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117 of 119 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
compelling, enjoyable account of why gratitude matters, August 22, 2007
This review is from: Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Hardcover)
It is hard to ignore the large number of books written over the past few years on the nature of happiness. In the past year, I had an opportunity to read over a dozen of these "positive psychology" books and glance through quite a few more. Most of them summarize the same set of research studies on what makes people happy, why it is difficult to attain and sustain happiness, who is most and least likely to find happiness, and how these positive experiences can be cultivated. This led me to read Robert Emmons' latest book with some degree of trepidation. I wondered if "Thanks!" would offer anything new to my growing fascination of these topics. Even though I already knew a great deal about Emmons' work and the study of gratitude, I found this book to be remarkably interesting and a reservoir of compelling insights and practical tips. Let me detail a few reasons why this book offers something new and why it belongs on people's bookshelves.
First, many "positive psychology" books are written by therapists, counselors, teachers, journalists, and other people who read and summarize the writings of scientists. Their books often lack the enthusiasm, creativity, and wisdom that can only be found by those devoting their lives to a topic. Robert Emmons is the world's leading authority on gratitude. His research is responsible for much of what we know about gratitude. It becomes readily apparent that Robert Emmons has spent years thinking about gratitude, studying gratitude, talking to people about gratitude, and trying to understand how gratitude fits into the "big picture" of achieving lasting happiness in a world fraught with moments of pain, stress, and adversity. His passion and wisdom are evident on nearly every page. I could not imagine reading a book on gratitude written by anyone else.
Second, the information in this book is backed by scientific research. This is not a book based on the musings of one person or a few people who believe that gratitude is a good thing. It is also not based on a few studies conducted by one researcher. The information in this book is based on a careful summary of research conducted on thousands of people by a number of different researchers around the world. Taken together, these studies show that gratitude is one of the strongest contributors to happiness and meaning in life. But more than that, gratitude has been shown to strengthen people's social relationships, improve people's physical health, and motivate people to act in ways that enhances the quality of their moments, days, and lives. In addition to discussing his own research, Robert Emmons reviews and integrates the work of other researchers, philosophers, and literary minds. In a little more than 200 pages, "Thanks!" has quickly become the essential source of everything there is to know about gratitude (so far).
Third, it is spiritually uplifting. Emmons weaves in stories of real people sharing how gratitude played (or failed to play) a role in their lives. These stories add flesh, blood, and feeling to the wealth of science and wisdom in each chapter; they capture the true value of gratitude and the beauty of humanity. With these narratives and the easygoing writing style, it is easy to enjoy reading this book while outside in the grass on a lazy summer afternoon.
Whether your goal is intellectual stimulation, self-enhancement, or something in between, this book will make an immediate positive impact on your life.
Author of Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life
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53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jeffrey J. Froh, Assistant Professor, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY USA, August 3, 2007
This review is from: Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Hardcover)
In his latest book, "Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude can Make you Happier," Dr. Robert Emmons shares his expertise about the personal and interpersonal benefits of gratitude. While gratitude has a long history among philosophers and theologians, it was not until the turn of the 21st century that psychology finally began to give gratitude its deserved empirical homage. The individual largely responsible for the scientific advancement of gratitude is Dr. Emmons. In its simplest terms, gratitude is a positive response to a benefit. But its related outcomes reach well beyond those associated with being polite. Indeed, pioneering research conducted and reviewed by Dr. Emmons shows that gratitude improves emotional and physical health, as well as bolsters relationships and communities. "Thanks!" ends by providing readers with 10 practical strategies for becoming more grateful. Some strategies include keeping a gratitude journal, learning prayers of gratitude, and using visual reminders. Following the advice of Dr. Emmons, my screensaver now reads: "Life is a Gift--Thanks!" Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is tough. It is, according to Dr. Emmons, a "chosen attitude." We must be willing to recognize and acknowledge that we are the recipients of an unearned benefit. If we roll up our sleeves and commit ourselves to becoming grateful, we will see that with gratitude comes abundance. "Thanks!" is a highly readable, colorful, and downright fun book. Personal anecdotes and gratitude essays written by research participants bring to life Dr. Emmon's research program demonstrating the strong and enduring benefits of gratitude. So with patience and persistence, happiness, health, and stronger relationships await you. It just comes down to one simple, yet highly complex word--thanks!
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book that could change your life, September 11, 2007
This review is from: Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Hardcover)
Robert Emmons is a professor of psychology at UC Davis whom I've had the pleasure of meeting and listening to and is known as the "world's leading authority on gratitude." His new book, subtitled How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, is one that I've been looking forward to reading as I've heard him lecture about his research in the area of gratitude and its effect on people's lives. It was from his talk that I was inspired to start keeping a "gratitude journal" -- a simple daily listing (3-5 things) of things that I am truly grateful for -- a habit that I've mostly kept (with occasional breaks) for the past ten years.
In Thanks, Emmons shares some of the findings of his research. Some of the results contradict the current psychological theory that each person has a "set point" of happiness determined by genetics -- that no matter what happens to you, you always return to the same level of happiness. Emmons found that people who kept a consistent gratitude journal were actually able to raise their level of happiness over time. Interestingly, he also found that in contrast to people who wrote down five things they felt hassled by, the people who wrote down blessings they were thankful for slept better, had more energy, suffered less illness, exercised more, were more optimistic about their future, and felt better about their lives. In another study that examined the autobiographies of nun novitiates, it was found that the nuns whose autobiographies expressed more positive emotions outlived the least happy nuns by seven years!
Emmons ties together scientific research and the writings of philosophers and theologians throughout history to present a very compelling case that gratitude may be one of the biggest keys to living a happier and fulfilling life. He also addresses hard questions and topics, such as "how can you be grateful when bad things happen to you?" and "does being grateful lead to complacency because you're content with the way things are?" The last chapter of the book presents ten exercises and habits that you can develop to encourage a grateful attitude.
Thanks! is an easy read while providing a lot of information that you won't want to just skim over. Emmons has a dry sense of humor which can't be suppressed by "science" and "research." I found this a personally uplifting challenge to continue to try to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This is a book I would recommend for any personal library -- and as an added bonus, the book has a nice cover.
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