By: Paige Wiser, The Chicago Sun-Times

April 11, 2006, Chicago Sun Times

With the addition of a bimonthly magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul has officially achieved world domination. Never before have so many inspiring, life-affirming stories been available (for $15 a year).

Wisdom seekers can now buy Chicken Soup for the Soul mugs, candles, calendars, CDs, DVDs, greeting cards, photo albums, stationery, Bibles "Fearless FlightKits," conversation starter cards and nutritional supplements that promote natural joint pain relief.

You can hear "Chicken Soup Minutes" on 100 radio stations, hosted by "Charlie's Angel" Kate Jackson.

There's even Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food.

Actual chicken soup, in fact, is the only market that Chicken Soup for the Soul hasn't cornered.

"The breadth of the product line is remarkable," says Tim Calkins, associate professor in marketing at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. And its success has everything to do with differentiation, branding and a public hungry for the basics.

"The stories are simple, easy to read and upbeat. This is a powerful combination," says Calkins.

The publishing end of the empire is still their bread and butter. As of January, there were more than 105 Chicken Soup titles available.

Not sure if there's a book that will speak to you? We guarantee you'll find a title specific to your tastes, including:

- Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II

- Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler's Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Nascar Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook

- Chicken Soup for the Soul of America

- Chicken Soup for the Single Parent's Soul

- Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul