‘29 Gifts: How a month of giving can change your life’ is a best-selling book by Cami Walker. The author Cami Walker was only 35 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that made it difficult for her to walk, work or relish life. She was newly married and this sudden diagnosis came as a shock for her. After being hospitalized for the treatment, she received an uncommon remedy from an African healer Mbali – To give away 29 gifts in 29 days. The gifts didn’t have to be expensive but should be given with gratitude.
29 Gifts traces the author’s journey of giving during those 29 days. She gave away some simple gifts too like spare change, a tissue and a phone call to a friend. But the acts of giving had a very positive effect on her. By day 29, not only Cami’s health improved but she also decided to start a worldwide giving movement.
Reading the book was quite inspiring for me. I immediately signed up for 29 days giving challenge and was a part of 29 days community for almost two years before the site was shut down due to Cami’s personal issues. Since then Cami has had a son and is still working towards spreading the giving movement.
You can rate the books on two levels. If we talk about inspiration then this book has a powerful message to convey. It will propel you into action and motivate you to do random acts of kindness on a daily basis. I would credit this book for instilling the giving habit in me. It taught me that it’s the intention that matters, no matter how expensive or inexpensive the gift is. This is one of the best self-help books I have ever read in terms of motivation.
However if you are looking for literary worth or some great content, then you may feel disappointed. The book is like a personal journal reflecting the author’s struggle with multiple sclerosis and her subsequent experiences of everyday giving. The book also includes in the end the personal experiences of a few readers who felt that their lives changed for the better after starting the giving journey. There are also some pages at the end in which the reader can record their own experience of the 29 days giving journey.
The book is a memoir but a rather inspiring one. I would recommend this book because of the inspiring lessons it offers to practice daily acts of kindness and how it can change the way you look at the world.
© 2017 Shaloo Walia All rights reserved
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