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"The Gift of Thanks is one of those uncommon books that not only tells you things you always wanted to know and convinces you that they are true, but also makes you want to begin to change your life." -- The Globe and Mail --The Globe and Mail
"Fascinating stuff." -- National Post --National Post
"Fascinating stuff." -- National Post --National Post
Product Description
In The Gift of Thanks, Margaret Visser continues her exploration of the cultural implications of common objects and ordinary behaviour. The simple habit of saying "thank you," and indeed the entire notion of gratitude itself, becomes a key to understanding many of the basic assumptions, preferences and needs underlying Western culture. Taking into consideration cultural history; questions of politics and rights; questions of ideas of freedom and equality; and questions of the newly awakened scientific interest in the emotions, Visser specifically addresses the questions: What does "gratitude" actually mean? Where did the notion come from (many languages have no specific word for it)? What is its history? And why is our society so invested in its operations?
Like all of Visser's celebrated work, The Gift of Thanks is a fascinating look at our everyday behaviour--from to tipping a waiter after a meal to wrapping a present for a friend.
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5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely insightful and thought-provoking, Mar 31 2011
By SingleEyePhotos - Published on Amazon.com
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I enjoyed this book very much, and it really opened my eyes to what was 'behind' everyday expressions like "Thank you" or "Thanks". We use those words without even thinking about it, but according to the author, they are essential to the fabric of society. This was a very intellectual, yet approachable, look across time and cultures at the origins of the sentiment of gratitude, of appreciation, and of memory; and how important all those are in interpersonal and intersocietal relationships. I have to say I particularly liked the discussions about the sympolism and purpose of wrapping a gift, and how in Japan, people will say "I am sorry" where we would say "Thank you" - it really gives you a look inside your cultural norms.This was a very long book - it took me almost a month to read, and normally I would just dive right into a book like this. However, I had to stop a couple times during that time and read something 'lighter'. Not because this was a difficult or hard-to-follow book - it was very accessible and well-written - but it was 'heavy' in the intellectual sense of the word. A lot of thought went into the writing, and I guess I was trying to show my gratitude to the author for her work and insights by giving what she has to say my full attention. (See! She corrupted me - I'm thinking in terms of 'The Gift'!!!)
Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the sociological aspects of gratitude or gift-giving, or who just finds the concept intruiging. Be warned, this book requires work, but it's worth it! The Kindle edition has over 7000 locations, which probably translates to 400-500 pages in a paper edition.
Note on Kindle formatting: Very good. There were instances of two words being run together scattered throughout, but they were sporadic. Those were the only formatting errors I noticed and they did not impact reading.
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