"Facebook Fairytales" by Emily Liebert

I am social-media obsessed. In addition to writing my two blogs, I am also a social media practitioner for my day job (I head up digital media strategy at Discovery Communications). So I spend a lot of time thinking about social networking. As I often say, I believe that Facebook will take over the world. The site's impact on how we communicate, engage, learn, connect and share simply cannot be underestimated, in my opinion.

So when I was offered the chance to review Emily Liebert's new book, Facebook Fairytales: Modern-Day Miracles to Inspire the Human Spirit, I took Emily up on it. [Hi FTC! I got this book for free from SkyHorse Publishing.] Her book contains 25 true stories about ways in which Facebook has connected people even in the unlikeliest of circumstances - a grown child finding his adoptive parents; a woman being reunited with two rings of extreme sentimental value thirty years after she lost them; a couple being reunited with their cat after moving sixty miles away from where they last saw it. Liebert has explored the many ways in which Facebook can impact lives, whether personally, politically, or as a force for good.

This premise may sound corny, but Liebert has chosen stories that are actually quite compelling and not melodramatic. The underlying theme, of course, is the power of Facebook to transcend physical distance, years, and fate to connect people who would otherwise have remained strangers, or to mobilize disparate groups of people around a common cause. My personal favorites - the woman who donated a kidney to someone she'd never met before, who was a friend of a friend on Facebook; the half-sisters who met for the first time in 30 years thanks to Facebook; and the woman who raised enough money to pay for surgeries for 5 severely ill children in an orphanage in China.

Facebook Fairytales came out today. It's definitely current, as it's about a site that is having its extended moment. But mark my words, Facebook will go down as the most influential website in decades. Liebert could probably write a new version of this book every year and not run out of good fodder.

Emily Liebert has generously offered a copy of Facebook Fairytales to an EDIWTB reader. If you'd like to win a copy, leave me a comment here before Sunday, April 11. I will pick a name at random on Sunday. Good luck!

Comments

[Amy W.]

That book sounds amazing. I would love to win a copy!

[Amanda]

The book sounds great. Especially love that not all the stories are simply high school sweethearts reconnecting -- sounds more compelling than that. Also like that it has 4.5 stars on Amazon. Would love to win a copy!

[Allison Talamantez]

I agree with you...obsessed w sm and thinking it will take over the world! I would love to win a copy!

[Josie]

I'm also slightly obsessed w facebook! books sounds great- would love to win a copy.

[ShootingStarsMag]

Beautiful. I love these type of stories and I love that social networking can truly bring people together.

[Lindsay]

Your obsession sounds just like mine. It sounds like a great read. I would love to win a copy!

[Sharon Walling]

I would definitely love a chance to win this. I just love Facebook. I have reconnected with people I grew up with and it's been absoulutely wonderful.

Thanks for the chance.

sharon54220@gmail.com

[Darby Lohrding]

Hi Gayle,
I love books like this and would love the opportunity to read and review!!!
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win a copy!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

[Julie]

This sounds amazing! I definitely admit to being a facebook addict. Please enter me! Thanks! joules21@aol.com

[Sarah]

Hi Gayle,

Please enter me in the draw! Thanks, Sarah

[Ann F]

The book sounds terrific. The description of the stories she tells reminds me of Po Bronson's "Why Do I Love These People?", which I loved.