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Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier | 
 enlarge | Author: Robert Emmons
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
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Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 29961
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0618620192
Dewey Decimal Number: 179.9
EAN: 9780618620197
ASIN: 0618620192
Publication Date: August 6, 2007
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Product Description
Did you know that there is a crucial component of happiness that is often overlooked? In the pages of this eminently readable book, Robert Emmons -- editor in chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology -- draws on the first major study of the subject of gratitude, of "wanting what we have," and shows that a systematic cultivation of this underexamined emotion can measurably change people's lives. Readers will discover how:
• People who regularly practice grateful thinking can increase their "set-point" for happiness by as much as 25 percent.
• Such increases can be sustained over a period of months -- challenging the previously held notion that our set-points for happiness are frozen at birth.
• Keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks results in better sleep and more energy.
Emmons also reaches beyond science to bolster the case for gratitude by weaving in the writings of philosophers, novelists, and theologians. Like no other book has before, Thanks! inspires readers to embrace gratitude and all the benefits it can bring into our lives.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Thanks for a Great Book December 15, 2008
Beth
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Happiness books written for the popular read seem to fall into one of two general categories. They're either based on scientific evidence and give you research-tested techniques (such as Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World), OR, they give you advice and things to think about to help you "reframe" your thinking (such as The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living). While I can't say that one is better than the other, as they both have their attributes, I will say that I personally prefer the research-based books the best- like this one.
In this book, positive psychology researcher Robert Emmons, who is very well published I might add, will tell you all about the emotional disposition of gratitude- and how cultivating it in your life will not only make you happier, but just plain healthier all the way around!
So what exactly is gratitude anyway? While the defintion depends on who you ask, the book tells that it is helpful to think of it in terms of two stages: the acknowledgement of goodness, and the recognizing that the source of this goodness lies at least partially outside yourself. I never thought of it like that, but it makes all the sense in the world to me.
With that in hand, the book goes on to tell you exactly what gratitude has to do with happiness. As the book explains, there are three main things that determine your happiness: circumstances, genetics, and intentional activities. Cultivating gratitude fits into the happiness equation by being an intentional activity- one you can practice that has been shown to increase happiness levels. But does it REALLY work?
In a word, yes, and I can say this with certainty because the author himself has conducted randomized controlled trials that have proven this. (For those not in the know, the highest form of scientific proof that something actually works is the randomized controlled trial). And so, as you might have guessed, a good portion of the book is spent talking about his, as well as other's research, that will probably convince many, if not all readers, that cultivating gratitiude can not only make one happier, but healthier as well.
But while the book contains it's share of research, it very much leaves the reader with some practical tools by its end. Obstacles that get in the way of gratitude are discussed, as well as some very practical options to incorporate gratitude into your life, keeping a journal being just one example.
My final comment on this book is that if there were more like 'em, this world would truly be a better place. Here is a simple book that convincingly showed me that something as small and easy to do as being thankful, not only has the potential to change a person, but perhaps the rest of the world too. Thanks for a great book!
Research on Gratitude Combined with Philosophical and Theological Views of Gratitude November 12, 2008
Mary Beth Sturgis, RN, PhD (Naples, FL USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The social sciences have investigated positive attributes, and research on gratitude is emphasized in Emmons' book. He clearly states his purpose: "This book showcases the new science of gratitude. Woven into the narrative is a discussion of how the great religious leaders, philosophers, theologians, and writers have written about gratitude in different cultures and historical periods. To encourage the reader to begin the journey of gratitude practice, I include a discussion of practical techniques that will increase readers' gratitude and happiness. I intend this book to provoke intellectual interest as well as self-examination..."
Emmons clearly identifies difficulties in examining gratitude from a scientific perspective. First, it defies easy classification. Gratitude is an attitude, but also a mood, an emotion, a personality trait, a motive, a moral virtue, a resource for coping and a way of life. Acknowledging the complexity of the concept, he identifies two fundamental components of gratitude: acknowledging goodness in one's life, and recognizing that the source of this goodness is at least partially outside the self. Emmons also acknowledges that, "The tools of science seem to come up short when we try to understand people living lives of gratefulness in extraordinarily difficult situations." Subsequently, his book is a narrative, a narrative that interweaves classical and popular writings with brief descriptions of research from the social sciences. Excerpts from "gratitude journals," written by research subjects, illustrate key concepts.
Emmons is true to his stated purpose. Thanks! is not a review of the literature on research from the social sciences. It is a book of insights, some from research, some from personal experiences, and some from ancient or popular writers. I found myself nodding in recognition or using his insights to re-frame situations in my own life. My own journey of gratitude motivated me to read this book. I enjoyed it. Reading Thanks! generated a list of books by other authors that I will pursue.
 A wise and true book August 4, 2008
Morgan (New York, New York USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought 60 copies of this book to give as part of an "Adult Goody Bag" to my guests at a party I gave. Needless to say I think this book has lots to offer all the successful, anxious friends I have. And clearly many of them are heeding the books advice as they're sending me Thank You notes.
Thanks! How the new science of gratitude can make you happier April 10, 2008
Andrea T. Goeglein (Las Vegas, NV)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Thanks is a great primer in gratitude for those working in the coaching field. It gives a good mix of research, world experience, and individual stories. To that mix is added proven tools and techniques to enhance gratitude as a way of creating a happier life.
Cultivating the attitude of gratitude March 25, 2008
Dr. J. Carson (London, England.)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been reading up on the topic of gratitude since reading a newspaper account of Professor Emmon's research on the topic. I have now studied this recent book on the topic and taken extensive notes. While the issue has always struck me as very important, I didn't realise the empirical support for the topic. Work conducted by Professor Emmons and his colleagues has provided important evidence of how even simple interventions such as keeping a daily gratitude diary can have a significant impact on students as well as clinical populations. I would thoroughly recommend this book as it provides a comprehensive overview of the gratitude literature, as well as tips on how to bring more gratitude practices into your daily life. Unusually, it is not just a self-help book but a scientific guide, written by a genuine expert in the field, unlike so many books in this genre. I look forward to developing and extending my own work in this area. There can be few better introductions than this book.
Dr Jerome Carson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, London, England.
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