Thanks!: How the New Science of
Gratitude Can Make You Happier by
Robert Emmons
Very Good
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.
Personal Review: Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude
Can Make You Happier by Robert Emmons
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.
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