Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks

I love the author and I m not disappointed. She writes well about complex topics for a contemporary audience. Well worth the read.

This book gave me goosebumps. And I mean that in a very positive way.So much of what author Diana Butler Bass writes is filled with such a bold, no-holds-barred understanding of the human condition that her words resonated so deeply, I got goosebumps.Being grateful is more than writing a thank-you note, although that's always a good thing to do. Being grateful is a way of life that you embrace not only spiritually and emotionally, but also physically. This is a how-to guide to the myriad ways we can give thanks—from saying thank you to grandparents for birthday checks to praying thanks to God for our very existence. Best of all, it's filled with practical and effective techniques on how to become more grateful.While gratitude may be a spiritual technique, it is much more than that. When done right, it becomes a habit and one that is so ingrained that it actually shapes who you are as a human being. Bass says, "Feeling grateful empowers the soul." Most important, gratitude is not about material goods. Instead, it's an emotional response to the surprises that life holds, as well as a disposition that you can actually choose and cultivate even when life feels scary, sad, or threatening. Yes, gratitude is a feeling, but even more so, it's an action.This is a very personal book as Bass shares stories from her own life, some of which are deeply private and so were probably difficult to put out there is so public a way. But the stories all serve to show how—even under the most difficult of circumstances—she still managed to develop the habit of gratitude.The superpower of this book is that it is essentially a non-preachy blueprint for developing and perfecting your own sense of gratitude. And in this sense, it can be life-changing in a myriad of positive ways.

A thought provoking book on what it means to be grateful what it is & how much we need it & what good it could do for us personally & publicly. The book goes off the rails when her political bias burst forth.

The first part of the book was really great and helpful but it was clear to me in the second half that the book was written during the 2016 election period. The second half was very unfocused and heavily laden with political emotions - one moment of indulgence in that would have been more than enough, not because I disagree with the politics but because that's not the book I wanted to read. The religious overtones were well balanced in the first half of the book I thought and made it accessible to both those of deep faith and those with more spiritual leanings but the second half got much deeper and a bit more than someone like me who is more spiritual than religious was comfortable with at times.

A Foundation for Stewarding LifeSeveral years ago, a friend suggested that the word, "Stewardship" does not provide enough foundation for understanding the basis of giving of our time and resources or for managing life. Bass provides the needed emphasis to compliment for those of us who sense that managing resources is rooted in a greater sense of gratitude and gratefulness. The author's comparison of the Quid Pro Quo understanding of gratitude, which is the practice of our Western culture, to a sense of gratitude that spends itself in thanksgiving without expectation of a return on investment, is refreshing. The former is about transaction and the latter relationship. We need all the assistance we can get in forming a culture of gratitude where relationships are more important than getting the best deal to support self-centered interests. Bass' s book provides a formula that will grow people in relationship to self-God-Others and creation.

I’ve just read”Big D’s” review and I must respond. Of course you will be disappointed in something if it doesn’t fit your way of thinking. You presented a very dualistic worldview and gratitude lays dualism to rest. Every life is presented with challenges and the author has opened up to her readers about a particular one in her life. Any reader can relate generally, if not specifically. That you may disagree with her and thus slam the book shows no curiosity, no respect for diversity of opinion. Her book IS a triumphant song of gratitude to God for Bass is quite clear that within the tumultuous times we are experiencing, God is present and active. I strongly recommend this book. Especially if you think it might challenge some of your own assumptions. The Reign of God is a rainbow of world views, experiences, etc. There is much to be grateful for in this book.

The insights in this book are definitely needed right now! When I read Grateful, I found the book to be so meaningful and helpful for me personally that I, a pastor, recommended it to my entire congregation. I preached a 5 week sermon series on themes in Grateful as church members read the book independently. This summer we have blank prayer flags in the sanctuary. Each week, parishioners are invited to write what they are grateful for on a flag. As we watch our expressions of gratitude multiply each week, a new spirit of thankfulness is growing within our faith community. Diana Butler Bass' book Grateful has sparked many conversations within the congregation and is helping us find gratitude in a time when many are overwhelmed. Her book is accessible, personal, and contains a perfect balance of poetic storytelling, research to back up her assertions, and practical helps. I highly recommend it!

This is a well written and encouraging book. There is a difference between a cognitive knowledge that everything we have been given is a gift and actually consciously naming the things we are grateful for on a daily basis. This book has encouraged me to name those blessings. Thankful to the author - being grateful does make you a more contented person!

Following her award winning spiritual book called Grounded, Diana Butler Bass has written another wonderful book on gratitude. I read both of these books through the library, but decided that I wanted them permanently in my own collection so that I could re-read them both at any time. This used book arrived in pristine condition several days ago. Kudos to the seller! Very pleased with this purchase.

We used this book for a group study. Interesting, engaging, easy to read and discuss. Fascinating way to explore gratitude at a deeper level.