For years I have searched the world for good news. 

And then I’ve shared it. 

Yes, good things do happen! In fact, they are happening all around us, right now. It doesn’t always feel like it. In fact, it can feel like the world is full of terrible people doing terrible things. 

That couldn’t be further from the truth. And when I’m having a low moment, the stories I’ve shared remind me of how kind and wonderful people really are. 

So you can imagine how excited I was to read Ruby Wax’s book, And Now For The Good News.

We live in a world where we mainly hear the problems and the bad news. So I couldn’t wait to read about the solutions and the progress Ruby Wax had been inspired by. 

First Impressions of the ‘And Now For The Good News…’ Book

First off, unlike lots of other self-help and positivity books, there aren’t beautiful, uplifting quotes dotted throughout the book. 

There’s actually a decent amount of bad news, which might come as a surprise given the bright cover and the title of the book. 

This is no bad thing though, as it gives a balanced, realistic view of the world. And it gives us a bit of hope that things can – and do – actually change for the better.

The book is full of ‘green shoots’, giving us all reasons to feel more hopeful and optimistic about the present and the future. 

Written in a chatty, light tone, the book is easy to read quickly. The only thing that will slow you down is the desire to look up some of the people, places and organisations Ruby shares. I was thrilled to find out that one of the organisations mentioned was based in the small town in Kenya where my mum was born and raised! 

The book was written before the covid-19 pandemic hit, so there isn’t much mention of it (apart from in bits like the Preface). This is great for anyone wanting to take their mind off of the pandemic, even just for a few hours.

I like Ruby Wax but I wouldn’t consider myself a fan. You don’t need to be a Ruby Wax fan to enjoy this book. She shares some amusing personal stories in it, but they aren’t very long, and they each serve a purpose. Plus the way she tells stories is pretty brilliant! 

The book is divided into sections, from Community to Business, Education, Urban Planning and Technology. It’s well researched, short, and full of human stories and some surprising facts.  

At the end of the book, Ruby tells us about some ‘World Savers’ – people who are trying to make the better place. 

‘And Now For The Good News…’ is an uplifting book, perfect for anyone who feels like they need a bit of a boost, and maybe some help in feeling more hopeful for the future. 

Life can feel pretty challenging at times. And right now it can feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

The result of this book is to leave you not only feeling more hopeful but also wondering how you can play your part in making the world a better place for us all.

Related: How to volunteer remotely.

Takeaway Lessons from the And Now For The Good News Book

I don’t want to spoil the book so won’t be sharing any of the specific good news stories shared in it. But I wanted to give some insight into the lessons I’ve taken from the book. 

There are always new advancements and progress

There are always new advancements and progress

New things are always happening. And there’s always going to be things you somehow miss when researching an area. As mentioned previously, when I looked up something mentioned in the box, I was so excited to discover it was based in my mums home town. 

I thought I had looked into all the charitable things happening in Kitale, Kenya. But of course, there is so much going on in villages, towns and cities around the world. 

This was a good reminder that there are always more ‘green shoots’ to discover. 

Progress takes time

Ruby researched and wrote this book before covid-19 hit. But that doesn’t mean that the good news in the book is old and worthless. Progress takes time, and everything in the book is just as relevant and useful as it was when she wrote it.

I think this is an important lesson to remember, as it can be easy to start feeling impatient about the world and how certain things are. But change and progress don’t happen overnight. 

There’s no one way to make a difference in the world 

There’s no one way to make a difference in the world

Ruby shares good news from a variety of fields, not just from charities. There are a lot of people, organisations and industries trying to make the world a better place. 

And we can learn a lot from all of them. 

When I share good news, it tends to mainly be from charities and social enterprises. I enjoyed learning more about how businesses are trying to make a positive impact on the world. 

Final Thoughts on the ‘And Now For The Good News…’ Book

This is the book you need to read if you have realised that you are beginning to lose hope. For the future. For humanity. For our world.  

Whatever is going on in the world and in your life, this book and the stories in it will give you at least a bit of a lift. 

It’s not going to solve all the problems we face, but reading this book will show you that there are green shoots of hope all around us. Once you know about them, you’re much more likely to notice them. 

When I’m feeling a bit fed up or low, this is the book I will be turning to for reminders of some of the better things happening out there in the world. 

This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you if you click a link and subsequently make a purchase we will earn a commission.

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About Author

Nisha Kotecha is the Founder of Good News Shared. Having worked and volunteered for charities in the UK for over 10 years, Nisha is on a mission to highlight how amazing charities are.

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