cover image The Thank You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time

The Thank You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time

Nancy Davis Kho. Running Press, $22 (192p) ISBN 978-0-7624-6845-4

Blogger Kho debuts with this heartfelt and empowering memoir and treatise on the power of gratitude and the joy of conveying it in written form. For her 50th birthday, Kho decided to write thank you notes to people who have played an important part in her life—among them her parents, her first crush, and even her obstetrician. “The Thank-You Project comes down to three simple steps, done repeatedly: see, say, savor,” she writes. While Kho’s goal was to make sure people understand how much their actions have positively influenced her, a side benefit of her project, she notes, was rereading the letters and realizing how blessed her life has been. While the first chapter provides instructions for letter writing, most of the book comprises Kho’s transformation during her own epistolary experiences. She also describes the cathartic effect of writing heartfelt letters that will never be sent, such as those written to deceased loved ones or to those lost to one’s past. Kho includes a playlist with each chapter (including “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross and “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago), in order to trigger nostalgia and capture certain emotions. Sweet and wise, this hopeful book will inspire readers to honor those who have made a difference in their lives. (Dec.)