Book Blurb:

This book is a collection of seven inspiring mini-biographies. The author uses the voices of Mattie Stepanek, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Terry Fox, Craig Kielburger, and her own reflections to encourage the reader to join a growing movement towards social responsibility and global citizenship.

I received this book from the author for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.

Meredith’s Review:

This short book is a great way to gain an introduction to a few notable humanitarians from both past and present. Author Mary Feliciani includes personal reflections, a short biography of each individual, and inspiring quotes. She covers well known figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa as well as lesser-known individuals like the young poet, Mattie Stepanek, and Canadian athlete, Terry Fox. 

She uses each individual’s story to inspire readers toward their own form of activism, whatever that may look like. My favorite quote comes from her concluding reflections,

“You may not have a voice that is carried by the media or by the impact of history or by followers who are devoted to a cause, but you have complete control over yourself. You can change yourself, and you can begin by influencing your friends and family.” 

Though Feliciani tells the stories of people who have made large-scale impacts—sometimes even globally—I love that she concludes by reminding readers that positively impacting your immediate circles and community is always attainable. In fact, believing in yourself and pursuing this kind of change is ultimately how you make impacts on a larger scale. 

The only thing I would change about this book is structural. Feliciani chooses to start each chapter with her personal reflections before moving into the biography portion. While most of the individuals she covers are well known humanitarians who need no introduction, in the case of the few people I was unfamiliar with, it felt a little abrupt for her to jump into her reflections on their character when I didn’t yet know anything about them.

Other than this, I enjoy everything about this book. In addition to great content, each chapter starts with a color photograph of the individual to help enhance the reader’s experience. I think this book is a great addition to any personal or school library!

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