The Gratitude Diaries

By: Janice Kaplan

Narrated by: Janice Kaplan

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this inspiring memoir backed by pioneering research, Janice Kaplan spends a year living gratefully and gains a fresh outlook that transforms her marriage, family life, work, health, and everyday experience.

On New Year's Eve, journalist and former Parade editor-in-chief Janice Kaplan makes a promise to be grateful and look on the bright side of whatever happens. She realizes that how she feels over the next months will have less to do with the events that occur than her own attitude and perspective. Getting advice at every turn from psychologists, academics, doctors, and philosophers, she brings listeners on a smart and witty journey to discover the value of appreciating what you have.

Relying on both amusing personal experiences and extensive research, Kaplan explores how gratitude can transform every aspect of life, including marriage and friendship, money and ambition, and health and fitness. She learns how appreciating your spouse changes the neurons of your brain and why saying thanks helps CEOs succeed. Through extensive interviews with experts and lively conversations with real people, including celebrities like Matt Damon, Daniel Craig, and Jerry Seinfeld, Kaplan discovers the role of gratitude in everything from our sense of fulfillment to our children's happiness.

With warmth, humor, and appealing insight, Janice's journey will empower listeners to think positively and start living their own best years ever.

©2015 Janice Kaplan (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Disappointing

An unfortunately superficial treatment of a profound topic. Her talk of her vacation home, trips to Europe, and large bank accounts made it unrelatable. I would have liked a little more grit and acknowledgement that it isn't always so easy to look on the bright side.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Apply her strategy and you will see and feel a difference

Apply her strategy and you will see and feel a difference. Write daily in your own gratitude. Relate and organize

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great book of ideas and perspectives on the power

Great book of ideas and perspectives about the power, beauty and elasting effect of grattitude.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Disappointing and Self-Indulgent

I was excited for this book because I keep a gratitude journal and believe in its benefits. The pattern of the writing - sentence, sentence, corny one liner "joke," sentence, sentence, corny one liner "joke" - grew extremely tiresome.

The book was self-indulgent at times and just distasteful at others (mentioning a woman who tragically lost her 3 young children and then the author segueing into losing her job was in offensive - especially since she and her husband are both clearly very wealthy and she had living children).

When the author got into gratitude and her struggle to lose 10 pounds I almost quit the book (she didn't even interview a registered dietitian nutritionist as an expert on the topic).

There were a few gems but overall I was just grateful the book was over and could start a new one.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Uplifting!

I just finished rereading this book. Loved it both times! The message is uplifting, and the reread reminded me that practicing gratitude makes me a much more optimistic and joyful person. Loved Janice Kaplan's narration too!

Grateful to find this book!!!!

While on my journey to lead a better life this book is a great find. listen to it now!!!

An Artful, Inspiring Perspective on Gratitude

What a fantastic listen! I'm on my 2nd round of enjoying Janice Kaplan's The Gratitude Diaries and I highly recommend it to everyone. Her enticing stories of celebrities and their gratitude experiences are entertaining & enlightening. I've learned from experience that a grateful heart is a happy one and this book is chock full of awesome incidents of gratitude - the author's and the many people with whom she's worked over the years. Kaplan is also a proficient narrator! Thank you, Janice Kaplan, for this delightful book!

Life Changing

I think everyone should read/listen to this book. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain! I appreciated the mix of Janice’s personal story telling and scientific research. I truly feel there is so much to be grateful for, and I’m making it my mission to so my gratitude to my family, friends, and even strangers.

I’m grateful for

Already enjoying my year of gratitude. Thank you for opening my heart and mind to simple changes for making life better.

Grateful for this book

I fully enjoyed this book. I am implementing the art of gratitude and appreciation into my life. It is magical.