Interview by Paul Salfen
GABRIEL REILICH is the head of content and innovation at GOOD & Upworthy. Devoted to his mission of spreading optimism, he believes the internet can be a force for good and is dedicated to leveraging it to amplify the best of humanity. LUCIA KNELL is the Vice President of Upworthy, where she’s worked since 2014. She’s spent her career championing the belief that the internet can and should be used as a tool to unite us vs. stoke division. Her expertise in social media has garnered millions of engagements and catalyzed a movement to combat negativity online.
Social media was originally designed to bring us closer together. Today, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that algorithms reward those who stoke outrage and anxiety, while moments of genuine good get swept into the digital ether.
Amidst an epidemic of loneliness and disconnection, we need reminders of the fundamental goodness in people, now more than ever. An Instant New York Times nonfiction Bestseller, GOOD PEOPLE: Stories From the Best of Humanity, highlights the breadth, depth and beauty of the human experience through over 100 true stories handpicked from members of Upworthy’s online community.
The brains (and hearts) behind Upworthy, Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell, asked questions through Upworthy’s Instagram like “What’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you? and “Who’s the teacher who changed your life?” They pored over thousands of responses in the comment section, conducted hundreds of interviews, and worked closely with their online community to create GOOD PEOPLE. An essential counterbalance to today’s daunting news cycle, this deeply moving book is emotional nourishment for navigating modern life, both online and off. Rippling with wit, compassion, and courage, each chapter offers a restorative opportunity to shift your perspective to find moments of decency and kindness in the everyday. Inside, you’ll find beautifully illustrated stories, including:
- The Kindness of Strangers, when a waitress’s regular customer gives her the opportunity to chart a new life course.
- A Teacher’s Guiding Light, when a teacher’s brilliance helps her class accept a little boy with an eye patch.
- When I Needed It Most when a landlord’s generosity helps his tenant navigate his grief.
With proof that decency surrounds every one of us, Upworthy’s first book is a perspective-changing salve that will leave even the most unlikely reader feeling better about the world.
