Ode to the Thank You Note
Though at an ebb-tide moment in life, attorney John Kralik commits to focusing on things for which he can be thankful. The result is“365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life”, a book that encourages “pass it on” acts of kindness. This is a book you can digest in small bites – each short chapter recounts how a particular thank-you note resonated through the author’s life (and often, the recipient’s). Though I am already an adequate thank-you writer, the book has inspired me to stock up on cards and reinvigorate my own Daily Gratitude campaign, and I suspect it will spark everyone who reads it to do the same. It’s a 200-page paean to the thank you note … a celebration of the way gratitude transforms us.
Rated of 5
by Lynn B. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Thank You!
The concept of this book is inspiring and thought provoking. While there are some slow spots in the book, the overall premise is intriguing. Because the author vows to write a Thank You note everyday for a year, he is forced to appreciate the good things rather than dwell on the negative. He doesn't set out to make this project a "self help" endeavor, it is simply a goal he has made for himself. I found this to be the most refreshing aspect of the story. Because he is forced to look for the good things, so that he can write his Thank You notes, his entire perspective changes and eventually his life. I recommend this book to everyone, of all ages. It is an easy, fast read and the concept while simple, is something all can benefit from.
Rated of 5
by Cecile G. (Mansfield, TX)
The benefits of saying "thank-you."
Thank you for the opportunity to read Mr. Kralik's book. Once again our mothers' encouragement of good manners has won out in the end. Thank yous are never given enough and the title character found some encouragement in his life with a simple gesture. Well written and a quick read which is always a good thing.
Rated of 5
by Randi E. (Walnut Creek, CA)
Positive Energy!
John Kralik's life could belong to any of us....relationship problems, health problems, money problems, stress! What I enjoyed was the simplicity of his exercise....write one thank you a day and mail it off. I'm a big fan of "positive energy", and can imagine how it can work wonders in one's life. As it did in John's. Can it solve all problems? No. But the simple act of daily gratefulness was very powerful in his life. A great read for today's uncertain times!
Rated of 5
by John D. (Garland, TX)
365 Thank Yous
Well written and enjoyable. Even though the author's motive for writing the thank you notes began as a quest for his own personal gain, he eventually learned to write the notes for the right reasons. It would be a better world if we all, including myself, followed his example.
Rated of 5
by Rhonda M. (Concord, OH)
Just average for an inspirational book
There are so many books out there that are similar to this one that it did not move me as others have. The writer did find a way to uplift his spirit and it did make me think about all the things I should be grateful for and do not thank people for. But emotionally I never really felt his sadness or frustration. He didn't have the ability to touch inside of me. In spite of that I do think it was a good book for those that like this kind of book and it will make you take a moment and think about your life. But a lot of it seemed coincidental.
Rated of 5
by David L. (Taft, CA)
Thank Goodness There's Only 365 Days in a Year
A remarkable concept, this “thank you” for every day of a year; an idea which summons up hopes for a new civility, extended kindnesses, and a much better world. These were my hopes anyway, and while they are not quite dashed, they are severely wounded. Mr. Kralik, the author, is an attorney who, at the onset, begs the reader to have sympathy for him because he is being sued in a system he admits being, “a plain example of how legal proceedings can become the circle of hatred, in which each vicious legal move is countered by an even more malevolent one, until everyone is out of money.” Immediately my hackles are raised, and I am in an alert mode. Suspicion runs rampant across my thoughts, but I am willing to continue. I should have quit while still able to suspend my belief, for it is only a page later where he reveals, “…too often I was still just the vehicle whereby clients conveyed hatred, sought retribution, and inflicted pain on their fellow men and women.” A few sentences farther, “To me, the work was too often best done when I got in touch with my inner evil core.” The die has been cast for me.
This book is one man’s attempt to secure indulgences and buy his way out of purgatory. His is a long and ponderous chain, and he continues to add links as he admits that he has received so much more back from those he sent notes to. The promises I found in the title are fully undermined by the end of the book where he writes, “I still don’t believe I changed…” Neither do I.
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