The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a life of happiness and wellbeing by giving thanks

by Robert A. Emmons

Gratitude is the simple, scientifically proven way to increase happiness and encourage greater joy, love, peace, and optimism into our lives.

Through easy practices, such as keeping a daily gratitude journal, writing letters of thanks, and meditating on the good we have received, we can improve our health and wellbeing, enhance our relationships, encourage healthy sleep, and heighten feelings of connectedness.

Easily accessible and available to everyone, the practice of gratitude will benefit every area of your life and generate a positive ripple effect.

This beautiful book, written by Dr Robert A Emmons, Professor of Psychology at UC Davis, California, discusses the benefits of gratitude and teaches easy techniques to foster gratitude every day.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Meditation, Philosophy, Spirituality

99 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2016

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

[Vui Lên · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Đúng là little book nên nội dung cũng hông được nhiều lắm. Tuy vậy những bài tập nho nhỏ trong sách cũng giúp người đọc có thể bắt đầu thực hành biết ơn và đưa mấy niềm vui nho nhỏ vào cuộc sống.

Ấn tương nhất với mình có lẽ là tác giả đã dành phần lớn thời gian cuộc đời mình để nghiên cứu về lòng biết ơn. Thiệt là biết ơn hết sức. Nhờ vậy mà hậu bối như mình được biết, được ứng dụng rất nhiều nghiên cứu hay ho, hữu ích về cảm xúc này.

Biết tới quá trình nghiên cứu của tác giả cũng khiến mình có động lực hơn trong việc làm ra loạt podcast 21 ngày thực hành biết ơn với 1 loạt hoạt động trải nghiệm khác nhau. Mấy hôm nay ngày nào cũng nghe chia sẻ từ học trò, người nghe podcast về quá trình thực hành của các bạn. Quả thực rất ấm lòng. Cảm giác hôm nay là ngày thứ 3 đầu tuần ghê hia hia

[Kieli Lapina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading a book about Gratitude, and feel so enlighten while doing so. Now at college I feel as if every small thing is a blessing, having money to help others or just the time to be kind matters so much. Be grateful for where you are and take the time today to think of one person who did something just for you because they wanted to.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t get a whole lot out of this. It was rather generic and oversimplified for something so profoundly important to living a joyful life. It lacked depth and while I do understand it was meant to be a book easily read and digested it still was addressing a significant subject that could and should have had more of an impact. I’ve read a couple of these, my favourite being on Mindfulness, which I actually got a lot out of, so I know it can be done and done well. This for me, just didn’t contribute in any way and I would not recommend it.

[Laura Hiebenthal · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could read this book in about 10 minutes--but don't. It's made to be read a page or two here, a page or two here. I don't think anyone will argue with the idea that gratitude is good, but this little book gives a nice summary of some of the research that "proves" the goodness of gratitude. The book explores why and how gratitude can help improve lives. Interspersed throughout are little activities and journal prompts to help the reader grow in gratitude.

[Michelle Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this little book!

As a self-proclaimed gratitude junkie, The Little Book of Gratitude fit right into my daily practice. I love how the author layered in science and research and provided tangible, relevant practice. I only wish it would have been longer.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best little books on gratitude I've read -- I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about gratitude and have a gratitude practice in life.

[Sujatha Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, actionable. Loved it and gift it frequently.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, easy, short read filled with numerous activities to help guide one on a gratitude journey! Written by one of the leading researcher's on gratitude, the concepts and activities are founded by science and research. Emmons has many other books on gratitude, this would be a great one to start with!

[Rainy Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is okay. But I need more to really understand the concept of gratitude (and in easier way to understand too I think?). Welp, maybe it's not the book, maybe it's me. Hmmm..

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect length! Short and sweet with a lot of impact.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I’d just finished reading Self-Compassion and both gratitude and Robert Emmons gets a mention. I’ve been writing daily gratitudes for 2.5 years now, starting soon after my Mum died when I needed a boost. But I didn’t really understand the psychology behind it. I still don’t really but I got some more ideas to try and practice. My favourite new addition is this one:
“After you get into bed, but before drifting off to sleep, try to focus on pleasant thoughts – good things happening to your family or friends; the soothing sounds in your bedroom; how fortunate you are to be in good health; future plans, such as holidays or an upcoming trip; enjoyable things you did during the past few days; how relaxed you are feeling; good things that other people have done for you in the past few days.”

A good, small, book. I didn’t get out of it quite what I’d hoped, but I’ve got some new practices to incorporate into my life.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book has so many messages and a reminder that gratitude helps people to feel positive (amplifies), improve health (rescues), and build a relationship (connects). There are some practices and techniques to foster gratitude in daily routines. Thank you Robert Emmons for all you do and your thoughtful way to write this beautiful book.

[Luis Saldana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book...

To pull out periodically when we need to refind our gratitude. I will come back to this little gem. May we live each day in gratitude. I am thankful for this book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely quick read

[Mayad Tarabey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grateful heart does not sit still.

As a person who grew up in a religious society, being grateful was sort of an essential. We were told to be grateful to God and to others as well. But here’s the thing about being grateful (that was mentioned in this book), you don’t have to be religious in order to be grateful.
I loved the activities in this book, most of them included having a journal so now I feel I should get one because I want to start writing about things I’m grateful for.
One of my favorite activities was the The Dos & Don’ts of Rescuing Yourself from Anxiety. I recommend reading about that if you’re a person who deals with anxiety. It’s a small activity that you can do once you feel anxious.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book today because I have been tasked with delivering the educational moment at next week's meeting of my BNI Chapter when we will celebrate "Friends-Giving." Prior to reviewing the prepared presentation, I read a blog post by BNI Founder Ivan Misner, “Inspiration Starts with Changing Your Words.” His post was very relatable to gratitude, and I appreciate his thoughts on inspiring others. When I dug into the BNI-provided Friends'Giving PowerPoint slides I learned of this book and decided to read it immediately. I am so glad I did!

[Michael Velez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had bigger and better expectations for it, I thought it was going to have a bigger impact on me personally, I never fully connected with the book; not saying that it wasn't good, it's a great, fun, deep, and thought-provoking read, very concise and easy to understand nonetheless, not to be sarcastic but I am grateful I read it, really shows how little we know about gratitude and how deep it really is and how much effect it can have

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grateful

Every day I stop and consider what gratitude I have for that day. Today, I am grateful for this "little" book. There is so much wisdom packed into its pages! It is a book to be read more than once, with lessons to be practiced every day. No matter where you on in your life journey, this is for you. Teach children, share with teens, book clubs, friends. Approaching the world with an attitude of gratitude will make a difference.

[isabella biava · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book that hold a lot of wisdon

I’m on a quest to read all the books about gratitude and this is the second. I love that at the end of each chapter there are exercises, and I love when it talks about grace. This was a new perspective which I didn’t think about before and very much needed. It’s the pillar concept to understand gratitude. I am so very grateful for the author of this book and the publisher. Thank you very much.

[D.J. Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly full for a little gift book. Don't expect it to be in depth but it does include both research (with brevity) and activities to practice gratitude.

Would my mom like it? I think I am going to give her this book (by the way, this book as pictured is not paperback) if she would be willing to skim over the research pages. However, the print is a little bit small so I'm not sure if she would be able to read it.

[Dámaris Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational!

I learned a lot about gratitude in this little book. When I picked it up, I was already on a gratitude awareness journey and this book just continue to kindle the fire for more gratitude in my life as I have already been seeing the change it produces.
when I read Grateful by Diana Butler-Bass I learned about this book because she mentioned it on her book is.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated: C+
I must feel gratitude for living the life that I live with the people who are with me in body, mind, spirit and soul. There was not much new that I walked away with. Might be an excellent book for those who completely lack any sense of gratitude, thankfulness and humility. God put all of these values in my heart.

[Nick Grimshawe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gratitude Becomes Thanksgiving

A book brimming with the science of gratitude and lots of ideas for boosting your gratitude practice.
I loved the journaling questions that helped me take my practice deeper.

I learned that gratitude wasn't something you do but a way of being in the world.

[Miguel Panão · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grateful for this book

A short, straightforward, practical, and insightful book that inspires you to practice gratefulness every day of your life. I discovered it's more than something you do; it becomes who you are.

[J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful to have found this book!

This was an insightful and honest look at gratitude. I think we oftentimes feel not grateful enough, or too grateful, to the point where it comes off as insincere. This book teaches us how to have a healthy balance. I highly recommend it.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Emmons takes years and years of science and research about gratitude and distills it all down into easy to understand ideas for us to consider about practicing gratitude. It's delightfully done with sweet illustrations and accessible language. Well done!

[Mariam J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides really inspiring ways on how to be more grateful and present in your life. I love that Emmons backs up his strategies with scientific evidence that proves its effectiveness. Just glorious insight all around!

[Giselle Egleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother shared this book with me and I’m so thankful for it. I will continue to come back to this little book for years to come because it is such a good reminder on how we should all live this one special life we have.
“Gratitude, is first and foremost, a way of seeing that alters our gaze”.

[Cydni Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember what you have

This little book was very helpful. It’s true that often we focus on things we don’t have instead of all the goodness in our lives. Thank you Robert, for this book!