Readers are Leaders

If you are skeptical about meditation, I have a book recommendation for you. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works by Dan Harris is an entertaining and informative read for meditation skeptics. I counted myself among the curious-but-skeptical crowd when I first read this book. I have come a long way since that time.

10% Happier is a memoir that describes Dan’s reluctant embrace of meditation after a drug pro…

Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Found comfort or inspiration on a rainy day? Reacted intensely to music, art, nature, and beauty? Then you probably identify with a bitter­sweet state of mind. At least according to the author, Susan Cain. Susan’s new book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us is a thought-provoking exploration of deep emotions and the paradoxical pairing of birth and death, light and dark, and of course, bitter and sweet. A bittersweet state of mind can help…

The author Daniel Pink is someone I genuinely respect. I have loved his books (When and Drive are some of my favorites). But, when I saw the title of his new book, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, being promoted, I was completely taken back. The Power of Regret...really? I thought we had been told repeatedly not to live with regrets? I was intrigued, and I had to dig in.

Everybody has regrets. They are a universal and healthy part of being human. And according to Pink…

One of my favorite books of 2021 was April Rinne's Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change. I was thrilled to have April on The Virtual Campfire for a deep and energizing conversation (have a listen).

Being adaptable and flexible have always been hallmarks of effective leadership and fulfilling life. But in a world with so much change and an ever-faster pace of change, flexibility and resilience can be stretched to their breaking points. So the quest becomes how to find calm and las…

What comes to your mind when I say the words Die Empty? Whenever you think about death or dying, it is hard not to feel the weight of the words. So when I picked up Todd Henry's book, Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day, many years ago, I was immediately intrigued by the idea that thinking of death can move us into action, to start working now towards creating an impact. Die Empty is a tool for people who aren't willing to put off their most important work for another day because we even…

I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with lists! I have a to-do list, a to-don't list, a bucket list, a book list, and a list of lists…just kidding, or am I? A few years ago, I had the absolute pleasure to connect with a person who I was destined to meet, Paula Rizzo, a fellow list fanatic, and so much more. Paula is the author of Listful Thinking: Using Lists to Be More Productive, Successful and Less Stressed and the follow-up book Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed…

From time to time, I will re-read a book that had an impact on me. Today, I want to highlight Your One Word: The Powerful Secret to Creating a Business and Life That Matter by Evan Carmichael. At this time of year, everyone is talking about their one-word or their theme for the year. Evan's book takes this to a whole new level. It is not just about your year; it is much more than that; what is the word at the center of everything you do? He guides you to nail down the word that captures your pur…

Ever wonder about those wildlife photographers who risk life and limb to get the perfect shot? That pretty much is the story behind Joel Sartore's 25 years with National Geographic. Joel is one of my favorite photographers because he is not afraid to show the challenges behind the perfect shots we see. The extreme patience, the eye for detail, and the courage to work with some odd and dangerous creatures. My fascination with Joel's work started when I discovered The Photo Ark: One Man's Quest to…

I am a voracious reader, and I tend to tap into a broad range of books. Everything from fiction to non-fiction, business to science, art/architecture to nature, and on and on. Sometimes I read a book cover to cover, sometimes I skim for the highlights, and often I listen to them on Audible to take in what I can through soundbites. I have come to see that the books I have read have had a significant impact on me. It has opened new ways of thinking, new ways of learning, and often it has opened up…

In a world that seems so troubled, how do we hold on to hope? It is hard to remain optimistic in challenging times, and we are constantly being faced with a new one: the pandemic, political unrest, climate crisis, and the loss of biodiversity. And yet, hope has never been more desperately needed.

Holding on to hope is at the center of the incredible new book from Jane Goodall, and Douglas Abrams called The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times. Jane Goodall, the world's most famous li…