Customer Reviews

Chicken Soup for the Soul of America: Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation

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Truly remarkable!! The horrible events of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten, but the way Americans, as well as most of the world , reacted to these events will need to be told over and over again. This book shows you the best of America through personal stories of rescue workers, survivors, and victims families, as well as reactions from people around the world. It is clear from these stories that out of America's worst tragedy emerged the greatest nation in the world. This book should be required reading. "Wir alle sind Amerikaner"!

When I was shopping in Sam's with my mother and nephew and fiance I was looking for a dvd. I found nothing I really wanted to buy. Seemed to me I can no longer really buy a good flick these days. So there I was walking the aisle getting bored out of my mind when I stumbled on this book. At first I was a bit angered that the Chicken book series would sink so low to print a book about the September 11, attacks to make a quick buck. I started to read just to see what they printed and I came across the poem "I AM THE AMERICAN FLAG", by: Howard Schnauber on page: 206. There I was reading and feeling some pride about to burst through me and I wanted to cry. The partiot in me shed some tear. My fiance asked me what I was reading that was making me cry. I showed him. In turn he asked me why not buy it. I did. It'll be worth it. Some of the stories are beautiful and some will make you grateful we live in the greatest country in the world. But this patriot who believes in God and Jesus is proud to say that I am proud to be an American living in the Republic of United States of America.

I picked a great one as the first "Chicken Soup" book to read from start to finish. I read the majority of this uplifting book as a metro train commuter to and from my duty station, the Pentagon. Having known three of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon, I had personal reasons to read this book. I found the many short, direct, and moving stories from common people, and their sharing of their deepest emotions, very comforting. I consider this book to be another step in my continuing personal program of coping and healing. I believe many others would also find reading it a great spiritual and emotional experience.

The only flaw with this outstanding book is that it is almost exclusively devoted to or focused on the World Trade Center heroes, victims, survivors, and volunteers. The book has very few stories about what happened at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. I commend the authors for their tremendous job in compiling these great stories from the thousands received and for publishing such an important book in such a short time to help so many. Tragedy and devastation were equally shared by friends, family, and acquaintances in New York, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. I believe this book should have included a few more Pentagon and Pennsylvania specific stories since the book's cover proclaims, "Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation."

Not that it is a bad book, but it is very different than all of the other (12) Chicken Soup books that I own. I was surprised, I guess. There aren't many up-lifting stories. It's more of a documentary type book. Telling people's experiences on 9-11. I usually finish my Chicken Soup books in a very short period of time. This one,.. I could only really read 1 story a night. It was too depressing.

Read this when you need a good cry or a smile.

BRAVO TO THE AUTHORS OF CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA!!!!!
I just purchased this book yesterday, started reading it last night and cried after the first three stories. What a touching and heart breaking way to immortilize those that were lost. My heart bled and I shed tears once again for those that I did not know and for those that are fighting for our country. As I sat and watched the memorial service today, 6 months after the initial attack I cried again. This is just what we need to heal the wounds and the heart. I just want to say thank you to all of the firefighters, police officers and everyone that helps protect us every day. You honestly are not forgotten. GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of American heroes such as fire fighters aren't really recognized by anyone because no one really takes the time to notice them. This book makes you really realize how much some people really do for our country. This book helps you realize that. Fire fighters and other people in general help out us. They should feel proud and good about themselves because they are in this awesomely known book. This book talks about the incident that happened on the September 11th 2001 and how so many people lost their loved ones. Millions of people answered the call, rallying together with an outpouring of courage. It talks about how people came together to help with the horrible incident that happened.


I would definitely recommend this book to anyone no matter what age because it's about our country working together when something tragic happened to our country.

I was a little surprised to see so many mixed reviews about this book, but then again it is fairly easy to see why. I have received many letters of response from readers since the book was published, the subject of most being thus: "As much as I had convinced myself that I had come to grips with the events of 9-11, as much as I had led myself to believe that I had cried my last tear of grief... I had no way of comprehending the whole picture until I read this book..." What makes this particular book different from others in the series: You don't have to be a pet-lover, a teacher or a child to feel a bond with the people in the stories, you just need to be an American ... or simply human for that matter. I don't recommend buying this book for yourself, I recommend buying it for yourself, your children, your grandchildren and every future generation that will hopefully never need to feel the sense of pain, love, selflessness, companionship and grief that yourself and the people in this book lived through. That's why I bought it. I want to save and share the American spirit. -Ann Marguerite Swank, Author, "How the Children Help" from "Chicken Soup For The Soul Of America: Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation."

When I got this book, I didn't know what I would get into. These stories are powerful, healing, patriotic stories that you will only find in this book. You will find each story has it's own kind of sparkle, and it's very special in it's own way. You will feel for these stories and to the people in them. Plus, you will feel so proud to be an American. It's a great book to get, you may even heal yourself. Get this book, whether you are young or old, there is a story for everyone in this book.

I love Chicken Soup for the Soul books and my kids know it, so they got me this one for Fathers Day. As a retired Coast Guard officer, someone trained to do just what those policemen and firemen did on September 11, this one in particular strikes at my heart strings - I found myself crying, then laughing, then struck with an overwhelming love for my country and all of the people that make up this great land.

It's this book that inspired the following article.

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"Proactive Prosperity: How To Keep Filling Your Glass"

By Randy Gilbert (c)2002

A kindly looking man, who worked as a janitor in the World Trade Center, approached an old and graying homeless woman one cold September morning last year. She looked chilled as she stood there clinging to her shopping cart containing all of her meager belongings.

The janitor smiled and held out an old thermos to the woman and said to her, "This old thermos has been my friend for many years and I want you to have it. It's a very special thermos, because as long as you share its contents, it always has enough for everyone. Please take it, for I have a feeling I won't be needing it any more after today."

Do you have a favorite book that you read over and over again? I have one that tells about how people view the world and the profound impact that it has on their lives. It uses an age-old illustration of how some see a glass half empty and others half full. As I pondered this again, a story-like vision came to me, which doesn't happen often, so I paid close attention.

The clear glass that I was picturing turned into a metal thermos, like the ones carried by construction workers. Instead of big hands, small hands in tattered gloves held it. An old woman was stooping down in front of a small child and her mother. It was snowing and they were clinging to each other for warmth.

The old woman asked the little girl, "would you like some sweet warm cocoa?" She used the thermos top as a cup and I could see steam rise as she placed the cup in half frozen little hands. The girl drank it down and then flashed the biggest smile she had ever smiled and her eyes shown as bright as a rainbow.

"Mommy, is she an angel?" the little girl asked. "Yes dear, and that is what we're going to become. Do you remember that happy song we used to sing when your daddy was still alive?" They began singing the sweetest and most enchanting melody. People walking by and those coming up from the subway station were drawn to them as if by magic.

Some people stood there transfixed, tears welling in their eyes. Others said a quiet "thank you" and laid money down on the walk in front of them.

Two of the listeners were a young boy and his father. They had been shopping and the well-dressed man held a large bag of packages. "Father, are they angels?" the son asked. "Yes, I think so, and that is what we are going to become. Do you remember we used to make gifts when your mommy was with us and give them to people who needed them?"

The father reached into his bag and began handing the bright packages to his son, who gave them out to the homeless people along the street. I thought to myself, this is truly a miracle, the bag seemed to never empty.

My attention was drawn to a man in a wheelchair who received a shiny red pocketknife. In a voice that was choking back tears, he said, "Thanks son, I lost one just like this in Nam. You know, I used to be quite a toy maker; I can whittle just about anything with a knife."

The story in my mind began to fade as he wheeled himself up the sidewalk and breathlessly said, "I know an alley where I can get some wood and I'm going to start sharing this gift right now."

Wow, that's what it means to be proactive. Pessimists see the glass as half empty. They say, "it's not enough." Their negative attitude causes them to turn inward and be selfish. When a decision comes along they believe their doubts, which turn into fears, which then produces unhealthy stress and anxieties. They end up experiencing the lack they saw in their minds.

Optimists see the glass as half full. They say, "I'm happy to enjoy whatever life gives me." However, their positive attitude of sufficiency doesn't last long, especially after a few swallows are taken and the glass is nearly empty. Optimism without prosperity becomes a limiting belief of being content with poverty.

However, Proactive people see the glass as something to be used, both for themselves and to serve others. Like the thermos in the story-vision, there will always be abundance. You're a very special person. As long as you share your contents, you'll always have enough for everyone.

This story-vision extends to other things, such as your smile, your talents, your bank account, the skills you've acquired, and the knowledge you have. Your life will always have these in abundance if you use them to serve others.

Prosperity is not a glass half empty or half full; it's you becoming a glass and being used to bring joy and abundance to others, knowing that your source of supply will never run dry.

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I have a very high regard for Mark, that's why I incorporated many of his philosophies into my life and into my first book "Success Bound." When it was completed I sent him a copy to read. I was totally amazed when I received back the following testimonial.

"If you're ready to be permanently success bound, read this book!"

Thank you Mark!!! You are now my super-hero.