Semicolon is one of the most surprising, enlightening, and inspiring books I’ve read recently. Only a dork would love a little book about the history of a punctuation mark, but this dork will gladly defend this book till the cows come home.  I’m not going to give all the juicy stuff away as I want you to enjoy every page. You simply MUST read it. And I will say that reading this book just might make you a better person. … [Read more...] about Semicolon

When I first read Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild, I knew that I had to add it to my repertoire of “in character” portrayals.  It was one of the most rewarding books I’ve ever brought to life. Her experience was so far from anything I could imagine doing—hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for months?  No. way. Then when I got turned on to Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things, I was absolutely stunned by her insights into people, her openness and willingness to be completely vulnerable in her stories, and her … [Read more...] about Lives of Girls and Women

My daughter calls me in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. It’s February and she’s away at college. A phone call from her at this time of day when I usually think of her in class is a little jarring. I pick up. Right away I can tell from her voice that something is off. It comes tumbling out. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend and is feeling REALLY sad. Plus, she laments, classes are REALLY tough and she’s feeling A LOT of stress. 

I immediately tell her I’m so sorry, although I’ve … [Read more...] about The Book of Delights

I did manage to squeeze in an hour of sightseeing while in D.C. this past July. Bill and I went to the National Archives Museum where the Constitution is housed.  There’s also a sobering and powerful exhibit in the museum that highlights how minorities and people of color have often been denied and barred from exercising the rights guaranteed by the very documents housed in the museum. I stood rapt in front of vintage video of African Americans marching side by side down the streets of D.C. as … [Read more...] about The Nickel Boys

A fun, immersive novel with lots to think about.  Great writing and surprise ending! … [Read more...] about Fleishman Is In Trouble

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