Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness

Great reading...

Some of it will make ya cry

I bought this for my penpal in prison.he said he enjoyed it and will reread also

I'm looking forward to being released from prison more than I've ever looked forward to anything in my life. It blows my mind to imagine walking through those gates, because, for so long, I thought it would never happen. However, there's only one aspect of my future that I dread - the stigma of being an ex-con. I've vowed to myself to be very open about my past. Trying to hide it would cause more harm to me than if the whole world knew. I'm aware that some people may not be as understanding and accepting as I would like them to be, but I'm confident that I'll be able to handle it. I know everyone's got their issue that they wish everyone understood. My issue is what it's like to be a drug addict and prisoner. If there's one book I wish you could read, it would be "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul". It's a collection of stories told by inmates(former and current), their families, and prison staff and volunteers. The following passage about suicide could have been written by me: "Yes, to take the easy way out would hurt a few others, but they could overcome it and probably be better off in the long run. I'd reached the point where all my mental energy was directed toward devising a quick, easy and painless transition from this world to the next. I even felt a small twinge of joy at the prospect of being free from jail." Then there's the story about Harry who smuggled to pay for cancer treatment, but he was put in prison instead where he discovered meditation. The irony of the story is that he credits meditation with curing his cancer. There's a quote by the late Charles Colson, Nixon's "hatchet man": "The richest spiritual experiences I have ever known have not been in vaulted cathedrals surrounded by stained-glass windows, but in the filthiest prison cells." There's also a story about a woman who reluctantly volunteered to tutor a prisoner. She had such a profound spiritual experience that she couldn't tell who was really the teacher and who was the student. And sadly, this passage: "It's odd to me that so many people think that time is an effective punishment. Perhaps I've become delusional. Maybe I am being punished after all. Can a man be punished if he doesn't know it? I can't tell anymore, because I don't know any other life besides the one I'm living." I'll leave you with this, it's not in "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul", but it could be. It's from Hebrews 13:3 - "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."Written By David Allan ReevesAuthor of "Running Away From Me"

I was told that this was a very good book. They were happy to receive it

I read many of the reviews and was hesitant to send this to my friend who is currently incarcerated as I didn’t want to have any undue attention brought his way. However, he was so happy to receive it. He talks about it every time we are able to speak on the phone and he looks forward to reading it each night. He’s not a reader- this was purely a shot it the dark! Due to the set-up of the book, he’s able to quickly get through a story and feel like he had accomplished something for the day. He said it was probably the best book I could have chosen during this time.

This book made me cry. It is the most powerful book I have ever read. For example, in one of the true stories, a prisoner finds the courage to approach the first person in his life to everunconditionally love him and reveal the rat bites on his hand he experienced as a child. Most of us just read the words, but if you stop for a moment and imagine the terror that innocent child felt over and over again, you begin to understand that without God's intervention through us, this person never had a chance at a decent life. This book showed me the inside of life behind bars with delicacy and grace. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to make a difference in the world!

I did not read this book, I sent it to a relative who is in prison. She appreciated it tremendously and loved the book. The book has inspired her to do some things while in prison, like go to the prison chapel, get counseling and she is now thinking about taking some college courses while in prison, thanks to the book. She also loans this book out to other inmates to read.

I found this book to be full of rich content, with moving stories which rang true. This was a good insight into the mental world of prisoners which has changed my view on how I see people who have been imprisoned.It also shows how change can happen given people will to take a risk to help others.

Chicken soup books never fails to deliver or inspire those in need

I've read my share of prison literature and stories. This book has some worthwhile insights and messages but mostly from a small group. It's mostly a compilation of writings from the same three or four people. I've read better collections but this one is ok.