A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Real Life Stories

You’ve got to read it to believe it! These true stories seem almost too good to be true, but we promise that we couldn’t make these up. From love to loss and from survival to unbelieavable coincidences—we’ve got the wildest stories to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired.

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How an 18-Year-Old Helped Save a Hiker Who Fell 75 Feet Off a Mountain Cliff

An 18-year-old went on a hike with his mom—and returned home a hero. Here's how his quick actions saved...


8 Remarkable Stories of the Most Unlikely Friendships

Would you pal around with your spouse’s ex? Or buddy up to someone who put 
a foot in your face?...


How David Lee Roth of Van Halen Almost Ruined My Marriage

I thought the man I’d married was a 
rock star. That turned out to be closer 
to the truth than...


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When the World Shut Down, This 9-Year-Old Created an Unlikely Bond with 6 Chickens

In a time of isolation from the rest of the world, this little girl found friendship in her family’s new...



15 Amazing Facts About the Women of NASA

The sky is not the limit for these incredible pioneers.


These Prisoners Scammed Millions from the Comfort of Their Jail Cells

A diabolical scam snares everyday Americans. The real shock is that it is pulled off by prisoners.


Dozens of My Friends Have Had Coronavirus—Here’s What They Want You to Know

One by one, I've watched friends and family members contract, spread, and battle coronavirus. They've shared their stories in the...

When a Medevac Plane Couldn’t Land Because the Runway Lights Were Out an Entire Village Used T...

“Any time a plane flies over that late, you know something is wrong.”


How an Activist with Disabilities Went from Being a Role Model to a Runway Model

A disabled activist won’t let Twitter trolls stop her 
from seeing herself as she really is—a star.


40 Years After Falling for a Girl, He Finally Got to Be with Her

A lovesick teenager gets the girl—
40 years later.


The 14 Best Good News Stories from 2022 You Might Have Missed

Stop doomscrolling! Lift your spirits with good news stories that prove the world is full of inspiring people.


How a Determined Detective Caught a Stalker Who Had Been Humiliating High School Girls in a Small Town

An elusive hacker humiliated high school girls 
from a small New Hampshire town. Then they teamed up with a determined...


Siegfried and Roy: What Happened the Night of the Tiger Attack?

For Siegfried & Roy, the master illusionists whose mix of glitz, charm, and white tiger magic symbolizes the thrill of...


This Couple Agreed to Split the Lottery If They Won. When They Did, She Left with All the Money

He said they’d agreed to split the winnings. But when they hit the jackpot, she just split.


Nicest Places in America 2021

Nicest Places in America is a nationwide search for places where people are kind and do amazing things to improve...


What It’s Like Being One of the Few Black Pilots in the World

As one of a few Black pilots, Courtland Savage understands that with access comes responsibility.

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Your True Stories, in 100 Words

Everybody has a story to share. What's yours? Tell us here for the chance to be published in Reader's Digest.


Alone on the Top of a Mountain, This Wife Had to Carry Her Injured Husband Back to Safety After a Se...

A dream honeymoon hike to the rim of a jungle crater ends with a terrible fall. Now a young bride...


How Astronaut Scott Kelly Wards Off Feelings of Isolation

The pandemic is taking a serious toll on our mental health. Here are a few tips on surviving this crazy...


7 True Stories About Funny Thanksgiving Mishaps

These true stories of snafus past will make you laugh—and breathe a little easier about your own Thanksgiving.


This Biker Was Attacked by a Bear with Only a Pocket Knife to Defend Himself

Alone and pinned under a grizzly, Colin Dowler reached for a pocket...


Incredible Generosity Makes Red Handed Tattoo in Shreveport the Nicest Place in Louisiana

Learn how the owner of one small-town tattoo shop made a big difference.

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10 Valuable Items People Have Found by Accident

Ever stumble upon something valuable? It’s an incredible feeling.


A Teacher Told Her Students to Draw What They Were Thankful for—This Was One Student’s Moving ...

As this teacher learned, some of the most moving lessons are taught by students.


My Best Friend Scammed Me Out of $92,000, Forcing Me into Bankruptcy

She swindled me out of $92,000, forcing me into bankruptcy and destroying my once sunny outlook. But I finally...


The Story of the Very First War Dog Platoon

It’s 1943, the Battle of Bougainville. The Americans attacking this South 
Pacific island are outnumbered and outgunned. Their best hope...


7 Powerful Letters from Soldiers on the Front

A collection of war letters, from the Revolution to Iraq, helps us all share in the powerful dreams and...


Fighting COVID-19 and Racial Injustice, Buchanan, Michigan, Is the Nicest Place in America

In 2020, we received a record number 1,177 story submissions to our annual search for the Nicest Places in America...