Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier in 100+ Books in 2025

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Oct 09, 2011 Dolly rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, other-usa, science, washington-dc, 2011, religion-philosophy

I loved the concept of this book. The mere title made me smile and the topic is dear to me. I cannot express here how grateful I am for the blessings I have in life and I know that I should demonstrate that gratitude far more often. The book itself is good, but a bit redundant, so I cannot call it great.

I thought the material was well-researched and the anecdotes were interesting, but overall, the book didn't really draw me in; it felt more like a scientific research paper than an engaging stor I loved the concept of this book. The mere title made me smile and the topic is dear to me. I cannot express here how grateful I am for the blessings I have in life and I know that I should demonstrate that gratitude far more often. The book itself is good, but a bit redundant, so I cannot call it great.

I thought the material was well-researched and the anecdotes were interesting, but overall, the book didn't really draw me in; it felt more like a scientific research paper than an engaging story. I culled a lot of interesting quotes that I'll include here, but I'm afraid that they, too, were a bit redundant.

Still, I'm always happy to read books that remind me to be more mindful of the blessings in my life and this book accomplished that. I discovered this book while putting the book Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar on hold; I will read that book soon and I'm sure I'll compare them both in my review of that book and in the way I incorporate the substance of them into my life.

interesting quotes:

"First, gratitude is the acknowledgment of goodness in one's life...Second, gratitude is recognizing that the source(s) of this goodness lie at least partially outside the self. (p. 4)

"The French expression 'je suis reconnaissant' is translated as a three-part construal: (1) 'I recognize' (intellectually), (2) 'I acknowledge' (willingly), and (3) 'I appreciate' (emotionally). Only when all three come together is gratitude complete." (p. 5)

"We all begin life dependent on others, and most of us end life dependent on others. In between, we have roughly sixty years or so of unacknowledged dependency." (p. 54)

"The Buddha has said that 'Hatred cannot coexist with loving-kindness, and dissipates if supplanted with thoughts of loving-kindness.' You cannot be grateful and resentful at the same time, or forgiving and vengeful. When we are savoring the moment, we cannot be regretting the past." (p. 74)

[regarding Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam] "The final state of gratitude is recognizing that no amount of worship is sufficient to express gratitude to the Creator and that even feelings of gratitude are a gift from God. There is gratitude for the capacity to feel grateful, literally a thanking for the thanking." (p. 101)

"...the main goal in life is not to gain pleasure or power, but to find meaning and value in life." (p. 114)

"Their gratitude was not a selective, positive thinking façade, but rather a deep and steadfast trust that goodness ultimately dwells even in the face of uncertainty. Their thanksgiving was grounded in the actuality that true gratitude is a force that arises from the realities of the world, which all too often include heartbreak, sometimes overpowering heartbreak." (p. 117)

"...perhaps they [people] are masterfully adaptive creatures who are able to transform adverse circumstances into opportunities for personal growth, lasting happiness, and quality of life even in the face of pain and suffering." (p. 163)

"Gratitude is the way the heart remembers--remembers kindness, cherished interactions with others, compassionate actions of strangers, surprise gifts, and everyday blessings. By remembering we honor and acknowledge the many ways in which who and what we are has been shaped by others, both living and dead." (p. 184)

"Waking up this morning, I see the blue sky.
I join my hands in thanks
for the many wonders of life;
for having twenty-four brand-new hours before me." (p. 196) [morning prayer for Thich Nhat Hanh]

"Two of the primary obstacles to being grateful are (1) forgetfulness and (2) a lack of mindful awareness." (p. 199)

new words: etiology, reifies, anhedonic ...more

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Feb 18, 2008 Susan rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, dnf

Well, after the first couple chapters I kind of got the point and didn't feel like I needed to read anymore. ...more

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May 09, 2020 Laine marked it as to-read

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100+ Books in 2025