I adored this book. Caroline Paul was recovering from a bad accident and thought things couldn't get worse. But then her beloved cat Tibia disappeared. She and her partner, illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, mourned his loss. Yet weeks later, Tibia waltzed back into their lives. His owners were overjoyed. But they were also...jealous? Betrayed? Where had their sweet anxious cat disappeared to? Had he become a swashbuckling cat adventurer? Did he love someone else more? His owners were determined to … [Read more...] about Lost Cat

Billie Jean King, No. 1 tennis player in the world and tireless advocate for women’s equality, would earn 39 Grandslam tennis titles, triumph over Bobby Riggs at the Battle of the Sexes, be voted one of the 25 most influential people of 1981, earn the medal of freedom from Obama at the White House in 2009, and champion inclusivity for all.

Even so, there was one battle that was harder to win and would almost destroy her in the process. If she could win it though, it would give her the … [Read more...] about All In: An Autobiography

When you hear the term “impostor syndrome,” you probably think of a negative feeling of self-doubt—that you’re not really as intelligent, creative, or charming as people think you are. In his new book, popular psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant shares surprising new research that feeling like an impostor can actually motivate you to work harder and smarter in order to reach your goals. 

What about searching for happiness? According to Grant, new evidence suggests the more people … [Read more...] about Think Again

Two thousand years ago, Marcus Aurelius, Stoic philosopher and Emperor of Rome, would start keeping a journal—notes to himself about learning how to live. In one entry he writes, “Whenever something happens that might cause you distress, remember to rely on this principle: this is not bad luck, but bearing it valiantly is good luck.” 

His timeless meditations on how to be a better person, newly translated and annotated in Robin Waterfield’s book, capture the universality of meeting life’s … [Read more...] about Marcus Aurelius: Meditations

Emily Dickinson’s (1830-1886) spare poems, with their dashes, singular punctuation, capitalization, and original ideas—were “trailblazers” for their time. She would confide to a friend: “There is always one thing to be grateful for—that one is one’s self & not somebody else.” Yet her poems were deemed too unconventional by the publishing community of the mid 1800’s, not to mention that she was a woman!  

Even Emily’s devoted friend and confidante Thomas Higginson, with whom she … [Read more...] about Figuring

A little masterpiece is how I’m referring to this gem of a book. The protagonist, the other characters, the writing—all so unexpectedly WONDERFUL. I wish you could see me holding it next to my heart. … [Read more...] about Dinosaurs: A Novel

Reading these treasures that Marilyn wrote on scraps of paper, or typed out without censoring herself, or jotted down on  sundry items gives new insight into this cultural icon. More importantly, reading her words reminds us that she was much more than a "ditzy blonde" as she was often portrayed. In fact, she was well-read and thought deeply about life, love, and death. Utterly fascinating. … [Read more...] about Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes by Marilyn Monroe

This is an excellent book that offers a concrete explanation of how and why we feel anxious and tips and strategies for dealing with anxiety. Really enlightening and helpful. … [Read more...] about Unwinding Anxiety

My daughter stopped by while her car was being worked on and picked up this book that I was reading. After 50 pages, she insisted that she had to take it home to finish it, even though I was already halfway through. Such a fun read.

Meet Elizabeth Zott: scientist by training, cooking show host by default. One meal at a time, she galvanizes her audience to question the lives they’ve been served.

Here's why Elisabeth Egan of the NYTimes picked it: Like the lunches Zott packs for her … [Read more...] about Lessons in Chemistry