NEWS
RELEASE:
August 15, 2009
The Kindness Experiment explores how we
respond to unexpected generosity and how kind we are to
others
Perhaps you
have already encountered Andrea Reynolds in some capacity.
If so, you may find yourself in Andrea's book.
Since 1997 this curious and unconventional woman has been
testing people she meets to see how they will react and
respond to uncommon kindness, both in person and on the
Internet. Her experiences will be recorded in a
ground-breaking book in 2010.
Employing what she calls “creative generosity,” Reynolds
continues to present a variety of circumstances, small and
large, to see how people respond to (or reject) them. From
offering free room and board, a contest awarding a free
home and free marketing services; to asking for $1 worth of
electricity and shady place to park as an intentionally
homeless author living in her van, she is sincere about
each one.
The results, ranging from apathy to suspicion to rudeness
to utter contempt, outright anger, and cruelty, astonished
Reynolds, a former public relations firm and B & B
owner. Several multi-decade long friendships ended, and
multiple business relationships ended badly. Along the way
she has fired dentists and real estate agents who were
working against their own best interests... and hers.
What’s more astonishing: Reynolds gives everyone the
opportunity to put their best foot forward by revealing
upfront to each person – in conversation, on her web site,
on blogs and on her van - that she is a kindness activist
writing a book about whether people would treat her with
kindness or cruelty and that she would name names. That
still hasn’t stopped a few people from being outrageously
mean-spirited and sometimes physically threatening. Says
Reynolds, "It's almost as though some folks don't want to
be known as kind. Others just seem to be disengaged from
life or lost in a fog of ennui(and sometimes alcohol)."
However, the only names Reynolds will reveal are those who
were truly kind and generous. “It’s not my intention to
shame or embarrass any individual
no
matter how shameful their behavior. However corporations
are fair game in hopes of improvement in customer
relations. My ultimate aim is to make everyone more
conscious of what wonderful opportunities lie in front of
them that they could be sabotaging. The stories are what
are important to wake us up to awareness.”
True to form, she will extend her generosity to people who
buy an advanced copy of her book,
The Kindness Experiment. Those
individuals or businesses that buy advance copies have the
option to share in the profits of the book and its spin
offs… at no extra cost. So not only is it possible
“sponsors” could receive all their money back, but in time
they may actually come out ahead financially. And she is
also holding a contest to award a free keynote on creative
generosity to one
organization anywhere in North America that wants to
have Andrea address its conference or convention. Andrea
will pay all her own travel and accommodation expenses.
Really.
Reynolds, whose motto is “If life
hands you lemons, make lemon meringue
pie,” has a
delicious sense of humor: she will give her recipe to
readers and audiences. Included with the $49 book: a
booklet of simple ways to be kind to others and a list of
gift ideas for people in financial crisis.
829 units (of 980) are still available to
sponsors.
For more information about her book and speaking, please
visit AndreaReynolds.com/kindness
How kind are you… really? Take Andrea’s Kindness Quiz
