Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

LIFE: A LOVE STORY by Elizabeth Berg (The Story of Arthur Truluv and others) has a beautiful cover and expresses some truly wonderful and universal sentiments. Berg introduces readers to Flo, a widow in her nineties. Flo has received a terminal diagnosis and in an effort to wrap up her affairs she crafts a lengthy letter to Ruthie, the now grown woman who, as a young child, was her neighbor and almost a daughter. Flo tells Ruthie “You can do with my things whatever you like but I just think you should know why they are not just objects, but pieces of my life that point to something bigger than my life. I'll tell you what, a rubber band is not just a rubber band, as you will come to see.” Filled with wisdom, this letter includes many memories and meaningful stories (“an autobiography in things”), particularly about Flo’s marriage to Terrence (“She never would have predicted that he would be taking care of her long after he was gone. Yet he is.”), and one which might provide some guidance for Ruthie’s own troubled relationship. Even though this novel is almost a monologue from Flo, it is engaging and thought-provoking, totally enjoyable. I also liked the references to older books and songs (e.g., Mrs. Mike and Jesse) and a comment from Flo’s new friend, Teresa, who says, “You know, I had a patient once tell me that the best index he had to his mental health was whether or not he looked up at the sky every day.” LIFE: A LOVE STORY is a March 2026 LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection and received a starred review from Booklist (“The prolific Berg has a huge following, and this is the author at her heartwarming best.”). Highly recommended.

Twice by Mitch Albom

TWICE by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie and The Stranger in the Lifeboat) is his latest take on the choices we make. This story asks, “what if you got to do everything in your life – again?” The main character, Alfie Logan, has the inherited ability to transport himself back in time and therefore change most future events. It is a tempting proposition and one which takes time and development of some self-restraint to use wisely. Overall, the story opened quite slowly as readers are introduced to the concept and learn more about its nuances. These happenings are contrasted with a police investigation of a possible casino swindle which is not resolved until the final pages. Despite his unique abilities, Alfie is not a particularly likeable character and he has many regrets, especially regarding the woman he loves. He says, “The truth is, you never do as much good as you could.” She says, “I figure every little thing that happens is part of life or fate or God or whatever leading me to where I'm supposed to be.” Albom will once again have readers examining their own life decisions. TWICE received a starred review from Booklist who recommended it for “fans of Matt Haig and Nikki Erlick.”

Fly! by Steph Wagner

FLY! by Steph Wagner is subtitled “A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love.” Wagner has extensive experience in the financial sector, and she provides context by sharing her story “from private equity executive to stay-at-home mom, to single mother facing financial uncertainty, to successful businesswoman.” Wagner readily empathizes with her readers, saying, “If I, with my financial background, feel this lost and overwhelmed, how must women without that same knowledge feel when thrown into similar circumstances?” I found FLY! to be an excellent resource filled with numerous well-explained and action-oriented steps. For example, Wagner lists a series of questions to ask a potential financial advisor and also provides links to helpful websites. Wagner writes with a confident, but collegial tone. And she notes steps to take (have a will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and a medical directive, also known as a living will) and then provides definitions of each for her readers who may be less familiar with these documents. FLY! feels like a text which can be adapted to meet readers where they are – whether consulting an attorney at a major law firm or choosing a free online service – especially since she suggests evaluation criteria to use. This approach extends to a discussion and explanation of investment vehicles (Mutual Funds, EFTs, etc.) and other topics. The foreword provides my favorite description: “This book isn't just a guide. It's a road map. It's full of tangible steps, real life stories, and the kind of practical wisdom that makes you feel like you're having coffee with a really smart, really honest friend.”

What Next? by Jane Moffett

WHAT NEXT? by Jane Moffett is subtitled “The savvy woman’s guide to redefining retirement.” I had expected to see more about financial preparation for retirement, particularly when that is often such a trial for women. Moffett barely touches on that aspect; instead she has chosen to focus more narrowly on advising her readers on the importance of assessing who and what are important in their lives. As the publisher’s summary points out, she asks: “How will you fill your time in a way that has purpose and meaning, and how will you keep the sense of being relevant and valued?” The first four chapters deal with making the decision to retire, the contrast with earlier generations, women’s careers, and the impact of ageism. Then there are six chapters which correspond to “post-retirement” topics like a change in time and structure or re-assessing relationships. Moffett structures each chapter so as to first discuss the topic, then provide insight and perspective from at least two women, and then to include activities and exercises for the readers. Even though her perspective is primarily about retirement in the UK (who knew that men (65) and women (60) had different pension ages until adjustments to equalize them began in 2010?), she shares some universal observations (e.g., the blending of work and home boundaries and the negative impact on mental health) that would be helpful to everyone in this phase of life. Notes and an index are included.

A Culture of Promise by Fee Stubblefield

A CULTURE OF PROMISE by Fee Stubblefield is subtitled “The True Story of a Small Company's Quest to Transform the Senior Living Industry.” Stubblefield, who has been involved in developing and managing senior living for close to two decades, repeatedly cites his Grandmother’s request to not be “put” in an old folks’ home as a motivating force. He notes that the wish (fairly common amongst a certain generation) is negative, fear-based and discriminatory. I liked that he provided some rationale for this concern by pointing to the history of senior living: the first, spanning roughly the 1960s to the early 1990s, is referred to as the Skilled Nursing Home period when the major emphasis was on safety. A second period focused on the “assisted living” concept and lasted roughly through the major disruption of COVID. Change is again necessary according to the author and the pandemic has provided an opportunity to further transform the industry. Describing his investment relationship with Harrison Street Real Estate, he writes at length about the concept of “limiters” and says, “my company was limited by the lack of understanding of the challenges our customers were going through, which created a lack of understanding as to how to meet their needs.” So true, especially his emphasis on the value of communication, and a key takeaway that “the employee experience defines the resident experience.” He offers charts that look at three dimensions labeled the customer, employees, and investors; then, he looks at three decision nodes: to move/join; to stay; and to thrive. Although Stubblefield references Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it could be fascinating to look even more deeply into applying psychological concepts to his arguments. Stubblefield promotes “high-quality care, support, and love designed for every budget” and I would be curious to learn more about how well the twenty or so properties he operates across at least three states achieve that lofty goal. Even he comments on the “cultural misunderstandings between capital and operations.” A CULTURE OF PROMISE is written with an inspirational tone and will hopefully prompt some discussion and even soul-searching in an industry that tends to be very opaque and fragmented (most regulation is by the states). I have recommended this title to the administrators I know in the field. They may also be interested in relevant websites Stubblefield mentions like the National Investment Center or other trade associations. I am curious to see what else (like Here be Dragons about urgent care clinics) Forbes Books is publishing concerning changes in the healthcare arena.

The Wisdom of Morrie and Life Worth Living

I requested a preview copy of THE WISDOM OF MORRIE (edited by Rob Schwartz) after seeing an interview on PBS NewsHour:

Rob Schwartz is the son of the professor who was profiled in Mitch Albom’s bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie. In this latest text, Morrie’s thoughts on “Living and Aging Creatively and Joyfully” are complied, hoping to contribute to Morrie’s wish of “help[ing] people maintain an active and vibrant life.”  Writing in Morrie's voice Schwartz states “trying to become the best person we can be, aging well, and coming to terms with our issues might be the most important and meaningful goals to strive for in later life.” He further notes that “this book is for everyone, though it may especially speak to people over sixty-five and retired.” The reader is able to share Morrie’s thoughts and fears about aging and he provides numerous inspirational stories like the one about the man who graduated high school at age 81. Overall, the conversational tone is very welcoming and reassuring. I especially loved his comments on solitude: “solitude lets us be in a calm, peaceful, quiet environment, doing work we wish to do, thinking through issues we are concerned about, appreciating nature or art, engaging in a spiritual practice. It provides the opportunity to relax and be ourselves out of other people's control, scrutiny, and judgment. …. solitude permits us to connect deeply with ourselves and our universe.”

Looking for more ideas about re-evaluating your priorities and reflecting on a sense of meaning in life? See LIFE WORTH LIVING by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. It’s “A Guide to What Matters Most” and is based on a class in Yale College’s Humanities Program. Basically, it is an exercise in thinking about how you would like to be remembered. These humanities professors look at theology and philosophy and quote numerous scholars and religious practices. They recommend reading the text in order, writing down your thoughts, and discussing with others. LIFE WORTH LIVING seems geared primarily to the twenty somethings who have the privilege of taking this class. However, it received a starred review from Booklist (“must-read for any age”) and praise (“a collection of wisdom”) from author Kelly Corrigan.

One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds

ONE YEAR TO AN ORGANIZED LIFE by Regina Leeds was previously published in 2008; these comments are about the first Hachette Go edition, published this month. This “Week-by-Week Mindful Guide to Getting Organized for Good” divides comments into 4 week segments on topics like time management, surviving a move, back to school season, and entertaining with joy. Leeds, a professional organizer for more than thirty years, does include a set of resources about charities, donations, tech organizing aids, and more. She utilizes personal anecdotes and a conversational tone; for example, she encourages readers to think about items forgotten in the past as well as four items the person takes on a trip but never uses. Then, Leeds challenges readers to leave those at home so as to travel lighter. Although ONE YEAR TO AN ORGANIZED LIFE could benefit from further updating (she refers to hanging folders and labelling tabs), overall it is a nice compilation of mostly commonsense ideas offered in a helpful, friendly manner.

You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha

I love the introductory comment to YOU ARE AWESOME by Neil Pasricha: “You are what you eat. And you are what you read. Are you hungry? Let’s go.” That mirrors the vibrant energy which best-selling author Pasricha (The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation) brings to the rest of his writing.  In YOU ARE AWESOME he focuses on “How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure & Live an Intentional Life” while developing resilience. Writing before the COVID pandemic, Pasricha said, “we need to take all the uncertainty and failure and change coming at us and use it as momentum that slingshots us forward and forward and forward.” He offers nine “research-backed” secrets and personal stories to help with that journey.  This is a very easy read that is made even easier through occasional illustrations or photos, the use of bold type to set off key points, and memorable imagery. For example, Pasricha describes his mother “adding a dot-dot-dot to the end of the sentence. Letting things happen so she could navigate forward from a position of strength rather than feeling like all her doors had closed.” Readers may have encountered these ideas in other forms (“I can’t dance … yet” as “yes, and …” or “tell yourself a different story” as reframing), but Pasricha summarizes them with a conversational, optimistic tone and employs many questions to engage his readers.  Students could readily pick up this book and become absorbed on exploring a secret a week over the course of a quarter…