Jack Canfield (1944-) Biography

Born 1944, in Fort Worth, TX; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. Education: Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, guitar.

Addresses

Agent—Bonnie Solow, New Media Marketing, 1007 Montana Ave., Ste. 133, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Career

Motivational speaker, author, and editor. High school social studies teacher in Chicago, IL, 1967–68; Clinton Job Corps Center, Clinton, IA, director of teacher program, 1968–69; W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation, Chicago, associate director of education, 1969–70; New England Center, Amherst, MA, founder and director, 1971–77; Institute for Wholistic Education, Amherst, founder and director, 1978–80; Insight Training Seminars, Santa Monica, CA, director of educational services, 1981–83; Self-Esteem Seminars, Santa Barbara, CA, president, 1983–; Foundation for Self-Esteem, founder and chairperson of the board, 1986–; Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Santa Barbara, chief executive officer, 1998–. National Council for Self-Esteem, co-founder and member of board of trustees, 1986–96, member of advisory board, 1996–. Maui Writers Conference and Retreat School, faculty member, beginning 1996.

Member

National Speakers Association, Association for Humanistic Psychology.

Honors Awards

Named Outstanding Young Man of America, U.S. Jaycees, 1978; honorary Ph.D., University of Santa Monica, 1981; American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) award, and Storytelling World award for tellable adult stories, both 1995, Body, Mind, and Soul Book award, and American Family Institute Nonfiction Literary award, both 1996, all for Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit; named Southern California Book Publicist of the Year, 1995; Storytelling World award for tellable adult stories, 1996, for A Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul; Distinguished Author award, Radio and Television Interview Report, 1996; Motivator of the Year award, Business Digest, 1997; Chancellor's Medal, University of Massachusetts, 1998; Promise of the Earth Award, National Arbor Day Foundation, 1998; Oprah's Angel Network Award, 1999.

Writings

(With Harold C. Wells) About Me: A Curriculum for a Developing Self, Encyclopedia Britannica (Chicago, IL), 1971.

(With Harold C. Wells) One Hundred Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom: A Handbook for Teachers and Parents, Prentice-Hall (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1976, revised edition, Allyn & Bacon (Boston, MA), 1993.

Personalized Learning: Confluent Processes in the Classroom, privately printed (Newington, CT), 1976, published as Loving to Learn, Self-Esteem Seminars (Culver City, CA), 1997.

(With Marie Reese, Ron Rowland, Sandie Limina, and others) Self-Esteem in the Classroom: A Curriculum Guide, Self-Esteem Seminars (Culver City, CA), 1986.

Self-Esteem and Peak Performance: A Transcript, Career-Track (Boulder, CO), 1991.

(With Frank Siccone) One Hundred and One Ways to Develop Student Self-Esteem and Responsibility in the Classroom, Allyn & Bacon (Boston, MA), Volume 1: The Teacher as Coach, 1992, Volume 2: The Power to Succeed in School and Beyond, 1992, published in one volume, 1994.

Los Angeles Dodgers Team Esteem Program: A Self-Esteem Curriculum Guide, Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA), 1992.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Dare to Win, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1994.

(With Karen Goldberg) Follow Your Dreams: A Goals-setting Workbook, Dream Time Project (Wayne, PA), 1994.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) The Aladdin Factor: How to Ask for and Get Everything You Want in Life, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Jacqueline Miller) Heart at Work: Stories and Strategies for Building Self-Esteem and Reawakening the Soul at Work, McGraw (New York, NY), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Barry Spilchuk) A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt) The Power of Focus, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With Janet Switzer) The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

COMPILER

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1993.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1995.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Diana Von Welanetz Wentworth) Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from the Heart, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1995.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Third Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, and Nancy Mitchell) Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Courage and Inspiration from Those Who Have Survived Cancer, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Patty Hansen) Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, and Jennifer Hawthorne) Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open and Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Women, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Martin Rutte, and others) Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work: One Hundred and One Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Creativity in the Workplace, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1996.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Hanoch McCarty, and Meladee McCarty) A Fourth Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1997.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: One Hundred and One Stories about Life, Love, and Learning, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1997.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, and Nancy Mitchell) Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1997.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, and Jennifer Hawthorne) Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Women, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1997.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II: One Hundred and One More Stories of Life, Love, and Learning, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: Journal, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, and Jennifer Reed Hawthorne) A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul: One Hundred and One More Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Women, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Spirited Sip of Chicken Soup for the Soul: In Celebration of Women, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Fifth Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Ron Camacho) Chicken Soup for the Country Soul: Stories Served up Country-Style and Straight from the Heart, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, and Irene Dunlap) Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Courage, Hope, and Laughter, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: Stories about Pets as Teachers, Healers, Heroes, and Friends, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1998.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Stirring Sip of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Uplifting Moments from Everyday Heroes, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1998.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul: Inspirational Stories about Love and Relationships, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(Compiler) Chicken Soup for the College Soul: Inspiring and Humorous Stories about College, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Sixth Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(Compiler) Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover's Soul: Celebrating Pets as Family with Stories about Cats, Dogs, and Other Critters, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul: One Hundred and One Heartwarming Stories of People Fifty and Over, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Insights, Inspiration, and Laughter on the Links, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Single's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Love and Inspiration for the Single, Divorced, and Widowed, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul at Christmas, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1999.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories to Warm a Mother's Heart, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1999.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Heather McNamara) Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul: One Hundred and One Inspirational Stories of Overcoming Life's Challenges, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 1999.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories to Uplift the Spirits, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 1999.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Insight, Inspiration, and Laughter from the World of Sports, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Inspire and Warm the Hearts of Soon-to-Be Mothers, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, and Irene Dunlap) Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Changes, Choices, and Growing up for Kids Ages 9-13, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Tom Lagana) Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Forgiveness, and Healing, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) A Little Sip of Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul, Andrews & McMeel (Kansas City, MO), 2000.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Bud Gardner) Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Writers, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul 2: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Mothers, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2000.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Fathers, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Tend to the Souls and Nurture the Spirits of Gardeners, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Celebrate, Honor, and Inspire the Nursing Profession, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Sidney R. Slagter) Chicken Soup for the Veteran's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Stir the Pride and Honor the Courage of Veterans Everywhere, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff: Stories of Tough Times and Lessons Learned, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Letters: Letters of Life, Love, and Learning, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury: Holiday Stories to Warm the Heart, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Dov Peretz Elkins) Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Baseball Fan's Soul: Inspirational Stories of Baseball, Big-League Dreams, and the Game of Life, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2001.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Celebrate the Spirit of Caring, Courage, and Compassion, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Steve Zikman) Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories Celebrating the Adventure and Spirit of Travel, at Home or Along the Way, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Educators, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Grandparents, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Matthew E. Adams) Chicken Soup for the Soul of America: Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids: A Story a Day from December 1st through Christmas for Kids and Their Families, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul: Inspirational Stories about Love and Romance, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul: The Second Round: More Stories of Insight, Inspiration, and Laughter on the Links, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2002.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Moms, cartoons by John McPherson, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Dads, cartoons by John McPherson, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Sharon J. Wohlmuth) Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Teachers: A Collection in Words and Photographs, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Sharon J. Wohlmuth) Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Mothers: A Collection in Words and Photographs, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With others) Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body and Soul: Motivations and Inspiration for Living and Loving a Healthy Lifestyle, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With others) Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawai'i: Stories of Aloha to Help You Create Paradise Wherever You Are, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

Chicken Soup for the Working Woman's Soul: Humorous and Inspirational Stories to Celebrate the Many Roles of Working Women, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams: Inspirational Stories, Powerful Principles, and Practical Techniques to Help You Make Your Dreams Come True, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul: Amazing Sea Stories and Wyland Artwork to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul: Inspirational Stories of Courage, Speed, and Overcoming Adversity, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul: Stories to Warm the Heart and Inspire the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003, gift edition, 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the for the Horse Lover's Soul: Inspirations Stories about Horses and the People Who Love Them, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories about Life, Death, and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul: Stories of Faith, Love, Inspiration, and Hope, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Sharon J. Wohlmuth) Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Cats and the People Who Love Them: A Collection in Words and Photographs, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2003.

(With Mar Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Teachers, cartoons by John McPherson, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Stephanie Marston) Live Lessons for Women, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Stephanie Marston) Chicken Soup to Inspire a Woman's Soul: Stories Celebrating the Wisdom, Fun, and Freedom of Midlife, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Sharon J. Wohlmuth) Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Dogs and the People Who Love Them: A Collection in Words and Photographs, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul: A Portable Support Group with Stories of Healing, Hope, Love, and Resilience, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul II: One Hundred and One Stories about Facing Challenges, Realizing Dreams, and Making a Difference, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Steve Zikman) Chicken Soup for the Nature Lover's Soul: Inspiring Stories of Joy, Insight, and Adventure in the Great Outdoors, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend's Soul: Stories Celebrating the Magic of Friendship, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul: Fish Tales to Hook Your spirit and Snag Your Funny Bone, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and LeAnn Thieman) Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul: Stories to Inspire Car-egivers in teh Home, the Community, and the World, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul: Stories of Love, Laughter, and commitment to Last a Lifetime, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture One Story at a Time, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2004.

Chicken Soup for the Soul NASCAR Xtreme Race Journal for Kids: Cool Activities, Track Facts, Race Facts, Ultimate Trivia for Every Race, All Season Long, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Vicki Rackner) Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living: Heart Disease, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Deborah Reber) Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul's The Real Deal: School: Cliques, Classes, Clubs, and More, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living: Breast Cancer, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and Lori Byrstan) Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Grandmothers: A Collection in Words and Photographs, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Single Parent's Soul: Stories of Hope, Healing, and Humor, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul: Stories to Touch the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and LeAnn Thieman) Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul: Stories to Honor and Celebrate the Ageless Love of Grandmothers, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul: Stories to Celebrate the Love Between Dads and Daughters through the Years, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for Every Mom's Soul: New Stories of Love and Inspiration for Moms of All Ages, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Latter-day Saint Soul: One Hundred and One Stories Celebrating the Faith and Family of Latter-day Saints, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Girl's Soul: Real Stories by Real Girls about Real Stuff, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul: Stories of Canine Companionship, Comedy, and Courage, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With others) Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mar Victor Hansen) Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Golfers, cartoons by John McPherson, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2005.

(With Mark Victor Hansen and LeAnn Thieman) Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul II: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Healing, Health Communications (Deerfield Beach, FL), 2006.

Also author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul," a weekly column in Woman's World, 1995–.

Canfield's books have been published in Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Bulgarian, Japanese, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish.

Adaptations

Most of the "Chicken Soup" books have been adapted as audiobooks, as have The Aladdin Factor, Dare to Win, and Heart at Work. The "Chicken Soup" series has also inspired storybooks and audiocassette music collections, such as Chicken Soup for Little Christian Souls, produced by Kid Rhino.

Work in Progress

More books in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series.

Sidelights

Jack Canfield joins Mark Victor Hansen in compiling the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, which contain heartwarming tales that offer proof of humankind's capacity to love and forgive. In addition to books for adults, Canfield's series also targets younger readers with the titles Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: One Hundred and One Stories about Life, Love, and Learning, Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Courage, Hope, and Laughter, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul's The Real Deal: School: Cliques, Classes, Clubs, and More, and Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul: One Hundred and One Stories of Changes, Choices, and Growing up for Kids Ages 9-13.

The first book in the popular series, Chicken Soup for the Soul: One Hundred and One Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit, sparked what Time reviewer Andrew Ferguson dubbed "the publishing phenomenon" of the 1990s. Noting the coauthors' background as motivational speakers, Ferguson added that in the series, "the tone is unvarying: earnest, unadorned and ruthlessly uplifting." "Chicken Soup" titles have been directed at gardeners, nurses, teachers, military veterans, pet lovers, and people from a variety of religious faiths.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul contains inspirational anecdotes and poems from everyday teens along with cartoons and contributions from well-known figures such as Helen Keller and poet Sandra Cisneros. The brief stories recount family problems, peer-group issues, and personal-growth tales. Booklist critic Motivational speaker Canfield sparked a trend when he released his first "Chicken Soup" anthologies; now everyone from teens to pet lovers to golfers can benefit from a collection of upbeat, homespun wisdom geared just for them. (Cover photograph by Barbara Campbell.)Stephanie Zvirin commended the mix of well-known adults writing about their teen years and ordinary adolescents using "plainspoken" language, as she put it. Zvirin predicted that the work will resonate with its intended readership "because it proves that there is, indeed, some light at the proverbial end of the tunnel."

Popular with teen readers, the series sparked several sequels as well as the related titles Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul: Stories of Faith, Love, Inspiration, and Hope and Chicken Soup for the Girl's Soul. Commenting on Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul, John Green noted in Booklist that the book contains a "familiar mix of the inspirational, the sad but heartwarming, and the sweetly funny." Divided into sections that include "On Faith," "On Gratitude," and "On Loss and Grieving," the book contains "an emphasis on God working in surprising ways," according to Green.

Since the first Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul book was published in 1997, Canfield has receive up to one hundred letters a day, many expressing thanks and some containing stories from teens relating how the book helped them improve their own lives. In response, Canfield joined co-compilers Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger to create Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: Letters of Life, Love, and Learning. A teen with a fatal disease and a teacher in a juvenile detention facility are just two of the correspondents whose stories "often wind up as a tool for sharing experiences," noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer.

Canfield, a former high-school history teacher, began collecting and publishing self-esteem materials for school students, and his first published book was One Hundred Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom. "Three books later, I started to give motivational talks to schools and to corporations," he once explained. "One day an audience member said, 'You have the best stories I have ever heard anywhere. Have you ever thought of putting them in a book?' With that prompting, I began to write down the stories that, three years later, with the help of Mark Victor Hansen, became Chicken Soup for the Soul. Although the first "Chicken Soup" book was rejected by over forty publishers, fourteen months after it was published by Health Communications it made the New York Times bestseller list, and stayed there over two years. The "Chicken Soup" books have since been translated into twenty-three languages.

"What motivates us to continue to work so hard compiling, editing, and writing these books are the thousands of letters I receive that describe the powerful impact the books have had on so many lives, including prisoners, students, teachers, managers, parents, cancer survivors, and numerous others," Canfield added. He and Hansen donate a portion of all sales to charities, including Soup Kitchens for the Soul, which places inspirational literature in prisons and jails. As Canfield explained to Dennis Hughes in an interview for Shareguide.com, "My life's mission is to inspire and empower [people] to live their highest vision in the context of love and joy."