Books for Gratefulness Practice

Your webteam has selected the books below as having lasting value in the practice of grateful living. In addition, you will find other recommended books listed under each of our gratefulness topics. Thank you for buying books through us!

Attitudes of Gratitude in Love
The Book of Tea
Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer
A Listening Heart
The Power of Now
Sacred Voices
Seasons of Thanks
Words of Gratitude

Attitudes of Gratitude in Love
We can have happier and more joy-filled relationships if we focus on what’s right about them rather than what’s wrong,” writes M. J. Ryan in Attitudes of Gratitude in Love, the follow-up to her bestselling Attitudes of Gratitude. In her characteristically down-to-earth style, Ryan helps readers use the practice of gratitude to get back in touch with why they fell in love in the first place and deepen the love between partners, no matter how long they’ve been together. The book is divided into two sections—the attitudes of gratitude that bring our personal lives more joy, peace, and love, and the simple behaviors we can begin to practice to change any relationship for the better, right this moment. -- Conari Press

M.J. Ryan, with foreword by Daphne Rose Kingma
Conari Press; ISBN 1573247650
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The Book of Tea
You will not find an explicit reference to gratitude in this classic text, and yet it is the perfect introduction to gratefulness. The tea ceremony embodies the full response to the gratuitously given moment.

Kakuzo Okakura
Shambhala Publications; ISBN: 1570628289
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Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness
It makes me happy that, after almost two decades, this book still finds a steady stream of new readers. Now and then, I hear people who made Gratefulness their daily reading in a time of crisis, in sickness, or on their deathbed. This fills me with awe. So does that fact that groups who read and discuss books together have found this one helpful. What do I myself like about it? That it treats the main aspects of gratefulness in a systematic way, without – I hope – being dry. And I specially like the list of key words arranged from A to Z (yes, I even have one for “X”). In fact, the Glossary we plan to include on this site will continue and expand that idea. - Br. David

Brother David Steindl-Rast, with foreword by Henri Nouwen
N.J. Paulist Press; 1984. ISBN 0-8091-2628-1
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A Listening Heart: The Spirituality of Sacred Sensuousness
Ever since I added the two new chapters, "Sensuous Asceticism" and "Sacred Sensuousness," to A Listening Heart, this has become for me a favorite among my own books. - Br. David

Brother David with foreword by Matthew Fox
Crossroad/Herder; Revised Edition; 1999
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The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

OPRAH Magazine says about this book: “…a reminder to be truly present in our own lives and liberated from our past and future….The result? More joy, right now!” The joy of grateful living.

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In Sacred Voices: Essential Women’s Wisdom through the Ages, Mary Ford-Grabowsky gathers together poetry, essays, prayers, and stories by women resounding with spirit. Her superb anthology spans five millennia and a breathtaking range of traditions. Biographical sketches of each contributor accompany her selections. Recipient of numerous awards, including a Publisher’s Weekly recommendation for spring/summer reading and an American Library Association recommendation for library collections, Sacred Voices offers inspiration to men and women alike. - Patricia Carlson, July 2002

Mary Ford-Grabowsky, Editor
Harper San Francisco (May, 2002); ISBN: 0062517023
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Seasons of Thanks: Graces and Blessings for Every Home, by Taz Tagore

A natural way to develop a practice of grateful living is to carry on the time-honored tradition of saying grace at mealtimes.  Created around holidays celebrated by a wide variety of cultures throughout the year, this elegantly designed book is a rich source of stories and words to feed your soul and express your gratitude.  Proceeds from the book go to Appreciate Network’s program for homeless youth. -
Margaret Wakeley, December, 2005         

Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York (2005);
ISBN: 1-5849-429-1
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See also www.reciprocityfoundation.com

Words of Gratitude
For Mind, Body, and Soul
Writing the Introduction to Words of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill gave me a three-fold pleasure. It was a pleasure to introduce a book which conveys the message of gratitude so clearly, succinctly, and eloquently. Also, juggling with proverbs, as I did in my Introduction, is always a pleasure for me. And finally I could anticipate the pleasure readers will derive from the lovely layout and design of this perfect gift-book. - Br. David

Robert A. Emmons & Joanna Hill
Introduction by Brother David Steindl-Rast
Templeton Foundation Press; ISBN 1890151556
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For a full list of books by Brother David Steindl-Rast, please see this page