Books
Outliers
05/02/10 09:07
by Malcolm Gladwell
Ever wonder why some people are uber successful, i.e. Bill Gates? What pushes some individuals--or groups like the Beatles--to a higher level? Is it good luck, hard work or something else? Malcolm Gladwell discusses the phenomenon of success, contributing factors and the magic number of 10,000 hours of practice. From professional athletes to musicians, Gladwell points out what distinguishes the top of their class from the rest. Whether you are working towards your own personal goals or raising a child who is reaching for the stars, this a great read that will both educate and inspire you. Read More...
The Girls from Ames
28/09/09 20:10
Book Review by Nicole Hanratty
The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow (Non-Fiction)
Cancel all of your plans for twenty-four hours after you pick up this book because once you begin reading it, you will not be able to put it down.
Any woman who has ever had a lifelong friendship that has seen dark unenviable hours, bouts of inane laughter, profound sadness, and monumental happiness will relate to this tear-jerking powerful story of the extraordinary friendship of eleven average women living normal lives that spans four decades.
At times funny, it is an honest look at dynamics that transpire in female relationships, how cliques are perceived from both the inside and out. Jeffrey Zaslow, (regardless of being a man), captures the ebb and flow of how girlfriends drift in and out of closeness without ever losing their sense of sisterhood flawlessly. As these eleven friends recount their memories and lives in detail, the author's presence is forgotten. Their old letters and journals recreate their journey into adulthood and take us back to their innocent youth. Read More...
Mistakes Were Made
28/09/09 18:32
Book Review by Nicole Hanratty
Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson (Non-Fiction)
Not since I was in school have I read a text that taught me so much. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) is an informative, interesting explanation of human nature. Why do innocent people admit guilt to a crime they didn't commit? Why do guilty people deny their behavior? Why do politicians struggle to reverse bad policies or choices? Why do friends and family members have difficulty admitting when they have hurt one another? How can people continue using drugs or smoking when they know it is deadly?
Seeking to explain in layman's terms cognitive dissonance, this important work does an excellent job of explaining the "mental discomfort" people feel when they hold two ideas that oppose one another. It explores how one can move from knowing something is a bad idea to defending their participation in the activity and how our brains' hardwired "unbending need to be right inevitably produces self-righteousness." As maddening as it can be to witness someone defend themselves in the face of undeniable proof, this book explains how and why their brains react the way they do for self-preservation of identity, self-respect and self-esteem. Read More...
Wife Goes On
28/09/09 16:11
Book Review by Nicole Hanratty
Wife Goes On by Leslie Lehr
For any woman thinking of leaving her husband, currently going through a divorce, or whom has already travelled that rode, this book is a support group in and of itself.
Diane, a newly single mom with two kids, pulls together a network of women who help each other patch their open wounds as she moves through the stages of grieving her marriage. Together Diane, Lana, Bonnie and Annette form an unlikely alliance bound by their shared relationship woes.
This entertaining--if not sometimes all too real--fictional tale leaves the reader with a strong message about the power of friendship that can propel women through the most difficult of circumstances. It touches on the importance of allowing yourself to make new friends who can relate to your circumstances and illustrates the importance of building support networks. Read More...
Bad Mother
25/09/09 13:57
Book Review by Nicole Hanratty
Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities and Occasional Moments of Grace
By Ayelet Waldman
Written with great humor and good hearted sincerity, this truthful look at women and motherhood is a must-read for all of us struggling to find a balance between perfection and flawlessness, i.e. meeting the impossibly high standards of Motherhood.
Ayelet Waldman argues that the Good/Bad Mother labels must go because "being a good Mother, as defined by mothers themselves, is impossible."
Looking at issues that include how we measure success when mothering, this refreshing book admits to such maternal crimes as NOT signing up for the school's parent association or being the cupcake providing room mom every year. Read More...
