Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D.I was overly excited when I saw this book hit the bookshelves of stores a long time ago. I waited and waited for it to come out in paperback until I couldn't wait anymore. And I loved it.
In this book, Emmons tries to examine all aspects of gratitude: how it affects the psyche and the spirit, what it means to be grateful to God or a higher power, the danger of not being grateful, how gratitude is practiced, how it can make you happier, etc. He looks at traditions, modern ways to express gratitude and the impact that it can have on the average person. He concludes the book with ten ways he believes you can practice gratitude.
While not overly scientific and not containing any sort of concrete results, I liked this book. It might be that it was at a time in my life where I felt like being thankful was making an enormous difference, or it may just be because it was a good book. Regardless, I know the affect it had on my own life and I read about all the ways gratitude (or ingratitude) has affected others.
I really liked this quote that Emmons included:
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."~GK Chesterton
1 comment:
my mother taught me to always say thank you. i learned gratitude from a very early age and it has stuck with me. when things are looking grim i try to start thinking of all of the the things that i have to be grateful for. it really helps. i think i would like this book too.
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