Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
by Robert Emmons
List Price:
Our Price: $4.57
You Save: $20.43 (82%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.17 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Robert EmmonsEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-06
ISBN: 0618620192
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Book Reviews of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
Book Review: compelling, enjoyable account of why gratitude matters
Summary: 5 Stars
It is hard to ignore the large number of books written over the past few years on the nature of happiness. In the past year, I had an opportunity to read over a dozen of these "positive psychology" books and glance through quite a few more. Most of them summarize the same set of research studies on what makes people happy, why it is difficult to attain and sustain happiness, who is most and least likely to find happiness, and how these positive experiences can be cultivated. This led me to read Robert Emmons' latest book with some degree of trepidation. I wondered if "Thanks!" would offer anything new to my growing fascination of these topics. Even though I already knew a great deal about Emmons' work and the study of gratitude, I found this book to be remarkably interesting and a reservoir of compelling insights and practical tips. Let me detail a few reasons why this book offers something new and why it belongs on people's bookshelves.
First, many "positive psychology" books are written by therapists, counselors, teachers, journalists, and other people who read and summarize the writings of scientists. Their books often lack the enthusiasm, creativity, and wisdom that can only be found by those devoting their lives to a topic. Robert Emmons is the world's leading authority on gratitude. His research is responsible for much of what we know about gratitude. It becomes readily apparent that Robert Emmons has spent years thinking about gratitude, studying gratitude, talking to people about gratitude, and trying to understand how gratitude fits into the "big picture" of achieving lasting happiness in a world fraught with moments of pain, stress, and adversity. His passion and wisdom are evident on nearly every page. I could not imagine reading a book on gratitude written by anyone else.
Second, the information in this book is backed by scientific research. This is not a book based on the musings of one person or a few people who believe that gratitude is a good thing. It is also not based on a few studies conducted by one researcher. The information in this book is based on a careful summary of research conducted on thousands of people by a number of different researchers around the world. Taken together, these studies show that gratitude is one of the strongest contributors to happiness and meaning in life. But more than that, gratitude has been shown to strengthen people's social relationships, improve people's physical health, and motivate people to act in ways that enhances the quality of their moments, days, and lives. In addition to discussing his own research, Robert Emmons reviews and integrates the work of other researchers, philosophers, and literary minds. In a little more than 200 pages, "Thanks!" has quickly become the essential source of everything there is to know about gratitude (so far).
Third, it is spiritually uplifting. Emmons weaves in stories of real people sharing how gratitude played (or failed to play) a role in their lives. These stories add flesh, blood, and feeling to the wealth of science and wisdom in each chapter; they capture the true value of gratitude and the beauty of humanity. With these narratives and the easygoing writing style, it is easy to enjoy reading this book while outside in the grass on a lazy summer afternoon.
Whether your goal is intellectual stimulation, self-enhancement, or something in between, this book will make an immediate positive impact on your life.
Author of Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life
Summary of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
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.
Happiness Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Happiness Books
The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal: A Five-Year Recordby Gretchen Rubin
Potter Style; Published: 2011-11-01; Diary; Book
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
Just Love: Transforming Civic Virtueby Ann Mongoven
Indiana University Press; Published: 2009-07-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.59
Price in other shops:
How to Live Dangerously: Why We Should All Stop Worrying & Start Livingby Wrawick Cairns
Macmillan; Published: 2008-12-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $423.63
Happiness, Growth, and the Life Cycle (Iza Prize in Labor Economics)by Richard A. Easterlin, Holger Hinte, Klaus F. Zimmerman
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2011-01-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $28.00
Price in other shops:
Working Virtue: Virtue Ethics and Contemporary Moral ProblemsOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2009-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $30.01
Price in other shops:
Happiness: Classic and Contemporary Readings in PhilosophyOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2007-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.71
Price in other shops:
Happiness: The Science behind Your Smileby Daniel Nettle
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2006-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.68
Price in other shops:
Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyondby Jeffrey Rosensweig, Betty Liu
FT Press; Published: 2006-05-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.92
Price in other shops:
The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live Itby Debbie Ford
HarperOne; Published: 2004-12-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.19
Price in other shops:
Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Lifeby Alexandra Stoddard
William Morrow; Published: 2002-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe: Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Scienceby Michael S. Schneider
HarperPerennial; Published: 1995-09-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.78
Price in other shops:
Gratitude Factor, The: Enhancing Your Life through Grateful Livingby Charles M. Shelton PhD
Hidden Spring; Published: 2010-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.01
Price in other shops:
The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Wantby Sonja Lyubomirsky
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2008-12-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.08
Price in other shops:
The Psychology of Gratitude (Affective Science)Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2004-02-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $45.01
Price in other shops:
Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-beingby Martin E. P. Seligman
Free Press; Published: 2011-04-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.86
Price in other shops:
Words Of Gratitude Mind Body & Soulby Robert A. Emmons
Templeton Press; Published: 2001-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $33.00
Gratitude: A Way of Lifeby Lousie L. Hay
Hay House Inc; Published: 1996-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops:
Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitudeby Nina Lesowitz, Mary Beth Sammons
PBS; Viva Editions; Published: 2009-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Everyday of Your Lifeby M J Ryan
Conari Press; Published: 1999-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.19
Price in other shops:
Thanks!: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happierby Robert Emmons
Mariner Books; Published: 2008-11-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.45
Price in other shops: