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Quick answer: If you like Chicken Soup for the Soul, try Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Hope for the Flowers, Man's Search for Meaning, The Little Prince and Kitchen Table Wisdom. They are short, warm and made to lift your spirits.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul series gathers short, true stories about love, courage and kindness. Readers like dipping in for a moment of comfort. If you want more of that feeling, these 15 books include other story collections, short fables and thoughtful memoirs. They are easy to read in small bites, and most are good gifts.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays with Morrie | Mitch Albom | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Mitch Albom | Adult | readers who like heartfelt fiction |
| Hope for the Flowers | Trina Paulus | All ages | readers who like fables |
| Man's Search for Meaning | Viktor E. Frankl | Adult | readers who want depth |
| The Little Prince | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | All ages | readers of all ages |
| Kitchen Table Wisdom | Rachel Naomi Remen | Adult | readers who like short stories |
| Small Miracles | Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal | Adult | readers who like short anecdotes |
| The Gifts of Imperfection | Brené Brown | Adult | readers who want self-compassion |
| Wherever You Go, There You Are | Jon Kabat-Zinn | Adult | readers who want calm |
| The Happiness Project | Gretchen Rubin | Adult | readers who like experiments |
| Humans of New York | Brandon Stanton | Adult | readers who like people stories |
| Gratitude | Oliver Sacks | Adult | readers who want a short, thoughtful book |
| Letters to a Young Poet | Rainer Maria Rilke | Adult | readers who like reflection |
| Bird by Bird | Anne Lamott | Adult | writers and readers |
| The Best Advice I Ever Got | Katie Couric | Adult | readers who like quotes |
1. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
A journalist visits his former professor, who is dying of ALS, every Tuesday. A short, moving memoir.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
An old man dies and meets five people who explain his life. A short, gentle novel.
Best for: readers who like heartfelt fiction.
3. Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus
Two caterpillars climb to the top of a pillar of caterpillars to find out what is there. A short, illustrated fable.
Best for: readers who like fables.
4. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
A psychiatrist writes about surviving the camps and finding purpose. A short classic.
Best for: readers who want depth.
5. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A pilot meets a boy from another planet. A tender fable about friendship and love.
Best for: readers of all ages.
6. Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen
A doctor shares short stories about healing and meaning. Quiet and humane.
Best for: readers who like short stories.
7. Small Miracles by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal
Short true stories of coincidences that seem like miracles. Light and quick.
Best for: readers who like short anecdotes.
8. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Brown explains how to embrace imperfection and live with courage. Clear and kind.
Best for: readers who want self-compassion.
9. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Short chapters on mindfulness in daily life. Calm and practical.
Best for: readers who want calm.
10. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Rubin spends a year testing happiness ideas. Light and practical.
Best for: readers who like experiments.
11. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
Portraits and short quotes from New Yorkers. Quick, human and surprising.
Best for: readers who like people stories.
12. Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
Four short essays written near the end of Sacks's life. Brief and moving.
Best for: readers who want a short, thoughtful book.
13. Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Rilke gives advice on art, solitude and life in ten letters. Short and wise.
Best for: readers who like reflection.
14. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Lamott offers advice on writing and life in a funny, honest voice. Warm and wise.
Best for: writers and readers.
15. The Best Advice I Ever Got by Katie Couric
Famous people share short pieces of life advice. Easy to dip into.
Best for: readers who like quotes.
How to Choose
For a classic, read Tuesdays with Morrie or The Little Prince. For short moments of comfort, try Humans of New York or Letters to a Young Poet. For practical wisdom, pick The Gifts of Imperfection or Wherever You Go, There You Are. These books suit a bedside table, because you can read a page or two at a time. A bedside plan: read one or two pages of Letters to a Young Poet or Humans of New York each night, then switch to a longer book like Tuesdays with Morrie on weekends. These books also make good gifts for a friend who needs a lift.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chicken Soup for the Soul?
It is a series of inspirational anthologies with true stories written by readers, first published in 1993.
How many books are in the series?
More than 250 titles have been published, covering many topics.
Is it good for gifts?
Yes. The short stories and positive tone make it a popular gift.
Who was the series created by?
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen created it.
Are these books religious?
No. They are secular reflections on kindness, meaning and resilience, although some readers find spiritual comfort in them.
Is there a Chicken Soup for pet lovers?
Yes. The series has many themed volumes, including pets, mothers, teachers and readers.