Canadians.

It was good exposure for Liona Boyd because each chapter started with a song written by her.  Nothing against Liona Boyd but we have lots of Canadian musicians who have written songs about Canada that could have been used.

I was disappointed with this book.

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend's Soul" (2012) Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Mark P. Donnelly, Chrissy Donnelly and Stefanie Adrian

From Goodreads ~ An inspiring and humorous celebration of the special bond of friendship.

She championed you through your years wearing braces and you calmed her nerves before her walk down the aisle. She advised you on what to wear to land your perfect job and you taught her how to get her newborn to sleep during a midnight phone call. Together you’ve dug through your backyard looking for pirate’s treasure and dug through bargain bins during shopping outings; you’ve shared your secrets, doubts and dreams; and you look forward to conquering hot flashes together. 

You may have met her in kindergarten or at work, in a playgroup or on the Internet - but if she’s cheered you up, cheered you on, or lifted your spirit, Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend’s Soul is the perfect tribute to that special friend. Whether she’s your lunch companion, your sounding board, your confidant, or all of the above, she anchors you during life’s storms and helps you revel in life’s joys. 

With tales of finding friends in unexpected places, of strength during life’s toughest challenges, and of forging lifelong bonds and memories, this book will tug at your heart and hers as you celebrate the unique spirit of female friendship.

I've read many of the books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series over the years. Though some of the stories tend to be a bit religious (I'm not), I find the stories in general to be nice and feel-good.

This book was focused on the relationships girlfriends have with each other and the sections included:

• The true meaning of friendship
• Girls just wanna have fun
• Being there for each other
• Special moments
• Unexpected friends
• Overcoming obstacles
• Forever friends

There was a variety of stories ranging from when girls met their BFFs in elementary school, high school and later in life.  Some stay friends forever while others drift apart but the effect of their friendship remains with them.

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition" (2013) Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

From Goodreads ~ The twentieth anniversary edition of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul is brimming with even more hope and inspiration - the stories you’ve always loved, plus bonus stories! 

Twenty years later, Chicken Soup for the Soul continues to open the heart and rekindle the spirit. Celebrate the twentieth anniversary with the classic book that inspired millions - reinvigorated with bonus stories of inspiration! 

You will find hope and inspiration in these 101 heartwarming stories about counting your blessings, thinking positive and overcoming challenges.

Can you believe the Chicken Soup for the Soul books have been around for twenty years?!

This is the first book in the series (I read it when it first came out) ... it has been rereleased with "20 Bonus Stories for the Next 20 Years".  I recently reread it and enjoyed it.  I could remember some of the stories ... like this one:

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball hat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around shool, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came, and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Do you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone elase. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others thay might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up by books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life."

John W. Schlatter

I have 18 Chicken Soup for the Soul paperback books including ones about pets, sisters, etc.

Have you read any of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books?

Book ~ "Shaping the New You" (2010) Jack Canfield

From Amazon ~ No one likes to diet but the personal stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You will encourage and inspire readers with its positive, practical, and purposeful tales of dieting and fitness. This is a great book for anyone embarking on a healthier lifestyle.

Sister Sarah had given me this book in the spring. Since I started back on a healthy eating program last week, I thought it would be appropriate to read it now to get motivation of others' success stories.

I enjoyed it for the most part.

Richard Simmons starts the book off with his story. The majority of the stories are by people who have lost weight by eating healthy, exercising or a combination of both and how they did it. There are also stories by people who have eating disorders or who struggle to gain weight which I wasn't expecting.

I'm not religious and there were a couple stories focusing on God that I will admit I skipped.

Book ~ "My Cat's Life" (2011) Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Jennifer Quasha

From Amazon ~ From kittenhood through the twilight years, our feline companions continually bring joy, love, and laughter to the lives of their "staff." This collection of 101 new stories captures the experience of living through the natural life cycle with our cats — from the laugh-out-loud antics of kittens and tear-your-hair-out escapades of teenage cats to the more mature adult years and final stages of life. Stories cover each age and stage with all the fun, frustrations, special bonds and routines involved. The book also holds a special chapter about grieving and recovery when our feline friends leave us.

Sister Sarah gave me this book for my birthday ... thanks, Sister Sarah!

I like cat stories and I like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. These stories were great, especially since we recently got Crumpet.

Like the other Chicken Soup animal books, the last couple chapters deal with the death of the cats and remind us all that they give us ... tough chapters to read.

One thing I don't understand is that most of the cats were outdoor cats which provides tons of dangers including traffic, coyotes, etc.

Book ~ "You've GOT to Read This Book!" (2007) by Jack Canfield and Gay Hendricks

From Amazon ~ Canfield and Hendricks stay in the inspirational mode with this collection of dozens of entertainers, sports personalities, businesspeople, writers, environmentalists and activists telling up-by-their-bootstraps stories involving books. Some, like Dave Barry (inspired by humorist Robert Benchley) and Lou Holtz (David Schwartz's The Magic of Thinking Big) are well known. Other are recognizable for the products they've created: Craigslist founder Craig Newmark praises The Cluetrain Manifesto, which mirrored his own early belief in the power of the Internet. Among the more memorable contributions is that of 21-year-old Farrah Gray, who spent his early childhood on public assistance, read Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success at age 11 and made his first million at 14. Two contributors — motivational speaker Lisa Nichols and eBay COO Maynard Webb — cite Stephen Covey's best-selling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey himself was uplifted by heady reading — Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and E.F. Schumacher's A Guide for the Perplexed — both books, he says, affecting everything from his parenting to his teaching. It's a mixed bag, more uplifting than literary, but readers may find the book that turns them on the way these contributors were.

As a reader, I wanted to read about the books that had inspired others.

Quite a few of the books listed are religious and spiritual, which didn't interest me. But there were some that sounded appealing. I have requested some from the library and I'll let you know when I read them. For this list, click here.

As I was reading this book, I was wondering what book has inspired me enough to be listed in a book. I'm read many many books ... and I can't think of just one.

What book has inspired you?

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul 2" - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery and Kelly Zimmerman (2006)

From Amazon.com ~ In classic Chicken Soup tradition, "Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul 2" celebrates the profound relationship between sisters in its wild, wacky, poignant and inspirational glory. With real-life stories from women who share their experiences, chapters include A Sister's Love, Sibling Revelry, The Bond, Overcoming Obstacles and Insights and Lessons. Because in a world where women are constantly being pulled in all directions, it's nice to know they can always rely on their sisters to be there for them.

Sister Sarah gave me this book for Christmas and I've been reading a couple stories here and there between books.

I enjoy the Chicken Soup books and especially enjoyed this one because my favourite sister gave it to me.