There is a certain satisfaction in reading a book written by someone with a good grasp of sarcasm who is able to convey complex issues in a way as to make them engaging and yet still affecting . Ruby Wax’s treatise on what is good and encouraging in the world is a shining example of a spiky exterior hiding a deep concern for fellow humanity. Her Americanism makes her tell it like it is, but her British down to earth sensibility and slight eccentric streak makes her more believable for being sucked into the frankly bizarre worlds of Chinese slave education, Danish schools and nano tech in medicine with equal open hearted and minded curiosity.

Filled with interesting ideas and encouraging projects that might just stop the world from jettisoning itself into impending disaster, we get to see what a clever and empathetic woman Ms Wax is in a extremely interesting book that touches on all the areas that affect Humanity from Educating the young, to the environment, big business and much much more.

I am encouraged. I am enthused and I am grateful to have been able to read this book now in the turbulent times we find ourselves in. A brilliant read .

This is an informative and positive read about important aspects of the world right now: Community, business, education, technology, food and World Savers.
Wax begins each chapter talking about the history of each topic and the bad that comes from it but then puts a positive spin on each one, providing plentiful research about each organisation or individual people who are trying to create an improved change in the world. She also adds 'her story' to each chapter to give the reader an insight into her past experiences and give her opinions about the issues and what we can gain from this.
An insightful read that has come at a good time when the world seems to be all about bad news, here is some good!

I found this to be a really interesting book, it was positive and uplifting which was what I needed. And I also like it talked about other countries.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Ruby Wax's anticipated book And Now for the Good News did not fail to disappoint. Thank you Netgalley and Ruby Wax for my e-arc copy. In a time where nothing is certain and we're spending more time at home apart, we've needed this book more than ever, to show us the light in humanity hasn't gone out completely. Highly informative but laced with the wry and hilarious humour from Ruby, this book provides you with beacons of hope, little green shoots as she calls them. I found myself highlighting many sections of the book as I went along and could have easily devoured this in one sitting if life didn't get in the way. Everything she discusses within her book I found fascinating. There's a chapter at the beginning that discusses isolation which of course highlighted and despite groans from family members read most of the book out loud to them.

I received the ARC digital copy of the book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

I requested the book back in august and took me a little time to catch up with my TBR and I was really looking forward to reading something light pack with good news. Unfortunately I didn't like the writing style, it's a bit messy, super fast paced, packed full with information that the speed of the writing didn't allow me to digest before being thrown a joke. I felt I was being attacked so I had to put it down many times before I could finish it,
The style of the book made me think of that one friend you have that is nice and witty that talks for an hour straight and told you the whole childhood story just to say "yes Im ok"
The long sentences, long paragraphs, the very little use of comas and full stoped, made me a bit anxious, so I didn't enjoy that at all. The sense of humour got on the way of actual good information, and on top of that, along the book there are witty racist jokes sprinkle around that just made my eyes roll.
The only redeeming part of the book is that the author is aware of her white privilege. She makes sure you know she steals toiletries from hotels to give to refugees, she shops on Amazon, (even when she's fully aware of their poor ethic), she talks her way into places, lies about her abilities and gets away with it. I'm not sure how many of her jokes are based on reality or just jokes too ridiculous to be true.
Also I'm not sure who is the target audience of the book, some parts read very light and even over explained, that made me think this is for the older generation who lost touch with technology and aren't informed. But having so much I formation delivered in a speedy way, made think it was for YA as they can take all of that in without many problems.

If you'd like to read good news, please go somewhere else. I'd recommend My life on our planet by David Attenborough (just the second half of the book)

I enjoyed this book on the whole though I did think it jumped around topic-wise. It was nice to read something positive though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for a review, I will put this review on Amazon too.

Ruby Wax focuses on all what is good and positive in the world rather than the daily diet of doom and gloom presented by the news media. The narrative is interspersed with many amusing anecdotes – which at times detract from her message
Ruby Wax’s overall message is how much good there is in the world but sometimes her style is just a bit too much.

Having loved "Sane New World" and "A mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled" I had high hopes for this new book by Ruby Wax. I admire the straight-talking, comedic, yet somehow serious way in which Ms Wax's message is delivered. In both previous books that message landed so well and I could relate.

"And Now for the Good News" feels like it should deliver much more of the same, perhaps with an even more positive and transformative slant. The cover shouts positivity and I was heartily looking forward to diving in, particularly in the current, less than positive, climate, and seeing where the book was to take me.

Perhaps it was the expectation that set me up to fail but, unfortunately, this book just didn't live up to its forerunners. Presented in a quasi-academic style of an issue moving to the solution (or perhaps, in some cases, examples of how that issue is being addressed in some small way) I found that I was experiencing more "downs" and far fewer "ups". Where previously I had been able to relate and had some good "take-aways" at the end of each session of reading, this time I struggled to make this relevant to me much of the time and regularly felt that I ended a reading session feeling just mildly depressed if I hadn't got to the more positive "end of section". Rather than a journey, this felt like a collection of newspaper articles and editorials; each was interesting and I learned a lot about some of the work that is being done around the world, but, ultimately, I felt like I had just read a Sunday newspaper.

I think, if you have a general interest in how the world is or needs to become more compassionate and "humanised" then this may be a book that you could dip into to get a few examples of what people are doing now. As a record of social history it will work, not least due to the nods to Covid-19 which hit around the time of publication and resulted in a few "additions" to the text. But, I'm sorry, as an uplifting and relatable read in the same compelling vein of Ms Wax's first two books, this just didn't do it for me.

With huge thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the copy to review.

I really like Ruby Wax on screen she is very sparky and intelligent. However, I just cannot get on with her books. I have tried a couple but never get far with them. Sorry.

I fancied something upbeat, but just didn’t take to the list-like prose of this. Wax’s humour didn’t translate well to the page for me either, I find her hilarious on the screen but this just wasn’t for me. Didn’t finish. The content itself was great, some wonderful glimpses of positive goings on around the globe. Just not for me, right now, sorry!

This book came out at exactly the right time. I was uplifted and inspired by Ruby Wax's optimism and her encouragement to continue to hope. We absolutely needed this in the world!

4 stars.

I absolutely love the cover and how positive it is. It was strange as it was partly written during Covid times so it was really up to date and relevant for ways to stay positive in the circumstances but it was a little jarring to not be expecting it but overall a brilliant book.


It'd be a great addition to the bookshelf too to refer back to.

This book is a positive look at some recent developments in community, business, education, technology, and food that promise to make the world a better place.

Ruby Wax began writing it in 2018 before the outbreak of Covid-19, but ends the book with some ‘Post Covid-19 Good News.’ Whilst researching for her book she found what she calls ‘green shoots of hope peeping through the soil of civilisation’ that ‘may just bloom into a brighter future.’ It’s easy reading, written clearly in a breezy conversational style, covering a large amount of information. She emphasises the importance of compassion and kindness, of community and on working for the good of all. Maybe, above all she focuses on the benefits of mindfulness and on positive experiences.

She begins with writing about herself and sections about her own story are interspersed between the ‘Bad News’ and the ‘Good News’ throughout the book. In each section she gives a brief history of the topic, along with the story of her own experiences and then looks at examples of how things are improving. Not all of it was new to me, but I did learn a lot, as the book is simply crammed with information.

I’ll just mention two examples that interested me particularly. In the section on Education I was amazed to read about the discipline and regimentation in Chinese schools contrasting with the relaxed and caring approach in Finnish schools. And in the UK she visited a school in Hertfordshire, where children, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, learn about emotions as well as academic topics.

In the Business section she writes about new models of businesses that are ‘going green’ in companies such as the outdoor clothing company Patagonia, based in California. They believe they owe the earth for the industrial impact of business and consequently give away 10% of all profits and are very conscientious about what products they use because the textile industry is one of the most chemically intensive industries on earth, second only to agriculture.

The final section of the book is called ‘To the Future with Love’ in which she summarises the good news for each of the topics covered in her book. Her hope is that we will remember the’ feelings of interconnnectedness and caring for each other and … keep them going’ when the pandemic is over.

Overall, this is an interesting book with some inspiring stories but in places it felt as though I was reading newspaper articles or company brochures, which is why I’ve given it 3 stars rather than 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Everyone's desperately in need of some good news at the moment, so Ruby Wax's new book is well-timed. By looking at problematic areas such as climate change, technology and business, she highlights people and organisations that have been doing good work in order to alleviate the feeling that nothing can be done to change our current situation. I did find the potted history sections slightly tedious, but the overall message is positive and I learnt about some great causes and charities.

We can all agree 2020 has been one heck of a year and having previously read books by Ruby Wax i knew it would be interesting,informative and imbued with some humour. I was not disappointed and found this book to be very much what was needed to give you some thoughts and persepective on everyday life, and living through 2020.

An interesting read. Some great stories altohugh I felt that some of the history dragged a bit. Definitely worth a read to give you hope for the future.

Really enjoyed this book. Some great positive ideas for living life better and helping reduce our destructive impact on the planet. All of that with some Ruby humour thrown in. Perhaps we could do with her in Government. A bit of straight talking might actually get things done. Highly recommended read.

Ruby Wax has suffered with her mental health for many years and this is generally well known as she has talked widely about this. Lots therefore have identified with her and so I think this book will appeal for this reason. This is a humorous and positive book that covers a number of topics and human emotions. She talks about green shoot ideas and staying uplifted in this very uncertain World.
Many I believe will love this book

I loved this book so much. It's the first time I have read anything by Ms Wax and i must admit to having always been a bit sceptical when a celeb gets a book deal. I stand corrected! This is wonderful (and I've even bought a copy to my mum). it's the perfect cosy cheery read for corona 2020. Ruby has found the good in the world and analysed why such groups, organisations, movements work with her usual candour and wit. It's a perfect Christmas present for anyone who needs cheering up. Bravo Ruby.

This uplifted even my cold black heart.

It wasn’t what I was expecting but was what I needed.

It’s honest and funny and thoroughly enjoyable.