Happier with Gretchen Rubin A Happier Holiday Reading: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
Dec 23, 2025
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Holiday Reading Tradition
- Gretchen Rubin describes reading classic holiday stories to explore happiness and shares past readings like A Christmas Carol and The Snow Queen.
- She introduces her recording of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” as a holiday gift to listeners.
Title Framing Reveals Deeper Meaning
- Gretchen highlights the title The Gift of the Magi and invites listeners to consider its meaning as they hear the story.
- She notes O. Henry's fame for ironic twist endings and promises a revealing, compact tale.
Sacrifice As True Wisdom
- O. Henry reframes Jim and Della as the true 'magi' because their selfless giving shows wisdom beyond material value.
- The story elevates sacrificial love as the highest wisdom in gift-giving.