29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life [NOOK Book]

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Overview

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 ...

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Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Just a month after her wedding, 31-year-old Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; two years later, she was bitter, isolated, and addicted to both pain medication and self-pity. In need of help beyond drug detox, Cami takes the advice of a South African healer: give away something every day, for 29 days. Walker soon learns that being mindful of giving also means being open to gifts from others, and that gratefulness and mutual generosity is the key to a better, more rewarding life. Glimpses into Walker's day-to-day difficulties-work, family life, constant therapeutic treatment and addiction recovery among them-crop up among the stories of her daily gifts, grounding the work (based on Walker's Web site) in personal details. But the meat, an admirable reworking of The Secret (in that it should actually help someone, at least gift recipients), speaks largely to those already initiated into the cult of positivity.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Library Journal
Walker presents a story that gets to the core of the emotional pain and loneliness that people feel when suffering from a serious disease like multiple sclerosis (MS), which she was diagnosed with at age 35. Readers will instantly connect with this narrative of her journey to find an alternative to withering away in her apartment. Through the help of a spiritual leader, Walker begins to heal herself emotionally by giving away 29 gifts in 29 days. Her story unfolds nicely, and the reader is left with a good picture of what it's like to live with MS. Walker turns what could have been a book about self-pity into a great read about pain and a creative way to get on with life.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780786745999
  • Publisher: Da Capo Press
  • Publication date: 10/6/2009
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 256
  • Sales rank: 56,531
  • File size: 306 KB

Meet the Author

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. Walker lives in Hollywood, California, with her husband, Mark.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 38 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(18)

4 Star

(10)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(4)

1 Star

(2)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 38 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 20, 2010

    by far the most inspirational book i have read!!

    this book is wonderful!! so inspirational, it touched my life like no other book ever has..it is a must read..a true story that will change your life..i can't say enough about the book, the author or how it touched and changed my life..enjoy

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2010

    29 Gifts

    I loveed the most that the author was brutally honest about her MS and the effects that it has had on her life...it was refreshing to read something I could relate to and know that I am not the only one going through the same things :-)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 13, 2010

    Gift to MySelf

    After hearing about the author on a radio show, I had to go out and purchase the book! Was lifting in my heart, and help us through a death at Chritstmas time. Great gift to all you love.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Transformational

    Cami Walker has captured the essence of how selfless giving can energize and help heal numerous hurts and pains of life - emotional, financial, physical, et.al. She chronicles the results of a prescription she received, when she asked a spiritual mentor to help her deal with her recent and severe MS diagnosis, to give 29 gifts in 29 days. The key is honesty and altruism - giving with intention but with no expectation of return. Walker's writing style is entertaining and engaging, and the transformation she experiences really draws you in. I loved the book, and we are reading it as a selection in my church book group.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 2, 2010

    Great

    This is a wonderful book for anyone experiencing pain of any nature.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 27, 2012

    great read

    I always thought i was the only one who felt that way about my MS and i am not. Thank you for sharing it really helps!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted March 22, 2012

    A Must Read!

    I read about this book in a magazine and something resonated with me due to some current struggles in my life. Cami's writing really drew me into her life and I could feel her pain and struggles, and then joy and celebrations as the challenge of giving daily gifts changed her outlook on life. I highly recommend this book and have already suggested it to many of my friends and family, and will also be purchasing a few copies to give as gifts.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted January 3, 2012

    Inspirational - highly recommend as a read for the new year!

    Cami's story is truly inspirational---I've used highlighter, folded down the corners of pages, and bought copies for friends/relatives that I know will get as much out of reading this book as I have. This book will change your perspective and your attitude about the mark you leave on others (and ultimately the world). Enjoy!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 6, 2011

    Just brillant

    Not just all feel good, but deep insight into the process of giving and the self-development that happens.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted May 1, 2011

    Connections

    Anyone interested in deepening connections can read this and learn just how easy it really is...

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    A Change of Focus

    This book has certainly made me wake up every morning looking forward to surprises life has to offer. I don't try to get through the day anymore, I get from the day. What an amazing feeling that is to be able to look for a chance to make a difference in someone's life no matter how simple it is.

    I makes me wonder: if only each of us follows the author's step to start a journey of giving, this world will definitely be a much better place. What a unique message this book has.

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  • Posted January 11, 2010

    A beautiful, thoughtful book

    In 29 Gifts Cami Walker tells of how her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis one month after her wedding. Quickly losing control over her body and facing a drastically different life than she had planned she sank into a deep depression and prescription drug addiction. When her neighbor, a South African healer prescribed a regime of 29 days of gift giving to heal her, Cami thought the idea was crazy. Desperate to gain control of her life she finally agreed and 29 Gifts is the story of what happened.

    This is truly a beautiful, thoughtful book written by someone who believes in what she has experienced and wants to share it. Much of what happens to Cami makes perfect sense, she was wholly focused on her own pain and misery and simply shifting her focus to those around her helped a lot. She begins leaving the house more to visit friends in need and this helps her begin pushing through her pain, getting more exercise and seeing that she isn't as limited as she thought. Still the improvements in her life over just 29 days are impressive and her subsequent devotion to spreading the 29 days of giving is heartfelt and touching.

    I listened to the audio version of this book and it is fabulously well read by Tavia Gilbert. The wide range of convincing accents she uses from posh British to low brow Cockney really brings the characters alive and makes you feel like you've met them.

    This is a sweet little book that will warm your heart and possibly even change your life.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 29, 2009

    29 Gifts-Used book review

    Wow what a book!!! It is really inspiring, and the best part was i got the book on time and it was in perfect condition even though i had bought it used! Thank you so much for the book!

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  • Posted December 12, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Inspirational Gift Giving Idea

    Cami Walker's book was both challenging and inspirational. To give away 29 gifts in 29 days is telling us all that we need to give more of ourselves and not be just a taker. When we give, we receive immensely in the long run and if you are at a point in your life where you are searching for a purpose, read this book! It will enlighten, encourage, and challenge your heart, and you will begin to see a purpose in everything that you do!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 17, 2009

    Honest and inspiring

    What an endearing story of someone who sets out to tell it like it is - yet somehow entices you want to live your own life to the fullest. It truly puts your "problems" into perspective. I recommend reading and passing on to others - what a great gift!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 26, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted January 30, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 6, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 5, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 18, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 38 Customer Reviews

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