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29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life

Cami Walker (Goodreads Author)

3.64 · Rating details · 3,051 ratings · 642 reviews

At age thirty-five, Cami Walker was burdened by a battle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurological condition that made it difficult for her to walk, work, or enjoy her life. Seeking a remedy for her depression after being hospitalized, she received an uncommon prescription from an African medicine woman: Give to others for 29 days.29 Gifts is the insightful story of ...more

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Hardcover, 256 pages

Published October 6th 2009 by Da Capo Lifelong Books (first published October 5th 2009)

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Mar 26, 2010 B rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult-nonfiction, adult-women

155.232 W I read this at the advice of a good friend, but I wasn't that taken by this simplistic story of turning your life around by doing good for others. And I just didn't like the author. Her 29 gifts were often not really gifts at all or such minor gifts such as "letting" her aunt scrub her apartment, washing the dishes so her husband wouldn't have to, letting him pick the movie at the theater, etc. And although she says they have no money,she seems to be throwing it around,telling us about ...more

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Jan 20, 2011 Krystal rated it liked it

It's hard for me to give this book a rating. For me, it deserves two different scores.

If I am rating the concept and the inspiration I received from reading it, I would give it a 5. The idea that giving a gift a day for 29 days is really inspired. It helps take the focus off of selfish things and puts it on giving to others. And that can have a profound impact on a person's life. I love this and I have found my own way of thinking has been changed as I have thought how I can implement some of th ...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Melodie rated it it was ok

Shelves: non-fiction, self-help

This is a tough one for me. I was inspired by the core message, and I am going to accept the 29 gifts challenge. I struggle as most people do with balance,negative self thought etc;. Embracing abundance through giving is a good place to start.
Where the book fell down for me was the author's lifestyle. All the while documenting her and her husband's financial travails, her life style seemed to be one of dining out frequently and spa treatments. I do not begrudge her these experiences. Having batt ...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Roberta rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I'm conflicted. While I think the concept of the 29 gifts is worthwhile, count me among Cami's detractors who believe:

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in ...more

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Aug 19, 2017 Lorraine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: memoir, spirituality

I loved this book! It is an easy read that examines a philosophy in which feelings of scarcity in one's life can be transformed into abundance. It is very important to read it to the very end as the added stories are inspirational. There is also a website
29gifts.org to join others who are also practicing building abundance in their lives. ...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Debby rated it it was amazing

My Mother gave me this book for my 40th Birthday. She had no clue the challenges I was facing in my life at the time, I didn't want to trouble her or have her worry, she was a big worrier (hmmm. that's where I get that from).

My Mother passed away this last October as I was not yet finished reading the book. I often would let her know during our phone conversations that I was in the process of reading the book and enjoying it.
I received a phone call from my Aunt on October 26th telling me that my ...more

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Nov 07, 2013 Kecia rated it it was ok

Shelves: nerdy-girls, non-fiction

I read this book in preparation for the Nerdy Girls 29 day gift challenge. I really like the idea of intentionally giving a gift every day for 29 days and I was hoping this book would give me ideas and inspire me. I certainly got plenty of good ideas but I left this book more feeling annoyed than inspired.

Over all I found the book to be a big waste of time but Walker did offer up this one beautiful paragraph, "I've come to believe over the last twenty nine days that giving and receiving are two I read this book in preparation for the Nerdy Girls 29 day gift challenge. I really like the idea of intentionally giving a gift every day for 29 days and I was hoping this book would give me ideas and inspire me. I certainly got plenty of good ideas but I left this book more feeling annoyed than inspired.

Over all I found the book to be a big waste of time but Walker did offer up this one beautiful paragraph, "I've come to believe over the last twenty nine days that giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other. I now view giving and receiving as an exchange of energy – a universal transaction that each one of us takes part in over and over, moment to moment. I am also seeing that each exchange is – whether I am on the giving or receiving end – a divine experience, what my mother would call a God Moment. During the moments I am offering or accepting a gift, the part of me that is true spirit is connecting with the true spirit of another individual, and are both in that instant connected to the divine force that created everything out of nothing, the light from which we all draw inspiration and energy."

Oh yes, now that's lovely. That thought is a gift.

I understand that memoirs are by their very nature navel-gazing exercises, but Walker 's egocentrism was tough for me to swallow. Each gift was countered by what she what got back and this rubbed me the wrong way. Instead of focusing on the gift or the receiver – it was all about Cami. It was all about what Cami got back. With each chapter this got on my nerves more and more. I wanted to know more about the gift. I wanted to know more about the receiver. All got was more about Cami Walker.

It didn't help that I was reading the Epilogue at the same time that typhoon Haiyan was destroying the Philippines. I wanted to throw the book in the trash when Walker wrote, "… and I trust that God will provide us with the funds to meet our needs." Really??? God will provide her with the funds to pay the cell phone bill while the people in the Philippines are losing everything? What about them? Maybe they just didn't give enough gifts??? Somebody needs to break the sad news to her that the universe does not revolve around her. In fact, Mbali gave Walker the 29 day challenge because she was too focused on herself. Did she learn nothing?

The Epilogue of the book is followed by stories from other people who have participated in the 29 day challenge – I would rather have read 200 pages of those stories! The story about the teacher who gave a Christmas gift to the Bad Boy was really touching. For me that story illustrates what giving is really all about, making someone else feel cared about if only for a moment.

When I start my 29 day challenge I want to keep the story of Bad Boy in my heart. I want to remember that it is better to give than to receive. I want to go through the 29 days without thinking about what I get back. I look forward to getting started on this journey. Maybe my first gift should be forgiveness to author...she did at least start a gift giving community. ...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Melody rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: heard

I like to listen to audiobooks while I do beadwork. My library doesn't always have stuff I know I want to read, so I find myself listening to books that sound at least marginally interesting- and which sometimes are.

This one, though, was so not my thing. I liked the concept & the blurb, but I didn't like the tone, I didn't like the execution, and I surely didn't find the writing engaging. I was put off by too many things to count. The tone seemed to me to see-saw between deeply self-pitying and ...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Nic rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

I read this book because my community is doing a Community-Wide Read with it, and I like the idea of having a reading experience in common with a bunch of people. Plus, obviously the fact that it was selected is a pretty heavy recommendation from at least some people.

I'd give this a 3.5 if it weren't for the fact that I was rolling my eyes at a lot of the spiritual stuff, and occasionally at the protagonist's behavior.

First off, props to Ms. Walker for dealing so positively, as a general rule, w I read this book because my community is doing a Community-Wide Read with it, and I like the idea of having a reading experience in common with a bunch of people. Plus, obviously the fact that it was selected is a pretty heavy recommendation from at least some people.

I'd give this a 3.5 if it weren't for the fact that I was rolling my eyes at a lot of the spiritual stuff, and occasionally at the protagonist's behavior.

First off, props to Ms. Walker for dealing so positively, as a general rule, with her life-altering condition. I'd never realized how scary MS was - she certainly conveys the miserable details vividly enough to make one want to nervously check one's own family tree for genetic red flags.

As mentioned, I'm not really into the spirituality thing, so the divinations and so on kind of leave me cold. The other thing that bugs me is how frequently Ms. Walker and her husband go out to eat, even though they're in big-time debt and on the verge of panic about their finances. I get that they're both low on time and energy, and you have to eat. And sometimes you need to treat yourself when you're going through a tough time to remind yourself that you deserve enjoyable things (though I think Americans often take this idea too far - a tiring work day or a tough social situation is suddenly an excuse for retail therapy, even though long-term this just digs you deeper into a hole, likely leading to more tough times and pulling you into a vicious cycle).

BUT, my feeling is, if you're having meltdowns over your finances and borrowing major money from your parents, you do not need to go out for BREAKFAST, let alone do so multiple times in a month. Heck, at most restaurants, that's not even good for your health, which is also, obviously, a major problem of Ms. Walker's. Many Americans are sort of conditioned to want a hot supper, and if you don't have time and every to cook, then I can understand eating supper out a lot. But even regular restaurant lunches sound iffy to me under the circumstances - it's just so much cheaper (and usually healthier, and not at all difficult) to throw together a sandwich or salad at home. And BREAKFAST? For less than the cost of one restaurant breakfast, you can get enough healthy cereal and fruit to last you a week, and not having energy is hardly an excuse - pouring a bowl of cereal is a lot easier than getting yourself to a restaurant.

Also: at one point, Ms. Walker goes by a homeless man into a store to buy her "favorite" juice drink, and comes back out to give him her change, which is 72 cents left over from a five. I'm sure cost of living is high in L.A., but you don't get yourself out of debt by treating yourself to four-dollar juice drinks right and left! She's also always buying bottled water, which annoys me, because someone so into health and connection to the universe and all that should realize that bottled water is the devil. And also another useless money-suck.

My favorite takeaway from this book is the concept of "giving mindfully." I think it's a great idea to focus on what you're doing when you make a gift, whether it's time, money, or whatever - to imagine the specific benefits you're potentially creating, and to reinforce in yourself the idea that you are a person who has something to offer the world and who enjoys giving. I also like the idea of trying to give something that feels scarce in your own life, because it reminds you of how much you do have. Plus, I think it's good to get into the habit of giving even when you can't afford much - whether it's giving a little time when you're crunched, or a little money when you're in a tight situation - because of the mindset it creates for you. If you always tell yourself, "I'll give when I have more money/time/etc.," when does that really end up happening?

(That said, I am a big fan of realism and of not making a bad situation worse; I don't believe in giving if you actually, really, truly can't afford it.)

Because I'm such a fan of the "mindful giving" idea, I had to tell myself while reading this that it's basically impossible to talk about one's own experience with mindful giving without sounding a bit self-congratulatory. Otherwise, I would have been a bit annoyed by all of Ms. Walker's descriptions of the gifts she gives and how much they help other people and make them happy.

Anyway, this is a quick and rather uplifting read that I'm glad I took the time for, and I hope people in our Community-Wide Read program will like it. ...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Denise rated it really liked it

In 29 Gifts Cami Walker tells of how her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis one month after her wedding. Quickly losing control over her body and facing a drastically different life than she had planned she sank into a deep depression and prescription drug addiction. When her neighbor, a South African healer prescribed a regime of 29 days of gift giving to heal her, Cami thought the idea was crazy. Desperate to gain control of her life she finally agreed a ...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing

I'm inspired into action! While having trouble joining her website (techie problems) --I called a phone number on the "29 Gifts" site and Cami Walker answered the phone. Surprised the heck out of me! I chatted about Cami about her book --and her health, (she hasn't been doing very well for a couple of months). Having MS is a daily challenge.

Lin from Goodreads (and our Woman's group) sent me this book ----so its now my turn to 'gift-give'.

I bought 5 more of Cami's books this morning from Amazon! ...more

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Jun 27, 2015 John Kaufmann rated it it was ok

Shelves: misc

Twenty-nine gifts. One a day for (almost) a month. Sounds like a great idea. But the book, in my mind, wasn't up to it. Or, perhaps, the author wasn't up to it.

The main reason I didn't like the book was that I thought the main character was selfish. When a friend made the suggestion of 29 gifts to her, she said it would all come back to her (or something to that effect). Fine. But it seemed like the main character was looking for a return on her investment so to speak, and was expecting the gift Twenty-nine gifts. One a day for (almost) a month. Sounds like a great idea. But the book, in my mind, wasn't up to it. Or, perhaps, the author wasn't up to it.

The main reason I didn't like the book was that I thought the main character was selfish. When a friend made the suggestion of 29 gifts to her, she said it would all come back to her (or something to that effect). Fine. But it seemed like the main character was looking for a return on her investment so to speak, and was expecting the gifts to benefit her as much as the person to whom she was giving the gift. To me, that's not giving - that's selfish. And one day, she gave a gift to herself. Say what!

Second reason I didn't like it was I thought some (quite a few) of the gifts were rather trivial. I say that with some hesitation, because I imagine it's hard thinking of something to give every day - they're not all going to be grand gestures. But several were so subtle I had to play back the audiotape to listen again to make sure I hadn't missed the gift. That's what kind of impression some of the gifts made on me.

The third reason I thought the book was only so-so was a lot of the book dealt with some of the context of what was going on with her MLS and her relationship with her husband rather than the gifts, per se. It set the context for what she was trying to rise above with the gift-giving. But I wound up thinking of her as very selfish and petulant. Now, I don't have MLS, and I know that's judgmental, but I can't deny how I felt, either.

In some fairness, perhaps my dislike for the book was as much because of the narration (I listened to the audiobook version) as to any fault of the author per se. The emphasis and tonal inflections made the protagonist sound selfish, petty, whiny - i.e., dislikable. Now, I realize the author may not be that way at all, and that she meant the emphasis and inflection in a totally different way. Perhaps if had I read the book instead of listened to the audiobook I might have come away with a completely different impression. ...more

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Nov 15, 2010 Elena rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: friendship, personal-growth, families, inspirational, books-i-loved

Wow, what a great little book! In 29 Gifts, Cami Walker retells her inspirational story of how an unlikely prescritpion (stop focusing on your self and give 29 gifts in 29 days) shifts her focus from the MS diagnosis she is living with just one month after being married to what she can offer to the world. The "prescription" comes from a friend and spiritual teacher, an African medicine woman named Mbali Creazzo. When Cami is at her darkest hour and decides she has nothing more to lose, she remem ...more

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Apr 23, 2010 Angela rated it liked it

I got interested in this because the author has MS. My sister has MS, so I'd like to learn more about the challenges & feelings the disease can cause. I felt like the author gave a very honest view of her struggle, and so I liked that aspect of the book.

I've noticed in my life in the past that gratitude is a very powerful emotion, and I think that ties in with the experiment the author writes about here. When you focus on the positive things in your life, you'll notice more positive things. In m ...more

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Oct 09, 2015 Erin rated it did not like it

Of course I love the (not new at all) concept of giving with an open heart, and looking outward instead of worrying about oneself all the time. This is especially difficult but even more important when one is struggling. However, I found the author whiny and I think there's a lot to be said about not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Pretty much the opposite of this book! ...more

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Apr 17, 2015 Bekka rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

This book has a really great message, and one I agree with wholeheartedly. However, I could have done with a bit less of the new-agey stuff. Also, I got a little tired of the whiney tone of the author's voice. I know she was going through a very tough time, and her health is a serious matter, but I felt there was too much focus on her struggles and how badly she behaved. ...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Elizabeth rated it liked it

A personal memoir about one women's story to heal herself by giving 29 gifts in 29 days. She was to give mindfully, with no expectations of receiving. The results were pretty miraculous, so much so that she continued the 29 day cycle for over a year. "Healing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It occurs through our interactions with other people." You can join the movement at www.29gifts.org. ...more

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Feb 18, 2018 Amanda Koehler Caronna rated it really liked it

A positive read -- I found myself smiling often while reading it!

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Dec 26, 2018 Julie Bestry rated it liked it · review of another edition

[For what it's worth, this was apparently a best-seller a decade ago. I'd never heard of it.]

I have never felt so mean while writing a review. I realize it seems ungenerous to say that I didn't like this book, especially when there's nothing seriously wrong, per se, with it. I also realize that it's ironic that the book is about altruism and I feel (in the interest of warning readers) that I can't just say nice things about this book.

Let's just say it wasn't my cup of eat-pray-love-tea. The conc ...more

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May 04, 2012 Jenna rated it it was amazing

I LOVED this book. I have been suffering from a set of illnesses very similar to MS for 2 years now. I have EDS, which causes severe pain and my muscles to pop out of joint often, and Dyautonomia/POTS/NCS, which causes my heart to race, my blood pressure to drop and me to faint. And basically every part of my body that is controlled by my Autonomic Nervous system to be out of whack!! Some days I cannot even walk or I lie in bed shaking and cannot move or speak. It has changed my life completely. ...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Andrea rated it really liked it

Shelves: 0-audiobook, bio-memoir, spirituality-religion, saving-the-world, philosophy, z2013_read_list

Interesting read and one I’ve recommended to a few folks already. The author, newly married and newly stricken with a debilitating flare up of her newly diagnosed MS, is overwhelmed by all she has to deal with and has, understandably, become pretty “poor me”. But a challenge from a friend to embark on a 29 day challenge to practice gratitude, mindful giving, and learn to graciously receive gives her a much needed change of perspective. I found a lot familiar in her struggles and I appreciated th ...more

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Dec 20, 2013 Jay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

Nice enough story about giving to others and seeing coincidental good things happening (also known as good karma coming around). I found I liked reading it, even though it felt a bit formulaic for the type of book it was -- there's a guru that sends the author on this mission to do good, the author thinks a lot about themselves throughout, and in the end, after completing the mission, things are better. Ends with examples from others following the same proscribed 29 days of giving. I was surpris ...more

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May 08, 2010 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: non-fiction, memoir-and-bio

Cami Walker was diagnosed with MS shortly after her marriage and is learning to cope with her severe symptoms. One of her spiritual advisers suggests she give 29 gifts in 29 days. This sounded like an interesting concept. The author mentions that her spiritual adviser believes that we live in a world of consumption and even though we have many material things, we may still be living in scarcity. I really liked this part. Unfortunately, this message can be understood without having to go through ...more

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May 14, 2019 Deah added it

I can’t imagine the agony involved in finding out at a relatively young age about the diagnosis of a debilitating chronic disease. I’m glad that Cami Walker was able to turn her despair into a movement that has helped herself and hundreds of others look outward to help others rather than inward at their own pain.
There were times when I felt she made questionable choices, and I got bored during long descriptions of divinations, etc, but hey, it’s her book and her life so she can write it how she ...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Jennifer Lewis rated it it was ok

The very first book I ever read as part of my nifty book club. I am loving the book club... Not so sure about the book. The book was built on a principal I appreciate, getting out of your own way and focusing on other instead of yourself. The author struggles with MS and her story is quite inspiring. Giving a gift to someone every day for twenty-nine days really did improve her life and decrease her symptoms. My hesitation to recommend the book stems from its new age flare.

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Sep 29, 2020 Jason Prodoehl rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction-inspiration

This book is by an author who is learning to live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She challenges herself to to the 29 day gift challenge, to give a gift each day for 29 consecutive days. The gifts don't have to cost money, but they are given with intention. This inspired her to start a movement, that has taken off globally, in others wanting to give with intention.

If you're even curious about this phenomenon, go to www.29gifts.org to learn more, read stories about others doing this, or even to jo ...more

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Oct 21, 2017 Jenni Clark rated it liked it

This was an interesting one to rate. I read it because jen sincero mentions it in her book, You are a Badass (5 stars). On the one hand, the concept and the idea of living with a charitable heart/looking at life from a place of abundance deserves 5 stars. It definitely inspired me to change. On the other hand, I didn't always love the authors voice or story. I applaud her for writing honestly, and I think her intentions were pure. It is difficult to write bluntly and openly about your struggles ...more

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Oct 24, 2018 Audrey rated it really liked it

I agree with this when you give it's easier to receive. When you start to see your life with gratitude things get better. Although I don't have M.S. having a chronic illness I could really relate to her struggles especially from the beginning of her story. I appreciated that her gifts weren't always gifts how you think of them in the traditional sense. I also appreciated her exploration of non traditional healing techniques and being spiritually open minded. Good one to listen to. ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Angie rated it liked it

I listened to this book for a few reasons. I liked the idea of consciously putting oneself in a giving state of mind. I was also drawn to this book because the author had MS and I wanted to better understand that journey. The story was simple enough. This is definitely something I’d like to try in my own life.

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