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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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16 Things We’re All Looking Forward to Once Social Distancing Ends

Real-people share stories about what they're most looking forward to doing after self-quarantine restrictions finally let up.


The New Quarantine Hobby I’m Never Giving Up

From making stained glass to growing sourdough starter, 14 people share their new passions—and some great ideas to fill your...


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12 Titanic Survivors: What Happened to Them Next

That fateful night was the beginning of the rest of their lives—for better or for worse.


I Survived Coronavirus—Here’s What I Want You to Know

I was one of the lucky ones, and, trust me, you don’t want to get this.



The Night I Met Einstein

This Reader's Digest Classic of "My Most Unforgettable Character" offers a lesson in life—and music—from the most brilliant mind in...


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His Parachute Got Stuck on the Plane’s Wheel and He Was Suspended in Midair with Little Chance...

Almost 80 years after it unfolded in the sky over San Diego, a nearly impossible rescue mission remains one of...


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12 Famous Sibling Rivalries Throughout History

Just because you're related to your brother or sister doesn't mean you have to like them. Here are the best...

This Family Raised a Baby Goose for a Year—20 Years Later, It Returned Home

When two adult geese left their gosling behind, a human family stepped in to raise him. Many years later, the...


This Hiker Saved the Life of an Alaskan Timber Wolf—4 Years Later the Wolf Still Remembered Him

Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a prospector comes to the rescue of an injured mother wolf and her pups, and...


I Was a Mail Carrier for 20+ Years—Here’s What I Know About You

"I'm not looking through your mail, but that doesn't mean I don't notice things."


My Wife Was Within Steps of the ER Door, But She Was Left There to Die

My wife was having an asthma 
attack, so she took herself to 
the emergency room. Why was she left to...


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12 Mysteries That Could Be Solved in the Next Decade

While unsolved mysteries tend to remain that way, these conundrums seem poised to beat the odds—possibly within the next ten...


5 People Whose Brain Injuries Gave Them New Abilities

The brain is a powerful organ! Although these people experienced trauma, their brains compensated with some special skills.


24 Stories About Meeting Santa That Will Fill You with the Christmas Spirit

Santa Claus has a lot of kids to visit each year, but he never fails to get his job done....


Why Alex Trebek Has a Bounced Check Framed on His Wall

And you won't believe how much the check was written out for!


What It’s Really Like to Work for a Psychic Hotline

Fess up: At some point, you’ve considered calling one. But are these phone-in psychics the real deal? Here's what you...

This Man Only Adopts “Unadoptable” Animals—And He Now Has 21 Pets

After the death of his beloved dog Wolfgang, Steve Greig started rescuing older dogs and giving them forever homes in...


This Teacher Saved a Cafeteria of Students from an Active Shooter

Her students now compare her to Chuck Norris.


11 Craziest Things Found in People’s Bodies

Doctors and other medical professionals see some of the craziest things, but at the top of the list has to...


Edith Macefield Was Offered $1 Million to Leave Her Tiny House. This Is Why She Refused.

When a construction supervisor bonds with a stubborn old woman, he learns what matters in life.


15 Stories That Prove It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Life

Get inspired by these determined doers who refused to sit back and let life pass them by.


12 Untold Stories of Native American Heroes

These 12 Native American heroes achieved epic greatness as warriors, writers, artists, and scientists. Here are little-known stories of vast...

16 New World Records for 2019

Feats spanning the silly to the awe-inspiring were the new Guinness World Records to beat.


This Veteran Found His Long-Lost Love After 75 Years

Grab a tissue. This romance between a World War II veteran and his long-lost love spans decades and proves that...


What It Feels Like to Be Caught Inside a California Wildfire

Half inferno, half cyclone, the Carr Fire 
 burned as hot as 2,700 degrees
 and packed winds that turned 
...


What It Feels Like to Have a Wildfire Burn Over You, Straight from a Firefighter

The most dangerous time for a wildfire is late afternoon, when the sun is hot, relative humidity is low, and...


How a 17-Year Old Is Helping to Feed 12,000 Homeless People

"We have 1.5 times the amount of food needed to feed everyone on the planet, it's just a matter of...


A Car Accident Paralyzed Her from the Waist Down, but That Didn’t Stop Her from Fulfilling Her...

A pioneering dance troupe is 
proving that you can chase your 
dreams—even in a wheelchair.