What if Hillary hadn’t married Bill? How would her life have been different? Would she ever have been elected president? That’s what this re-imagining of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life explores in Curtis Sittenfeld’s clever and entertaining novel about a Hillary that falls in love with charismatic, brilliant (philandering), handsome Bill Clinton but doesn’t marry him. Imagine that! … [Read more...] about Rodham
Have you ever wondered “Is the world going to catastrophically end because of global warming and other factors associated with the destruction of our planet?” while also going about your regular day, like life is both normal and not normal? If so, you’ll relate to the mom protagonist of Jenny Offill’s new novel about how we navigate our daily jobs, families, relationships, and interactions with others amid a world teetering on the edge. It’s a brisk read that will leave you wanting to talk … [Read more...] about Weather
I often drink two glasses of wine at night. For years, I’ve been trying to stick to one glass. I think I want the second, but the reality is that it just makes me tired and less productive.
Atomic Habits is literally helping me achieve my goal. The following idea is one that really impacted my behavior.
First, Clear emphasizes the power of 1 percent improvements, that tiny habits are the building blocks of big results.
Next, instead of focusing on a goal i.e. “I will lose ten pounds” or “I … [Read more...] about Atomic Habits
Tim Ferriss is a well-known writer and business leader. He has been called “a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk” by The New York Times.
Tim reminds you that you are the author of your own life, and it’s never too late to replace the stories you tell yourself and the world. It’s never too late to begin a new chapter, add a surprise twist, or change genres entirely.
In his latest book, he asks over 100 people (of note) a series of carefully curated questions.
One of my favorite … [Read more...] about Tribe of Mentors
Joe Maddon, former manager of the Cubs, is gone (I miss ya, Joe!), but Joe loved one of my favorite books, Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo Da Vinci. Joe was inspired to choose his 2016 theme “Putting the art back into the game” based on Isaacson’s book.
This pandemic might be just the right time to tackle a tome like this.
Here's three reasons this book is worth reading now:
1) Da Vinci reminds us that there's potential in each of us to be successful despite what life throws at us.
Da Vinci was … [Read more...] about Leonardo Da Vinci
Sister Corita Kent’s (1918-1986) artwork and philosophy inspired people to observe life up close, like a microscope, or to look at something upside down. She encouraged people to find joy, reject criticism, and to keep on creating whatever is in your heart and mind—to see beyond what is and to imagine all that could be.
She made bold art pieces that spoke out against injustice, poverty, and war, and inspired others to stand up for their beliefs. But at the age of 51, she broke away from the … [Read more...] about Make Meatballs Sing
Eddie Gallagher was the poster boy for the Nay SEALs. He led the Alpha platoon to Mosul in 2017 to help dismantle ISIS. The Navy was going to give him a Silver Star for heroism.
So when Eddie was arrested in 2017 just after returning from Afghanistan, a different story began to emerge about who this SEAL icon really was. David Philipps’ compelling book sheds light on the courage of the SEALs who risked their careers and lives to tell the truth about Gallagher’s mismanagement, disregard for … [Read more...] about Alpha: Eddie Gallagher and The War for the Navy SEALS
Last month, I heard a young woman say, “You cannot become what you cannot see.”
I thought of the well-known fairytale Cinderella after recently reading Rebecca Solnit’s updated take on the old classic. Solnit is a brilliant writer, philosopher, feminist and author of a number of books, including Men Explain Things to Me.
She wanted her niece to grow up with the charm and transformation of the Cinderella story while working out a more palatable exit for Cinderella’s plight than the one we all … [Read more...] about Cinderella Liberator
THIS TENDER LAND is part Coming of Age, Huck Finn, Grapes of Wrath and Wizard of Oz. The narrative starts at the Lincoln (Minnesota) Training School in 1932—The Great Depression. WAIT! Before your mind goes ballistic with “Who wants to read something juvenile and depressing?” I assure you this book is not that! Yes, you’ll be sad about some of it, but you’ll be more fascinated and inspired by most of it. Even though the narrative begins in the Indian orphanage with some of the themes we’re … [Read more...] about This Tender Land