Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier

by Robert A. Emmons

The first major study of gratitude that shows how “wanting what we have” can measurably change people’s lives.

 

Did you know that there is a crucial component of happiness that is often overlooked? Robert Emmons—editor-in-chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology—examines what it means to think and feel gratefully in Thanks! and invites readers to learn how to put this powerful emotion into practice. Scientifically speaking, regular grateful thinking can increase happiness by as much as 25 percent, while keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks results in better sleep and more energy. But there's more than science to embrace here: Emmons also bolsters the case for gratitude by weaving in writings of philosophers, novelists, and theologians that illustrate all the benefits grateful living brings. 

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Science, Personal Growth, Mental Health

244 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 2007

About the author

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis where he has taught since 1988. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign. He is the author of over 200 original publications in peer‑reviewed journals or chapters and has written or edited eight books, including The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns (Guilford Press), The Psychology of Gratitude (Oxford University Press), Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton-Mifflin), Gratitude Works! A Twenty-One Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity (Jossey-Bass) and The Little Book of Gratitude (Hachette). A leader in the positive psychology movement, Dr. Emmons is founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology. His research focuses on the psychology of gratitude and joy as they relate to human flourishing. Professor Emmons speaks regularly at medical and psychological conferences and at public events. Dr. Emmons has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the John M. Templeton Foundation, and the National Institute for Disability Research and Rehabilitation. His research has been featured in dozens of popular media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Time, NPR, PBS, Consumer Reports, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Today Show. He lives with his wife of 24 years, Yvonne and their two sons and two dogs in Davis, California.

Reviews

[Deborah Sheldon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The rules are strict. Apparently, you can be grateful only when you receive a no-strings-attached gift or gesture from an altruistic person. The "altruistic" part is crucial and non-negotiable. For example, you cannot be grateful to a publisher for buying your manuscript, because they are doing it for money, not kindness. And you are not allowed to feel grateful for anything that you've achieved yourself. So you can't be grateful for, say, writing the aforementioned manuscript because that is pride, not gratitude.
Now, my everyday life is not exactly crammed with people falling over themselves to offer me benevolent and selfless gestures. (Case in point: I have a teenage son.) Perversely, "Thanks!" makes you feel that you have less to be grateful for than you originally thought. Bummer. As a last resort, you can be grateful to God, which is cold comfort if you happen to be an agnostic or atheist. Wow, this book managed to both infuriate me and depress me at the same time. (0.5 star)

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cultivating gratitude is a great idea and I like this guy's take on it--enthusiastic. Two things were big red flags to me about his research--one, he esposuses Whorfian linguistics (by that I mean linguistic determinism, or "your vocabulary determines your altitude)...and that's been roundly panned, c'mon! Also, he makes the age-old argument that "boys like pornography, and girls like romance novels," which is crap. Otherwise a good read.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Emmons is a psychologist who studies gratitude scientifically. He's also a Christian with a religious commitment to gratitude as a spiritual practice, which may annoy people with a commitment to a non-religious worldview. (He does give almost equal airtime to non-Christian religions, though.)

In an accessible style peppered with quotations from philosophers, theologians and writers, Emmons discusses scientific findings on how the practice of gratitude can improve happiness and health, and how to practice and cultivate it. He also discusses the phenomenon of ingratitude, obstacles to being grateful, and having gratitude in difficult circumstances.

Emmons follows the increasingly popular style of making assertions in his text without footnotes, and backing them up with endnotes. It's a good style, combining the ease of uninterrupted reading with the ability to follow up the references for those who are interested.

Recommended for both laypeople who want to be more grateful, happier and healthier, and also practitioners who are interested in positive psychology and its applications.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmons serendipitiously began to study gratitude during a conference on the classical sources of human strength: wisdom, hope, love, spirituality, gratitude, humility; he signed up for humility but was assigned gratitude. Emmons was surprised to find that by practicing gratitude, people can increase their happiness. Apparently, the brain can not experience both negative and positive emotions at the same time. Emmons proposes ten ways for adults to practice gratitude: keeping a gratitude journal; remembering the bad parts of the past and being grateful for getting through those times; asking three questions ("What have I received from ___?" "What have I given to ___?" and "What troubles and difficulties have I caused ___?"); learning prayers of gratitude; "coming to your senses"; using visual reminders to be grateful; making a vow to practice gratitude; using the language of gratefulness; going through the motions; and thinking outside the box for things for which to be grateful. He also calls for gratitude training in childhood, in order to develop a tool that will foster well-being.

[Gary Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cultivating a grateful attitude yields physical, psychological, and emotional benefits. While this assertion makes intuitive sense, a body of research now exists to help explain why gratitude has so many positive effects. Thanks! explains that research and theorizes about its implications. Various stabs at levity notwithstanding, the book maintains a sterile tone that seems at odds with the warmth of its subject matter. Interestingly, even though this book was published in 2007, the section on narcissism includes an exemplar anecdote about Donald Trump.

[Frank Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a religious naturalist, which is to say, I live with a religious attitude of awe with no belief in anything supernatural which makes me an atheist who does not believe in any kind of afterlife, and who does not believe in "the power of prayer" to effect real objective change in the world. And still, I was profoundly moved the very first time I heard the quote from Meister Eckart, German theologian and mystic who said: "If you only say one prayer in your life let it be 'thanks.'" Even a complete secularist must understand how profound an attitude of gratefulness can perfume a whole life in such a way that this very life becomes "sacred" if that's a word you can stomach!

Emmons looks to the science, and then goes beyond to integrate the writings and insights of philosophers, poets, novelists, psychologists and, yes, theologians. He shows how gratefulness has been shown to be literally health beneficial: those who are more grateful has less serious complications when ill or after surgery, and heal quicker than others, for instance. Mentally, those who are grateful tend toward greater happiness throughout their life. And the good news is that if you are currently a bit of a curmudgeon, the consciously mindful practice of gratitude (doing things like keeping a gratitude journal, reviewing the many ways you are benefited by others (as in the Pure Land Buddhist practice of Naikan, and embodying gratitude through sensorial mindfulness) can actually increase your "set-point" for happiness by 25 percent which completely challenges the notion that our set-points are genetically set for life at conception!

This book is not just a survey; Emmons provides many strategies and practices to cultivate a deeply abiding sense of gratefulness as well. In fact, I have used many of his suggestions not just for myself but for my students who say the conscious cultivation of gratitude has brought a freeing sense of wellness independent of specific circumstances. Try it, and I thank you for doing so!

[Brian Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Gratitude has never, until recently, been examined or studied by scientific psychologists. It is possible that psychology has ignored gratitude because it appears, on the surface, to be a very obvious emotion, lacking in interesting complications: we receive a gift—from friends, from family, from God—and then we feel pleasurably grateful. But while the emotion seemed simplistic even to me as I began my research, I soon discovered that gratitude is a deeper, more complex phenomenon that plays a critical role in human happiness. Gratitude is literally one of the few things that can measurably change peoples’ lives.”

~ Robert Emmons from Thanks!

A Professor at the University of California, Davis, Robert Emmons is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of gratitude.

This book is packed with wisdom on both the scientific underpinnings of gratitude as well as practical steps we can engage in to make it a bigger part of our lives.

“I intend this book to provoke intellectual interest as well as self-examination; I hope to provide you with information that might inspire you to make lifealtering decisions.”

“The scientific literature suggests that happy individuals are also more creative, helpful, charitable, and self-confident, have better self-control, and show greater selfregulatory and coping abilities. Happy people, the facts clearly show, are flourishing and successful people.”

Here are a few Big Ideas:

Happiness - It’s a good thing to develop.
25% Happiness Boost - How? Gratitude.
Gratitude Sleeping Pills - Pop these before bedtime.
Flourishing Relationships - 5:1 again.
Emotional Incompatibility - Swap out the bad with the good!

So, if you’re feeling funky, or just want to boost your flourishing to even more extraordinary heights, remember to get your gratitude on and act like a happy person!!!

Here's my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t85Z...

And click here to find 250+ more of my reviews:
http://bit.ly/BrianReviews

Brian

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by one of the most optimistic people I know. I’m also easily given to positivity, and yet it was good to learn the science behind it. Also, I appreciated the idea that doing business with how actually bad things are or have been can make us more truly grateful because we aren’t gas lighting ourselves.

[Jeremy LaLonde · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's shocking the writer got a whole book out of this. There's some lovely stuff in here - but it feels recycled over and over. Skip to the last chapter and you'll walk away with the same great info.

[Beth Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got part way through. Interesting but a bit put off by the religious/altruistic assumptions underlying the book. Will get to it sometime - but not a priority now. 5/2/19

[Karel Baloun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gratitude is the essential key to happiness, health and longevity, and makes the world clearly better, so what are we waiting for! The last chapter summarizes options best ways to do it, especially meditation and journaling, though your heart and mind probably always know what to do if you listen. Importantly, gratitude is inherently social, though practice can be alone

An academic, philosophical treatment of the essential role of Gratitude in social and personal happiness. Amazing really, that this personally impactful and socially wise topic hasn’t already filled many volumes. Yet, perhaps because it is somehow a soft virtue, it remains woefully overlooked.

Acknowledging dependence on society and others is key. False self reliance is self deceptive. (P53) Measures of heart health and their relationship to emotion is a promising area For future study (p72). Gratitude requires functional “limbic prefrontal networks”, for counter factual reasoning, which is unfortunate for Parkinson and Alzheimer patients. (p79)

The entire chapter 4 on religion rubbed me the wrong way: by highlighting the tradition of gratitude throughout all religions, he made them look like a useful channel or even tool for becoming more grateful. Or does religion just ossify this human truth, or does it even hijack gratitude for god or for churches which should be going solely to real beings?

The section on narcissism prophetically mentions Donald Trump. The coincidental yet immediate transition to the chapter on gratitude in difficult times is just appropriate.

[Leonardo]

Citado en el curso GG101x.

[Christy Cole, LCPC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This groundbreaking book provides the secret to moving the illusive "happiness set-point": a regular gratitude practice.

[فادي · Rating 2 out of 5]

لولا أنه مطلوب منا بالمساق التعليمي ما بقرأه.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Michael Ambrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of thankfulness opened up a whole world of possibilities for me. Actually as alternative to "positive thinking" which is generally too shallow for me, albeit I understand and completely embrace it's value on health and overall well-being.

Seemingly with it's origin in Christianity, thankfulness doesn't have to be religious. To me it's a powerful psychological tool and I don't care about it's origin. This book introduces the concept thoroughly. One can skip chapters too Christian (one or perhaps two chapters) if one wants and still get plenty of value out of the book.

One can also read the chapters out of order which is what I did as I didn't know if the book was worth reading or not. I started with chapter 5 AN UNNATURAL CRIME: INGRATITUDE AND OTHER OBSTACLES TO GRATEFUL LIVING

I'm happy I did as it served as a huge motivator. The bluntness of this chapter was an eye-opener for my own ungrateful habits and self-talk, thus an huge obstacle for greater enjoyment in life.

I'm grateful for being pointed into this direction and to the author Robert A. Emmons for sharing his life's work in such a humble yet concise manner. Thank you!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder about the importance and power of gratitude. Science proves that living with gratitude helps us in a variety of ways. Gratitude includes humility and remembering. As we consciously practice gratitude we help ourselves and others, relationships improve, happiness increases. We can practice gratitude with a journal, saying thank you, writing thank you notes, recognizing God's grace, and seeing blessings in our day. Here are some quotes I liked:

"'Be grateful... It's the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme (Ben Stein, p. 1).'"

"Gratitude is a deeper, more complex phenomenon that plays a critical role in human happiness. Gratitude is literally one of the few things that can measurably change peoples' lives (p. 2)."

"When people regularly engage in the systematic cultivation of gratitude, they experience a variety of measurable benefits: Psychological, physical, and interpersonal (p. 3)."

"Gratitude... feels good... is motivating. When we feel grateful, we are moved to share the goodness we have received with others (p. 4)."

"Gratitude implies humility (p. 5)."

"We cannot be grateful without being thoughtful (p. 6)."

"'It is not enough for me to be thankful. I have a desire to do something in return. To do thanks. To give thanks. Give things. Give thoughts. Give love. So gratitude becomes the gift (Elizabeth Bartlett, p. 7).'"

"When I am grateful, I recognize that I have no claim on the gift or benefit I received; it was freely bestowed out of compassion, generosity, or love (p. 7)."

"We need gratitude to function in relation to others (p. 9)."

"When people experience gratitude, they feel more loving, more forgiving, and closer to God (p. 12)."

"'Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others (Cicero, p. 15).'"

"'I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness double by wonder (G.K. Chesterton, p. 19).'"

"Chesterton... delighted in the ordinary and was surprised and awed by his own existence and the existence of all else... he set a conscious goal of remaining childlike in his sense of wonder and vowed not to succumb to the monotony and boredom that saps so many lives of joy and purpose (p. 20)."

"Think about a time when you felt grateful. What other feelings do you associate with this state?... peaceful, content, warm, giving, friendly... joyful (p. 25)."

"Wil you become a grateful person by keeping a gratitude journal? It's possible, but may require a long-term commitment to practice gratitude (p. 34)."

"Expressing gratitude for life's blessings... is likely to elevate happiness for a number of reasons (p. 35)."

"'Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third (Marge Piercy, p. 35).'"

"Grateful people are more likely to perceive things in their lives as sheer gifts and to spontaneously use the language of being 'blessed' and 'gifted' by life (p. 36)."

"The more grateful a person is, the less depressed they are (p. 38)."

"Consumerism fuels ingratitude (p. 43)."

"People who kept gratitude journals reported feeling closer and more connected to others, were more likely to help others, and were actually seen as more helpful by significant others in their social networks (p. 44)."

"Our innate longing for belonging is strengthened when we experience and express heartfelt gratitude (p. 44)."

"To be alive is to be in relationships with others, relationships that are vital to our well-being. The self, by itself, is a very poor place to find happiness or meaning in life. Gratitude takes us outside ourselves where we see ourselves as part of a larger, intricate network of sustaining relationships, relationships that are mutually reciprocal (p. 54)."

"Hopelessness and despair can adversely impact the endocrine and immune systems, even hastening death (p. 67)."

"One simply cannot be relaxed and stressed at the same time... Relaxation drives out anxiousness and vice versa (p. 74)."

"An emphasis on gratitude can motivate us to take better care of our bodies (p. 86)."

"'Gratitude is the memory of the heart (p. 89).'"

"'To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven (Johannes A. Gaertner, p. 90).'"

"Insomuch as we value our own autonomy, acknowledging dependence can be intimidating. But it is absolutely essential in order to feel gratitude (p. 92)."

"Where one find religion, one finds gratitude. As long as people have believed in God, they have south ways to express gratitude and thanksgiving to this God, the ultimate giver (p. 93)."

"'Being weak keeps my perspective in line and keeps me closer to God (p. 94).'"

"There is nothing a person can do to merit salvation. It is completely and totally unmerited. This reminds us that true gratitude stems from the willingness to recognize what is unearned and undeserved. Grace is love freely shown to undeserving sinners (p. 99)."

"An important aspect of gratitude is remembering (p. 115)."

"Gratitude requires taking time out to reflect on one's blessings (p. 139)."

"Whether we are personally involved or not, we expect people to acknowledge the good that has been done for them; ingratitude is the refusal to acknowledge this good (p. 144)."

"'I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need... Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, p. 159).'"

"Trials and adversities can result in positive character changes (p. 160)."

"Gratitude and other positive emotions seemed to exert a protective effect (p. 171)."

"A grateful outlook on life appears to offer protection in times of crisis. But gratitude may also confer a more widespread and pervasive resiliency across the life span (p. 173)."

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

"Gratitude is a way of life (p. 186)."

"Remembering a person's smile, kind words, or helpful actions can elicit feelings of gratitude. When we focus on the good that comes to us every day, we can be filled with deep appreciation rather than drowning under the burden of our problems (p. 193)."

"Be creative in finding ways to give back for the many blessings you have received (p. 193)."

"The relevance for practicing gratitude is direct. If we go through grateful motions, the emotion of gratitude should be triggered... Saying thank you. Writing letters of gratitude... Expressing gratitude toward someone whom you've never properly taken the time to thank can have profoundly positive consequences, for both the person expressing and the recipient (p. 205)."

"Gratitude is a new way of seeing... it can be a profound change in how we observe and experience the world (p. 208)."

"We yearn to become more of what we already are. We are works in progress. Gratitude... is a process, a journey (p. 209)."

"By cultivating gratefulness, we are freed from envy over what we don't have or who we are not. It doesn't make life perfect, but with gratitude comes the realization that right now, in this moment, we have enough, we are enough (p. 209)."

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say Thanks! is particularly deep or insightful and it doesn't cover the 'scientific' aspect of gratitude and how it affects humanity etc. It uses a lot of the anecdotes, which I'm not fond of, though for a book on so subjective a subject there's little else to do.

As a Christian, I find it odd to say this, but for the kind of book this is, I was surprised by the emphasis on Christianity-related gratitude a little disconcerting--perhaps because it purported to be a scientific analysis. That's something I can see turning off a lot of readers.

The advice chapter, the last, could be useful to many, if it's followed. Again, not original or deep, but no bad either, and Emmons is a clear writer and easy to follow.

[Chanita]

I read parts of it and the content was good, but I wasn't in the mood for it's scientific slant. I'll probably read the whole thing some other time.

For passages and a quote I liked from this book, see: http://quotes-passages.livejournal.co...

[Kawthar SASSI · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book! grateful people are happier, healthier, more hopeful, more successful and more enthusiastic!

[Cshifflett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good for recreational reading. I wanted a story.

[D.J. Lang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel guilty giving this book 2 stars (very ungrateful!), but I thought I was never going to get through it. Why did I (get through it)?
* I was reading it before going to sleep (haha, sleep inducing...so sorry, Emmons; I did like your shorter book on gratitude);
*I had already invested so much time, I felt like I needed to keep reading;
*I had dragged through another book and came to a chapter toward the end that was phenomenal so I hoped the same for this book;
*I wanted to try and read as many books as my friend (I did not; she blew me out of the water).

I felt like the book was just too much -- everything but the bathroom sink kind of too much.
I was interested in research, but much of it seemed small scale qualitative research (to his credit, Emmons did include a couple of studies that did not show results of gratitude).
Lots and lots of Christ-centered Biblical references and Christian stories so all those readers who want that will get it; however, Emmons gave time to other religions and gratitude as well (and those same readers might not appreciate that).
Lots and lots of focus on gratitude journaling.
Some readers mentioned some stereotypical comments, and there are those. I'll go with "eat the meat and spit out the bones" which for me leaves me with one of Emmons's smaller books on gratitude. (This book was written in 2007 so it's possible that even Emmons cringes at some of the things he wrote.) Something that also bothers me is that Emmons writes a lot of books on gratitude -- it's like his bread and butter. I felt the same way about another author who writes books and books on grief for his livelihood.

Would my mom read it? I could try and see how she likes it. I think she'll find it long, and she doesn't really read books with research in them.

I hate ending the year with this book review! So I'm going to try and get one more finished! The race is on!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gratitude is one of those things I have known for a long time works because it's tried and true in my life, but to read a more thorough explanation to why it works (and even when it may not work) was helpful. The author weaves scientific study, stories, philosophical thought, quotes and more to make this book a well rounded read. As a Christian, I also appreciated the authors shameless moments in sharing his Christian faith. I wouldn't necessarily say I found this an enjoyable read, but it was certainly informative and covering major bases. I think for things like this, I would probably prefer to take it in through video and audio rather than book form, but nonetheless glad I read it. My rating is really more like 3.5. Thank you Dr Emmons!

Some of my favourite lines

"he who receives a benefit with gratitude pays the first installment of their indebtedness"

"all good looks better when they look like gifts"

"Searching for and being thankful for what is positive in every situatiom digs the tunnel and breaks the stranglehold of despair"

"We are because of what we remember"

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances" - Viktor Frankl

"Be grateful for the ability to cultivate gratitude"

[A Arif · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I definitely gained a lot from reading about the science behind gratitude and the book is surely packed with a ton of information that many can benefit from knowing. I especially thought the last chapter on practicing gratitude with the 10 steps were the most helpful, as it gives the readers a concrete layout on how to actually incorporate gratefulness in their daily lives, and not just sit tight with all the heavy research based information that’s been taught in the previous chapters.
The sole reason I took away one and a half stars is not just because of the religious/preachy and somewhat biased point of view from the authors end (as to which religion he clearly believes is the most influential), but also due to the direct political messages that are thrusted on the readers regarding many sensitive topic matters. I feel as though if the author laid off the political remarks, if not the religious ones (as he draws the conclusion that faith and gratitude go hand in hand), and continued to back up the benefits of gratitude with more science and even spirituality, this book would’ve had an even bigger influence on its audience. But regardless of that, this was a book worth reading and I would definitely recommend it to friends and family.

[Aleš Bednařík · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kniha zhrňujúca niektoré výskumy týkajúce sa vďačnosti a jej vplyvu na fyzické a psychické zdravie človeka.
Nanešťastie som už skoro všetko poznal. Nepríjemným prekvapením je množstvo miesta, aj jedna celá kapitola, venujúca sa vďačnosti v náboženstvách, teda najmä v kresťanstve. Nie žeby kresťanstvo nešírilo aj to, že treba byť vďační, ale aj priložené, štúdie ukazujú, že to nie je existenciou nadprirodzenej bytosti, ale inými faktormi - vierou, komunitou, ktorá si navzájom pomáha a podobnými svetskými vecami.
A chýbali v texte zakomponované odkazy na štúdie, ktoré citoval. To ma fakt dostalo. Normálne to v knihách je tak, že štúdia na ktorú sa odkazujete je zaindexovaná a je vzadu v knihe.
Ale som vďačný, že viem čítať po anglicky, že mám počas dňa čas čítať, a že existujú ľudia, ktorí sa vďačnosť snažia skúmať, aby sme jej lepšie rozumeli a vedeli ju lepšie využívať pre dobro nás všetkých.
Vďaka.

[Amie Urban · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that this books forces the reader to think about gratitude and the silver lining in every situation in life. I do agree with the author in his assertion that gratitude is underrated as an emotional strength. However, the author writes in a style that blatantly shows his bias towards white Christian Americana way of living. There are also a lot of sweeping generalisations shoved in places with no specific examples to back them. This book isn’t that large but I still struggled to read it quickly as it was repetitive in places, which made it harder to hold my attention.
Overall, I’m glad I read the book, as it makes me reflect on moments of gratitude in my own life and with the current COVID situation I feel that changing my attitude to a more grateful perspective makes it feel easier for me to cope.

[Raymond Raad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gratitude is important and some of the studies reviewed are great. But he restricts gratitude way too much to a feeling expressed towards a gift from another person. He then tries to cram other kinds of gratitude into this narrow definition, and ends up with some strange conclusions. For example he believes that gratitude involves acknowledging and accepting a dependent state.

But in reality we can experience gratitude towards many things in life and not just towards gifts from others

He also has too much of a focus on religion - and that might help explain his overall take.

Overall his view comes from an altruist assumption - that placing others above yourself is a high moral action. And so he tried to focus on expressions towards others.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten years or so ago, I read Emmons book "Gratitude Works!" It was actually a follow up to this book, but I didn't know about this one when I started that one. Honestly, I do think I liked Gratitude Works! a little better than Thanks!, but it was still a really good book. The research he's done on the impact of gratitude is pretty amazing.

I hadn't planned out to be finishing this in November - the month of Thanksgiving - it just worked out nicely that way. It was also really nice to be reading this at this point with all of the political turmoil in the news. There was a day I sat and read for about 1/2 hour, and I felt much better when I was done.

I absolutely love the fact that he unapologetically brings God into his discussions about gratitude. We need more of that today.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I plowed through as best I could, but eventually did skip ahead to the last chapter. I was really more interested in the conclusions of his research and possible applications than all the other details he wrote about. I rated it as 3 stars because I did like it, in the sense of liking the main thesis of the book, however, I did not really find it enjoyable reading. I think it would be more appealing to someone interested in the field of psychology than the average lay person, such as myself. For my purposes, the book could have been at least half the length that it was. Still, it contains some fascinating discoveries about gratitude.

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is chock full of useful and well-researched information. Unfortunately it is presented in a style that to me is bloated. And those extra words don't make it easier to read. They are mostly repetition. I skimmed over a lot of them. And this made the book feel mostly like a lot of research finding simply strung together. There were some bright spots where stories shone through as examples of the authors research. If the book were more focuses on stories to connect the research than simple explanation, the book would be so much better and the vital information it holds would be so much more accessible.