Most American heroes aren't in our history books, nor do they have monuments erected in their honor. Their names aren't in the headline news or memorialized in song. The true hero is simply someone who makes a difference-large or small-in the lives of others.

This is the book everyone has been waiting for-an inspiring celebration of the joy, challenges, and triumphs of being African American.

It's time for an antidote to all the negativity! You’ll find that in this collection of 101 inspiring stories about what makes America great. From apple pie and baseball to our military heroes and first responders, from our vast and varied country to our energy and spirit, these stories will make you proud to be an American! We live in a great country, but we can forget that sometimes amid all the negativity that surrounds us. Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of America will uplift and inspire you with its true, personal stories about the many different things that make this country great. This book will make you proud to call America home!

Stories from Idols and Their Fans for Everyone Who Believes in a Dream. . . With stories from Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jordin Sparks, Ruben Studdard, Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis, Sanjaya Malakar, and many other top Idols from every season! Do you love the thrill of seeing people's dreams come true? Do you enjoy the excitement of rooting for your favorite contestant ? Has your spirit ever soared from watching a performance on American Idol ? For anyone who has watched America 's best loved television show, here's a collection of captivating stories that take you into the hearts, minds and souls of the Idols, the fans, and the team that makes the show possible. These are the stories the television cameras don't see--true, uplifting, and entertaining tales told with humor and candor that will leave you laughing, crying, and feeling inspired, whether you are a die-hard Idol watcher or an occasional fan . Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul is the perfect marriage of the #1 show in television history and the #1 non-fiction book series in publishing history--both dedicated to celebrating the triumph of spirit over adversity, the fulfillment of dreams coming true, and the power of love. In Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul , those closest to the heart of American Idol -- from the executive producers to the stylists, from the fans to the judges, from the top finalists to the behind-the-scenes crew --share their moving stories of obstacles overcome, love and support shared, lessons learned and lives touched and changed forever. This is truly the stuff that dreams are made of--and why almost 60 million people faithfully tune in week after week, year after year.

Now more than ever, the strong, independent, courageous voices of Black women are being heard loud and clear. They share their truth about life, love, family, faith and hope in these 101 personal stories and 12 powerful poems. The world is listening. Black women are speaking, for themselves and their families, and everyone is listening. This unique collection of stories is for readers of all colors, not just the Black community, as these contributors share their dreams, their triumphs and failures, and their lives, which have unique challenges and hardships that are not well understood by others. Readers of color will recognize their own struggles in these pages, and white readers will benefit from an inside view of Black life in America, Canada and beyond. These 101 stories and 12 poems, written by and for Black women, cover it all—from fierce to funny—about hopes and dreams, fears and realities, identity and self-discovery, family, children, even hair. Each one starts with a quote connecting you to a wellspring of wisdom from historical and contemporary Black women. “We are speaking now,” says Breena Clarke, coauthor of this book. “Because the moment is now, in this collection of first-person narratives. This is an opportunity to hear the often silenced voices of Black women, writing for you and because of you. These are stories of universal human experiences but also reflect the specificity of Black women’s lives in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.” Everyone will benefit from this look into the culture, wisdom, and everyday reality of the Black experience, with 11 chapters, each starting with a powerful poem: • The Shoulders We Stand On • Where We Come From • Everyday Struggles • Stand Up, Speak Out • Raising Our Children • Family & Food for the Soul • Taking Care of Me • Sisters, Friends • Loving Black Men • Identity & Roots • Self-Discovery Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible. Chicken Soup for the Soul solicits and publishes stories from the LGBTQ community and from people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and religions.

Now more than ever, we could all use a little Chicken Soup for the Soul, which is why we've made this eBook available for free. This twentieth anniversary edition of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul is brimming with even more hope and inspiration—the stories you’ve always loved, plus 20 bonus stories from the world’s most respected thought leaders. Twenty years later, Chicken Soup for the Soul continues to open the heart and rekindle the spirit. Celebrate the twentieth anniversary with the classic book that inspired millions—reinvigorated with bonus stories of inspiration! You will find hope and inspiration in these 101 heartwarming stories about counting your blessings, thinking positive, and overcoming challenges.

Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul is a rich collection of stories that truly celebrate the mountaintops and share the valleys of the African American woman's experience; highlighting her moments of strength, as well as her struggles.

Whether you’re a service member, or the spouse, child or parent of one, you know about the sacrifices that you make. You’ll find inspiration, support, and appreciation in this collection of personal stories about military families. You’ll read about growing up in the military, being a military spouse or the parent of a service member, and moving. Lots of moving! And you’ll read about pride and patriotism, heartache and joy, miracles, and the amazing stories that could only happen in the military. You’ll be helping the USO as well, because royalties from this book will support the USO in everything that it does across the globe for service members, their families, and veterans.

More than 100 cancer survivors share their personal stories in this touching collection of Chicken Soup. These heartwarming accounts of courageous people who found the power to battle cancer in their endless hope, unwavering faith, and steadfast determination will inspire you to adopt a positive attitude, discover your faith, and cherish every moment. Just what the doctor ordered for healing your body, mind, and soul.

Play Ball! These words resonate with special meaning in the minds of anyone who has ever enjoyed a game of baseball. Every fan will be amused and touched by stories of sportsmanship and victory gathered from the clay diamonds of America.