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Human(Kind)

How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together

Ashlee Eiland

About Human(Kind)

A talented storyteller and peacemaker asks: Can kindness kindle a revolution?

“Ashlee teaches by example how to live with courage and compassion, and I believe her perspective and voice will be deeply meaningful to so many people.”—Shauna Niequist  

Long before polls, protests, and political issues divided us, we were joined by a humanness that God considered very good. Created in his image, we reflected the height and depth of God’s loving-kindness, but our discord has blinded us to the imago Dei in us all.

In this compelling collection of essays, Ashlee Eiland shares her story of being a black woman living on two sides of the fence: as the token black girl in majority-white spaces and as the “whitewashed” black girl in majority-black spaces. As she discovers her own unique worth through these recollections, Ashlee learns that extending radical kindness toward every person—regardless of social status, political views, or religious beliefs—gives us hope and rekindles our common humanity.

With grace and humility, Human(Kind) invites us to chart our own formative journeys and recognize our inherent value, cultivating empathy so we may once again see the image of God shining brightly within one another.

Praise

Human(Kind) will change the way you engage with every single person from this point forward. Ashlee Eiland brilliantly uses stories and unpacks Scripture to guide you toward rediscovering the good and upholding the dignity of all. This book is a must-read!”—Steve Carter, author of This Invitational Life

“This book is a feast Ashlee invites us to share, seasoned generously with thoughts to stimulate our understanding of one another, images to awaken our hearts, and wisdom to nourish our souls.”—Carey and Toni Nieuwhof,
Connexus Church

“Through her deeply personal stories and thoughtful reflections on the world she currently exists in and the brighter, more just future she is actively cocreating, Ashlee shows us the often messy but worthy way of redemption and reconciliation.”—Liz Forkin Bohannon, founder of Sseko Designs

“Ashlee draws on a range of personal experiences to explore how life fashions identity. She reflects on big themes, from the love of family to the brutality of racism and the search for belonging, and calls us to greater awareness of the stories and systems still shaping our lives and communities…Ashlee leads us toward a grace-filled vision of humanity in which we see the imago Dei in ourselves and one another.”—Jo Saxton, author of The Dream of You

“Through her beautiful gift of storytelling, Ashlee Eiland compels you to slow down, to breathe and take time, to enter into story after story, to probe into your own story, and, most important, to reflect on what it means to both believe and follow Christ.”—Rev. Eugene Cho, author of Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk

“Ashlee authentically and vulnerably invites us to explore the good, the difficult, and the seemingly mundane moments of our lives for God’s purposes and the good of humankind.”—Megan Fate Marshman, author of SelfLess 

“With vivid storytelling, uncommon wisdom, and breathtaking empathy, she helps us notice daily invitations into a kinder and braver way of being human.”—Aaron Niequist, author of The Eternal Current

“Ashlee teaches by example how to live with courage and compassion, and I believe her perspective and voice will be deeply meaningful to so many people.”—Shauna Niequist, New York Times bestselling author of Present Over Perfect
 
“With a distinct voice filled with depth and grace, [Ashlee] inspires and challenges people of all races and backgrounds to take one more step toward humankindness.”—Austin Channing Brown, New York Times
bestselling author of I’m Still Here

“In her revealing and enthralling debut . . . [Ashlee Eiland] expounds on themes such as sacrifice, honor, respect, acceptance, gratitude, rejection, commitment, and loss. . . . Readers looking to cultivate more empathy—toward others and toward themselves—will enjoy Eiland’s wise testament.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

224 pages | Published by WaterBrook

On Sale Date: Apr 7, 2020

Trim Size: 5-3/16 x 8

Carton Quantity: 24

Sneak Peek

Read the first few chapters of Human(Kind). From a talented storyteller, peacemaker, and advocate comes a powerful invitation to bridge the canyons of difference and disunity that exist all around us. InĀ Human(Kind), Ashlee Eiland shares her compelling story of being a black woman living on two sides of the fence: as the token black girl in majority-white spaces, and as the "whitewashed" black girl in majority black spaces. As she discovers her own unique worth through these recollections, Ashlee learns that extending radical kindness toward every person--regardless of their social status, political views, or religious beliefs--gives us hope and rekindles our common humanity. With grace and humility, Ashlee invites you to chart your own formative journey and recognize your inherent value, cultivating empathy so you can see the image of God in your most difficult neighbors.

Press Release

 
Peacemaker & Speaker Bravely Shares Her Compelling Story to Highlight How Radical Kindness & Empathy Can Bridge Differences & Bring Us Together

“Eiland shares in her revealing and enthralling debut her journey as a black woman struggling to find her place...Drawing on experiences that capture ‘a gateway to humankindness,’ she expounds on themes such as sacrifice, honor, respect, acceptance, gratitude, rejection, commitment, and loss. Readers looking to cultivate more empathy—toward others and toward themselves—will enjoy Eiland’s wise testament. Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

Long before polls, protests, and political issues divided us, we were joined by a humanness that God considered very good. Created in his image, we reflected the height and depth of God’s loving-kindness, but our discord has blinded us to the imago Dei in us all.
 
In Human(Kind): How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together (WaterBrook; 4/7/20), advocate Ashlee Eiland shares her compelling story of being a black woman living on two sides of the fence: as the token black girl in majority-white spaces and as the “whitewashed” black girl in majority-black spaces. As she discovers her own unique worth through these recollections, Eiland learns that extending radical kindness toward every person—regardless of social status, political views, or religious beliefs—gives each person hope and rekindles a common humanity and dignity.
 
Like many other people, Eiland felt vulnerable due to the heated rhetoric that erupted during the 2016 presidential election. She shares a post-election conversation she had with a good friend with differing political views, and how she was able to listen to her friend share her own unique perspective.
 
From this and other dialogues with her friend, Eiland learned the power of mutual understanding. “Have we lost our ability to submit to another’s story? To yield to someone else’s perspective, even if only temporarily, to try to honor an experience that we didn’t live?” she asks. “We won’t find our way back to mutual respect and love for humanity through harsh judgement and rhetoric. Because the office of ultimate judgment was never assigned to us to begin with.” 
 
In another recollection in the book, she describes how she became afraid after she noticed Confederate flags popping up in her Chicago-area neighborhood soon after the 2017 riots in Charlottesville. Watching the news and social media, she saw how strained the relationship was between the black community and members of the police force. She stepped beyond her fears and invited local police officers over to her house. “In imperfectly expressing my truth and my concern—in offering a rickety olive branch in the form of confections and coffee---I couldn’t fear them,” she writes. “When it gets us closer to humanity and the stories that humanity tells, risk, no matter how small, is the greatest display of defiance.”
 
With grace and humility, Human(Kind) invites readers to chart their own formative journeys and recognize their inherent value, cultivating empathy so we may once again see the image of God shining brightly within one another. Eiland truly believes kindness can kindle a revolution!
 
Human(Kind) includes questions for personal reflection at the end of each chapter. For more information, visit www.AshleEeiland.com.

“In this debut, the author shares stories of her family, holiday celebrations, and family loss, along with getting into the college of her dreams only to have her joy taken away by a cruel remark....This wonderfully written book packs a punch, and would be ideal for book clubs in a library or church setting. Eiland’s story will move readers and her urging to recognize the good in people is inspirational. Her message will resonate with a variety of people, especially those interested in pastoral counseling and community engagement.”
-Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ashlee Eiland serves as the formation and preaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church. She shares God’s message of redemption and reconciliation at conferences, colleges, and events around the country. She began her professional career working for Nestlé USA and left corporate America to pursue full-time vocational ministry. Ashlee earned a BA in international relations from the University of Southern California and completed her master’s in organizational leadership at Judson University. She’s contributed articles to Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, RelevantMagazine.com, Crosswalk.com and ForEveryMom.com. Ashlee and her husband, Delwin, have three children and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
 
Visit her online at
www.AshleeEiland.com
https://www.instagram.com/ashlee_eiland
https://twitter.com/Ashlee_Eiland

Ashlee is available to talk on:
·      How she has grown in understanding as she has learned to listen to others’ stories and perspectives
·      How we can use kindness and empathy to overcome the relational frustrations of social distancing
·      Practical ways we can offer grace, kindness and empathy to others
·      What the most unexpected and unlikely friendships—even those she has had with those that are her total opposites—have taught her
·      What needs to be sacrificed for us to see the power of kindness on display
·      Why in the world that she’s now committed to “wading knee deep into the muck of dissention and division and discord"
·      The importance of how we define “friend” and what this means for how we can dignify complete strangers
·      How she learned that dignity and hope have a greater weight than humiliation’s sting
·      How radical kindness does bring us together in unity and restores our dignity

On-Sale: April 7, 2020
Christian Living / Personal Memoir / Social Issues
ISBN 9780525653431 ● Trade Paperback ● 224 Pages ● $15.99 US/$21.99 CAN
eBook ISBN 9780525653448 ● eBook $11.99 US/$13.99 CAN

Praise for Human(Kind):

“Ashlee is an elegant and intelligent writer, an eloquent and passionate communicator, and a brave and kind voice in our community. I’m thrilled that she’s sharing her own story and her prophetic vision for what connection might really mean. Ashlee teaches me by example how to live with courage and compassion, and I believe her perspective and voice will be deeply meaningful to so many people.”
 —Shauna Niequist, New York Times best-selling author
 
“Ashlee Eiland is an incredible teacher and writer. With a distinct voice filled with depth and grace, she inspires and challenges people of all races and backgrounds to take one more step toward humankindness.”
--Austin Channing Brown, speaker and best-selling author of I’m Still Here
 
“Through her beautiful gift of storytelling, Ashlee Eiland compels you to slow down, to breathe and take time, to enter into story after story, to probe into your own story, and, most important, to reflect on what it means to both believe and follow Christ.”
Rev. Eugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages and author of Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk
 
“(Ashlee) is a holy, mysterious, beautiful creation who has a sacred glow in the deepest part of her, a divine ‘yes’ right at the center. And discovering this is the core call of this book—to move beyond the categories and limitations we put on each other and even the ones we put on ourselves. To uncover the longings, the divine invitation, the sacred image in one another. To uproot buried hopes and possibilities and nurse them back to life—using kindness as a potent remedy. Resurrection power is found in the simple truth that kindness might just be able to bring us all back to life.”
Danielle Strickland, author, speaker, and social justice advocate (From the Foreword)
 
“In her tenderly written book, Ashlee draws on a range of personal experiences to explore how life fashions identity. She reflects on big themes, from the love of family to the brutality of racism and the search for belonging, and calls us to greater awareness of the stories and systems still shaping our lives and communities. Through her deeply personal words, Ashlee leads us toward a grace-filled vision of humanity in which we see the imago Dei in ourselves and one another and live it in the everyday. ‘Human(Kind)’ indeed.”
Jo Saxton, Leadership coach and author of The Dream of You

“If we aspire to be kind—to recognize the inherent value in every human—how may our aspirations culminate in our attitudes, actions, and interactions in everyday life? Ashlee so beautifully offers us delicacies that feed this very desire, crafted from her experiences of everyday life that were anything but. This book is a feast she invites us to share, seasoned generously with thoughts to stimulate our understanding of one another, images to awaken our hearts, and wisdom to nourish our souls.”—Carey and Toni Nieuwhof, Connexus Church

“Brené Brown said, ‘Courage gives us a voice and compassion gives us an ear.’ And in Human(Kind), Ashlee teaches us the importance of both. Through her deeply personal stories and thoughtful reflections on the world she currently exists in and the brighter, more just future she is actively cocreating, Ashlee shows us the often messy but worthy way of redemption and reconciliation. I am so grateful for Ashlee as a teacher, sister, and leader.”
Liz Forkin Bohannon, founder of Sseko Designs and author of Beginner’s Pluck

Contact Publicist

Brett Benson