Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the most popular and recognizable book series in the world known for its inspirational stories that touch readers’ hearts. But who originally created this powerhouse franchise that has sold over 500 million books? The creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul were Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.
Jack Canfield – The Teacher
Jack Canfield is an American author, motivational speaker, seminar leader, corporate trainer, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, which currently has over 250 titles and 500 million copies in print in over 40 languages.
Canfield has a background in teaching and education. He taught high school students and was a professor at the university level before getting into professional speaking and writing. He has a passion for empowering others to achieve their dreams and helping people unlock their potential.
In the late 1980s, Canfield was delivering motivational speeches along with his speaking partner Mark Victor Hansen. During their talks, they would tell inspirational and motivational stories to engage the audience. People kept approaching them after speeches and asking for transcripts of the stories.
This gave Canfield the idea that there was a desire for inspirational stories in book form. He and Hansen decided to put together a collection of 101 inspirational stories into a book titled Chicken Soup for the Soul, which was published in 1993.
Mark Victor Hansen – The Salesman
While Canfield provided the teaching experience, Mark Victor Hansen brought the business and sales expertise Hansen is also an American inspirational and motivational speaker, trainer, and author He is best known as the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Hansen grew up with entrepreneurial ambitions. In his youth, he worked selling newspapers door-to-door, greeting cards, decorations, and even encyclopedias. His positive outlook and ability to connect with people made him an excellent salesman.
Later in life, Hansen became involved in speaking professionally. He partnered up with Canfield, whom he had met through their work in speaking and professional development. Together they hit upon a perfect blend of content and business savvy.
Hansen handled the sales and marketing side of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He was tireless in promoting the book, using his sales skills to get it in front of audiences and scoring deals with major publishers. This allowed the book to reach mass-market distribution and find the readership it deserved.
Creating an Empire
The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was a runaway success. It sold well over 500,000 copies in its first year. But it was just the beginning for Canfield and Hansen. They saw the potential to grow Chicken Soup for the Soul into an entire brand.
Throughout the 1990s and onward, Canfield and Hansen published dozens of additional Chicken Soup titles targeted to various demographics and interests, including teens, women, couples, cat & dog lovers, sports fans, and more. Topics ranged from inspirational stories about love and friendship to difficult issues like grief, trauma, and addiction recovery.
The creators also expanded beyond just books. Chicken Soup for the Soul branched out into pet food, licensing, podcasts, and television shows. As of 2022, there are over 250 Chicken Soup for the Soul titles that have sold 500 million copies worldwide. It is one of the best-selling book franchises of all time.
Over 25 years, Canfield and Hansen built Chicken Soup for the Soul from a single book into a multimedia empire. Their unique partnership combining content and business made it possible. Canfield brought the educational background and storytelling chops, while Hansen provided the marketing talent.
So the next time you pick up a heartwarming book of inspirational stories, remember the two creators behind Chicken Soup for the Soul – Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Their vision, passion, and persistence allowed these stories to reach and impact the lives of millions of readers around the world.
Story 2: The Hugging Judge
Lee Shapiro, a retired judge, discovered the incredible power of love. He began hugging everyone he met and even had a bumper sticker on his car that read, “Don’t bother me, hug me.” Lee would give people a red heart sticker in exchange for a hug. His fame grew, and people challenged him to hug them on the streets of San Francisco.
Lee embraced everyone, from the rich to the poor, even hugging a bus driver known for being dangerous. He eventually embraced seriously ill patients, despite initial apprehension. The magic happened when he hugged a patient who had never laughed before, and after many years, people witnessed this person laughing, bringing joy to all. The impossible became possible. This story teaches us that bringing about change is easy when fueled by love.
The meaning of these stories is clear: you have the power to change lives, including your own, through love, kindness, and a genuine spirit. It is a simple task. Keep moving forward with love, connect with people, and find fulfilment by sharing your pain when necessary.
Remember, love has the ability to create profound transformations. Let’s embrace the power of love and make a positive impact on the world around us.
Story 11: The Rules for Being Human
To live a fulfilling human life, it is important to remember these ten rules:
- Respect and take care of your body because it is the only one you will have throughout your lifetime, regardless of whether you like it or not.
- Every experience in life offers a valuable lesson. Approach each situation as an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Failure is a natural part of progress. Embrace your defeats and use them as stepping stones for personal growth.
- Learn from your mistakes to avoid repeating them. Continuously strive to improve and make better choices.
- Even in difficult circumstances, there is always an opportunity to find something positive to feel good about.
- Life is a journey of learning, and the process of acquiring knowledge and wisdom never ceases.
- Love and hate are reciprocal emotions. You can only truly love or hate someone if they reciprocate those feelings toward you.
- You possess the necessary resources to achieve your goals and dreams. Identify and utilize them wisely as you move forward.
- The answers to life’s questions reside within yourself. Trust in your abilities and intuition to find those answers.
- Time has a way of fading memories, and whatever challenges or events occur in your life, they will eventually fade away with time.
In essence, these rules remind us to value our bodies, embrace lifelong learning, learn from our mistakes, seek positivity in every situation, and trust in our own capabilities.
Book Review: Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition by Jack Canfield
FAQ
Who wrote the first Chicken Soup for the Soul?
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, have dedicated their lives to the personal and professional growth of others.
Does Jack Canfield still own Chicken Soup for the Soul?
In 2008, the founders, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, sold the company to a new ownership group led by William J. Rouhana and Robert D. Jacobs. Since then, all new titles have been published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
How many versions of Chicken Soup for the Soul are there?
The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 275 titles has sold more than 110 million copies in the U.S. and Canada.
What does the phrase “chicken soup for the soul” mean?
This is correct, and to give further context on the title itself, chicken soup is widely thought of as a wholesome, healing, comfort food. So chicken soup for the soul is meant to be all those things in the form of words to heal and comfort.
Who wrote Chicken Soup for the soul?
He is best known as the co-creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.
What is Chicken Soup for the soul about?
Chicken Soup for the Soul, written by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, is a collection of inspiring stories that touch the depths of the human spirit. It has sold over 500 million copies worldwide! These stories are about love, hope, faith, and overcoming struggles. Readers relate to the characters and their journeys of self-discovery.
How many Chicken Soup for the Soul books are there?
Readers asked for more stories so we published a “second helping” of Chicken Soup for the Soul and a third after that. Today, we’ve published more than 250 books, which have become the best-selling trade paperback book series of all time.
Who makes chicken soup for the Soul books?
Since then, all new titles have been published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Under the new ownership group, Chicken Soup for the Soul has expanded into other products besides books.
Is Chicken Soup for the soul a good book?
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” has been featured on ABC and PAX networks as a featured TV program. “Chicken Soup for the Soul” by Jack Canfield is a novel full of perfectly appropriate inspirational stories and good illustrations.
What happened to Chicken Soup for the soul?
The project appeared to have stalled until they met Peter Vegso, the owner of a small health and wellness publisher in Florida named HCI. Peter read some of the stories and loved them, so he decided to give the book a chance, becoming Chicken Soup for the Soul’s founding publisher.