there's good stuff in here. if you don't know the things he goes through, then it's worth reading. but i'd suggest reading about price or dawkins or hamilton elsewhere. and i'd suggest reading singer's the life you can save or macaskill's book rather than this. This book is an entertainingly written historical, evolutionary discussion, that complements many of the most pressing topics in today’s news and society. I see some ways this book is an optimistic view of some of the topics in the book “Sapiens”, where Harari points out the trade-offs we make by giving up individualism for society, McCullough shows the large leaps forward in the way we consider others has been beneficial for both. When an elementary boy tries to kill himself, people look for reasons. What they usually find is horrendous. This book is a perfect example of why I love my GR buddies- without them I never would have had this on my radar; I never would have known this existed, because let's be honest: that cover is easy to overlook. Don't let the cute cover fool you- this is emotionally draining. But it's worth it. It’s very much a typical American style narrative - with the locals portrayed as quite some weirdos, or bizarre people. No offence to any Americans though. It’s just that I’ve observed Europeans to not be so self-centered and they don’t talk about locals like they’re those weird strangers.

I greatly appreciate the theme of this book that gathers stories of kindness received when it was most needed and perhaps least expected. I am sure they will inspire everyone who reads them, encouraging each of us to take whatever opportunities arise to be kind to others in turn. - HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA Nate convinces Sarah to become Jordan's foster mother with both parents in jail, since she's always taught her boys to reach out to others in need. We just didn't have any idea how needy Jordan is. I literally groaned reading this, knowing it is fiction, but for some children this is their life. The arrogance is again, not only awful, but he doesn’t even seem to recognize that he really almost killed his girlfriend in multiple ways.Easy to read, McCullough sounds both realistic and upbeat about our chances of, as Peter Singer puts it, "expanding the moral circle." Indeed, McCullough tells a very progressivist story, with various "eras" moving us from the selfish ape of the title to people who more and more help those totally foreign to them. Received this for a secret santa present after making a passing reference in a bookshop to it looking interesting with my secret santa within earshot! It makes for a really enjoyable and heartwarming read from some of the UK's top adventurers who have each been met with kindness in times of adversity. Travel opens our minds to the world; it helps us to embrace risk and uncertainty, overcome challenges and understand the people we meet and the places we visit. But what happens when we arrive home? How do our experiences shape us?

While her poetry has mainly centered around the traditional lyric themes of love, death, and nature, her novels have ranged from the Midwestern United States to the Goddess-worshiping cultures of Neolithic Europe. A screenwriter as well as a novelist, she has sold feature scripts to Warner Brothers as well as to various independent film companies. When she comes to the aid of a friend's young son, she finds herself embroiled in the exposure of a child sex ring. Disbelief, horror,guilt are just some of the emotions she struggles to come to terms with as the legal case against her friend grows. You know that feeling, when something really sad happens, when you can't seem to take a full breath, and your chest hurts? All through this book I fought to breathe. Poor Jordan HAS to rely on the kindness of strangers, because both parents are monsters. Sarah and her boys, Nate and Danny, are dealing with the death of their husband and father, supported by the neighbors, Courtney and Mark. But the neighbors' secrets blow the town, and Sarah's family sky high. Sexual depravity and molestation, with their own son Jordan as the victim. All the unspeakable things happen to Jordan before the book begins, but as Sarah and Nate and the reader discover how horrible the abuse was, we sink deeper and deeper into the abyss.This is a collection of short stories/articles by various contributors, non-fiction. I guess we all have our own bias, so different chapters might appeal to different people. This was a tough book for me. Child abuse and animal abuse are subjects I avoid. Books such as these prey on my mind. I have difficulty processing how the innocents of our world are targets for such madness. The book was well done, giving many character's perspective on the crisis. And while the subject was so serious, there were moments of relief written in. Another reviewer made the astute observation that this collection of tales doesn't offer enough space for the reader to become acquainted with the characters and they didn't like this book. I found it delightful because I was introduced to skilled authors and a taste of their travel adventures. So while it's true that the stories are short, they reminded me that dusty corners of the globe are full of friendly natives and intrepid first world explorers who enjoy the same experiences I do. This is heartening and a worthy evening retreat toward the Land of Nod, i.e., bedtime. Dave Eggers and Laura Fraser's stories were particularly attractive. This book introduced me to author Katrina Kittle and I've since read every novel she has written. She is one of my favorite authors and I'm always looking forward to her next book. I guess we need more Nate's in the world to convince us we have enough to give, Danny's to not hold a grudge and forgive and Sarah's to have patience and well, be the mom.

How many times have you heard some variation of the phrase, advanced by David Hume in the 18th century, that “reason is the slave of the passions”? According to this doctrine, reason is used simply as justification for the pursuit of goals dictated by our emotions. If you want to understand human behavior, therefore, you don’t have to look much further than to what we are biologically programmed to want and pursue.The Kindness of Strangers is a wonderful companion for travel. It enlarges us, reminds us that serendipity is one of the ultimate joys of life's constant journey. - AMY TAN

Sarah Laden knows grief. She feels it everyday her husband doesn't come home. She feels it deep within her bones. If her husband was still living, perhaps he would never have come into their lives. There may never have been that gaping hole. That cavernous void. From 1989 to 1992 she served as Chair of PEN American Center, West. Currently, she is Emeritus Professor of English at California State University, Sacramento. The best way I can describe the writing is "immature": Kittle has a ways to go before she's ripe. The characters are cookie-cutter and predictable, the dialogue's unnatural and clunky, and the whole book has a sort of preachy quality that I found distasteful.I wish I read this when it was released, not ten years later. Ten years ago I didn't think I would live to see this day. Ten years ago I was so engrossed in pain I didn't believe in futures. So in a way I am glad I'm reading this a decade later, seeing how far I have come. Despite how painful this book is, it is a reminder that things DO get better. And that is worth all the marbles to me. You don't have to have been a victim of incest to understand and experience the terror, shame and confusion that young Jordan is subject to in this eerily accurate account of familial sexual abuse. As the author gives us access to the thoughts and feelings of three main characters and their different reactions to the plot via rotating viewpoints, we get a full circle view of the goings on in this devastating story, and see how so many are affected by its brutality. The Kindness of Strangers: Child Abandonment in Western Europe from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance, a 1988 book by John Boswell Adie's autobiography is an interesting though unsurprising walk through her career, but she keeps her life at arm's length. She leaves you with the impression of a talented, focused journalist (which we knew already) with a sharp mind and rigorous principles.