The Simplest Gift

Written by Stefanos Xenakis

Narrated by Marston York

‘Every day is a gift. Open it. Don’t throw it away.’

The international bestseller

The relentless pace of the working day. Endless, unconquerable to-do lists. A constant sense of distraction and isolation despite countless online connections. In our increasingly complex world, true contentment has never felt further from reach.

The Simplest Gift is an essential antidote for our times. Over the course of 100 stories – each centred around a unique lesson – Stefanos Xenakis shares the transformative outlook through which he has found purpose and meaning in life’s everyday moments. From rising early to sharing generously and laughing readily, Xenakis proves that joy can be found in the simplest and least expected places.

Humane, compassionate, and profound, this charming collection offers holistic guidance for the body, mind, and soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Oct 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9780008455675

Stefanos Xenakis

Stefanos Xenakis is an entrepreneur, social media phenomenon, and popular inspirational speaker based in Athens. He is the author of The Gift, which was a longtime number-one bestseller in Greece and became an international sensation, and Captain: Letters to my dad. Stefanos has become a leading voice and a highly sought-after inspirational speaker.

Reviews for The Simplest Gift

[tillymint100 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

All Cecelia Ahern's books have been different and this one is no exception.

[justine28 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I discovered Cecelia Ahern only few years ago, well after the 'PS I Love You' hype, and enjoying her full of magic books since. The Gift is a lovely contemporary story of a young businessman learning to realize what really matters in life. I imagine this won't be a hit with a lot of people, but I found it quite endearing and a very pleasant and quick read. Well done Cecelia!

[shahridzuan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book had me all teary at the end. The second book (after If You Could See Me Now) by Cecelia Ahern which gave me that effect. I love how Ahern splatters reality with an ounce of magic. The change in Lou's behavior and the purity of his love warmed my heart right to the very core. I finished reading this book in about three days and that's saying something. The Gift is a must-read. It captures the essence of life, how we tend to forget the truly meaningful things because we are too engrossed in chasing after what everyone else deem important. It blew me away!

[teagirl43 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book about a man who is given the opportunity to make amends with the people in his world before he is taken from all of them. It was just what I needed to read at Christmas.

[poonamsharma_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is not a chick-lit. At times, language and story seems somber. But it has a beautiful hidden message. With dash of supernatural and corporate hi-life thrown in. Apt for Christmas gifts since it does have a Christmas background too! ;)

[moniica_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Lou Suffern is a successful business man who works hard at his job. However, he is so tied up with his work that he neglects his family who can't rely on him to turn up to family outings on time if at all. When Lou meets homeless man Gabe, he slowly starts to realise what's most important.My Opinion: A bit cliche'd but still well written with important lessons for everybody.

[karensaville · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't know what to expect from this book when it was chosen as our book club christmas read, we usually choose a light weight often funny book. I haven't read PS I Love You but I didn't enjoy the film very much. This wasn't funny but it was very easy to read, if a little 'preachy' in some ways. The overall theme of make the most of what you have and in particular family was a good one, especially at Christmas and I felt like making my husband read it on more than one occasion! Like many of the other reviews I didn't like the ending.

[anacskie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love it! And yes...time is indeed a kind of gift you can not wrapped and lay underneath the Christmas tree. And it is way more precious than all the materials things we give and received this Christmas. I definitely love this book made me cry while reading the last few pages.

[sararomancelove · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is for you if:
you are in the mood for a good old Christmas-ly cry
you feel introspective and open to reflect on the sense of life
you want to reconnect with family values
you want something that will remind you what are the important things in life
This book is NOT for you if:
you need something easy-breezy with no drama
you DO NOT want to cry
you're looking for more of a happily ever after novel
you are looking for a girl-meets-boy novel

I enjoyed this book, it reduced me into tears, I was on a plane and had to contain myself not to sob loudly in front of everybody.
Ahern initial description of the quiet street on Christmas morning was sublime.
Overall, a sad book with plenty of moral... but one of the good ones

[willowone_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cecelia Ahern has done it again, at least in this readers mind. I first read her book "A Place Called Here" and was intrigued by her imagination and her writing style. I moved on to "P.S. I Love You", "If You Could See Me Now" and then "Love, Rosie". All of her books have a fantasy theme and all have things that you dream and wish could happen in life. "The Gift" is no different. Not only does it have a wonderful storyline but it also tries to teach the lesson that time is precious and no matter what you do, once time is gone you can't get it back. Cherish what you have and love the ones in your life now because if you put it off, you may run out of time.Now I must go track down "Thanks for the Memories", "Mr. Whippy" and "Irish Girls Are Back in Town".ENJOY!

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having just seen parts of her father's biography on RTE (Ireland's National TV station) and it noting that he was quite the absent father, I have to wonder how much of this is wishful thinking on the part of Cecelia Ahern. It's a story about a boy who throws a semi-frozen turkey through a window who gets told a story about another man. A workaholic who learns lessons about the important things in life and who realises that life is now not tomorrow.I can see this one splitting it's audience. It's unsubtle in it's message and pretty obvious in it's heart-string tugging. A little too obvious for my tastes, I'm sure other people's mileage may vary. The packagaing is cute, the ribbon isn't a permanent part of the cover though and as it's usually shrink wrapped the lack of cover details makes it hard to decide what it's all about.

[susanbnm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gives you much to think about - with a twist at the end! Highly recommended.

[nataliec7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good story from Cecelia Ahern. Lou Suffern - successful, married, 2 children, big house but not enough time. Always needing to be 2 places at once and puts his family second. He then meets Gabe, a homeless man who he gives a job to and the the story begins.I liked this book, its set at Christmas time and it sets the scene for the story. I liked Gabe for most of the book. Lou I found quite difficult to relate to. The book moves on at a steady pace and there almost an element of unpredictability in some cases. I can't explain or it would ruin the story for you.This gets a 4.5/5 from me. It was just missing a little something so I didn't make it quite 5 star but a great read nonetheless.