I Want to Thank You: How a Year of Gratitude Can Bring Joy and Meaning

Journalist Hamadey debuts with an inviting account of the year she went big on writing thank-you notes. After writing a slew of thank-you notes for a fund-raiser, Hamadey realized she enjoyed the process and embarked on a daily writing routine, dividing each month into categories of people and organizations she’d write to, such as charities in January, neighbors in February, and friends in March. She shares how writing notes after traveling helps to “extend a trip’s afterglow” and letters to family expressing gratitude can “disarm and lead to change.” Hamadey proposes writing to friends, family, old mentors, and even celebrities with no expectation the notes will be read. The goal of the process isn’t to win favors or even flatter others, but “to look outside myself and my lists and really see other people.” While the concept is far from new, Hamadey's flexible structure and thoughtful suggestions elevate thank-you notes to more than a courtesy. (Apr.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review referred to the author using an incorrect surname.