Chicken Soup for the Soul books were started by motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, who compiled their first collection from stories shared by their own audiences.
Chicken Soup for the Soul books were rejected by all the major publishers in New York, but a small publishing firm in Florida decided to take a chance on them.
The first book was released in 1993 and became a hit, remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for quite some time.
Chicken Soup for the Soul once held the Guinness World Record for having the most books on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously.
The series featured many different editions tailored to just about every walk of life. By the end of its run, the series had around 300 different titles.
Chicken Soup for the Soul has been translated into about 40 languages and has sold approximately 500 million copies worldwide.
The brand was owned by a company of the same name, which expanded beyond books. In addition to selling pet food, the company ventured into entertainment and even owned Redbox, among other businesses. However, in 2024, the company filed for bankruptcy.
Interesting
I worked in a bookstore in 1999 and those were so popular back then. I guess with the internet and stories at your fingertips for free, there isn’t a need for the books anymore.