Play VideoGo to Strategic Storytelling

A Washington Post reporter and his wife spend hours each day traveling to and from their jobs in D.C. With young twins, they feel the pangs of lost time with their children because of their commutes.

When Christopher does a story on the worst and best counties to live in America, he unknowingly sets in motion a new twist to his family's story. After publishing the worst place to live, that community invites him to come and visit.

Christopher is charmed, and when he returns home, he … [Read more...] about If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now

I'm reading this now! Here's what the inside jacket says:

"In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarefied bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, Shakespeare, and, particularly, their acting classes. When, within, this striving 'Brotherhood of the Arts,' two freshmen, David and Sarah, fall headlong into love, their passion does not go unnoticed--or untoyed with--by anyone, especially not by their … [Read more...] about Trust Exercise

An eighty-two year old retired professor and widower, Noah, finds himself having to take care of his estranged nephew's eleven-year-old son, Michael, whose father has died and whose mother is in prison.

Neither wants to live with each other, but due to circumstances, Noah is the only remaining option. Their adventure begins when Noah takes Michael to Nice, as Noah attempts to understand some puzzling photograph's that he's discovered from his mother's wartime years during the Nazi occupation … [Read more...] about Akin

Robert Iger has been the CEO of Disney for the past 14 years. He got his start with hard work and a bit of luck. He struck me as being an authentic person who has a lot to teach others about leadership and integrity. His book is chocked full of interesting stories and words of wisdom on what it takes to be a great leader.

Perhaps his biggest takeaway comes on the last page when he reminds his readers that "No matter who we become or what we accomplish, we still feel that we're essentially the … [Read more...] about The Ride of a Lifetime

I was completely swept up in this Malcolm Gladwell book.  I kept turning to whoever was around me saying, “Wow, this is utterly fascinating.  Did you know?” That’s the effect Gladwell has on his readers as he pulls headlines from the media and re-examines historical events that you thought you knew something about (or actually knew nothing about) only to find that there’s a whole new way of looking at those things that are not only completely fascinating but also food for thought on how to … [Read more...] about Talking to Strangers

The Other Bennet Sister (Plus more of Madge’s Picks) by Janice Hadlow

When Jen asked, “What are you reading this summer, Mom?”  I hesitated before saying, “Well, I just read Janice Hadlow’s THE OTHER BENNET SISTER.”  She picked right up on that hesitation—“Didn’t you like it?”  Actually I did like it, but did I like it because I’ve read SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE so many times?  Hadlow has some of Austen’s sensibility—and her treatment of Mary Bennet is quite good.  She develops Mary from the embarrassed piano player we see in P and P to … [Read more...] about The Other Bennet Sister (Plus more of Madge’s Picks)

The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova

I am so taken with this book that I just ordered one copy for each person in my immediate and extended family and am inviting them to a book discussion.
The author Maria Konnikova had never even played poker when she decided to enlist the help of one of the world’s premiere poker players, Erik Seidel, to teach her the art of the game.
A Harvard PhD in psychology, Maria had a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance in life had led to her interest in poker—in … [Read more...] about The Biggest Bluff

Hamilton the Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

After seeing Hamilton in New York, I poured over the making of the musical in this gorgeous book detailing the play’s creation, from its inception to blockbuster, from Lin-Manuel Miranda lounging on a pool floaty thing while reading Ron Chernow’s tome entitled Hamilton on vacation one summer to creating a once-in-a-lifetime Broadway musical of now mythical proportions.
I mean, I’m trying to wrap my head around reading Chernow’s 700 page book and going, “Oh, yeah, I’m going to turn Hamilton … [Read more...] about Hamilton the Revolution