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29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,224 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
At age thirty-five, Cami Walker was burdened by a battle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurological condition that made it difficult for her to walk, work, or enjoy her life. Seeking a remedy for her depression after being hospitalized, she received an uncommon prescription from an African medicine woman: give to others for 29 days.
29 Gifts is the insightful story of the author’s life change as she embraces and reflects on the naturally reciprocal process of giving and receiving. Many of Walker’s gifts were simple—a phone call, spare change, a Kleenex. Yet the acts were transformative. By day 29, not only had Walker’s health and happiness improved, but she had created a worldwide giving movement.
The book also includes personal essays from others whose lives changed for the better by giving, plus pages for the reader to record their own journey. More than a memoir, 29 Gifts offers inspiring lessons on how a simple daily practice of altruism can dramatically alter your outlook on the world.
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"What a surprisingly marvelous read. After reading The Happiness Project, I was ready for another self-indulgant tale of a pampered woman longing to "discover more" about herself, but instead, this moving book is about releasing pain, ego and negativity through focusing on others and giving your energy to the world. Cami Walker, who suffers from debilitating MS, uses her illness as a crutch until she decides to embrace the philosophy of giving - once she changes her mindset, she finds her body working with her instead of against her. She is eloquent in her prose and gracious in accepting her limits, her strengths and her role in the world. Truly inspiring, this book will help anyone feeling stuck in their life to pull out and see how self-improvement comes from letting go and living freely, generously and honestly."
— Kristen (5 out of 5 stars)
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“An insightful and moving story.”
— Orange County Register -
“Walker’s a plucky writer, and it’s hard not to be inspired by her story...Can 29 Gifts work? Well, at the very least, it makes you more aware of the good in your life, and it shifts the focus from yourself to others.”
— Boston Globe
29 Gifts Listener Reviews
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" Very good... I was pulled in though I just intended to look something up. "
— Tara, 2/19/2014 -
" Very inspiring! Definitely made me want to be my best self and give to others "
— Christie, 2/7/2014 -
" The author is challenged to give a gift everyday for 29 days. When she begins the project, she is struggling with her life. She is operating out of a place of scarcity. This project moves her to see the abundance in her life. I recommend this book and the project to anyone in need of a new view on life. "
— Susannah, 2/7/2014 -
" This book I'm sure inspired many people to start their own giving projects. In 29 Gifts, Cami Walker discovers the inherent power of gift-giving. It really is in giving that your heart is open and receptive to receiving from others. She challenges the reader to give despite all the excuses of financial hardship, lack of want/time. It is through her giving cycle that she is able to face her M.S. symptoms. I've read this book several times, and have incorporated a month of giving into my own lifestyle "
— Teresa, 2/6/2014 -
" An interesting read about giving "gifts" for 29 days straight to feel the "good karma" that comes from this giving. At first the book was very whinny and self-absorbed but it did get a bit better (less whinny) in the end. I do have a desire to check out the website and learn more. We are reading this book for our January Book Club - I look forward to the group discussion. Will I try it? Perhaps..... "
— Pamela, 2/5/2014 -
" I appreciated the perspective that the author shared about giving and her honesty. Made me want to try her giving challenge. "
— Paige, 2/2/2014 -
" 29 Gifts is a book about giving and the story of a woman with MS. The lessons are applicable to everyone. It is easy to read and very inspirational. "
— Diana, 1/29/2014 -
" I was really disappointed with this book. The author was diagnosed with MS a month after she was married, and the book tells of her trials and triumphs. She is challenged by one of her friends who is a holistic healer to give 29 day without expecting anything in return. The concept is good, but as I was reading I felt that her giving seemed very self-serving. If the book didn't have the stories in the back of the book from people who took her challenge, I would of only given the book one star. Those were sweet stories, and they were sincere and from the heart. "
— Shanelle, 1/20/2014 -
" An inspiring story. I really agree that focusing on others and giving service improves our lives as well. "
— Danielle, 1/13/2014 -
" I like this book & think it would be amazing if it was tried by everyone (in concept) for a bit... "
— Kim, 1/5/2014 -
" I loved this book! It was so uplifting and I can't wait to start my own 29 days of giving. I think everyone should read this book! "
— Daniela, 12/22/2013 -
" Simple book about a woman diagnosed with MS who gives away one gift a day and believes that it makes her life better. Worth the time spent reading it. "
— Sandra, 12/14/2013 -
" Randomly chosen from my pile(s) of books and it is book 70 of 2011 - aim 133 books in 2011 "
— Tania, 11/27/2013 -
" Amazing true story. Changed the way I feel about giving and not expecting anything in return! "
— Melanie, 11/21/2013 -
" This book is amazing. It really changed my life. I can't wait to do the 29 days giving challenge and buy this book for all my friends. LOVED IT!!! "
— Michella, 11/21/2013 -
" I like the idea behind the book and plan on doing my own 29 days of giving but I wasn't a fan of the book itself. "
— Chantel, 11/15/2013 -
" Everyone should read this book, especially at this time of year when the focus SHOULD be on giving, not getting, and being thankful for the things you do have no matter how small they may seem. "
— Erynn, 10/30/2013 -
" I would rate this 2 1/2 stars - some sections were good, others okay. "
— Colleen, 7/18/2013 -
" I can relate to the concept presented. I just wish I could follow through on my own decision to give 29 gifts in 29 days. "
— Connie, 2/8/2013 -
" This is a great uplifting book! The Mind is a powerful thing that should not be wasted. "
— Candace, 1/12/2013 -
" I enjoyed the book but midway found it getting somewhat "preachy". "
— Bethany, 10/9/2012 -
" This was a fun easy read that inspired me. "
— Cassidy, 4/18/2012 -
" This book was very interesting to me for two reasons. The first is that the author has MS with some symptoms very similar to my father's disease. The second is that I found it very interesting the changes her mindset went through over the course of the first couple of weeks. "
— Jana, 1/29/2012 -
" Inspirational. This books reminds us that no watter how low we feel, we always have something to offer others. If we act upon the realization that we CAN give, we forget how low we felt and lost we felt. "
— Zellerj, 10/15/2011 -
" Sweet little book! Glad we picked this for our March selection as I would never have picked this to read. Thanks Kelley! "
— Laura, 10/9/2011 -
" I like the idea behind this book in terms of focusing on giving thoughtfully and/or intentionally. But I didn't care for the 'spiritual' aspects...talk of 'energy, affirmations, altar building in your home etc...' "
— melody, 9/30/2011 -
" Surprisingly great for a non-fan of nonfiction. This reads as a memoir, only better. Love the premise and the real-life success story. "
— Megan, 7/26/2011 -
" I gave it one star because I learned something about MS. I felt the main charecter, Cami, was very immature and a bit flaky. "
— Mary, 6/26/2011 -
" Randomly chosen from my pile(s) of books and it is book 70 of 2011 - aim 133 books in 2011 "
— Tania, 6/22/2011 -
" I actually thought I would like this. I suppose it is proof I am a curmudgeon now. It's way too frivolous for me. I think I should avoid books that are religious or "spiritual" henceforth. While I love a well done memoir, this is slight. "
— Marty, 6/20/2011 -
" It was a very easy read, but some of the parts got too spiritual for me. Overall, a good book. "
— Tanja, 6/11/2011 -
" Loved the idea of giving to heal. Quick read. Having my family all read it too. "
— Julie, 6/8/2011 -
" Such an interesting account of using gratitude and giving to get through her own diagnosis. I didn't intend to read the book as a resource for my job, but I think the concept of giving to build up hope and purpose again is one that i'll use in my work as a therapist. "
— Rebecca, 6/4/2011 -
" This was a fun easy read that inspired me. "
— Cassidy, 6/3/2011 -
" This book is amazing. It really changed my life. I can't wait to do the 29 days giving challenge and buy this book for all my friends. LOVED IT!!! "
— Michella, 5/31/2011 -
" Loved loved loved it! Inspirational and an amazing read about a woman who keeps on living her life with MS. A must read for everyone. "
— Tiffany, 5/12/2011 -
" Love this book! The concept of intentionally giving is such a great way to live! "
— Theresa, 5/7/2011 -
" Interesting insight into what it's like to have MS - and how giving changed this woman's physical and mental health. A little too much feel-good writing but overall I liked the book. A very quick read. "
— Jamie, 4/21/2011 -
" Light reading, The message is about how giving generously in daily life can invite happiness and good fortune into your own life. "
— Kate, 4/17/2011 -
" Very inspiring! I'm thinking of joining the movement. I often feel so busy that I don't have to connect to friends and family in a meaningful way. Cami's story of giving showed me that little things really do mean a lot. "
— Kristi, 4/16/2011 -
" I had to read this book for a book clib and was prepared to dislike it, but surprise, surprise I liked it. It made me reexamine my own life and look at the whole concept of giving back differently. "
— Janet, 4/14/2011
About Cami Walker
CAMI WALKER was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006 and created the online 29-Day Giving Challenge in April 2008. She has continued her own giving cycle every month since. She lives in Hollywood, California, with her husband, Mark.
About Tavia Gilbert
Tavia Gilbert is an acclaimed narrator of more than four hundred full-cast and multivoice audiobooks for virtually every publisher in the industry. Named the 2018 Voice of Choice by Booklist magazine, she is also winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She has earned numerous Earphones Awards, a Voice Arts Award, and a Listen-Up Award. Audible.com has named her a Genre-Defining Narrator: Master of Memoir. In addition to voice acting, she is an accomplished producer, singer, and theater actor. She is also a producer, singer, photographer, and a writer, as well as the cofounder of a feminist publishing company, Animal Mineral.