The Gift Of Thanks: The Roots, Persistence, and Paradoxical Meanings of a Social Ritual

In The Gift of Thanks, Margaret Visser continues her exploration of the cultural implications of common objects and ordinary behaviour. The simple habit of saying “thank you,” and indeed the entire notion of gratitude itself, becomes a key to understanding many of the basic assumptions, preferences and needs underlying Western culture. Taking into consideration cultural history; questions of politics and rights; questions of ideas of freedom and equality; and questions of the newly awakened scientific interest in the emotions, Visser specifically addresses the questions: What does “gratitude” actually mean? Where did the notion come from (many languages have no specific word for it)? What is its history? And why is our society so invested in its operations? Like all of Visser’s celebrated work, The Gift of Thanks is a fascinating look at our everyday behaviour—from tipping a waiter after a meal to wrapping a present for a friend.