There's never a bad time for giving thanks. Gratitude is one of those feelings that enhance the human experience, externally and internally, creating a real atmosphere of joy and comfort in all sorts of situations. Put simply, having an attitude of gratitude is the sort of thing that could well change your life. We could all do to give more thanks in our lives, but it’s hard to know where to begin. Luckily for listeners all over the country, our catalogue offers a variety of audiobooks focused on the well-being and positive psychology, detailing the benefits of gratitude in melodious tones. These are the very best audiobooks on gratitude for adults.
The Gifts of Imperfection may well be the most important audiobook you'll hear all year, an enchanting listen that will transform your life by changing the very way in which you approach what you might consider faults or flaws. The Gifts of Imperfection has been a best seller all across the world and it shows no sign of slowing down yet.
The premise is fairly simple, as self-dev icon Brené Brown details 10 guideposts to wholehearted living, emphasizing daily expressions of gratitude that expose the fraudulent nature of the unattainable and provide actionable insight into moving past these chains. Brown narrates the audiobook version herself with charm and character, acting as teacher and friend all at once.
It isn't difficult to see why The Gifts of Imperfection has been so successful in conquering bestseller lists from The Globe and Mail to The New York Times. The chaos of modern life makes it even more difficult to take a step back and properly evaluate ourselves, leading to assumptions that do more harm than good. In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown offers the listener a way out of the darkness into a world informed by positive psychology and actionable reality.
Narrated by Nancy Davies Kho herself, The Thank-You Project is an incredible listen that takes everyday gratitude to new heights. In the audiobook, Davies Kho decides to send letters of thanks to the many people who had helped, influenced and inspired her throughout her life, covering everyone from family members to teachers to ex-lovers and all the rest. The Thank-You Project develops from a simple idea into an inspiring success, once again confirming how the practice of gratitude can transform your life.
The Thank-You Project has already found success as a popular gift, but there are lessons here that go beyond wrapping paper and bows. The psychology of gratitude has been scientifically proven to lighten moods and brighten outlooks, and there are few better examples of this positive behaviour than thanking everyone that ever helped you to live life as you do.
It also happens to be a hugely accessible listen, as the whole thing flies by in just under five hours. Yet Davies Kho reflects on what seems like her entire life in that time, finding new ways to express gratitude while never straying far from the central idea of this charming audiobook. Undoubtedly one of the best books on gratitude for adults, The Thank-You Project might just inspire you to send your own letters and transform your own life in the process.
The clue is in the name. In The Gratitude Diaries, American novelist Janice Kaplan committed herself to a whole year of positive thinking in the hope of finding good mornings and better days. Was she successful? You'll just have to listen and find out for yourself.
Dedicating a whole year to a transformative mental approach isn't the easiest of tasks, and The Gratitude Diaries becomes an ever-deeper listen as the chronicled year goes by. Along the way, Kaplan discovers the benefits of gratitude in all sorts of situations, from improving love lives to a better outlook in business and finance. It isn't easy, but Janice Kaplan shows in The Gratitude Diaries that it is more than possible.
Of course, Kaplan is helped along the way with some famous names to interview, among them James Bond actor Daniel Craig and iconic American comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The celebrities interviewed provide plenty of insight into the importance of everyday gratitude, helped along by Kaplan's tremendous narration and beautifully weighted approach to giving thanks. Altogether, The Gratitude Diaries is a truly gorgeous listen.
The subtitle of John Kralik's famous book of everyday gratitude tells its own story: “The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life.” At the age of 53, Kralik found himself approaching rock bottom at an alarming pace, with little time to make a change for the better. Luckily for Kralik and Audible listeners worldwide, that change came in the form of giving thanks and little expressions of appreciation that eventually led to one of the 21st century's best books on gratitude for adults.
Narrated by John Kralik himself, 365 Thank Yous is an exercise in personal development that tackles a huge range of subjects, guaranteeing that there is something for everyone in this heartwarming audiobook. 365 Thank Yous is about finding thanks for what you have as opposed to lamenting what you have lost, an approach that revolutionized Kralik’s life and could change yours too.
That isn't to say that 365 Thank Yous is a cheerful book from beginning to end. Even so, Kralik can find hope in the darkest moments of his journey, providing further examples of how an attitude of gratitude is as much about creating long-term habits as it is short-term changes. John Kralik walked his own path, but there's no reason why your journey to joy couldn't take inspiration from this stunning audiobook.
It always seems so much easier said than done, right? When someone tells you to "look on the bright side", the initial reaction is as often one of frustration as it is of positivity. When the chips are down, being told to brighten up is practically anti-advice. However, there could be more to this rose-coloured approach than meets the eye, especially from a purely scientific point of view.
This is where American neurologist and all-around clever person Loretta Graziano Breuning comes into the picture. Narrated here by actress Amanda Carlin, The Science of Positivity aims to revolutionize the listener's brain by clearing a path to, well, positivity, allowing that much-maligned bright side to come into a clearer view. It could well transform your life.
While giving thanks can often feel like a behavioural thing, the psychology of gratitude cannot be ignored. It begins with oneself, with learning to accept one's own gratitude, and Breuning's The Science of Positivity is just about as essential as the best books on gratitude for adults get.
Who doesn't love a Sunday? If ever there was a day for giving thanks and taking stock of the situation, Sunday is it. American chat show icon Oprah Winfrey is fully aware of this, so it is no great surprise to hear that Oprah's collection of interviews with a wide range of celebrities about the benefits of gratitude is a true must-listen. Oprah herself provides introductions to all of the chapters, detailing who, what, where, why and how in her own inimitable style.
The Wisdom of Sundays leans on the expertise of everyone from modern thinkers like Gary Zukav to best-selling authors such as Bryan Stevenson and Caroline Myss, providing the listener with actionable advice for creating an attitude of gratitude and living life to the fullest in the process. Expert advice is just about the hottest commodity in your journey to joy, and you won't find more of it than this tremendous audiobook.
Specially adapted from the original print version, The Wisdom of Sundays shines brightest in audiobook form. The original was undoubtedly one of the best books on gratitude for adults but the audio form allows the conversations space to breathe, with Oprah once again proving her Hall of Fame credentials as a conversationalist. The Wisdom of Sundays is an altogether different type of gratitude journal but the ideas expressed tick many boxes that such works provide.
A tremendous work for younger listeners, Gratitude is My Superpower builds spectacularly on the promise of its subtitle by giving young people a clear understanding of the importance of giving thanks and practicing positivity. It isn't the longest of stories, but the little book of gratitude packs plenty into its brief run, making it a must-listen for people of all ages.
Written by Alicia Ortega and narrated by Julie Griffiths, Gratitude is My Superpower follows the journey of Little Betsy as she discovers the importance of the little things in life, expressing the positive impact of giving thanks and the benefits of gratitude throughout one's day. While this might be one of the most popular children's books of its time, this audiobook has plenty to teach older listeners as well.
The simplicity of gratitude remains one of its most powerful attributes. Ortega understands this fluidly, filling her short story with frequent reminders that developing an attitude of gratitude doesn't require one to rebuild one's own life from top to bottom. Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking things for what they are as opposed to what we have convinced ourselves they must be. Gratitude is a skill that we all possess, no matter how deep it may be hidden.
