The Lost Art of Gratitude

The Lost Art of Gratitude continues the story of Isabel Dalhousie, Edinburgh philosopher and amateur detective, in the sixth installment of The Sunday Philosophy Club series. Isabel balances her role as editor of The Review of Applied Ethics with investigating a complex situation involving a prominent banker who has requested her help. Her personal life intersects with professional obligations as she navigates relationships, ethical dilemmas, and the cultural landscape of Edinburgh. The narrative follows Isabel as she faces challenges to her position at the journal while maintaining her commitment to helping others solve their problems. Her philosophical training and natural inclination toward moral reasoning guide her through increasingly complicated circumstances. This novel explores themes of gratitude, professional ethics, and the nature of truth, demonstrating how philosophical principles can illuminate everyday moral decisions.

Readers describe this sixth Isabel Dalhousie novel as more character-focused and slower-paced than earlier books in the series. Many note it feels like catching up with old friends rather than following a suspenseful plot. Liked: - Philosophical musings and ethical dilemmas woven into daily life - Warm portrayal of Edinburgh and its culture - Character development between Isabel and Jamie - Gentle humor throughout Disliked: - Limited mystery elements compared to previous books - Some found Isabel's internal monologues repetitive - Plot meanders with less direction - Too much focus on mundane details "The charm is in the small moments rather than big revelations," noted one Amazon reviewer. Another on Goodreads commented: "Isabel overthinks everything to the point of exhaustion." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (7,482 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (256 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (892 ratings)

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🔸 Edinburgh, where the novel is set, is home to the world's largest arts festival (The Edinburgh Festival Fringe) and was the first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004 🔸 Alexander McCall Smith wrote the first draft of his novel "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" in just three weeks, which launched his international career as a bestselling author 🔸 The field of Applied Ethics, which Isabel Dalhousie specializes in, emerged as a distinct philosophical discipline in the 1960s and focuses on practical moral problems in medicine, technology, and business 🔸 The author taught Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and served on various national and international bioethics committees before becoming a full-time writer 🔸 The Sunday Philosophy Club Series was inspired by real-life philosophical debate groups in Edinburgh, where academics and citizens gather to discuss moral and ethical questions