Alfie Kohn: Thanks for Nothing! A Secularist's Reflections on Gratitude

The tradition of giving thanks at this time of year is inextricably rooted in a religious worldview, which is why 200 New York City atheists once gathered in late November for "the First Annual Blamesgiving Service." Of course there will be times when we're grateful for things specific people have done for us. But Alfie Kohn invites us to ask whether we should also adopt a modified count-your-blessings posture in general -- even though there's no supernatural power to thank -- or question the whole idea of gratitude.

Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. His 14 books include The Brighter Side of Human Nature, Punished by Rewards, and Unconditional Parenting. He lives (actually) in Belmont and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.

***

We are a small venue with very limited seating: seats are first-come, first-served. We recommend arriving early. An RSVP on Meetup does not guarantee a seat.