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Gift Shop of Gratitude
Perfect for the parent or grandparent in your life, GIFT SHOP OF GRATITUDE prompts readers to recall and organize all the things in life for which they’re most grateful. Through the lens of 20 common gift shop souvenirs, consider the snow globes and ball caps, the t-shirts, postcards, and jewelry you have accumulated. What people, places, and life experiences do you hold dear and what memories do each of these items bring back for you? After reading a chapter on scented candles, reminisce about the aroma of your mother’s cooking? Do key chains prompt memories of a friend or mentor who opened important doors for you? Does a bobblehead recall a beloved teacher or athletic coach? What legacy does each memory leave for your family? This special journal will surprise and delight you with the stories it evokes. Then, by journaling in the Gratitude Pages your answers to its thought-provoking examples, you’ll create a personal memory book of all the things in life for which you’re most grateful. GIFT SHOP OF GRATITUDE is the Perfect gift for parents and grandparents to chronicle their family legacy Evokes cherished memories that can be shared for generations Become co-author of this book about your own life Create a treasured family heirloom for children, grandchildren, and all those whom you love.
Reviews
In a world geared towards consumerism, journalist Lovenheim (author of The Attachment Effect) encourages readers to view material goods through a new lens, sharing his imagined “Gift Shop of Gratitude” as a creative way to recognize life’s special gifts. He visualizes the shelves of his own life’s gift shop stocked with items that hold special meaning, whether that’s a deck of cards infused with the faces of loved ones “to remember the people we are most grateful to have had in our lives” or a bookmark noting his favorite play, all tokens of life’s most treasured moments.

Lovenheim draws from his visits to gift shops around the world, encouraging readers to create their own make-believe souvenir store, with 20 different knickknacks he deems important symbols. Those range from snow globes, which he suggests readers use to imagine the memorable places they’ve traveled, to the ubiquitous t-shirt, viewed as a cherished memory of a special experience. Every chapter offers lined pages at the end for readers to assign their own memories to Lovenheim’s spotlighted souvenirs, as he lovingly probes each one for its special meaning: collectible spoons are treasured for “the companionship [enjoyed] along with [meals]” while baseball caps prompt Lovenheim to ask readers “what groups or organizations have you been part of that gave a meaningful sense of belonging?”

The intimacy of this slim volume is remarkably wrought, cropping up in Lovenheim’s chummy reminiscences of the souvenirs he’s purchased over the years and in his heartwarming messages sprinkled throughout, such as his imaginary postcard, scribbled with a note to his children that reads “you’ve made my life a wonderful time. I’m so grateful you were here.” He includes history of various knickknacks as well, including how popular puzzles were during the Great Depression and the invention of the first music box in 1770. Readers will enjoy this unique take on the meaning behind our memorabilia.

Takeaway: Encouraging guide to recording memories inspired by gift store items.

Comparable Titles: Michael Hitchcock and Ken Teague’s Souvenirs, Bee Wilson’s Consider the Fork.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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