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Product Description
Product Description
A collection of original stories by acclaimed writers, including Jan Morris, Tim Cahill, Simon Winchester, Dave Eggers, and Anthony Sattin, exploring the theme of finding good fortune on the road. With a preface by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a selection of short stories on incidences when travellers have been helped by the kindness of strangers. There are stories from famous travel writers as well as a selection of stories from unknown writers who submitted their tales as part of an appeal by Lonely Planet.
It is easy reading and the type of book you can easily pick up and read when you have 10 minutes free. Many of the stories are pleasant moments about the kindness from common humanity.
However I would be tempted to agree to some extent with Nadine, that with the scope of material that one would imagine is available to Lonely Planet, some of the tales seem to be about kindness having to rescue 'foolish travellers' who simply failed to plan. A couple of the famous writers seemed to be fulfilling an obligation by submitting something. One or two of the stories could perhaps more harshly be titled "the unkindness or arrogance of the visitor". The most disappointing was "My Beirut Hostage Crisis" where the writer was simply rude and unkind and if this is the best he can do to describe kindness I am glad I haven't met him.
I also felt "We Can't Fix Anything, Even the Smallest Things, in Cuba" missed the point of the book. It was not well written and didn't really cover kindness. Although it was a helpful reflection on the guilt induced by our comparitive wealth as visitors.
However as a light, easy read that mostly makes you feel positive I would generally recommend the book.
It is easy reading and the type of book you can easily pick up and read when you have 10 minutes free. Many of the stories are pleasant moments about the kindness from common humanity.
However I would be tempted to agree to some extent with Nadine, that with the scope of material that one would imagine is available to Lonely Planet, some of the tales seem to be about kindness having to rescue 'foolish travellers' who simply failed to plan. A couple of the famous writers seemed to be fulfilling an obligation by submitting something. One or two of the stories could perhaps more harshly be titled "the unkindness or arrogance of the visitor". The most disappointing was "My Beirut Hostage Crisis" where the writer was simply rude and unkind and if this is the best he can do to describe kindness I am glad I haven't met him.
I also felt "We Can't Fix Anything, Even the Smallest Things, in Cuba" missed the point of the book. It was not well written and didn't really cover kindness. Although it was a helpful reflection on the guilt induced by our comparitive wealth as visitors.
However as a light, easy read that mostly makes you feel positive I would generally recommend the book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
enjoyable short stories for those with a travel bug
4 Feb 2012
I enjoyed reading The Kindness of Strangers slowly, savoring each story on it's own. The stories take place all over the world - Russia, Burma, Hawaii, Morocco, Scotland, Argentina, Ascension Island, Lebanon... I loved getting glimpses into places far from home. And I loved that the focus of these stories is on the people more than the places, and the humanity that links us all. This isn't just a "feel good" book. Many of these stories feature kindness coupled with fearful or potentially tragic circumstances. The stories remind us that kindness co-exists with cruelty, love co-exists with fear.
My favorite stories in this book were Highland Remedy by Fran Palumbo and Brief Encounter by Carolyn Swindell. Both are stories about the simplest encounters - a woman chats with a man in a restaurant, another negotiates with a sales woman in a clothing store. Both writers were profoundly touched by a simple kindness offered when least expected. With attention to detail and plenty of humor, both stories describe a moment when a stranger wakes them up and jostles them into a better place. Of course, no one need travel across the world to experience a kind stranger. But sometimes the extreme aloneness of being in a far off land can make you pay extra attention to those who cross your path.
My favorite stories in this book were Highland Remedy by Fran Palumbo and Brief Encounter by Carolyn Swindell. Both are stories about the simplest encounters - a woman chats with a man in a restaurant, another negotiates with a sales woman in a clothing store. Both writers were profoundly touched by a simple kindness offered when least expected. With attention to detail and plenty of humor, both stories describe a moment when a stranger wakes them up and jostles them into a better place. Of course, no one need travel across the world to experience a kind stranger. But sometimes the extreme aloneness of being in a far off land can make you pay extra attention to those who cross your path.
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