The Transformative Power of Kindness
by Eva Ritvo, MD
Free Bekindr Sneak Peek!
Does it feel as if kindness is in short supply lately?
Could your life be enhanced by more kindness?
Would you like to feel uplifted and more optimistic about humanity?
If your answers are yes, Bekindr is the book for you! Bekindr was compiled and written by Eva Ritvo, MD, a leading authority to help you cultivate a life filled with kindness.
Sixty-four contributors, in their own voices, share the ways they were positively impacted by the kindness of strangers. A wide range of stories from the mundane to the heroic were selected:
• A stranger on a NYC subway whose casual remark shifted someone’s whole perspective.
• A remarkable love story that came out of the darkest of times, a story so compelling it’s part of a Broadway musical.
• The author’s own father, the beneficiary of awe-inspiring kindness … a heart transplant.
• From a photographer’s creative genius, a young woman leaves her cocoon emerging beautifully full of life’s promise.
• A Purple Heart Recipient’s dreams come true by a stranger’s act of kindness
• And the list goes on.
Interspersed, Dr. Ritvo shares research into the science of kindness, with wide ranging examples of kindness by historic figures, scholars, and celebrities, practical tips to help you Bekindr plus dozens of inspirational quotes. This beautifully designed book is complemented with photos from many contributors. Created to be read at any pace and in any order, Bekindr is something you can keep by your bedside to come back to again and again.
About the Author
Eva Ritvo, MD, is a psychiatrist with more than 25 years of experience practicing in Miami Beach, Florida. She’s the founder of Bekindr, a movement to foster more kindness in the world. She is also the co-founder of the Bold Beauty Project (BBP), a non-profit that pairs women with disabilities with award-winning photographers and creates art shows.
She is an international speaker and is frequently seen on TV, radio and in print. She is currently the host of the PBS series TechVersify. She is the co-author of The Beauty Prescription and The Concise Guide to Marriage and Family Therapy.
Dr. Ritvo is the former Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the former Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. She’s a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association. She serves on the board of United Community Options. In 2015, she was recognized as their National Volunteer of the Year. In early 2019, Dr. Ritvo received the Clare Boothe Luce Award from Orphans International Worldwide and The J. Luce Foundation.
Dr. Ritvo received her undergraduate and medical degrees from UCLA, and she completed her psychiatry residency training at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Ritvo is a columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier.
Specifications
Trim size: 5×8
Cover price: $19.95
ISBN: 978-0-9994151-0-8
Page count: 224
Reviews
Reader Views: September 2018
by Kimberly Luyckx for Reader Views (9/18)
Can one person really make a difference? Eva Ritvo’s book, “Bekindr: The Transformative Power of Kindness,” contains simple stories from everyday people whose lives were significantly improved by the unsolicited kind acts of others. They are corroborated by facts, quotes and studies from prominent institutions confirming that we have an inborn desire to be nice. And, that when we demonstrate an act of kindness, we are happier for doing so.
As a psychiatrist and founder of the Bekindr movement, Dr. Ritvo has researched numerous studies that have monitored the body or behaviors to prove that exposure to goodness can improve our health and well-being. The author goes even further to contend that we are better off as a society when we act compassionately. She provides a list of thoughtful actions and suggests that we spend a couple of times per day reflecting on how we can be more generous to others and to ourselves. Ritvo believes this effect will snowball into a kinder existence.
Dr. Ritvo’s assertion directly relates to our current state of “culture attacks” – those conflicts brought on by individuals or groups that strive to accentuate our differences and separate us. The stories she shares point out that not only do we need the kindness of others to succeed and feel good but also that we need it to bolster our trust in humanity.
The readings each remind me of that two-minute snippet of good news that comes at the tail end of a whole hour of disturbing national news. Although I can relate to some of the book’s stories more than others, they are all heart-warming and reflect the goodness we seek. Some recount simple acts between strangers while others document long-term connections that lead to transformation. The authors may not all be superb writers, but their chronicles are candid and reflective.
The personal pictures included lend authenticity to the narratives – we feel connection when we see faces. Often, we don’t come face to face with humanity. Despite how attached we are through social media, we are physically divided and separate from one another – keeping our eyes on our phones more than the person sitting next to us. Ritvo’s book will make me think twice of how my actions, even something as simple as a smile, can change another person’s perspective.
In Eva Ritvo’s book, “Bekindr: The Transformative Power of Kindness,” she compiles 64 short stories of individuals who have gone out of their way to help to those in need. Quotes, photos and other newsworthy facts surround these fascinating accounts. Dr. Ritvo’s request is simple but one that has far-reaching effects—Bekindr. Whenever you feel submersed in negativity by downtrodden news, pick up this book and read from its pages. It will refresh your attitude and give you faith in your fellowman. It may also bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face. Then pay it forward.
Small Press Bookwatch: June 2018
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/sbw/jun_18.htm#rc
Reviewer’s Choice
Synopsis: Kindness is vital to our relationships and health. It uplifts us and makes us more optimistic about humanity.
Dr. Eva Ritvo is the former Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the former Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. She’s a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association. She serves on the board of United Community Options. In 2015, she was recognized as their National Volunteer of the Year.
In “Bekindr” Dr. Ritvo showcases 64 stories of how people from across the United States and three other countries whose lives were changed by the kindness of strangers. “Bekindr” also features the author’s research into the science of kindness, her actionable top tips to help you to Bekindr, and dozens of inspirational quotes.
It is of interest to note that “Bekindr” was inspired by the Dr. Ritvo’s father, who was the beneficiary of awe-inspiring kindness: He received a heart transplant.
“Bekindr” features heart-warming, soul-filling stories, such as a remarkable love story that emerged out of the darkest of times and love story that’s so unusual it became the subject of a Broadway show.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring thoughtful and thought-provoking, “Bekindr” is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that “Bekindr” is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review