Gratitude, best served

By David Biello
Science curator, TED

Gratitude is hard for many of us, or is it just me? We should be thankful for so many things, whether it's our health or just a really good cup of coffee. Gratitude might even be good for our individual well-being. At a minimum, it cuts down on the grumpiness.

So I appreciate that A.J. Jacobs shared his epic quest to thank everyone behind his morning cup of coffee. 

Even after too many years in New York, A.J.'s talk has inspired me to return to my Midwestern upbringing and try to thank each and every person I interact with -- which seems both nice and, selfishly, makes me feel better about my day. Plus A.J. is just plain funny, and we all know laughter is fantastic medicine.

But don't be fooled. This TED Talk is also a stealth exposé of the modern world, an in-depth exploration of everything that goes into the production of any given product under late-stage capitalism -- and the hundreds or even thousands of people involved. And that makes a little gratitude, dare I say it, revolutionary.