The Peace Guidebook Wins 2026 International Book Award
- Best Ever You
- 12 hours ago
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Award-Winning Book Honors a Growing Movement for Hope, Healing, and Harmony
We are honored and excited to share that The Peace Guidebook: How to Cultivate Hope, Healing, and Harmony for the Good of Humankind by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman has been named a Winner of the 2026 International Book Award in the Self-Help: Motivational category.
This prestigious recognition celebrates books that inspire, educate, and create meaningful impact in the lives of readers. For us, this award represents something much bigger than a book. It represents a growing movement of people choosing compassion, kindness, understanding, and peace in a world that desperately needs all four.
Since its release on April 21, 2026, The Peace Guidebook has touched readers across the United States and around the world. The book became a #1 Bestseller and an Amazon Hot New Release, received the Literary Titan Book Award, earned the coveted Kirkus Reviews "Get It" Accolade, and has now added the International Book Award to its growing list of honors.
Most importantly, it has sparked thousands of conversations about how peace begins—not somewhere else, but within each of us.
Published by a Legacy of Inspiration
The Peace Guidebook is published by Health Communications, Inc. (HCI Books) and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
HCI is widely known as the original publisher of the groundbreaking Chicken Soup for the Soul series, one of the most successful and influential personal development publishing brands in history.
To join the ranks of books that have inspired millions of readers through HCI is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
Like many of the books that came before it, The Peace Guidebook was written to help people navigate life's challenges with greater courage, compassion, and hope. Yet it also offers something uniquely needed in today's world: a practical roadmap for creating peace—not someday, but today.
Peace Is Not Something We Wait For
At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful message:
Peace is not something we wait for. Peace is something we practice.
Through ten principles—Presence, Potential, Patience, Practice, Passion, Purpose, Positivity, Perseverance, Partnership, and Peace—readers are guided through a process of moving from hope to healing to harmony.
Rather than presenting peace as an abstract concept, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman offer practical exercises, reflection prompts, real-life stories, and actionable tools designed to help readers bring peace into their relationships, workplaces, communities, and daily lives.
The book reminds us that peace is not passive. It is active. It is intentional. It is courageous. Perhaps now more than ever, it matters.
Endorsed by World-Renowned Leaders and Authors
The message of The Peace Guidebook has resonated with respected voices in publishing, leadership, healthcare, psychology, and humanitarian work.
Among them is Jack Canfield, coauthor of the legendary Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of The Success Principles, who wrote:
"A beacon of light in this chaotic world. A must-read for modern times."
International bestselling author Mark Victor Hansen, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, shared:
"Peace is a soul centered inside job. Your peace is easy as you read, study, and apply the principles herein."
Lizz Schumer, Books Editor at People Magazine and author of Biography of a Body and Buffalo Steel, praised the book's practical approach:
"Once again, Elizabeth and Katie bring us what we all need, right when we need it, in an actionable and inspiring format. No matter where you are in your journey, this practical guide will help you practice peace and feel less alone while doing it."
Bestselling author and producer Ken D. Foster called the book:
"A true beacon of wisdom in turbulent times."
The endorsements continue from physicians, psychologists, humanitarian leaders, peace advocates, and readers around the globe who have embraced the book's message that compassion is the heartbeat of peace.
Critical Acclaim from Kirkus Reviews
One of the publishing industry's most respected review organizations, Kirkus Reviews, offered high praise for The Peace Guidebook.
The review highlighted the book's practical approach to peace and the authors' ability to blend personal development, psychology, coaching, and real-world application into an engaging and actionable guide.
Kirkus concluded:
"A practical and engagingly written guidebook to embodying peace in one's daily life."
The review further noted that the book encourages readers to contribute to a more peaceful world one action at a time while emphasizing compassion as the foundation for lasting peace.
That message sits at the core of the entire book.
When we choose compassion, we create peace.
When we create peace, we create possibility.
A Foreword That Continues a Powerful Legacy
The book features a foreword by Rev. Mpho A. Tutu van Furth, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Her contribution beautifully connects the book's mission to a larger global conversation about healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, and humanity.
Humanitarian leader Joan Marston, who worked closely with Archbishop Desmond Tutu during South Africa's transition from apartheid, reflected on that connection, writing:
"The Peace Guidebook, and helping to generate peace within individuals and communities, is aspirational, inspirational, and essential."
Those words capture exactly what this work hopes to accomplish.
The Percolate Peace Project
The book is also the foundation for the growing Percolate Peace Project, a worldwide initiative dedicated to helping people intentionally create moments of peace every day.
The movement encourages people to:
Practice kindness
Extend compassion
Build understanding
Foster connection
Create positive change
Share peace with others
Whether through a conversation, a smile, an act of service, forgiveness, or simply choosing patience in a difficult moment, every act matters.
Our vision is ambitious:
One Million Moments of Peace.
And thanks to readers, contributors, supporters, educators, leaders, and peacebuilders around the world, that vision continues to grow every day.
Meeting Readers Across America
Since publication, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman have traveled extensively to connect with readers and share the book's message.
From Maine to Washington State, New York to South Carolina, New Jersey to Minnesota, the response has been inspiring.
One of the most anticipated stops on the tour is the upcoming signing at Barnes & Noble Fifth Avenue in New York City on July 15, 2026, bringing The Peace Guidebook to one of the most iconic bookstores in America.
Additional stops continue throughout 2026 as the message of peace reaches communities across the country.
This Award Belongs to All of Us
While receiving an International Book Award is an extraordinary honor, the true reward has been witnessing the impact this book is having in people's lives.
Every reader.
Every review.
Every shared story.
Every conversation.
Every act of compassion.
Every moment of peace.
This recognition belongs to all of you.
Thank you for believing in the possibility of a more peaceful world.
Thank you for sharing this message.
Thank you for choosing hope.
Thank you for choosing healing.
Thank you for choosing harmony.
And thank you for helping peace percolate throughout the world.
Compassion is the heartbeat of peace.
Pause. Breathe. Choose.
When you grow, the world grows with you.
Join Us on the Peace Guidebook Tour
One of the greatest joys of this book has been meeting readers across the country. We hope to see you at an upcoming event.
2026 Peace Guidebook ALL Tour Dates (past and future dates)
March 29
Barnes & Noble 3346 Reed Street Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
April 19
Barnes & Noble – Pittsford Plaza 3349 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618
April 25
Watermark Books 612 Commercial Avenue Anacortes, WA
May 9
Barnes & Noble 4099 Meridian Street Bellingham, WA 98226
May 11
Anacortes Senior Center 1701 22nd Street Anacortes, WA 98221
May 17
Barnes & Noble – Ledgewood Commons 461 State Route 10, Building B300 Ledgewood, NJ 07852
May 23
Books-A-Million 430 Gorham Road South Portland, ME 04106
May 24
Barnes & Noble – University District 4324 University Way NE Seattle, WA 98105
May 30
Barnes & Noble 200 Running Hill Road South Portland, ME
June 6
Books-A-Million 490 Stillwater Avenue Bangor, ME 04401
June 6
Barnes & Noble – Vancouver Plaza 7700 NE Fourth Plain Boulevard Vancouver, WA
June 20
Books-A-Million 730 Center Street Auburn, ME 04210
June 27
Barnes & Noble 9 Marketplace Drive Augusta, ME 04330
July 12
Barnes & Noble 1940 Route 10 West Morris Plains, NJ 07950
July 14
Books & Greetings 271 Livingston Street Northvale, NJ
July 15
Barnes & Noble Fifth Avenue 555 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10017
July 16
The BookMark Shoppe 8415 Third Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11209
August 15
Barnes & Noble – Eagan Promenade 1291 Promenade Place Eagan, MN 55121
August 22
Barnes & Noble – Burnhaven Shopping Center 828 West County Road 42Burnsville, MN 55337
October 3
Litchfield Books 11421 Ocean Highway Pawleys Island, SC 29585
October 4
Barnes & Noble 3346 Reed Street Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Additional appearances and events may be announced throughout the year.
Thank You
Full Award Press Release: https://www.internationalbookawards.com/2026pressrelease.html
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