by Cami Walker
First published 2009
Cami Walker faces a crisis at thirty-five. Multiple sclerosis has stolen her ability to walk easily, work normally, or find joy in daily life. Depression lands her in the hospital. An African medicine woman offers unexpected advice: give something to another person every day for twenty-nine days. Walker begins small. She makes phone calls to friends. She hands spare change to strangers. She offers tissues to people who need them. These tiny acts seem insignificant, but they create unexpected changes. Her health improves. Her mood lifts. Other people begin following her example. By the final day, Walker has sparked a movement that spreads across the world. The book includes stories from people whose lives changed through giving. It provides space for readers to document their own experiences. Walker shows how daily acts of generosity can reshape how someone sees the world around them.
Genres: self-help, memoir, non-fiction, inspirational
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-growth
Setting: Africa
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · Da Capo Lifelong Books
Content warnings: depression