Author and cancer doctor Rachel Naomi Remen's 2001 novel My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging tells readers stories of kindness and joy. She tells a story about her Rabbi grandpa, a man that saw life in a very unique way. He saw kindness as a way to connect each other, feel less lonely, and fill a whole in our hearts. The book is about the inherent goodness -- not badness -- of people. It shows the power of kindness and joyfulness. Her main point is that serving others helps to heal us. Then, and only then, will we -- and the world in general -- be whole.
Upon release, My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging was met with tremendous critical acclaim. On book review aggregator Goodreads.com, it holds a rating of 4.37 out of 5 stars. On Amazon, it holds an even better rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, many of whom called the book "moving."Speaking positively of the book, writes Publisher's Weekly: "'Wisdom,' Remen writes in this exceptional book, 'lies in engaging the life you have been given as fully and courageously as possible and not letting go until you find the unknown blessing that is in everything.'"
