Helping others is one of the best things we can do on this Earth. That's when we are at our very best as human beings. It's also good for the heart, and reduces stress and depression.

More help is needed, both locally and globally. How can we help in the best way possible? A tiny extra input can be all that is needed to transform a situation for somebody else.

Help can be anything from feeding the cat for friends while they are on holiday, to running into a burning house to rescue somebody. It can be taking a neighbour's washing in from the clothes-line when rain approaches. It can also be going into war zones to provide medical and humanitarian help at the risk of one's own life.

Tweeter and philosopher Øyvind Kvalnes is engaged with aid not only professionally but also more personally as a father, grandfather and local citizen. Helpfulness is one of the most important things we can teach our children, provided we find the golden middle way and don't push them too hard.

In this book he takes examples from his own life, from philosophy and from psychology.