Review Detail

‘Human Kindness: True Stories of Compassion and Generosity that Changed the World’ by John “The Planetwalker” Francis, illustrated by Josy Bloggs, is a deep dive into kindness, even far into the past. The earliest acts of kindness are mentioned, including at least one cave dweller who lived into his 40s. This was quite an old age for humans 45,000+ years ago, and the book goes on to say that it likely means he was cared for by family or friends, elongating his life.

A host of adages about the Golden Rule make up part of the book. Feeling empathy is a very important aspect of kindness, and this means understanding or sharing someone else’s feelings. It is the feeling of being able to walk in someone else’s shoes and understand their experience. Being kind to others is not necessarily always a selfless act, but so long as we are kind and compassionate to others, good can result.

Stories of kindness from around the world and throughout history, including details about the Underground Railroad, stories of girls going to school in Pakistan, and working on sanitation in medical settings to fight infections and disease are but a few of the ways that kindness has been spread. Charity is another way to promote and show kindness, from preventing hunger to working on better healthcare, to allowing more access to education, as well as animal assistance.

From inventions to peaceful protests to standing up for nature and doing random acts of kindness, it all comes down to being kind to not only others, but to one’s own self. By taking care of oneself, it makes it that much easier to work toward taking care of others. The book is rounded out with quotes of kindness by famous individuals, including the Dalai Lama, Bob Marley, Dolly Parton, Maya Angelou, Princess Diana, Barack Obama, and others. There is also a glossary, index, and selected sources for anyone who might be interested in learning more about kindness and how to lead the way toward ensuring it is here to stay in this world. The moral of the story is that kindness matters, and the book shows ways to instill that love in as many people as possible.