thxthxthx: Thank Goodness for Everything

by Leah Dieterich

We could all use a little more thankfulness in our lives, but Leah Dieterich’s collection of 200 handwritten letters of daily gratitude for all the things in life she appreciates are witty and thought provoking as well as inspirational. From the small, mundane, and odd to the cosmic and philosophically abstract, who could resist thoughts “Dear Wine, You make my phone conversations with my mom longer and more open. So thank you for that.†Or, “Dear Half-Dead Plants on My Desk, Thank you for reminding me why I am really not ready for a pet of any kind. Keep it real.â€

With accolades from New York Times best-selling author Gretchen Rubin and DailyCandy, Leah Dieterich's thxthxthx.com website inspires an aptly named giftbook, Thank Goodness for Everything .

After years of being encouraged (okay, nagged) by her Mother to write thank-you notes, Dieterich began writing one thank-you note a day to whatever thing, no matter how small or odd, she was thankful for. From important gestures, like a Partner's Understanding, to simple, soulful, and quirky things like Songs You're Embarrassed to Like, thxthxthx features 200 of Dieterich's original, handwritten thank-you notes that collectively convey the look and feel of handwritten notes from a close friend.

Surprisingly simple and refreshingly moving, thxthxthx is a thought provoking and emotionally rewarding daily exercise in gratitude for all of life's blessings. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Self Help

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2011

About the author

Leah Dieterich is the author of Vanishing Twins: A Marriage (Soft Skull 2018.) Her essays and short fiction have been published by Lenny Letter, Lithub, Buzzfeed, Bomb magazine, and more. She is also the author of a book of thank-you notes, thxthxthx: thank goodness for everything.

Reviews

[Lauren]

If you have yet to be introduced to Leah’s daily thank you not website, run don’t walk to it right now.

The ladies at work introduced me to ThxThxThx probably a year ago and I couldn’t resist adding her blog to my Google Reader and checking out her latest thank you note each day. It got even better when she decided to put a book together of all her favorites, so many more than what she has posted on her website.

A quick read, so much fun, laugh out loud, and a great book to share with the girlfriends, family and everyone you meet. Buy the book, subscribe to her website, and consider writing your own daily thank you note.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was uplifting, inspiring, and surprisingly funny.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure, we’ve all been told by our mothers and elders that it’s only polite to send a thank you note after receiving a gift or invitation and more. The real question is, how far do you take it? Would you ever think of sending a thank you note to your keyboard or possibly even your fears? This is exactly what Leah Dieterich does in her fabulous new book ThxThxThx. Take the time to thank the small things and see how it changes the way you look at the world.

Now, first of all, I know you are all wondering why I thought this might interest Chick Lit Reviews readers. Well, to be honest, I think that on the whole our readers here are incredibly generous, diverse, intelligent and creative group. Because of that I thought this might be the very thing you’d all be interested in. Yes, it’s definitely a quick read and it could very well be something that would sit on your coffee tables, but it’s also quite funny. A perfect read for Chick Lit fans!

What Dieterich does with thank-you notes takes gratitude to an entirely different level. Not only humorous but inventive. It was hilarious to read about how she was grateful for things like songs, dice, sounds, bruises, men’s undershirts and more. On a more serious note though, this was a book that made me rethink the way I looked at the world around me. In the opening of the book the author says the following about how writing these thank-you notes made her feel, “I can’t describe it in any other way than ‘more alive.’” I’d have to agree. There’s something to be said for taking a moment each day to be thankful for something, no matter how ridiculous it might seem and how secret you may keep those thank-you’s.

ThxThxThx is a book that will have you laughing hysterically, but also contemplating those things you value in life for a number of reasons. In a world constantly seeking more and rarely taking the time to “stop and smell the roses” this is a perfect read to re-evaluate your own situation. This is an absolute must-have for my own home, if only to read a note or two a day. You may want to give it a quick glance, you never know, you may just be inspired to start your own trail of thank-you notes!

Originally reviewed and copyrighted at Chick Lit Reviews.

[Heather Trim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to be cynical in regards to this book, but it truly hit the spot. I sat and read it from cover to cover today when I was a little grumpy (okay, a lot grumpy.) Reading the odd and the simple expressions of gratefulness melted my scowl away page by page. I even laughed out loud several times.

Each page contains a thought provoking blurb about kindness, patience, air, headaches, printed reading material, and even to several members of her family.


“Dear Kindness, Thank you for killing people. You’re definitely my favorite weapon. If only they made a holster for you, perhaps I could wield you more quickly. Thanks again, Leah.”

In addition to being motivational, this book gives us a peek into the life of Leah Dieterich. She is funny, quirky and reminds me of one of my close friends. She is a great combination of honesty and sarcasm, because just when she got a little sappy, she made me laugh with:


“Dear Bourbon, Thank you for not turning me into the devil like vodka. Cheers, Leah.”

RATING:

I’d rated this book at a 3 out of 5: Good and worth the time to soak in the gratitude. This is one of those books that belongs on my nightstand to read again on days just like this, when I need to see that there is something for which I can always be thankful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

thxthxthx by Leah Dieterich is a delightful book that is a collection of photographs of thank you cards the author has wrote. They are short (often only a sentence or two), and quite often humourous. They are addressed to the small and big objects in life, like Sneezes, her Partner's Understanding, and everything in between.

The collection is very sweet, and left me feeling happy and wanting to be more grateful for the everyday things we take for granted.

The pictures are clear and simple. Each is a snapshot of a cream thank-you card, sometimes with a partial envelop in the background, often with just a plain coloured backdrop. It helps the message of each thank-you card to stand out.

It would definitely be a great edition to any coffee-table.

[Kimberly Bower MLIS (gladeslibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

THXTHXTHX: THANK GOODNESS FOR EVERYTHING by Leah Dieterich is a compilation of thank you notes written from a thankful and hopeful heart. These are not ordinary thank you notes. A few are addressed to people but the majority of them are directed at emotions, experiences, locations and relationships. Thx Thx Thx is easy to browse; sometimes thought-provoking and other times funny. Although it would be an obvious choice for a coffee table book at home a broader use would be to place Thx Thx Thx on the tables in waiting rooms at hospitals or in doctor’s offices.

NOTE: I requested and received a copy of this title via NetGalley.com but made no commitment to review it.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just read Vanishing Twins: A Marriage, I looked up other books by Leah Dieterich and came across this, her first book. It's just enchanting. I want several copies of this to give to my friends. It's clever, sweet, funny--all the good things. Its charm is not in the thankfulness, it's in what she notices. So perceptive.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the idea of a book of thank you notes written to a bee sting or the smell of sautéing food. The notes are very smart and clever. This book is totally fun. Now for my notes.
Dear Leah, Thank you so much for writing this book. Love, Pam
Dear book buying person at the library where I work, I really think you should buy Leah's book ThxThxThx! Thx, Pam

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little book. What a great way to become a better writer and a more grateful person by putting pen to paper and writing something every day. This was a fun read and would make a great gift.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant approach to daily appreciation became a witty + beautiful blog that blossomed into this gem of a book. Absolutely lifts your mood and brings your attention fully to the present moment. I adore Leah's sentiments...every single one!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little book of irreverant thank you notes, all short, written to the blinds, to the smells wafting through windows on a summer eve, to people the author cares about.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear thxthxthx book,

Thank you for your attitude of gratitude. Thanks for reminding me that I have lots of things to be grateful for.

Cheers,
Anne

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is currently residing on my desk at work. As colleagues come in, they often pick it up and read a thank you or two. Always a good thing.

[ni ☀︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So lovely!

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Not too impressed.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some are funny, some are thought-provoking. Enjoyable read - thx!