kvell

A Word You Should Know

Kvell puts a magnifying glass on one of the most positive ways to bolster people. Kvell creates joy and growth through simple acts of appreciation, praise, and encouragement.

Kvell celebrates an important Yiddish word that was never assimilated into the English language. But it’s a word we should all know.

Traditionally, kvell reinforces and celebrates young people inside a Jewish family, through pride and praise. Barbara Edelston Peterson grew up in a family where kvelling was the norm, which led to self-confident and successful children.

As an adult, Barbara continues to kvell over her own family and extends kvelling to those around her in work, life, and sport. Recognizing that this practice generates strong productive outcomes beyond the Jewish tradition, Barbara was inspired to share the power of kvell with everyone.

Kvell illuminates the universal benefits of this practice through science and examples of personal triumphs from all walks of life. Unlike other widely used Yiddish words—such as kvetch, schmuck, chutzpah, and klutz that often carry negative connotations—kvell is uplifting and positive.

Barbara shows that of all the Yiddish words that have become part of everyday language, kvell should no longer be left out.

©2025 Barbara Edelston Peterson (P)2025 Barbara Edelston Peterson

The KVELL joy😊

KVELL took me back to my roots and helped me see how every little part of my journey was “Kvelled”by my mother who believed in me. I never thought of it that way until I read your book, Barbara. Now I find myself going around kvelling people—and it’s growing on me. There is real power in this word, and I’m excited to have added it to my life and vocabulary. If we were all kvelling one another, what a beautiful world this would be. Everyone needs this beautiful book.
— Flossie Njama

Refreshing and Engaging

This book is a delight, and i’m so happy to know about Kvell. It’s just what we need to bring along and share every day!

The encouraging voice of the story.

Let us be cheerleaders for one another. Barbara's message of KVELL is so needed right now. I want to Kvell the author it touched my heart. I want to Kvell the narrator Justine simply rocks.

Excuse Me While I Kvell... I Simply MUST

For much of my life, I have been described as bookish, and I consider it the highest compliment (second only to hot gay nerd). Storytelling has got to be among the greatest super powers of humanity, and I have spent much of my life seeking out captivating and meaningful stories. My love for reading and books was the impetus for my 13-year stint as a bookseller at Waldenbooks. I still remember the smell of the store and the excitement of many street dates for bestselling authors.

Our manager encouraged us to choose one book each holiday season to suggest to patrons of the store as a gift item for everyone on their list. One of my favorites was Anna Quindlen's A Short Guide to a Happy Life. I was overjoyed whenever a customer would come in to buy additional copies of the book because they remembered one more person who just HAD to read this short book.

Well MOVER OVER "happy guide" and make way for Kvell.

Barbara Edelston Peterson has created a primer on taking human decency to the next level. I know many people who live by the personal standard of "Just don't be an asshole," and I understand the nonchalant call to being good. But we are called to more, aren't we? My spiritual practices invite me (maybe even require me) to be the presence of love in every situation. And it's not enough to just quietly shower love on others. Not when we can kvell! People light up when we notice them and let them know that we have noticed them. I remember years ago when I noticed a woman pushing her shopping cart in Safeway, and I was delighted by the colorful floral dress she was wearing. It made me smile, so I told her. The energy in our very miniscule corner of the world was elevated.

I remember the time I decided to write a thank you note to the elderly Chinese lady who owned M&L Market (affectionately called May's) in San Francisco. Her pastrami sandwiches were nothing short of a religious experience and the pride she took in making these sandwiches with her daughter, Judy, and ringing them up on her antique cash register delighted me. So I told her via my card. Days later, Judy stopped me as I was walking home and beamed as she thanked me for the card.

That is what it means to kvell, and this brilliant little tome is chock full of story after story of the power of kvell. And that's really the point. Kvell is not only a word you should know; it is a way of being we should all strive to embody. I had the opportunity to meet Barbara briefly after the audio book was released, and it's clear she is on a mission to change the world, one kvell at a time. I absolutely adore her energy, and I love this book.

What's more... Justine Reiss (narrator) does more than read Kvell. She brings the words to life. Until I listened to Kvell, I didn't fully understand the magic and miracles that occur when we give breath and voice to such beautiful concepts and stories. Justine's voice is welcoming and energetic, and there is an intimacy that comes through. You're not attending a lecture, notebook in hand ready to capture the lessons. You are engaged in an enlightening conversation with an open heart ready to be transformed.

I cannot kvell enough about this book. Give it to all the teachers you know so that they will bring the power of kvell into their classrooms. Share it with new parents so that the gift of kvell will be a constant reminder of how much they love their children. Introduce the concept of kvell to graduates so that they will go off into the world understanding the difference they can make simply by relating authentically with others.

I read Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People every couple of years because I consider it a foundational text for being my best self. I will now add Kvell to that same reading list (or shall I say LISTENING list.)

Love the concepts in this book

This is literally a book you can listen to in refer to over and over and over again. The concept of KVELL, when kept in your heart and mind will change your brain chemistry, as Barbara points out in the book, having the audible is something you can listen to anytime to pick you up and remind you to glow over others, encourage strangers, family members, and as she states eloquently to KVELL over yourself.
We’re so accustomed to negative inside thoughts, in ways were unaware of, so being able to flip this to a positive state of mind is game changing in every way.

As you listen and start to KVELL more in your life notice how things start shifting. This is not only a book, this is a move movement. Everyone should join in. Get this audible.