This is an important book which informs us about ”helper’s high”, the phenomenon experienced when one gives personal help on a regular basis. Phase one is an immediate physical feel-good sensation, phase two brings a sense of calmness and feelings of increased self-worth.

Those experiencing the healthy helping syndrome have better perceived health, and the health benefit returns whenever the helping act is remembered. The greater the frequency of volunteering , the greater the health benefits.

Personal contact with those being helped is important, and helper’s high results most from helping those unknown to us.

We are given personal accounts of people who have benefited from volunteering. A full 95% of those report a physical “feel-good” reaction. Many of these volunteers have themselves suffered from depression or poor health, and their lives have been transformed by helping.

Helping others strengthens the immune system, decreases the intensity and awareness of physical pain, activates emotions essential for maintaining good health, reduces the incidence of negative attitudes that harm the body and, finally, provides multiple benefits to the body through stress relief.

When helping others we must first and foremost be considerate to ourselves. We should carefully choose the form of helping that attracts us the most and make sure to get plenty of support and encouragement for ourselves.

We shouldn’t try to rescue the whole world or have total responsibility even for one person. We should feel free to give up on a particular effort that doesn’t seem right for us. We should not quit helping because of one rejection or bad experience.

In the final chapter the author discusses the violence in modern-day US society and suggests that at least two hours a week of volunteering be made mandatory in US schools. After the young people have experienced the benefits of volunteering they will continue of their own free will, Students feel empathy with the underprivileged people they help, and even one gang member was transformed when experiencing the gratitude of an old lady he helped. Also prison inmates who volunteer are less likely to get into trouble after they are released.

The author feels that regular volunteering, if introduced to the US school system, will reduce violence and transform the country.

There is a valuable appendix on volunteer health opportunities in the US at the end of the book.

The author has himself vast experience in helping others, so he knows what he’s talking about. But it has been shown that the helper’s high he experienced is common to everyone. Helper’s high gives a sharp reduction in stress and releases the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins.

The book is impeccably written, inspiring and encouraging. But the most important thing about the book is its basic message – that helping others helps oneself. I highly recommend that you read this important book. ( )