Reviews

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Export Edition by Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield

tomebro's review against another edition

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4.0

Nice collection of stories and wisdom, albeit repetitive at times and assuming some things on class. Good for late nights and for mood lifting.

majkaem's review against another edition

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4.0

Stále sa mi ťažšie píšu recenzie na poviedkové knihy, alebo knihy s krátkymi príbehmi.
Každá poviedka či príbeh sú iné a nie každá sa nám môže páčiť.

Ak zoberiem knihu ako celok, bola príjemne spracovaná a skvelo sa čítala. Nájdete tu naozaj veľa malých príbehov z rôznych oblastí života.

Priznávam, že niektoré ma chytili za srdce, niektoré som prečítala bez emócií, niektoré mi nahnali slzy do očí a niektoré ma dokonca rozplakali.

Kniha je plná lásky, objatia, porozumenie a samozrejme aj rád. Nájdete tu aj krásne citáty, či už od slávnych osobností, alebo len od „rozprávačov“ príbehov.

Páčilo sa mi, ako si autori dali záležať a na konci knihy napísali o každom človeku, ktorý pridal svoj príbeh do knihy, pár viet o tom, kto sú vlastne zač.

Videla som, že táto kniha má viacero pokračovaní a ak by som na niektoré z nich natrafila, neváhala by som a knihu si prečítala.

izzie2024's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

3.0

ioana_cis's review against another edition

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4.0

It is a really nice collection of short stories each with a great message - recommended it before other personal development books as it will display many of the known advises in an easy way of understanding.

orionmerlin's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

2.0

Credibility & Research – 3/10
The book lacks any real research or substantiation. While it presents itself as a collection of inspiring, real-life stories, there is no verification process for the claims made. The stories rely entirely on personal anecdotes, which can be moving but are also highly subjective and unverifiable. The book does not engage with any psychological or sociological research to give its themes a foundation beyond emotional appeal. It cherry-picks uplifting narratives without exploring any complexities or counterpoints, making it feel more like an emotional marketing tool than a genuine exploration of human resilience.
Authenticity & Uniqueness – 4/10
At first glance, the idea of compiling heartwarming stories seems refreshing, but once you get past the initial charm, it becomes clear how formulaic and repetitive the entries are. The book follows the same emotional blueprint in nearly every chapter—struggle, minor conflict, and an inevitable feel-good resolution. This predictability strips the book of any real authenticity. The stories often feel sanitized and oversimplified, as if curated to fit a specific emotional mold rather than reflect the true messiness of life. Instead of offering fresh perspectives, it recycles generic moral lessons that have been told in countless ways before.
Writing Style – 5/10
The writing is undeniably accessible, but it lacks depth and sophistication. The overly sentimental tone becomes cloying, and many of the stories read like something you’d find in an inspirational email chain from the early 2000s. The book’s structure—short, self-contained stories—makes it easy to read in small doses, but it also prevents any meaningful engagement with the themes it presents. The emotional manipulation is glaring; rather than allowing the stories to speak for themselves, the book repeatedly tells you how you should feel about them, making it more of a cheerleading exercise than a genuinely thought-provoking read.
Personal Impact – 4/10
While the book is designed to be uplifting, it offers little in terms of lasting value. The lessons are so broad and generalized that they lack any real depth. I didn’t walk away with new insights or tools for personal growth—just a temporary emotional high that faded quickly. The book’s one-size-fits-all approach to inspiration makes it difficult to connect with on a deeper level. Life is more complicated than the simplistic messages this book pushes, and its unwillingness to explore real hardship beyond the surface level makes it feel hollow.
Intrigue – 4/10
The first few stories might capture attention, but the lack of variety in tone and structure causes interest to wane quickly. The predictability of the narratives means there’s no real suspense or engagement—once you’ve read a handful, you’ve essentially read them all. The stories rarely challenge or surprise, and because the book prioritizes an overly polished form of inspiration, it lacks the rawness or authenticity that would make it compelling. The sheer volume of stories also works against it; after a while, it starts to feel like emotional filler rather than a cohesive book.
Logic & Informativeness – 2/10
This book does not operate on logic or intellectual depth. It’s purely emotional, which wouldn’t be a problem if it were upfront about it. However, it presents itself as a meaningful and insightful collection of life lessons, despite lacking any critical analysis or substance. The absence of diverse perspectives or any attempt to engage with broader societal or psychological contexts makes it feel incomplete. There’s no discussion of why these stories are inspiring beyond their surface-level emotions, and the book doesn’t offer any practical takeaways or tools for real-life application.
Enjoyment – 5/10
The book is readable in the sense that it’s light and easy to get through, but it quickly becomes exhausting due to its relentless sentimentality. If you enjoy feel-good, low-effort inspiration, there’s some entertainment value in flipping through a few pages. However, if you’re looking for something deeper, more nuanced, or truly transformative, this book fails to deliver. I wouldn’t actively recommend it unless someone specifically wanted a collection of sugar-coated, emotionally safe stories with little substance. 

shurtaugh's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

c_rabbit's review against another edition

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Not interesting to listen tio ehile driving

irahid's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

tdudare's review against another edition

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4.0

Inspirational, but sometimes I had feelings like it`s all only tales. And also I can`t understand why I had started this book, because I have never believed that this kind of ``inspirational`` book can somehow help you with understanding your problems and ways of solving them. But despite this, the book was good.