- 464 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
"A scholarly, many-angled examination of what gratitude is and how it functions in our lives" from the bestselling author of
The Rituals of Dinner (
The
New York Times).
Known as an "anthropologist of everyday life," Margaret Visser has won numerous awards for illuminating the unexpected meanings of everyday objects and rituals. Now she turns her keen eye to another custom so ubiquitous that it often escapes notice: saying "Thank you." What do we really mean by these two simple words?
This fascinating inquiry into all aspects of gratitude explores such topics as the unyielding determination of parents to teach their children to thank; the difference between speaking the words and feeling them; and the ways different cultures handle the complex matters of giving, receiving, and returning favors and presents. Visser elucidates the fundamental opposition in our own culture between gift-giving and commodity exchange, as well as the similarities between gratitude and its opposite, vengefulness.
The Gift of Thanks considers cultural history, including the modern battle of social scientists to pin down the notion of thankfulness and account for it, and the newly awakened scientific interest in the biological and evolutionary roots of emotions. With characteristic wit and erudition, Visser once again reveals the extraordinary in the everyday.
"An anthropological and philosophical account of how and why we give thanks. . . . All delivered in elegant, clear prose. A book to be thankful for—sympathetic to human foible, deeply learned and a pleasure to read." — Kirkus Reviews
"A delightful and graceful gift of a book, for which any fortunate recipient will be thankful." — Publishers Weekly
Known as an "anthropologist of everyday life," Margaret Visser has won numerous awards for illuminating the unexpected meanings of everyday objects and rituals. Now she turns her keen eye to another custom so ubiquitous that it often escapes notice: saying "Thank you." What do we really mean by these two simple words?
This fascinating inquiry into all aspects of gratitude explores such topics as the unyielding determination of parents to teach their children to thank; the difference between speaking the words and feeling them; and the ways different cultures handle the complex matters of giving, receiving, and returning favors and presents. Visser elucidates the fundamental opposition in our own culture between gift-giving and commodity exchange, as well as the similarities between gratitude and its opposite, vengefulness.
The Gift of Thanks considers cultural history, including the modern battle of social scientists to pin down the notion of thankfulness and account for it, and the newly awakened scientific interest in the biological and evolutionary roots of emotions. With characteristic wit and erudition, Visser once again reveals the extraordinary in the everyday.
"An anthropological and philosophical account of how and why we give thanks. . . . All delivered in elegant, clear prose. A book to be thankful for—sympathetic to human foible, deeply learned and a pleasure to read." — Kirkus Reviews
"A delightful and graceful gift of a book, for which any fortunate recipient will be thankful." — Publishers Weekly
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Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access The Gift of Thanks by Margaret Visser in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Emotions in Psychology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Title Page
- Contents
- Dedication
- Copyright
- Introduction
- PART I
- 1. "What Do You Say?"
- 2. No Thanks
- 3. It's Only Natural
- 4. "I'm So Sorry"
- 5. "Thank You Very Much Indeed"
- PART II
- 6. Why Give Back?
- 7. All Wrapped Up
- 8. The Three Graces
- 9. Give It Away
- 10. The Give-and-Take of Everyday Life
- PART III
- 11. Votive Offerings
- 12. Unpacking "Gratitude"
- 13. The Fourth Law of Nature
- 14. After All
- 15. Tipping
- 16. Freedom and Equality
- 17. Gestures
- 18. Memory and Narrative
- PART IV
- 19. Emotions
- 20. Feeling Grateful
- 21. Learning and Lasting
- PART V
- 22. The Marble-Hearted Fiend
- 23. We Are Not Grateful
- 24. The Poisoned Gift
- PART VI
- 25. Gratitude Instead
- 26. Partiality and Transcendence
- 27. Recognition
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index