Book excerpt: The original bestseller that inspired a movement, plus new stories and wisdom from people whose lives it has changed. More than twenty-five years ago, Conari Press published Random Acts of Kindness, and launched a simple movement—of people being kind to one another in their daily lives. Now the editors of Conari Press have compiled Random Acts of Kindness Then and Now, which includes the original book along with new material sourced from Facebook, Twitter, and various other social networks. It combines the best of twenty-first-century crowd-sourced wisdom with the best of twentieth century social activism. The inspiration for the kindness movement, Random Acts of Kindness is an antidote for a weary world. Its true stories, thoughtful quotations, and suggestions for generosity inspire readers to live more compassionately in this beautiful new edition. The original Random Acts of Kindness was named a Best Bet for Educators in 2000 by USA Today. This expanded edition can help a whole new generation of readers restore their faith in humanity.