Human(Kind)
How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together
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4.5 • 4 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A talented storyteller and peacemaker asks: Can kindness kindle a revolution?
“Ashlee teaches by example how to live with courage and compassion, and I believe her perspective and voice will be deeply meaningful to so many people.”—Shauna Niequist
Long before polls, protests, and political issues divided us, we were joined by a humanness that God considered very good. Created in his image, we reflected the height and depth of God’s loving-kindness, but our discord has blinded us to the imago Dei in us all.
In this compelling collection of essays, Ashlee Eiland shares her story of being a black woman living on two sides of the fence: as the token black girl in majority-white spaces and as the “whitewashed” black girl in majority-black spaces. As she discovers her own unique worth through these recollections, Ashlee learns that extending radical kindness toward every person—regardless of social status, political views, or religious beliefs—gives us hope and rekindles our common humanity.
With grace and humility, Human(Kind) invites us to chart our own formative journeys and recognize our inherent value, cultivating empathy so we may once again see the image of God shining brightly within one another.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Eiland shares in her revealing and enthralling debut her journey as a black woman struggling to find her place. When around mostly white people, Eiland felt isolated, but she didn't quite fit in in predominantly black communities, either, and her friends accused her of being black on the outside and white on the inside. Using this feeling of disconnection as an impetus for self-examination, Eiland considers how her experiences shaped her and illustrates through personal stories her discovery of self-worth, such as how she found a lifelong friendships through a predominately Asian Christian fellowship group. Likewise, she encourages readers practice "radical kindness" to themselves and toward others; "Kindness will be able to undo the damage we've done because it's the secret weapon for detecting intrinsic worth found in every person." Drawing on experiences that capture "a gateway to humankindness," she expounds on themes such as sacrifice, honor, respect, acceptance, gratitude, rejection, commitment, and loss. She also provides questions for personal reflection at the end of each themed chapter. Though not targeted to a strictly religious audience, Eiland's insightful take is informed by her faith. Readers looking to cultivate more empathy toward others and toward themselves will enjoy Eiland's wise testament.
