Real Life Stories

Joshua Miele's sight was stolen from him when he was a child. Forty years later, he's giving the blind a...

When she was 17, Juliane Koepcke dropped 10,000 feet into the Amazon rain forest. She describes how she survived—alone.

Thanks to the kindness of strangers, these precious lost objects were returned to their rightful (and thankful) owners.

Justin Barber said his wife was killed during a late-night robbery—but the details didn't add up. Seek the truth in...

A pastor’s impulsive purchase leads to an incredible reunion. Coincidence—or divine guidance? You be the judge in this story of...

Three women took a drive to Death Valley for a day of exploring. Three days and 300 miles later, they...

In this RD Classic from our archives, American athlete Jesse Owens tells his stunning Olympic story about putting differences aside...

Seven high school students were near the end of their month-long survival course in the Alaskan wilderness, but the real...

Brazil's Surui tribe fought the loggers and developers threatening their lands for years, but nothing worked until they went high-tech.

Paula Lucas dreamed of being able to help battered women living overseas. In 2001, she started Americans Overseas Domestic Violence...

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, we dug into our archives...

After the first phase of the Digest Diet, Adrienne's weight loss was seven pounds; then she went on to shed...

What would you do if your teenager had a child? For author Lamott, it was a crash course in the...

Pamela Salant expected a quiet evening camping near Mount Hood, Oregon — then things took a horrible turn.

Fall in love with the Reader's Digest original story that inspired the romantic movie starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum.

A story that proves true love knows no time limit.

Community members socialize outside. (Credit: Teresa Simmons) It’s a small military town that is very welcoming. Whenever I visit, the

Florence Wheeler (right) featured with one of the therapists who helped her in rehab. (Credit: Florence Wheeler) Most of the

Samaritan’s Purse volunteers clean up the wreckage. (Credit: Ruth Morgan) Our city and church responded and joined together when, not

People strike a pose at Loving Light Yoga’s 9th year anniversary on the beach. (Credit: Deb Congleton) In May of

"Specializing in kids, haircuts, and smiles!"

Flowers bloom outside the botanical outdoor laboratory (Arnold Arboretum), started by Harvard University. (Credit: Faith Girdler) Because we have all

Sunset on Cooper Lake. (Credit: Denny Wood) Grayson, Georgia retains much of its small-town atmosphere despite the encroaching suburbs trailing

Community members gather at the Florence Park Neighborhood Association. (Credit: Lance Woolsey) This is the way neighborhoods used to be

Friends at Bethel Woods. (Credit: Barbara) This is the site of the original Woodstock Concert in 1969. It is now

A boy rides his bicycle down the Madison Park Children’s Parade. (Credit: Hunter Robbins) Home to a variety of fantastic

A group of women casually enjoy a meal together on a typical day in West Jefferson. (Credit: Ginny Tedder) In

Gary Mayor, Karen Freeman-Wilson, presents the World Civility Day resolution to Community Civility Counts partners Dr. Gordon Bradshaw, Bob Heisse,

Parishioners who welcomed Betty into their church with open arms. (Credit: Betty Swisher) First, it was a smile, a handshake