6. PERFECT LOVE, IMPERFECT RELATIONSHIPS by John Welwood ((5/2/20) Non-Fiction
The author reads his own book, a self-help journey in what he feels is the root cause of all relationship problems. He gives advice on what to do about it and helps us to understand the dynamic of loving freely and how to sustain our intimate relationships as we move from self-hatred to self-love.
I have to admit I am not too fond of self-help books but I found this one interesting and easy to read. It had many insights into life and love and it is worth the effort.
4 Stars
24. BEFORE AND AFTER, by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate (6/13/20) Non-Fiction
This book has true stories of the adoption scandal portrayed in Lisa Wingate’s book “Before We Were Yours”. I read them, probably backwards, but these stories are sad and incredible in that people would have the tenacity to steal children from the poor and give them to the rich so they could have “better homes”.
Hearing true stories makes this tragedy more real and horrifying. It is a good compliment to Before We Were Yours.
3 Stars
40. TALKING TO STRANGERS by Malcolm Gladwell (7/22/20) Non-Fiction
The theme of this book is “what we should know about people we don’t know”. How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for decades? Why did Nevelle Chamberlain think he could trust Hitler? Why did so many people become deceived by Bernie Madoff? Why did the Italians portray Amanda Knox as a devil in disguise? Gladwell shows these examples and more of how our assumptions can lead us to misunderstandings and false conclusions.
I thought that by using well-known stories his conclusions had strong validity. It was a extremely interesting premise and read like a novel.
5 Stars
48. THE MOMENT OF LIFT by Melinda Gates (8/3/20)-Non-Fiction
The wife of Bill Gates shows how her desire to become an activist for women around the world leads to a better understanding of the many dynamics of cultures that have treated women unequal in the world. The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation has tried to right the wrongs of many different societies.
This is an urgent manifesto for an equal society where women are valued in all spheres of life and a call to action for women’s empowerment.
Amazing book amazing couple, good read.
5 Stars
56. BLOWOUT by Rachael Maddow (8/24/20) Non-Fiction
The oil and gas industry has made many countries rich or poor or both. Rachael goes globe trotting to follow the corruption of Big Oil and follows the greed and why Russia hacked the 2016 election. After the corruption comes how the industry has weakened developing countries, fouled the environment, and propped up authoritarian figures like Putin.
Maddow goes into great detail of the history and the nature of the oil industry and shows how multiple sources are to blame. I found the book interesting, tip my hat to her for exploring and exposing the industry and their billionaires, but I found it long and boring. Just give me the Book Notes version. please.
3 Stars
72. THE POWER OF HABIT by Charles Duhigg (10/6/20) Non-Fiction
The author thinks that forming good habits is easy because the brain always tries to look for shortcuts to not have to think too hard. He says the three-step method is the best way to form a habit. You first need a “cue” to make your brain become automatic. Then you build a “routine” which can be physical, mental or emotional. Lastly there must be a reward. However, beware of cravings that can draw in bad habits.
This book is easy to read with it’s simple premises and lots of good examples of people and organizations who had to make changes in order to succeed, such as, Alcoa Aluminum, McDonald’s, Pepsodent Toothpaste, Starbucks Coffee, Kings Cross Underground Station, and Rhode Island Hospital. I liked this book mostly because of the great examples.
90. HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD by Robert Kolker (11/26/20) Non-Fiction
This true story of a family, the Galvins, finds the couple trying to live the American dream shortly after World War II, which brought them to Colorado and a home on Hidden Valley Road. Mimi gave birth to her first son in 1945 and continued to expand the family until they had ten sons and two daughters in 1965. Mimi brought up the children practically alone while her husband Don pursued a job in the Air Force.
The household was chaotic with wild and rambunctious brothers fighting for superiority and space while Mimi tended to overlook and deny the mass confusion and mounting abuse and violence. As incidents worsened six of the boys were diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychological breakdown as the mental health community was debating the cause as “nature” or “nurture”. Many felt that “poor parenting” was the cause, for which Mimi totally disagreed.
As science progressed DNA was discovered and genetic markers a possibility. After many years of blame, hardship and confusion the National Institute of Mental Health realized that this family could be excellent subjects of study since half of the children had the diagnosis and half did not. This compassionate depiction of the horrific nature of the illness and the murky scientific exploration of mental health disease over the years makes this a compelling story and gives hope for a path of treatment and a cure.
5 Stars
99. REASONS TO STAY ALIVE by Matt Haig (12/29/20) Non-Fiction
Most of us have heard that one in five will or have experienced depression in one’s lifetime. I have not. From my experience, I have had the tendency to try to make things better for someone I know who is battling the disease, only to find that it is not that easy. In this book, the author is giving a look into his mind and heart as he fights his demons. It is uncomfortable, and scary, and difficult to watch, as it is in real life. At times, I felt depressed myself by consuming his words, so real and raw.
This book is not fun to read. It is a chance, however, to enter the dark thoughts and moods of one possessed with emotional turmoil. We are taken on his journey of panic attacks, anxiety and social isolation which through hard work eventually led to coping mechanisms and strategies which helped him to find happiness with himself, his marriage and children. It was not an easy read but his experience may help others. One of his methods involved reading books which took him away from himself and into other places-the very thing that is helping me to cope during Covid-19.
3 Stars
107. THE CHOICE by Dr. Edith Eva Eger (1/26/21) Non-Fiction
Dr. Edith Eva Eger, a Clinical Psychologist, a Holocaust survivor, wrote this memoir at the age of ninety, dividing it into three parts. Edith was the youngest daughter of a Hungarian Jewish family. In 1944 the family is transported to Auschwitz by cattle car. Her parents are immediately murdered, Edith and her sister Magda live to suffer the tortures of the prison camp. Her personalization of how she survived the atrocities by holding on to her dignity and her belief that she would survive at all costs, though riveting , does not focus as much on the events as her survival techniques. At the brink of death by starvation at the end of the war she and her sister are saved by and American G.I. The sisters slowly recover although Edith has a severely injured back.
The second part of the book is Edith’s life post-war, a life of marriage, survival guilt, forgiveness, and healing. As she deals with her own situation she pursues education and a desire to become a psychologist.
The last section involves the work she does with traumatized veterans and civilians, her influence from Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, and realizing that the healing process is a lifelong journey which culminates by her trip back to Germany and Auschwitz where she s finally able to celebrate her life and freely and fully empower positive psychology and forgiveness work that reflects on the meaning of our existence This is a powerful book, at times difficult to read, but absolutely necessary for reflection and the celebration of our ability to heal and embrace life.
5 Stars
108. MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl (1/26/21) Non-Fiction
After having read The Choice, #107 on my list, the author described the influence Viktor Frankl had on her. He was also a Holocaust survivor and was instrumental in mentoring Dr. Eger. This book, Man’s Search for Meaning, was voted of the ten most influential books in the United States by the “Book of the Month Club” and the “Library of Congress”.
Frankl wrote this book in 1946 and chronicled his experiences in the Nazi concentration camps. He analyzes his experiences which involve finding a purpose in life and to immerse himself into that outcome. He also identifies three psychological reactions experienced by all inmates of the prison camps: initial shock; apathy; and, depersonalization after liberation. He goes into detail of how former prisoners respond to freedom and how difficult it is to overcome.
The second part of the book involves the meaning of his theory and intoduces it as “logotherapy” and proceeds to the self-promotion of his ideology.
My thoughts about the book: Even though the book had sold over 10 million copies at the time of Frankl’s death in 1997, there has been some criticism of Frankl’s conclusions about survivors, such as, that those who died had “given up” thus implying that the victims were partially responsible, and that a “positive attitude” was essential to survival, and that it was a choice. Interesting that that is the name of Eger”s book, The Choice.
3 Stars
121. NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Greta Thunberg (3/5/21) Non-Fiction
At age 15 Swedish schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg, was worried about climate change and no one seems to be concerned. She decided to protest by not going to school and her actions sparked a global movement inspiring students all over the world to go on strike every Friday forcing governments to listen to the concerns of this young, articulate girl. Her fame got her a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize and she gave speeches to the US Congress, the United Nations and others. This book is a collection of these speeches. The audio version is spoken by the author and a rallying cry for those in power to due something before it is too late. She was taken seriously and continues today to speak truth to power.
5 Stars
128. RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore (4/2/21) Non-Fiction
In 1898 Madame Curie discovered an atomic element called Radium. In the 1920’s in Orange, New Jersey and in Ottowa, Illinois The United States Radium Corporation hired young women to paint clock and watch dials with a luminescence paint that contained radium so that they could be seen at night. The girls were known as the “shining girls” because of their glow. Radium was being touted as a miracle with some ingesting it as a cure-all. The girls got dusted with the element as they painted and at the end of the day would go to a dark room where the particles would be visible to dust off their bodies and clothing, not because it was dangerous but because it was expensive and they wanted to recapture the particles. The girls loved it because they thought this glow made them more attractive, especially at night. They also were instructed to dip, tap, paint-touching the brush to their tongues and holding the brush their mouths in order to paint with more control. The sales of watches and clocks skyrocketed and the girls were thrilled to be working for a firm that paid outstanding wages.
Soon many but not all of the girls were developing various symptoms, usually starting in their mouths-sore and swollen gums-and creeping into other parts of the body. Joint pain, headaches and fatigue ensued but soon amputations, breathing and tumors were evident. No one related this to the paint and little was known about radioactive elements at that time. But as time continued teeth and jawbone pieces would fall out and sores and tissue would not heal. But it was too big a coincidence to have a cluster of illnesses from the same factory. The girls would go to doctors, most of whom were stumped. The company never admitted to contributing to the maladies and would fire them for ill health. The book goes on and on in great, agonizing detail about the poisoning of these girls little by little, some dying. As the cases and suffering increased it was becoming more and more apparent that the problem was from the radium. Also company records showed they knew more than they admitted to and the scandal was uncovered. Finally the girls took the case to the court and this became a benchmark case of gross negligence by the company and a groundbreaking case for worker’s rights in the early 20th Century, a time when few protections existed for workers. Shockingly, as a footnote, a rival company continued manufacturing in this manner as late as 1975!! I couldn’t believe it.
5 Stars
134. HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE CRISIS by Bill Gates ($/22/21) Non-Fiction
In my blog dated May 1, 2021, I said: “A Book Everyone Should Read.” I don’t say this lightly, EVERYONE should read Bill Gates’ new book: HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE CRISIS: The solutions we have and the BREAKTHROUGHS WE NEED. I think in our heart of hearts all of us want to preserve the earth from any catastrophe. Even if you say you don’t believe in global warming and are reluctant to blame fossil fuel and methane gas for driving the climate temperature higher, I still think we all intrinsically care about our planet. In this book Gates sets out the science, all fact driven, and describes the effects this phenomenon has had to may factors which threaten our future lifestyles. And in a practical way he tells what needs to be done to reverse these changes. Although a geek, he explains layman style what we have been doing, what we have not yet solved, and what innovations can bring solutions for our growing energy needs. He believes in our ability ti master these problems-if we have the will to do it-and don’t take too long to take on some of these mind-boggling issues. The alternative is scary but Gates believes that the cost-benefit ratio has to be beneficial and that if we do it right we may actually have greater benefits than ever imagined and will build a stronger economy. What Gates lays out here is a way to succeed in solving the biggest challenge on earth. I hope you all will care enough to read this and help make the right choices for our future. Knowledge is power.”
5 Stars
138. CODE GIRLS by Liza Mundy (5/1/21) Non-Fiction
Code Girls is the untold story of the American women code breakers of World War II. Yes, the UNTOLD story. In the early 1030’s few women were free to pursue many occupations other than teachers, nurses, secretaries and waitresses. Few were encouraged to pursue an education with the assumption that they will become housewives and mothers soon anyway.
When World War II broke out a decade later, most able-bodied men went to war to fight for their country. Women were not admitted into the armed services except for civilian nurses. The WACS and the WAVES and women pilots hadn’t begun yet and women were frustrated in not being able to help the war effort. Code breaking had started in WWI but became rekindled for WWII. There was a call for help, starting with women students from the Seven Sisters Eastern schools to come to Washington for a top secret endeavor. As they became trained and proved up to the task the search extended to all college educated women who could prove themselves to have the memory and diligence to work long, hard hours, grueling work, night and day. The women loved it and it’s challenges and the program took off.
The book gives countless examples, through letters and archives of how the ability to help decipher messaged codes and create deception codes for Germany and Japan helped the Allies win major battles and eventually the war. Since their work was top secret, under penalty of imprisonment, even after the war, little recognition had been given to the thousands of women who did so much for their country. I am happy to have learned about this and glad they finally got recognition, but most sadly, posthumously.
4 Stars
147. THE CODE BREAKER by Walter Isaacson (5/25/21) Non-Fiction
This is not about computer code. This is about genetic code and the women, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who did research in gene editing and were ready to dive into the challenge of finding a vaccine to outwit the Covid-19 pandemic plague. Their earlier research had them in a prime position to take this challenge and subsequently received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Their research in genetic editing that they patented, CRISPER-Cas9, makes it possible in the future to engineer human beings with better disease resistance programmed into their cells.
Isaacson writes mainly a biography about Doudna and her journey into a scientific venue usually reserved for men. This book also promises a wider reach in the subtitle, “Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and The Future of the Human Race.” He devoted a great amount of time to the ethics of gene editing and how this can be misused if some geneticists use the technique to “enhance” certain characteristics such as height, eye color and I.Q. in future.
This book is almost a journal on what happened in the quest to find a vaccine for Covid-19 and how the scientists jump-started their research into the most important race of the century. At times the detail into the science was way beyond my pay grade, but I got the gist. It also took us around the world to other scientists in this mad race. He was able to make the race exciting, interesting and historical and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys science and their community of geniuses.
5 Stars
159. IT WAS ALL A LIE by Stuart Stevens (6/21/21) Non-Fiction
The book’s byline is: “How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump.” Stuart Stevens, a GOP strategist, and self-proclaimed king-maker, admits that he was one of the leading figures to raise Donald Trump to the stature he is within the Republican Party. He admits he made a monster. His desire to apologize while confessing his part in this tragedy doesn’t erase his culpability in the situation. He is certainly not endearing himself to the GOP or the DEMS who knew or suspected that this was a fraud of highest proportions all along. So he has pretty well made everyone disrespect him for knowing this was a slap against the Country, the government institutions flailing after the Trump years, the respect the United States as a leader of the free world, and the division within the electorate that is not only existing but growing in our frail Republic. Just writing this mea culpa is not enough. It’s good to see this book validate the lies that are the biggest cause of mistrust toward our government. But I can’t forgive him for being complicit in the elevation of Donald Trump to the highest office in our government.
3 Stars
175. LAND OF BIG NUMBERS by TePing Chen (7/30/21) Non-Fiction
In this debut collection of short stories, the author writes about the lives and relationships of people living in modern-day China as well as Chinese people living in the United States which provides insights into the most populous nation on earth. With love, realism, and social criticism she tackles narratives through unusual story lines about peoples dreams, their relationships, and the paths they take to achieve their goals, even if short-sighted. Te-Ping Chen is a remarkable social critic with a lyrical voice of prose. She paints outstanding pictures of the lives of Chinese people in today’s complicated world.
4 Stars
180. VERBAL JUDO by George J. Thompson (8/28/21) Non-Fiction
This is a new edition of the classic guide to what the author calls “The Gentle Art of Persuasion.” He thinks of this method as a martial art of the mind and mouth and how this can help to defuse confrontations and generate cooperation in many circumstances whether it is with your spouse, your boss, or a teenager. He shows how to listen, speak more effectively, by using what he thinks is the most powerful word in the English language-EMPATHY. He has five universal truths of human interaction:
1.People need to feel respected
2.People would rather be taught than told
3.People have a desire to know why
4.People want to have options rather than threats
5.People want to have a second chance
Dr. Thompson discovered these tools while being in law enforcement. He went on to training in these techniques and continued his education gaining a PhD. I found this book to be helpful and effective.
4 Stars
184. OUR TIME IS NOW by Stacey Abrams (9/5/21) Non-Fiction
Author Stacey Abrams, national leader, activist in voter suppression, and recognized leader in fair voting, chronicles the historic laws and practices in the South and beyond meant to suppress voting in the districts mainly dominated by African Americans. Most of us have heard and seen some of these actions which jeopardize the vote for many disenfranchised citizens, however, historically it is much worse than I had imagined. Through research and anecdotes from her life, other scholars, and from those who have fought for their voices to be heard we see the how the stakes cannot be higher in this time of division in this country.
5 Stars
188. THE SUM OF US by Heather McGee (9/8/21) Non-Fiction
If you are watching and paying attention to the news you most likely are aware of racism and how blatantly it has come out of the closet in recent years. Ms. McGee went a step further than most books about racism and examines inequality and the costs it brings for everyone, not just for people of color. Through statistics, historical data, personal anecdotal stories, and economics she shows how the cost of racial inequity, both social and economic divides us and it”s great cost to our nation. I personally learned a lot from this book and found her research and analysis to show that inequity is both morally wrong for all races, but also is damaging to the economic health of our nation.
4 Stars
193. NUMBERS DON’T LIE by Vaclav Smil (9/21/21) Non-Fiction
This is a book about data written by a man who loves numbers and statistics and believes that facts matter. He asks questions such as: What’s worse for the environment- your car or your phone? How much do the world’s cows weigh? What makes people happy? Smil is an environmental scientist, policy analyst, and tries to make sense of our world. From data about our societies and populations, through measures of the fuels and the foods that energize them, to the impact of transportation and how all this affects the planet, Smil challenges conventional thinking and gives us much food for thought.
4 Stars
204. BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Qian Julie Wang (10/13/21) Non Fiction
This is a memoir of what life was like for an undocumented immigrant family from China arriving to the US in 1994 and trying to survive in New York’s Chinatown. As a 7-year-old child Wang and her mother joined her father who had previously escaped the brutality of the Cultural Revolution to New York and tells with great detail what life was like, or should I say survival, as they left a country they loved with university jobs and became trash pickers, sweat-house workers, and sushi workers in frigid processing plants to survive. Hunger and fear of being exposed and deported were the mainstream of their everyday lives. Qian was constantly warned not to make friends or draw attention to herself. Without English language skills or an understanding of the new culture in the U.S, we see the paranoia they have in even normal interactions. Despite the poverty Qian learns to be creative in order to survive and takes risks her parents would never take to become educated and dream of a better future for herself. This story shows in raw detail how the lack of resources available to them and the depth of hunger, dirt and medical care affected their ability to find what they hoped from the “promised land”.
4 Stars
216. THE FIRST CONSPIRACY by Brad Meltzer (11/22/21) Non-Fiction
Set during the birth of America’s origins and the beginning of the Revolutionary War, author Meltzer scoured history to tell a remarkable story, previously untold, about George Washington in 1776, who chose an elite group of handpicked soldiers to serve as his bodyguards, similar to special agents. Washington was putting together an army to fight the Brits arriving in multiple ships, and he was a target. The shocking story details not only how Washington succeeded in defeating the most powerful military force in the world, but a secret plot against him by traitors of our own.
Meltzer was joined in writing this story by Josh Mensch, an American History writer and documentary television producer, to unravel the exciting story leading up to July 4, 1776. If you are a history buff you will like it, if you aren’t you will still like it.
5 Stars
218. PERIL by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa (1/26/21) Non-Fiction
Woodward, a bestselling author, and Costa, an acclaimed reporter reveal the details surrounding the transition of power from President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden as one of the most dangerous periods in American History. After interviewing more than 200 people at the center of the turmoil, resulting in more than 6,000 pages of transcripts, they found a nation on the brink. Throughout the book they unveil secret orders, confidential transcripts, emails and government records to verify their story. This book makes Watergate look like child’s play.
5 Stars
223. THE REPORTER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH by Mark Shaw (12/6/21) Non-Fiction
Dorothy Kilgallen is the female reporter who broke the glass ceiling. Her knack to get the inside scoop made her a legend in the days where you had to go to nightclubs and get liquored-up to find the tips and gossip. Dorothy was the toast of the town in NYC, and after becoming a panelist on the hit game show “What’s My Line” on live TV in the 50’s, she became a celebrity all over America. Her delving into who killed President John Kennedy may have put her life in jeopardy by knowing too much. Then in her prime she suddenly and mysteriously died. It was called an overdose of alcohol and barbiturates, either an accident or suicide, but most who knew her best suggested foul play. The author suspects foul play and gives an intense and exciting trail into those who had motive, such as, Frank Sinatra, J. Edgar Hoover, Mafia Don Carlos Marcello and a mystery man who may have silenced Kilgallen.
5 Stars
224. THE RECUITER By Douglas London (12/13/21) Non-Fiction
London reveals his life as a CIA case officer and recruiter of foreign agents. A 34-year veteran of the Agency he shares vivid details of his life before and after 9/11, and is candid about the life he lead, mostly abroad developing relationships and gaining the trust of certain foreign nationals, then finally taking the big step of pitching to them the advantages of helping the US government and how they will be protected. Most encounters with the foreign agents were in the middle of the night, while he was by day maintaining various identities, going to a real job, and living with his wife and kids at home.
The spy business, at least what can be told, shows the challenges in the field and dynamics with co-workers and his bosses, and how a change in administrations can ruin much of his work of weeks and months in a flash. London also points out a decline of American intelligence since 9/11 and Iraq and what changes should and need to happen.
This book is written like a story teller-full of depth, rich in details, and for me, totally mesmerizing.
5 Stars
233. COME FLY THE WORLD by Julia Cooke (1/10/22) Non-Fiction
This history of the early airline industry, focuses on Pan Am World Airways and the young women who were attracted to the glamorous and exciting lifestyle of America’s biggest and best transcontinental airline from 1966-1975. The selection process was difficult. The stewardesses were required to have a college education, speak two languages and to have the political savvy to serve foreign officials and beautiful enough to charm the mostly male cliental. They also had to be under 26 years of age, between 5’3″ and 5’9″ tall and weigh between 105 and 140 pounds.
Cooke tells the real-life stories of several early stewardesses and their change from small-town lives and city lives to the new jet-set lifestyle.
As a wife of an airline pilot and the mother of a flight attendant I found the differences between then and now fascinating.
5 Stars
234. SHOOTING MIDNIGHT COWBOY by Glenn Frankel (1/12/22) Non-Fiction
This classic, brilliant, dark and edgy movie should never been made. The director was an insecure taskmaster whose last picture had bombed. The producer was a lifelong depressive whose last film had also flopped. The screenwriter was a self-destructive alcoholic, and the two lead actors were relatively untested newcomers. The movie was based on a bleak novel which sold poorly and was ignored by critics. And in 1969 the controversial subject matter of gang rape, homosexuality, and prostitution was not billboard mania. This book explores the unlikeliness that this picture could have been made and the unbelievability that this movie would touch the hearts of many and become a major success.
This was great read. I loved it!
5 Stars
237. HOW STELLA LEARNED TO TALK by Christina Hunger (1/16/22) Non-Fiction
Christina, a speech pathologist, the author, got a new dog named Stella and decided to use some of the skills she used on her patients to try to allow her dog to communicate with her. She had been working with toddlers who had significant delays in language development and used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to help them communicate.
At home she noticed Stella understood many words and began a journey of teaching a version of AAC, using a paw-sized word button of her voice saying “outdoors” which the dog readily recognized and learned to use when she wanted to go outdoors. Gradually she developed more than 30 buttons for Stella who eventually was able to put several words together to show what she wanted.
This memoir/guide gave me a smile on my face throughout the whole book and reminded of past pets, Cindy, Dixie, and Toby, who knew exactly what I was saying and would have loved to have used this method of communication.
5 Stars
238. WHEN HARRY MET MINNIE by Martha Teichner (1/25/22) Non-Fiction
If you recognize the author’s name it is because she has been a TV correspondent for 30 years on the CBS Sunday Morning news. Martha, a long-time resident of NYC, knows there is a special kind of camaraderie among early-morning dog walkers. Fellow pet owners become as familiar as their pets and when one day Martha met an old friend who told her of another good friend whose diagnosis of cancer, due to exposure to toxins from 9/11, was dying and desperate to find a home for her beloved Bull Terrier, the same breed as Martha’s dog, Minnie.
The author beautifully writes of the friendship which develops between the dogs and between Harry’s owner, Carol, and Martha. The two women develop a deep and meaningful friendship through love for their Bull Terriers and the heartache and grief of knowing the inevitable loss of this friend, but felt privileged to becoming the caretaker for the most meaningful part of Carol’s life. This is a sweet, sad, but uplifting story of friendship and loss and about love that can be found by opening our hearts and lives to strangers in need. A must read.
5 Stars
247. THE BETRAYAL OF ANNE FRANK by Rosemary Sullivan (3/3/22) Non-Fiction
Most know the story of Anne Frank through her diary, read by over 30 million people. Yet, since 1944 the mystery of who betrayed Anne and her family to the Nazis has not been solved. Led by an obsessed retired FBI agent, helped by sophisticated investigative techniques and the discovery of new documents this search was almost a do or die since most present in those days has died. Agent Vincent Pankoke and his team pored over tens of thousands of pages of documents and interviewed many descendants of people familiar with the Franks. They utilized new FBI Cold Case techniques and came to a shocking conclusion.
For those of you interested in minute details of the Frank’s history before and after capture will find this story riveting as they profile and eliminate suspects.
4 Stars
261. THE DRESSMAKER OF KHAIR KHANA by Gayle Tzemach (4/27/22) Non-Fiction
This true story of Kamila Sidiqi, is the inspiring story of how at a very young age Kamila, whose father had so much faith in her that when he had to leave Afghanistan when the Taliban’s rise to power threatened their lives, he charged her with finding a way to support the family- she,4 younger sisters, and her young brother. Previously she had studied to become a teacher, but the Taliban didn’t allow females to go to school, so she had to reinvent herself in times where women and girls could not go outside alone without a male escort. Her older married sister and her mother had been very good seamstresses and she decided to learn to sew beautiful dresses in the style the Taliban would allow. When she learned sew she taught her sisters and eventually other Kabul neighbors and became an entrepreneur of a robust business, helping dozens of families to survive in the restricted Taliban times.
This Non-Fiction book is important and interesting and yet reads easily like a novel.
4 Stars
264. SAVING US by Katherine Hayhoe (5/7/22) Non-Fiction
As her byline says, “A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, I was definitely looking for hope for the future in what usually looks dismal to me. In this difficult time where well-educated people scoff at well-documented scientific facts, I admit to feeling hopeless at times as we experience more and more climate events that are the “NOW”, not just predictions of the future. Just last year I was one of many who had to evacuate their homes due to rampant wildfires in the Western United States. And this year is an even bigger threat with another record-breaking drought year added to the other previous years.
Katherine Hayhoe, a Canadian climate scientist living in Texas, knows that arguing statistics with people resistant to enacting positive change is an incredible challenge, but through her years of work in this field she has learned how to inspire others from the ground up to start to make changes in their lives. She believes that the most important thing we can do is to talk about it and she teaches us how to do this. Finding shared values is the answer to changing hearts and minds. This is a multilayered look at science, faith, and human psychology and leaves us with some tools to open a dialogue with our friends and family. There is a lot in this book to learn and I think we need all the help we can get to save our future on this earth.
5 Stars
265. LOVING EDIE by Meredith May (5/9/22) Non-Fiction
Loving Edie is a memoir of a journalist and her wife who decide it is time to adopt another dog. Edie seems like a perfect addition to their family and as a tiny golden retriever pup, is irresistible in the cuteness category. As she grew they realized that Edie was afraid to almost everything–loud noises, children at play, strangers, cars, airplanes overhead, and the list grew as they tried to introduce her to stimuli and training. Her response was always the same: to flee, sometimes into traffic. There were far too many times when she got in trouble when she was “off leash”, and I had to say to myself-well that’s stupid! They tried everything and were beginning to think they would have to “do something” to save their marriage because Edie was taking up all of their time.
I think most dog-lovers will enjoy and relate to this book but have a bit of frustration in their choices for a cure. I had a little empathy because we had a dog many years ago who was highly intelligent and trainable but as soon as thunder struck was a quivering mess and would run away in terror if left outside.
4 Stars
267. THE WORTH OF WATER by Gary White and Matt Damon (5/13/22) Non-Fiction
Gary White and Matt Damon founders of the non-profits Water.org and WaterEquity teamed up to end the global water crisis. A big job, you bet when three-quarters of a billion people have no clean water source near their homes. And 1,7 billion don’t have access to a toilet. This keeps people in extreme poverty as the women and children spend much of their day walking miles to fill jugs with water and without toilets disease spreads. Gary is a water expert and engineer and Matt, an actor, have spend years trying to find the right solution to this enormous problem. After many mistakes they have found a good answer and have already with the help of partners across East Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia found a solution for over 40 million people. This book is a story of their journey in finding solutions and invites us to join the effort to empower families and communities around the world. Inspiring as all the proceeds from this book will donated to Water.org.
4 Stars
268. STOLEN FOCUS by Johann Hari (5/15/22) Non-Fiction
In this digital world where we are ruled by our screens and constantly being bombarded by ads and product peddlers wrecking havoc on our attention spans and keeping us in a parade of diversions, we are finding big problems in our abilities to focus our full attention for any length of time. ADD and ADHD drugs are being prescribed by the billions to help ease those overly distracted minds. The author believes that our attention has been stolen by all the algorithms intended to divert our focus in other directions. We used to have a society of people who were interacting through mechanisms both individually and collectively to reach goals and solve problems. Now people have so much information fed to them that they cannot distinguish conspiracy theories and lies from and science and truth.
The author brings up interesting theories and behavioral explanations and attempts to find reasons to legislate to control part of the unhealthy stimuli that has intentionally or unintentionally played havoc with our brains. A great book.
5 Stars
269. BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande (5/23/22) Non-Fiction
BEING MORTAL: Illness, Medicine, and What Matters in the End, tackles the hardest challenge of the medical profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending. In the time of aging and death the goals of medicine too often are in opposition to what the person wants in those last days and years. Nursing homes are so overly obsessed with keeping the patient safe that the patient becomes a prisoner to being strapped to railed beds and wheelchairs and often they isolate the dying. Annoying continuous checks of vital signs long after cures are moot and continuing to carry out devastating procedures to extend life in the end only extends suffering.
Dr. Gawande examines many of these issues and advocates for the patient’s right to be allowed a voice in these quality of life and dignity decisions. He shows examples of models of assisted living for the infirm and dependent elderly that give them some choice and dignity.
This is a book for all who either are elderly, or coming near, and for those who are or will be caregivers in the future. For doctors, nurses, and all caregivers, this is a MUST READ.
5 Stars
305. DARING GREATLY by Brene Brown (8/10/22) Non-Fiction
“How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms How We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead” is the byline of this book by Brene Brown which challenges us to be vulnerable by allowing ourselves to be criticized and have our feelings hurt. She feels that it is best to let ourselves be “seen”. She implores us not to let our vulnerability keep us from achieving our goals. Brown has written many self-help books, does many lectures and is easy to read. This book has many excellent points.
4 Stars
306. ATLAS OF THE HEART BY Brene Brown (8/11/22) Non-Fiction
Ms. Brown says most people have only three emotions they can understand: Happiness, Anger, and Sadness. This book is a guide to the many emotions we have, which describes and explains 87 emotions and the situations where you are likely to encounter them. This could help us with a deeper understanding which can help us to talk more accurately and openly in order to form deeper connections with people around us. There is also advice for handling negative emotions and how to embrace positive ones. I found this book interesting and enlightening and helpful.
5 Stars
326. THE CUCKOO’S EGG by Cliff Stoll (10/9/22) Non-Fiction
Cliff Stoll was an astronomer before he became a systems manager for Lawrence Berkeley Lab when a 75 cent accounting error alerted him to the presence of an unauthorized user on his top secret system. These were the early years of the internet. With the code name “Hunter” the hacker managed to steal sensitive military and security information. Stoll began a one-man hunt spying on the spy. It was a dangerous game of deception, broken codes, satellites, and missile bases which finally caught the eye of the CIA which eventually trapped an international spy ring fueled by cash, cocaine and the KGB. Reading like a spy novel, although sometimes a little technical for me, this was exciting and fast-paced. This would probably be 5 Stars to most techies.
4 Stars
329. BLUEFISHING by Steve Sims (10/18/22) Non-Fiction
Steve Sims’ company “Bluefish” is an internationally famous company he says is “The Art of Making Things Happen”. His philosophy is that anything can be accomplished if you have the right attitude (his) and never give up. He says he can make the impossible possible. Some of his best known feats for others are-getting married at the Vatican, being serenaded by Andrea Bocelli, connecting with the powerful like Elon Musk-and he reveals how he makes this happen. Sims, with his East-Ender accent and bushels of bravado, at times over the top, is the picture of one who exudes confidence by doing rather than planning. He talks a bit about the lost art of writing notes to people he wants to keep in touch with (people are amazed with hand-written notes and thank you’s), which eventually get him access when he needs it. He tries to laser in to people, finding their likes, dreams, and talents and tries to remember them by sending special notes and small gifts that are so well thought out they are meaningful to the person and that person will not forget HIM. He is definitely a “get-off-your-ass type of person and try everything”. Mistakes and failures only motivate him more. This is a good book for anyone, but especially those in sales, branding, and motivation.
5 Stars
330.
THE INVISIBLE CHILD by Andrea Elliott (10/21/22) Non-Fiction
This book began as articles for the New York Times and their homeless “situation”. Andrea Elliott followed little Dasani Coates and her family for eight years, chronicling without judgment, the paths of poverty in their daily travails. She does not sugar-coat nor make excuses for what led to their many problems-hunger, housing instability, parental drug addiction, violence, segregated schools, and flaws in the government agencies: child-protection system, food vouchers, sub-standard housing, etc. If there was a problem, bureaucracy usually got in the way. Every single thing that most of us take for granted is an uphill battle when you live from hand to mouth. For example her father lost custody of the children due to their uncleanliness, and the system did not take into account that their sub-standard government apartment had plumbing problems with no water with which to wash or cook-even after reporting the problem many times. This story was long, detailed, sad, and difficult to read. But we must as a country realize these things are happening right now and we still have few answers. If you are interested in social justice this is a “must read”.
5 Stars
338. WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry (11/10/22) Non-Fiction
TV personality and Actor, Oprah Winfrey and brain development and trauma expert collaborated on what the impact of trauma and other adverse experiences does to the brain that causes a person to do the things they do and why they behave the way they do. The question that needs to be answered is the title of this book: “What Happened to You? rather than a more typical response: “What’s wrong with you?
In the audio version of this book Oprah and Dr. Perry dialogue together with questions and exchanges of many forms of trauma and behaviors resulting from the experiences one may have had in order to try to find understanding and a roadmap toward repairing and overcoming challenges and to heal with the ultimate goal of being able to live a better and more fulfilling life.
I think many people would find this self-help book beneficial.
4 Stars
341. SEEK YOU by Kristin Radke (11/22/22) Non-Fiction
“SEEK YOU: A Journey through American Loneliness” gives a thought provoking look into how loneliness can affect us, how we got there, and what we can do about it. Radke believes loneliness is a silent epidemic, is shameful to talk about, is often misunderstood, and is everywhere, from the biggest of cities to the smallest of towns. She takes us on a tour of our inner lives and our public selves and investigates why we engage with each other and what are the risks.
Released in the summer of 2021 but written during our greatest period of isolation, the book is timely as we begin to uncover the after-effects of what a Covid lifestyle has done to our society. Like all difficult subject matter, this is sad to see, but important to learn.
5 Stars
347. THE SIXTH EXTINCTION by Elizabeth Kolbert (12/17/22) Non-Fiction
“The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History”, argues that the Earth is in the midst of a modern, man-made, sixth extinction of the planet. She begins through a powerful but sobering account of how extinction works from historical context and hard science, documenting the mounting losses that humans have left in their wake. She makes it heartbreakingly clear how much we lose when an animal goes extinct. The excitement she brings to show nature’s diversity make her conclusions all the more horrible to realize.
Written like an unfolding novel, rather than a scientific journal, Kolbert brings passion and depth to a topic that we can no longer deny. A must read.
5 Stars
356. THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A FU#K by Mark Manson (1/112/23) Non Fiction
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life seems, at least in title, to have hit a chord for many readers. His highly popular blog give his followers a self-help guide which he has condensed into this book. His version of the key to happiness is to stop trying to be “positive” and learn how to handle adversity. Some things are just plain fuc#ked-up and we have to correct our expectations and realize we are flawed and should embrace our faults. This revelation leads us to confront painful truths, which is a starting point.
He thinks, “The desire for a more positive experience is itself a negative experience and, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.” And, “True happiness occurs only when you find the problems you enjoy having and enjoy solving.”
Manson is a kind of “I learned everything the hard way” kind of guy and came out with this unique avant-garde philosophy and lifestyle which has much to be admired in a rough, edgy way.
4 Stars
357. DAUGHTERS OF THE FLOWER FRAGRANT GARDEN by Zhuqing Li (1/16/23) Non- Fiction
Zhuqing Li tells the story of her two aunts, once from a powerful Chinese family, living in a beautiful estate known as “The Flower Fragrant Garden”. The sisters became separated by war and the “bamboo curtain”-the Taiwan Strait-each longing to find the other but restricted by the revolution and struggles of late 20th Century Chinese history.
This narrative, a beautiful, tragic, and historic account of China’s civil war, shows the unparalleled hardships and trauma forced upon the people as they were forced to choose between family, nation, and their own independence through “re-education”. The sisters, so far apart in their lives, never gave up hope to reunite.
4 Stars
359. REFUSE TO BE DONE by Matt Bell (1/19/23) Non Fiction
In Mat Bell’s “Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts” is a guide through a process he uses when writing his novels. This practical and focused approach may be a big help to you “wanna be” writers. Bell’s plan comes in three stages.
1-an exploratory draft where you free flow your ideas while discovering the story
2-after taking a break from the first draft he recommends rereading the first draft while creating an outline of it, which will be a guide in rewriting rather than making revisions
3-the writer should revisit scenes and consider structure, prose type, and chapter lengths-then cut some more to make the final draft tighter and stronger
This short overview does not do justice to the process Bell has developed. There is lots of good stuff in here for budding writers to try.
4 Stars
370. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS by don Miguel Ruiz (2/20/23) Non Fiction
The Four Agreements reveals a code of conduct that can transform our lives giving us the freedom to find true happiness and love. This self-help book is based on ancient Toltec wisdom that “advocates freedom from self-limiting beliefs that may cause suffering and limitations in a person’s life”.
First published in 1997, the book sold over 14 million copies in the US and has been translated into 50 languages worldwide. Oprah gave it a boost on her TV show in 2001 and it had been on the New York Times Bestseller List for over a decade. This is a short book that all should read and contemplate.
4 Stars
384. THE FIFTH AGREEMENT by don Miguel Ruiz (4/21/23) Non Fiction
The Fifth Agreement is to be skeptical, but learn to listen. Ruiz says not to believe in yourself or anybody unconditionally. He advocates to use the power of doubt to question everything you hear and to listen to the intent behind the words and we will understand the REAL message. This brings us to the authenticity we were born with. I found this book to carry the link that I was missing from the first book which felt incomplete. As a critical thinker and skeptic, I found this message validating. He reminds us that the greatest gift we can give ourselves is the freedom to be who we really are.
In this day of artificial intelligence and the lack of leaders speaking truth to power I feel this message has a great importance for the future of our country and our world. More than ever we will be needing the skills to discern truth and reality in order to learn the best way to live out the life we are given.
5 Stars
394 THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER by Lawrence Anthony (5/19/23) Non-Fiction
At his game reserve, Thula Thula, in Zululand, Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of wild elephants who were causing trouble. He knew this would be a huge responsibility but if he refused it could be their last chance at survival. They most likely would be killed if not rescued. Anthony took them in and in the years that followed they became a part of his family. He, through calming patience, gained their trust to create a bond.
This is the story about how the herd came to trust Anthony and then to teach him about loyalty and life. Written in a heartwarming manner he told the exciting, funny and sad experiences with these huge amazing, sympathetic, intelligent creatures. I am always interested in those who give their lives for the care and preservation of animals amidst the beautiful backdrop of the African landscape.
5 Star
397. WHAT MY BONES KNOW by Stephanie Foo (5/28/23) Non-Fiction
Stephanie Foo was an acclaimed Malaysian-American radio journalist (This American Life) when she was diagnosed with C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) which can be described as: “a learned set of responses and a disruption of important developmental tasks due to ‘repeated trauma’.”
Foo, from a client perspective, demystifies the condition and shares the healing process which included returning to San Jose, her hometown. Part of her healing included exploring her immigrant past and the family secrets from Malaysia. She learns how relating to herself more gently while dismantling the shame born of past experiences she could not control, helped the healing.
This is a perfect book for those who need to heal from trauma and for the general knowledge of a condition so many live and struggle with in their lives.
5 Stars
398. TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS by Cheryl Strayed (6/4/23) Non-Fiction
Cheryl Strayed came into most people’s lives when she published “Wild”, the chronicle of her solo, ill-prepared back-packing venture on the Pacific Crest Trail, from the Mexican border to to the Canadian border. It was a blockbuster hit with it’s bedraggled hiking boot on the jacket cover, and is a “must read” if you haven’t had the pleasure. “Tiny Beautiful Things ” is an anniversary edition of her bestselling collection of her “Dear Sugar” advice column under this pseudonym at “The Rumpuss”, and later as a podcast, and now a Substack newsletter. In this book Cheryl shares her favorite advice wisdom of the last ten years in one volume. Cheryl’s advice, sometimes humorous, sometimes insightful, but always compassionate, seems to hit the mark with her readers. Although advice columns may be just the thing for simple issues, I think therapy would be better for some. But Cheryl’s gift for writing has made this collection fun and enjoyable.
4 Stars
406. MASTERS OF MEDICINE Andrew Lam (6/21/23) Non-Fiction
Subtitled: “Our Greatest Triumphs in the Race to Cure Humanity’s Deadliest Diseases”, Lam outlines the history of disease and shows how medicine formerly treated disease, gut-wrenching at times, and how mistakes at times became medical miracles and cures. This book takes us on the incredible journey of how we got where we are today and how lucky we are to hve the benefits this progress has made.
In the early days many doctors used themselves as guinea pigs in order to establish cures. Dr. Lam brings to life many embattled movericks who risked their lives and reputations to find life-saving cures we take for granted today.
This book reads like a novel with the fastenating true stories of tales which could not happen today, such as, rival surgeons who killed patient after patient in their attempts to finding the right procedures for a heart transplant. He showed the jealousey and resentment by those trying to be first in discovering insulin, and the feud by Americans to be the first with the polio vaccine. And lastly, he tells the unbelievable of the discredited surgeon whose idea to deliberately infect patients lead to our best hope to defeat cancer.
Inspiring and exciting this is a MUST READ for all of us!
5 Stars
408. THREE ORDINARY GIRLS by Tim Brady (6/25/23) Non-Fiction
We have all heard about World War II and the French resistance, but not so much, with the exception of “The Diary of Anne Frank”, do we hear of the the Dutch resistance. This is the Netherlands, 1940, where within seven days the country is entirely occupied by Nazi Germany. In the Dutch city of Haarlem three teenage girls, Hannie and sisters Truus and Freddie join the resistance and form a female underground squad. With “nothing to lose but their own lives”, they sheltered Jews, political dissidents, and Dutch resisters. They sabotaged bridges and railways, and donned disguises to lead children from probable concentration camps to safe houses. They covertly transported weapons, set military facilities ablaze, and assassinated German soldiers and traitors. These courageous young women had the guts of veterain guerilla fighters. An amazing true story.
5 Stars
412. DEMENTIA PREVENTION by Emily Clionsky M.D. & Mitchell Clionsky PhD (7/2/23) Non-Fiction
Emily Clionsky and Mitchell Clionsky, siblings, have cared for their own parents with dementa, created a test to measure cognition, and treated more than 25,000 patients with cognitive impairment. In this book they combine all their current scientific knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia to form a practical guide to improve our brain’s future
We all want to grow old but that assumes that we can retain our cognitive brain. I was impressed that they don’t join the fads from the “health food” market and through study and explanation of how the brain functions and is affected by everything from blood circulation and blood levels to sugar levels, medications, vision and hearing, we learn how our activity level, weight, habits, mental outlook and social engagement may affect our liklihood of developing dementia. There is even a dementia check list to understand our risk profile and help to set better goals. I found this informative, helpful, but somewhat scary to determine what our futures might hold.
4 Stars
414. TURNAROUND TIME by Oscar Munoz (7/8/23) Non-Fiction
In 2015 Oscar Munoz became the CEO of United Airlines during the difficult time of merger with Continental Airlines, when labor was anything but “united” and performance followed suit. Employees had reached a breaking point. Munoz learned there was nothing wrong at United that couldn’t be fixed-he championed the employees himself and they got behind him. But only a month into his job Munoz-now Oscar to all- suffered a near-fatal heart attack that set in motion a race to find a heart transplant donor to save his life-just as he was struggling to save United. Employees and union leaders rallied around Oscar, inspiring him to pull through. He got the transplant and within weeks he ready to lead with his new lease on life. He overcame battles with investors, handled several PR crises including a global committment to environmental fuels, a global pandemic, and brought strong returns to shareholders and a big rise in customer satisfaction. The biggest achievement was with employees who felt for the first time in a long time, valued, which showed up in their work and happiness quotent. United became united again.
I was particularly interested in this book because our family has been a part of United’s family since 1966. My husband is a retired pilot and our daughter is a senior flight attendant. We have personally experienced the ups and downs of this company, many times directly related to management decisions, which trickle up and down. Oscar understood that the more that benefit, the better the product.
4 Stars
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