Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

HIDDEN POTENTIAL is another insightful text by organizational psychologist Adam Grant (Think Again). Here, he explores “The Science of Achieving Greater Things,” emphasizing the importance of character traits like proactivity, discipline, and determination. He argues that these skills can be learned and nurtured, leading to a huge impact. In fact, Grant writes, "Potential is not a matter of where you start, but of how far you travel. We need to focus less on starting points and more on distance traveled." Grant uses research and examples from numerous fields (and countries, particularly Finland) to support his arguments about making learning fun and building a love of reading. HIDDEN POTENTIAL received a starred review from Kirkus.  Given his emphasis on the important role that teachers (and parents) play, this title would make a fascinating all school read – worthy of faculty discussion time with Grant’s guide. I am also curious how individual teachers, administrators, and students would respond to his quiz about imperfectionists, discomfort seekers, and sponges. A significant portion of the text is devoted to notes and there is an “Actions for Impact” summary which lists Grant’s “top 40 practical takeaways for unlocking hidden potential and achieving greater things;” just the right number to explore one idea per week during the average school year.

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret by Nev March

THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT'S SECRET by Nev March; (Murder in Old Bombay) is the latest in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana mysteries which are set in the 1890’s, involve characters with East Indian heritage, and deal with the social mores and prejudices of the times. In this case, a mysterious death occurs on an ocean liner and, as a neutral but experienced investigator, Jim is drafted into solving the why and how of a potentially explosive diplomatic death. He is truly puzzled by a lack of motive and suspects which also lent a bit of frustration to my reading. I do wish the story had moved somewhat more quickly and that Diana had a larger role throughout. Still, March produced a puzzling case and kept me guessing, too. Earlier series entries (see also Peril at the Exposition, set in Chicago) are stronger, but THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT'S SECRET still offers an entertaining diversion. And readers who enjoy the shipboard setting, may also like watching High Seas (on Netflix) which involves a mystery on an ocean liner and is set in the 1940s.

A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home by Melissa Dilkes Pateras

A DIRTY GUIDE TO A CLEAN HOME by Melissa Dilkes Pateras, known as the Laundry Lesbian online, outlines “Housekeeping Hacks You Can't Live Without” in an irreverent, but useful manner. She begins with encouraging less clutter, noting “your memories are stored within you and not in your stuff.” Lists of helpful questions (Do I love it? Would I buy it again today if it broke?) and the big clutter culprits (gifts, mugs, towels and bedding, water bottles…) will have readers smiling and nodding in agreement. Her energetic and encouraging tone will prompt readers to get organized and to take action. As Pateras says, “there are big cleans and little cleans. There are deep cleans and everyday tidies sometimes you need one but not the other.” She offers a ton of specific suggestions for cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, appliances, floors, etc. and lists a variety of tools and products to use. Another section of her book focuses on fixing and upgrading, or, as she says “things you thought you had to hire a TaskRabbit to do but you can actually do yourself” (like change a shower head, switching doorknobs, or caulking).  There’s also an entire section on laundry (washing drying, stain removal, ironing) which is followed by one on maintaining appliances. An informative guide.  

Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz

STRESS RESETS by Jennifer L. Taitz, a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at UCLA, has three main sections. The first – called Befriending Stress, Living Better – is rather text heavy, but intended to provide background and a better understanding of topics like regulating emotion, overthinking, and thriving without substances. Many readers will turn quickly to the more specific ideas for “How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes” that Taitz offers in the second (Stress Resets for Intense Times) and third (Stress Buffers For Building Resilience) sections. The timeframes are different (short-term exercises vs. longer-term habits of mind), but those strategies are each further divided between Mind, Body, and Behavior. Taitz provides a lengthy bibliography (almost fifteen percent of the book is detailed references and resources) so these are not necessarily “new” activities (e.g., breathing exercises, scan your body, laugh more!), but they are organized in a very helpful way. Each of the 75 ideas has a when, how and why section, allowing readers to think more clearly about appropriate timing, execution, and science behind each idea (e.g., why an ice-cold face bath leads to feeling calmer or making your bed contributes to a sense of accomplishment). In fact, Taitz writes that readers should think of STRESS RESETS “as a recipe book for your well-being -- in other words, accessible, easily digestible strategies with clear instructions that you can pick and choose from, depending on your taste and needs.” Have a look at some of her suggestions, ranging from expanding your gaze, or taking a walk outside, to carving out time to worry or committing to three minutes of mindfulness. They are thoughtful, practical tips.  

How to Know a Person by David Brooks

HOW TO KNOW A PERSON by David Brooks is all about “The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.” In fact, I sent family members a link several weeks ago to his New York Times article “The Essential Skills for Being Human” where he writes about this book and his desire to “teach people how to understand others, how to make them feel respected, valued and understood.” Amongst the reasons he lists for pursuing this project is one that relates to national security: “Now we live in wonderfully diverse societies, but our social skills are inadequate for the divisions that exist. We live in a brutalizing time.” Particularly in regard to national politics and policy choices, it feels as though we live in alternate realities and instead of focusing on commonalities and compromise, much effort is made to emphasize differences and perpetuate stereotypes. Brooks encourages us to emulate those he calls illuminators, persistently curious and caring with the ability to make others “feel bigger, respected, lit up.” He explores skills like the gift of attention and the art of conversation as well as his own growth, saying “I [now] think the wise person’s essential gift is tender receptivity.” HOW TO KNOW A PERSON is worth spending time in quiet reflection and application.

For more insight, here is a video produced by the Free Library of Philadelphia:

15:45: “Each person you meet is not a problem to be solved. They are mystery that you will never get to the bottom of.”

 

The Official MIND Diet by Martha Clare Morris

THE OFFICIAL MIND DIET by Martha Clare Morris outlines “A Scientifically Based Program to Lose Weight and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease.” The majority of the text is about the science behind the diet; there are chapters on research and benefits of specific foods.  In terms of application, there is a toolbox section which suggests tracking your consumption, using a calendar for reminders, and menu planning.  Only about twenty-five percent is devoted to the sixty or so recipes which are included. Morris led a team of researchers at Rush University Medical Center and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to develop the MIND Diet. Her daughter, a professionally trained chef, has worked with a registered dietician to compile this text and includes recipes with nutrition information for dishes like Veggie Hash with Eggs or Smoked Paprika Chicken with Seared Green Beans. However, there are NO pictures in this section of the preview (despite its appealing cover). The final ten percent of the book contains notes, references, and a poorly formatted six week at a glance chart. As valuable as this scientific and health information may be, my impression is that readers who are interested in exploring this diet will largely be convinced of its merits and be more interested in trying to develop motivation to prepare some of the recommended foods. I am tempted to look instead at titles like MIND Diet for Beginners (with 85 Recipes and a 7-Day Kickstart Plan), The 30-Day Alzheimer's Solution, or Blue Zones Kitchens. They seem to have many more appealing images and less text and tasks.

Best Books of 2023 ...

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2023and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Deb Caletti’s Plan A. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed and Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly (honestly, not wild for their Top 10, but All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby made the mystery choices) OR Kirkus Reviews. Some of the Kirkus fiction choices that I also really liked include an eclectic mix: Happiness Falls, Five-Star Weekend, and Deep Sky. A separate list is provided for non-fiction (like People’s Hospital, Democracy Awakening, and The Teachers) and a list is forthcoming for best teen books.

And Goodreads will release its Choice Awards across several categories for 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2023   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2023: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Favorites2023.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 10 best audiobooks). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2023 list for books. 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; There is also a top ten list on their site.

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Added: STILL looking for ideas to read? The Smithsonian Magazine has compiled a set of links to the most borrowed books from public libraries in 2023.