Born This Way Foundation ReportersChannel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community

This nifty tome of inspiration (for nothing is more inspiring than the young choosing the correct path of kindness) collects different stories, ideas, social movements. Yeah, most of it is do-unto-othersisms... Kindness and nonprofits go hand-in-hand. I, lover of the Nonprofit world (and pessimist extraordinaire of the Profit/Capitalistic one), found much hope. Hope, which is pretty much the reason I stopped reading a novel and instead read a nonfic from the church of Mother Monster. It is necessary, ever more...The highlights for me included topics such as: 1)Philanthroparties, 2)BC4F (Birthday Cakes for Free), 3)The Special Olympics Inclusion Revolution, 4)The International Day of Self Love, 5)People of Color in Publishing, 6)Technology used... to rescue children who need help or are in danger (Did you know that more than 4 children die daily from abuse in the USA?!)But of course. I love Lady Gaga... but. But, me, being me, I will point out the not so good, too! (Violating kindness, I suppose, but also having read the thing, my right, too.)1)For profit (Buy 1, Give 1) "kindness." No, you dont get anything in return. Capitalizing, while smart, invalidated the idea of giving, it taints it. Someone will get the dough. Not you. Not the people in need. It is guilt consumerism... (There are 2 or 3 examples of "great" businesses, blurp!)2)The book is vivid with pictures. Well, some selected pictures. Like the pictures of the authors/reporters, and not photos of the subjects and/or products/events/places. If you want pictures, instead of pictoral descriptions of great stuff like the Pop-Up "stores" or the blanket... look elsewhere (I guess... do research?).3)There is one story by one reporter that fell absolutely flat. About kindness at a Starbucks. Just that. Someone gave something for free. And its written by one of the Born This Way Foundation bigwigs. Included here, because, well, because. Unnecessary! Why is the lamest and least interesting of all the stories written by an actual grown up? Like, no. (And the privilege of having this type of story to tell, to publish, I mean, my god!)But yeah. Lady Gaga tries to save the world. Which means that god is kind.

Great intro by the Lady. Stories are short and purposeful. They are great examples of the multitudes of ways we can demonstrate how we are in this world together, how we can give each other a leg up, how many factors we need to consider before we say (in our own ignorance) "I'm not judgmental".I can see this book being read to preteens and teens as a conversation starter, or prompts for writing an essay in a class, or a bedside story. I'm an adult, age 68, and I enjoy the stories!

Channel Kindness is such a powerful book with many simple yet powerful stories about how kindness, empathy, connection and community can change our world, and one I would argue is desperately needed in 2020. The book features short stories from so many diverse young voices, as well as essays from Born This Way Foundation co-founders Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. There are 51 stories in total--each powerful in its own way--and each with a unique take away for the reader, through themes such as helping others, overcoming adversity, and/or erasing the stigma around mental health. The book also includes comments to the authors at the end of every chapter, as well as resources that one can go to for help that pertain to those stories. This is a beautiful anthology collection that gives hope for the world, and one I cannot highly recommend enough for readers of all ages.

To aid kindness and fellowship, humanity

Lady Gaga is a true artist. Not only is she multi-talented as a vocalist, an actress, and pianist, but she also uses her voice to constantly spread a message of kindness, acceptance, bravery and love. Her BTW Foundation has raised millions for LGBTQ children and teens who have been disowned by their families and helps provide free clinical mental health services for teens who can not gain access. An artist that many thought to be dividing towards the beginning of her career turned out to be the one that has brought so many together. Thank you Lady Gaga. I recommend this book, it’s such an important cause.

Nostalgic of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series but, with unique and empowering stories about love, kindness and hope- three things we need with us, for ourselves, and towards others, more than ever. Gorgeous visual layouts for each page; Lady Gaga’s custom notes at the end of each story; and more than 50 topics for young adolescents that finally give the young generation the joy, bravery, and representation they need. This is an incredible purchase, one that will do a lot of good and kindness by reading. Thank you Gaga (and her Mom) for all of the great things you put out in the world.

Absolutely love this book! It brings up many valid points about kindness, alliance, inclusivity, selflessness, and much more. Personally, my favorite part of the book is Gaga’s essay, where I started tearing up before finishing it. You also get so many more personal stories from not only other people, but other younger folks. To me, this demonstrates that the new generation is deeply concerned about people’s mental health, and fully invested in trying to help improve it. A big thank you to the BTW Foundation, everyone that shared their story in this book, Cynthia Germanotta, and of course our phenomenal Gaga. 10/10 recommend to anyone!

This book is great - I think it would be useful for any teen or young adult, because it talks about so many different life experiences. If I’d had a book like this when I was teen, it would have helped me navigate tough times so much more easily. Just knowing that others have struggled, learned to adapt and came out stronger is such a good life lesson. I really enjoyed reading this and learning about these amazing young authors, and I’m inspired to do more in my community, and more importantly, for my own well-being.

This is a strikingly human book that looks at caring and its manifestations. Caring is the root of everything humans are. We look after our own; research has even suggested that hominids other than homo sapiens looked after their own, whether abled or disabled, to the best of their resources and capabilities.But that preface is just a reviewer's interjection, which isn't in the book. This has a focus on the present and on kindness, a specific type of caring with no expected repayment. Through a series of true stories, it shows the truth that humans thrive with kindness and cooperation. People, living under different circumstances in broken systems, using the knowledge and abilities at their immediate disposal to find avenues of kindness. No matter what system we find ourselves in, caring people do their best to find a way; when some of us see the world now and feel convinced of a dark future, a book like this can be a warm blanket to remind us that no matter what direction the world goes, we have something beautiful in our nature and we will care and be kind to the end. And beyond that, perhaps people with an excellent grasp of their knowledge, abilities, and circumstances can take inspiration from this book to join that human tradition of kindness or refocus/refine/redouble their efforts.

A beautiful book , very inspiring. Will use it for myself as well as friends with teenagers who are experiencing bullying etc also for young friends with self esteem issues

Muy buen libro, recomiendo 100% comprarlos, me gustaron mucho las historias

This is the perfect book for someone in there young teenage years to read and reminds me of the chicken soup for the soul books. Purchased for 2 girls entering high school next year. Very thought provoking book for young and old alike!

A must for any Gaga fan. Bought this for my niece to read as she grows up.