Abundantly Simple: Everywoman’s Gratitude Journal, is a long-overdue satire of the “be thankful for the little things” type of inspirational book.

Authors Helen Kafka and Laura Hellen (otherwise known as “The Helens”) are, respectively, a TV producer based out of Toronto and Los Angeles, and a self-described working mother of two based in suburban Toronto. Considering the target, I’m a little disappointed that Abundantly Simple doesn’t bite harder. It’s structured as a collection of journal entries from women (including mafia wives, nuns, schizophrenics, and petty criminals) from all over the U.S. with daily sets of one-liners beginning, “I’m grateful that…” Though some of the entries strike the right note of gonzo lunacy: “I’m grateful for slow-release Lithium,” “I’m grateful that Frederick’s carries French maid outfits in plus sizes,” and “I’m grateful that the stirrup pants match my new pumps perfectly,” as a whole the collection seems thin and contrived. Despite the humorous listings in the back of the book such as “Manicurists of the Abundantly Simple Woman” Abundantly Simple suffers in the end from the simple fact that there isn’t enough connection with the lives of real women to give it some oomph.