Jack Canfield
Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit
About the Author
Jack Canfield earned his Bachelor's of Arts from Harvard and a Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts. he also has an honorary doctorate from the University of Santa Monica. Canfield has been a high school and university teacher, a workshop facilitator, a psychotherapist and a leading show more authority in the area of self esteem and personal development for approximately 30 years. Canfield is the founder and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, which has over 36 titles, 53 million copies in print and is translated into over 32 languages. He is the founder of Self Esteem Seminars in Santa Barbara, California, which trains entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees in how to accelerate achievement. Canfield is also the founder of the Foundation for Self Esteem which provides self esteem resources and training for social workers, welfare recipients and Human Resource professionals. Some of his clients include Virgin Records, Sony Pictures, Merrill Lynch, Caldwell Banker, Federal Express, Bergen Brunswig Pharmaceuticals and the American Alzheimers Association. In 1987, Canfield was appointed by the California Legislature to the California Task Force to Promote Self Esteem and Personal and Social Responsibility. He is the co-founder of the National Association for Self Esteem, and a member of the association for Holistic Education, as well as the National Association for for Self Esteem, where he was also a past member of the Board of Trustees and the recipient of the 1993 National Leadership Award. He is also a member of the National Staff Development Council and the National Speakers Association. In 1989, Canfield was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional designation, an honor that is held by less than 5% of NSA's membership. In 1997, he was nominated by three of NSA's past presidents for the coveted CPAE designation. Canfield has appeared on such television shows as Oprah, The Today Show, 20/20, Eye to Eye, the NBC Nightly News and the BBC. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (1993) 3,195 copies, 19 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: 101 Stories of Life, Love and Learning (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1997) — Editor — 2,889 copies, 24 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Women (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1996) 1,657 copies, 8 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope and Laughter (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1998) 1,610 copies, 5 reviews
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (1995) 1,452 copies, 5 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1997) 1,377 copies, 4 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: Stories About Pets as Teachers, Healers, Heroes and Friends (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (1998) 1,219 copies, 4 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Mothers (1997) 1,191 copies, 3 reviews
The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (2004) 1,187 copies, 11 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III: More Stories of Life, Love and Learning (2000) 1,161 copies, 3 reviews
A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (1996) 949 copies, 5 reviews
A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (1997) 793 copies, 3 reviews
The Power of Focus: How to Hit Your Business, Personal and Financial Targets with Absolute Certainty (2000) 786 copies, 3 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff: Stories of Tough Times and Lessons Learned (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2001) 774 copies, 6 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul: Celebrating Pets as Family with Stories About Cats, Dogs and Other Critters (1999) 602 copies, 6 reviews
A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Women (1998) 599 copies, 4 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal, School, Cliques, Classes, Clubs and More (2005) 378 copies, 2 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul: Stories of Insight, Inspiration and Laughter in the World of Sport (2000) 283 copies
You've GOT to Read This Book!: 55 People Tell the Story of the Book That Changed Their Life (2007) 278 copies, 6 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul 2: More Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Mothers (2001) 242 copies
Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts of Christian Teens (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2003) 209 copies, 4 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Letters: Letters of Life, Love and Learning (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2001) 202 copies
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal Challenges: Stories about Disses, Losses, Messes, Stresses & More (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2006) 198 copies, 1 review
Jack Canfield's Key to Living the Law of Attraction: A Simple Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams (2007) 174 copies, 4 reviews
Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul: Real-Life Stories by Real Teens (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2007) 153 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture, One Story at a Time (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2004) 135 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition: All Your Favorite Original Stories Plus 20 Bonus Stories for the Next 20 Years (2013) 88 copies, 1 review
How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be: The 25 Principles of Success (2007) 84 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings: 101 Stories of Gratitude, Fortitude, and Silver Linings (2009) 84 copies
100 Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom: A Handbook for Teachers and Parents (1975) 70 copies
Chicken Soup for the Little Souls: 3 Colorful Stories to Warm the Hearts of Children (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2000) 69 copies
The Power of Focus Tenth Anniversary Edition: How to Hit Your Business, Personal and Financial Targets with Absolute Confidence and Certainty (2012) 64 copies, 1 review
The Success Principles for Teens: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (2008) 51 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers: 101 Stories of Inspiration and Support for Teens (2011) 46 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Tough Times: Stories about the Hardest Parts of Being a Teenager (2008) 44 copies, 2 reviews
Tapping Into Ultimate Success: How to Overcome Any Obstacle and Skyrocket Your Results (2012) 37 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas!: 101 Joyful Stories about the Love, Fun, and Wonder of the Holidays (2013) 35 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven: 101 Stories of Eternal Love, Powerful Connections, and Divine Signs from Beyond (2013) 32 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen: 101 Inspirational Stories about Hope, Answered Prayers, and Divine Intervention (2014) 32 copies
Success Affirmations: 52 Weeks for Living a Passionate and Purposeful Life (2017) 30 copies, 1 review
Coaching for Breakthrough Success: Proven Techniques for Making Impossible Dreams Possible (2013) 26 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade: 101 Positive, Practical, and Powerful Stories about Making the Best of a Bad Situation (2013) 22 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grand and Great: Grandparents and Grandchildren Share Their Stories of Love and Wisdom (2008) 21 copies
The Success Principles Workbook: An Action Plan for Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (2020) 21 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition: The Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories that Changed Your Lives (2013) 21 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times for Teens: 101 Stories about the Hardest Parts of Being a Teenager (2012) 20 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding My Faith: 101 Inspirational Stories about Life, Belief, and Spiritual Renewal (2012) 20 copies
The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home (2016) 17 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Home Sweet Home: 101 Stories about Hearth, Happiness, and Hard Work (2014) 15 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Parenthood: 101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about the Joys of Raising Children of All Ages (2013) 15 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Girls: 101 Stories about Friendship for Women of All Ages (2013) 14 copies, 1 review
Histórias para Aquecer o Coração - 50 histórias de vida, amor e sabedoria (2001) 11 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Multitasking Mom's Survival Guide: 101 Inspiring and Amusing Stories for Mothers Who Do It All (2014) 10 copies
Stirring Sip Of Chicken Soup For The Soul: Uplifting Moments from Everyday Heroes (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Mini)) (1998) 10 copies
Chicken Soup Teenage Trilogy: Stories About Life, Love and Learning (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2000) 9 copies
El Poder de Mantenerse Enfocado: Como dar en el blanco financiero, personal y de negocios con absoluta certeza (Spanish Edition) (2004) 8 copies
A Healthy Dose of Motivation: Includes 'The Aladdin Factor' and 'Dare to Win' (2004) 8 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game: 101 Stories about Looking for Love and Finding Fairytale Romance! (2013) 6 copies
Otra Taza De Chocolate Caliente Para El Alma / Another Cup of Hot Chocolate for the Soul: A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul (Spanish Edition) (1996) 4 copies, 1 review
Un tercer plato de sopa de pollo para el alma : nuevos relatos que conmueven el corazón y ponen fuego en el espíritu (1997) 4 copies
Kompass für die Seele: So bringen Sie Erfolg in Ihr Leben: 60 zeitlose Lebensgesetze (2005) 3 copies
Bouillon de Poulet pour l'âme de Noël : Histoires inspirantes pour célébrer l'esprit de Noël (2006) 3 copies, 1 review
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners - 31 Stories on Starting Out, Running Therapy, and Camaraderie (2010) 3 copies, 1 review
The Best of a 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul: More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit: Storytelling at Its Best (1996) 3 copies
Awaken Your Heart at Work: Working with Soul for Breakthough Results (Inner Life Series) (2003) 3 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution - 33 Stories about First Steps, Possibilities, and New Beginnings (2010) 2 copies
Jack Canfields Schlüssel zum Gesetz der Anziehung: So machen Sie Ihre Lebensträume wahr (2008) 2 copies
Slepičí polévka pro ženskou duši : 2. porce : další příběhy, které otevírají srdce a probouzejí ducha… (2000) 2 copies
I Can't Believe My Dog Did That! 101 Stories about the Crazy Antics of Our Canine Companions (2012) 2 copies
O Poder da Focalização Como atingir os seus objectivos profissionais, pessoais e financeiros com garantia absoluta (2007) 2 copies
Amor al trabajo anécdotas y estrategias para fortalecer la dignidad y reanimar la vitalidad en el trabajo (1996) 2 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters - 33 Stories of Family Fun, Relatively Strange Moments, and Happily Ever Laughter (2011) 2 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Cheer - 38 Stories of Santa, Christmases Past, and the Love of Family (2010) 2 copies
A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (2000) 2 copies
Hühnersuppe für die Seele - Das neue Kochbuch -: Geschichten und Rezepte, die das Herz erwärmen (2008) 2 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul NASCAR Xtreme Race Journal for Kids (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Paperback Health Communications)) (2005) 2 copies
Sopa de Pollo para el Alma de la Pareja: Relatos inspirecionales sobre el amor y las relaciones (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (Spanish Edition) (2003) 2 copies
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Like Mother, Like Daughter - 30 Stories about Learning from Each Other, Mutual Support, and the Magical Bond (2011) 2 copies
Načela uspjeha : kako dospjeti s mjesta na kojem se nalazite do mjesta na kojem želite biti (2009) 1 copy
Jack Canfield's Dream Big 1 copy
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Cheer - 32 Stories of Christmas Humor, Memories, and Holiday Traditions (2010) 1 copy
قوة التركيز 1 copy
Manna vir die Christen se gemoed: stories om die hart te verwarm en die siel te verkwik (1999) 1 copy
Hühnersuppe für die Seele: Gute Besserung! - Wahre Geschichten von Genesung und Heilung (2006) 1 copy
Self-esteem in the classroom 1 copy
Chicken Soup for Little Soup 1 copy
Sopa de Pollo para el Alma Inquebrantable: Relatos que inspiran para vencer los desafíos de la vida 1 copy
Messages from Heaven 1 copy
Beyond Belief 1 copy
Tavuk suyuna ȯrba-i̇ftlerin y reklerini s tacak y̲k ler : sevgi ve ili kiler zerine s ms cak y̲k ler 1 copy
The Success Principales 1 copy
Cāļa zupa dvēselei : pavārgrāmata : 101 recepte, kas sasildīs dvēseli un uzlabos apetīti (2001) 1 copy
Una segunda racion de caldo para el alma del adolescente / A Second Helping of Soup for the Teenage Soul (Spanish Edition) (2002) 1 copy
The Soul of Success Volume 2 (Hardcover)--by Jack Canfield [2015 Edition] ISBN: 9780996197847 (1672) 1 copy
Chicken Soup for Woman's Soul ('Xin ling ji tang (nu xing)', in traditional Chinese, NOT in English) (1997) 1 copy
Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love - 32 Stories about First Meetings, Adventures in Dating, and It Was Meant to Be (2011) 1 copy
Balsam for sjelen 1 copy
Chicken soup for little souls. songs to enhance your unique spirit. You're a special person (1998) 1 copy
Koučinkem k dosažení úspěchu : osvědčené techniky, jak učinit zdánlivě nemožné sny možnými (2017) 1 copy
Slepačia Polievka pre Dušu mysli pozitívne ; 101 skutočných príbehov, ktoré vás povzbudia a dodajú vám pozitívnu… (2012) 1 copy
ASK,ASK,ASK 1 copy
A siker alapelvei [hogyan jussunk el onnan, ahol tartunk oda, ahol tartani szeretnénk?] (2009) 1 copy
Az összpontosítás hatalma amit a világ legelismertebb emberei tudnak a pénzügyi függetlenségről és a sikerről (2012) 1 copy
Slepačia polievka pre dušu: ďalšie poviedky, ktoré otvoria vaše srdce a zohrejú vašu dušu. 3. porcia (1996) 1 copy
Canja de Galinha para a Alma 1 copy
شوربة دجاج للحياة 1 copy
Slepičí polévka pro duši, kuchařka : vyprávěnky a recepty pro potěchu nejen duše, ale i těla (1997) 1 copy
Brodo caldo per l'anima 3.: Ancora storie che scaldano il cuore e confortano lo spirito (1997) 1 copy
Associated Works
The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of Your Life with the Law of Attraction (2009) — Afterword — 82 copies, 1 review
100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values (2002) — Foreword, some editions — 31 copies, 1 review
Before the Glory: 20 Baseball Heroes Talk About Growing Up and Turning Hard Times into Home Runs (2007) — Foreword — 22 copies, 2 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1944-08-19
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Harvard University (BA|1966)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (M.Ed|1973) - Occupations
- teacher
psychotherapist
workshop facilitator - Relationships
- Canfield, Oran (son)
- Short biography
- He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar. In 1962, he graduated from high school at Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia and he received a BA in Chinese History in 1966 from Harvard University and an MEd at University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1973.[6] In 1971 he married Judith Ohlbaum, with whom he had two children. In 1978 he was named Outstanding Young Man of America by the U.S. Jaycees.[6] On September 9, 1978, he married Georgia Lee Noble, with whom he had a son. They divorced in December 1999. On July 4, 2001, Canfield married for a third time to Inga Marie Mahoney.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Fort Worth, Texas, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Texas, USA
Members
Reviews
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit by Jack Canfield
I thought the first book was already preachy enough in how many of the stories centered around God, faith, Jesus loves you, and all that shit, but it was still an ok enough book.
I guess with the success of the first book, the editors of this book decided they'd ramp up all that, and it just comes off as insulting to people who are not Christians, and not only that, but people with mental illnesses and physical disabilities.
You can't just say "stop thinking negative thoughts" and expect that show more to work, and disabled people are not here to "inspire" you. Fuck off with that shit. show less
I guess with the success of the first book, the editors of this book decided they'd ramp up all that, and it just comes off as insulting to people who are not Christians, and not only that, but people with mental illnesses and physical disabilities.
You can't just say "stop thinking negative thoughts" and expect that show more to work, and disabled people are not here to "inspire" you. Fuck off with that shit. show less
A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit by Jack Canfield
The stories in here can be enjoyable and educational, but are to be taken with a grain of salt because I, and others, are certain that at least some of these stories are fiction, or at the very least cobbled together from various things the editors have heard or seen through their work as inspirational speakers and etc. Also, many of the stories have very religious/christian overtones about finding happiness only when they finally let God/Jesus into their lives, etc.
These were a big deal show more when i was a kid and it seemed almost like there was always someone I knew who was reading one of the Chicken Soup books.
The Chicken Soup books also have some stories and parables that one can easily find online or have heard from other sources. I.e. the story of two seeds, one wantd to grow, one doesn't. Or the story of the woman who liked to gossip until she really hurt a friend with some gossip, and wanted to undo the damage, and was told to spread some feathers and then gather them back the next day to understand the effect of gossip.
2.5/5 stars. This series could have been better if it wasn't so fucking saccharine/religious. show less
These were a big deal show more when i was a kid and it seemed almost like there was always someone I knew who was reading one of the Chicken Soup books.
The Chicken Soup books also have some stories and parables that one can easily find online or have heard from other sources. I.e. the story of two seeds, one wantd to grow, one doesn't. Or the story of the woman who liked to gossip until she really hurt a friend with some gossip, and wanted to undo the damage, and was told to spread some feathers and then gather them back the next day to understand the effect of gossip.
2.5/5 stars. This series could have been better if it wasn't so fucking saccharine/religious. show less
Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul: Stories of Canine Companionship, Comedy and Courage (Chicken Soup for the Soul) by Jack Canfield
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”
– Charles De Gaulle.
This book is an ode to all dogs and a treasure for all dog lovers. What a fabulous set of anecdotes it contains! You meet not just pet dogs but also army dogs, rescue dogs, stray dogs, and guide dogs. Their stories will make you laugh and cry and sigh. Some will shock you while others will generate anger. A few tales will leave you with a strange curiosity to know what happened next. The "Doggone show more Wonderful" section was my favourite, though I did love almost every story in this book equally.
As with every Chicken Soup collection, there are precious quotes at the start of every anecdote and a few cartoons peppered in between the sections.
The only thing I missed in this book was photos of the pooches in the stories. How I would have loved to put a face to the myriad canines who stole my heart with their behaviour!
If you are a dog lover, you will enjoy these stories of companionship and love. If you aren't a dog lover, you must read this book to know why you must become one!
Relish this in small proportions in between your usual books. It will add the right dash of happiness to your day.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews show less
– Charles De Gaulle.
This book is an ode to all dogs and a treasure for all dog lovers. What a fabulous set of anecdotes it contains! You meet not just pet dogs but also army dogs, rescue dogs, stray dogs, and guide dogs. Their stories will make you laugh and cry and sigh. Some will shock you while others will generate anger. A few tales will leave you with a strange curiosity to know what happened next. The "Doggone show more Wonderful" section was my favourite, though I did love almost every story in this book equally.
As with every Chicken Soup collection, there are precious quotes at the start of every anecdote and a few cartoons peppered in between the sections.
The only thing I missed in this book was photos of the pooches in the stories. How I would have loved to put a face to the myriad canines who stole my heart with their behaviour!
If you are a dog lover, you will enjoy these stories of companionship and love. If you aren't a dog lover, you must read this book to know why you must become one!
Relish this in small proportions in between your usual books. It will add the right dash of happiness to your day.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews show less
Theese books were big when I was a kid. And I do mean fucking big. Just about all of the adults I knew were passing these books among themselves, going on about how awesome and inspiring these books were. And I was able to read these because hey, such Godly and inspirational books are soooo kid-appropriate/friendly!
And... yes, as far as "clean" and "appropriate" went, sure, the Chicken Soup books were fine for kids (older kids, at least, given the reading level) Now, some 20+ years later, I show more agree with that, at least from a neutral perspective. The stories are meant to be inspiring and uplifting.
However, the Chicken Soup books have a heavy religious/Christian bent, which isn't surprising given the two people responsible for the books, so many of the stories are about people finding God, or being inspired by God, or some shit. So while these books may be more appealing to Christians, there's less appeal to non-religious folks.
I see some reviewers questioning the validity of the stories, and now, thinking back, I can't help but wonder if some of these stories WERE indeed fabricated, to push the whole "you need Jesus to feel good" message. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. show less
And... yes, as far as "clean" and "appropriate" went, sure, the Chicken Soup books were fine for kids (older kids, at least, given the reading level) Now, some 20+ years later, I show more agree with that, at least from a neutral perspective. The stories are meant to be inspiring and uplifting.
However, the Chicken Soup books have a heavy religious/Christian bent, which isn't surprising given the two people responsible for the books, so many of the stories are about people finding God, or being inspired by God, or some shit. So while these books may be more appealing to Christians, there's less appeal to non-religious folks.
I see some reviewers questioning the validity of the stories, and now, thinking back, I can't help but wonder if some of these stories WERE indeed fabricated, to push the whole "you need Jesus to feel good" message. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. show less
Lists
Overdue Podcast (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 682
- Also by
- 7
- Members
- 50,614
- Popularity
- #301
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 343
- ISBNs
- 1,945
- Languages
- 32
- Favorited
- 18
