BOOK REVIEW – Chicken Soup For The Soul: Extraordinary Teens

Chicken Soup For The Soul: Extraordinary Teens

By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kent Healy

• Published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, August 2009
• Paperback, 448 pages
• ISBN-10: 1935096362
• ISBN-13: 9781935096368

I delighted in teaching young teens for 35 years. I appreciated occasional notes and visits. I thrilled at successes I saw recorded in the newspaper. I still think about about them now. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed the personal stories and advice from today’s most inspiring youth that I read in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Extraordinary Teens.

Two personalities stood out especially for me Brenda Song and Donald Trump, Jr. I knew Brenda as a Disney kid. I wondered what she was like as a person rather than an entertainer. I knew Donald Junior as the son of two savvy parents who once owned the Castle in AC. I wondered how much of himself and how much nepotism gave him his power. I was pleasantly surprised with both success stories. These are two capable, talented people who grew and expanded their skills.

Actress Brenda Song wasn’t always a success. Although she wanted to act from age three on, money and illness intervened. Her determination to focus, work hard, and be the best one can be helped made doors open. To her boredom is a choice; keeping busy works better. She learned to be responsible and take control.

Business mogul Donald Trump, Junior was raised not to take money for granted. Because of family ties in Communist Czechoslovakia, he learned at five that his life in the United States was not normal when put into perspective with the world. He grew to realize that his life gave him opportunities. Because nothing comes without effort, he learned creativity, efficiency, and self-motivation. Encouragement, access to education, and cultural experiences were key in his making things happen.

Editors Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kent Healy have compiled success stories of today’s teens. Read about:

* Desiree Amadeo, environmental activist and MIT engineering student
* Eric Babbitt, two-time cancer survivor and athlete
* Chris Barrett, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and author
* Olivia Bennett, artist
* David D. Burstein, filmmaker and activist
* Kari Byron, Artist, thrill-seeker, and pro MythBuster
* Ryan Cabrera, singer, songwriter, and artist
* Julie Marie Carrier, Miss Virginia USA, speaker, and author
* Jon Chu, film director
* Kendall Ciesemier, philanthropist
* Cameron Clapp, triple amputee, famous athlete
* Shivani Dixit, humanitarian
* Jason Ryan Dorsey, author, speaker, and mentor
* Amanda Dunbar, world-class artist
* Chelsea Eubank, entrepreneur and clothing designer
* Timothy Ferriss, world record holder, kickboxing champion, #1 New York Times bestselling author
* Dustin Godnick, entrepreneur, author, and speaker
* Dr. Farrah Gray, entrepreneur, author, and speaker
* Kent Healy, author, entrepreneur, and speaker
* Joshua Heinzl, entrepreneur, toy store owner, philanthropist, motivational speaker
* Andrew Hewitt, author, speaker, visionary for education reform
* Tyler Hinman, crossword puzzle champion and puzzlemaker
* Joel Kent Holland, III, journalist, producer, and entrepreneur
* Chauncey Cymoné Holloman, entrepreneur, designer, speaker
* Cameron Johnson, author, speaker, and entrepreneur
* Roy Juarez, Jr., speaker, entrepreneur, and humanitarian
* Anna Kournikova, international tennis pro and model
* Jasmine Lawrence, entrepreneur
* Margaret Lewis, humanitarian and aspiring documentary photographer
* Grant Lin, national scholar and student leader
* Gabrielle Linnell, freelance writer
* Kyle Maynard, author, speaker, and champion wrestler
* Danica McKellar, actress, author, and math-whiz
* Lin Miao, Internet entrepreneur
* Nathan Nguyen, entrepreneur
* Jason O’Neill, entrepreneur
* William Oliver, author, trainer, and entrepreneur
* Jason O’Neill, entrepreneur
* Polina Rayorodskaya, fashion public relations and entrepreneur
* Ashley Reed, fashion designer and entrepreneur
* Chloe Reichert, student/volunteer
* Timmy Reyes, professional surfer
* Trevor, Schulte, youth pastor
* Bryan Sims, magazine founder and entrepreneur
* Brenda Song, actress
* Sean Stephenson, motivational expert and author
* Rob Stewart, photographer, filmmaker, marine biologist
* Maryssa Stumpf, fashion designer and entrepreneur
* Tara Suri, entrepreneur and philanthropist
* Alex Tchekneian, music industry entrepreneur
* Donald, Trump, Jr., business mogul
* Rubin John Vogt, social entrepreneur and humanitarian
* Johnatrhan Wendel, world champion gamer
* Keaton White, inspiring quadriplegic
* Greg Woodburn, visionary and humanitarian

With graduations coming soon, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Extraordinary Teens might well be the perfect gift for that special young man or woman you know.

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