Nonfiction4Life

Richard Louv, co-founder of the San Diego-based Children & Nature Network, author Richard Louv adds Vitamin N to his growing list of books encouraging us to get outside. Aimed especially at families eager to share nature with their kids, Louv's practical guidebook offers "500 Ways to Enrich the Health & Happiness of Your Family & Community." All are appropriate for Earth Day, but they're also fitting throughout the year. Through his 2008 landmark book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Louv brought international attention to a backyard crisis. We are unnaturally detached from our natural surroundings. A decade later, this clarion call to parents, policymakers, and pediatricians continues to resonate. Sadly, society still suffers from obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Fortunately, however, Louv's message has galvanized an international back-to-nature campaign to “Leave No Child Inside.” City folks inclined to develop an adversarial relationship with nature find Louv's ideas comforting. For instance, dirt can strengthen immune systems; sticks are perhaps the world's oldest toys; sunshine and water are for our use and pleasure. Louv invites these urbanites to step beyond their world of concrete and hand sanitizer, and, instead, gather courage as they build resilience and new outdoor skills.  Following Louv's charge to return to nature, adults report regaining their own sense of wonder. Those stepping outside are feeling a greater sense of work-life balance and freedom from frenzied family schedules. (For more ideas aimed at adults, see The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age by Richard Louv.)   Just how much "Vitamin N" do we need? Louv believes “Some is good, and more is better.” BUY Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life Please consider donating to Nonfiction4Life by visiting our Patreon page. RECOMMENDATIONS Check out other titles by Richard Louv: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (2008)  The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder (2011) Read our blog about Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of New York's Central Park. Listen to Angela Hanscom (Episode 104) talk about her book, Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children, then buy the book. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

Amanda Ellison, a leading neuroscientist and physiologist at Durham University in the UK, explains head pain in her book Splitting: The Inside Story of Headaches. What is the point of pain, especially the kind we suffer from headaches? Ellison addresses this age-old question and, combining humor with wide-ranging research, she also defines all kinds of headaches—from a “brain freeze” to much more serious cluster headaches—and their possible remedies.   Those with a science background will not be disappointed. Ellison serves up loads of research and technical terms (enough to give the less scientific a headache) to explain how different parts of the brain talk to each other. Best of all, her book is packed with practical advice and information any headache sufferer can use. Learn what causes migraines, how sinus pain happens, and whether to reach for the painkillers or try some other remedy. QUOTES FROM ELLISON “Even from [an early age, we seem to attribute our headaches to emotional causes, and the biggest of these is stress.” "The most common fix for minor nagging headache comes out of your tap." “Posture, bad diet, dehydration, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, and the wrong kind of exercise all put the body and particularly the head, brain, and neck region under stress, leading to tension headache.” “Cluster headache is four times more common in men than women.” “Prodrome symptoms [are] quite obvious, including pronounced yawning, drowsiness, food craving, adversity to light, increased thirst or blurred vision.” RECOMMENDATIONS Avoid headaches by lightening up and getting (back) in touch with your fun side! Listen to Nonfiction4Life Episode #76 with Dave Crenshaw discussing The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done and buy his book. Read Catherine Price's latest book, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit  

In her latest book, Thrivers, child psychologist Dr. Michele Borba identifies seven teachable strengths that can safeguard kids for now and the future. To find these traits, Dr. Borba combed scientific studies on resilience, spoke to dozens of researchers and experts in the field, and interviewed more than 100 young people from all walks of life. Each strength is like a superpower that helps protect kids against the depression and anxiety that threatens to derail them. Better yet, when the superpowers are combined, they become even more potent, creating a Multiplier Effect that prepares children to succeed in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. And the best news of all: these strengths aren't inborn. They can be taught – and Dr. Borba shows parents and educators how to do it so kids cope today and thrive tomorrow. Unlike raising strivers set on top test scores and other resume-packing accolades, parents can learn how to raise thrivers—young people who flourish in a rapidly changing, anxiety-driven, uncertain world. Thrivers is a mix of keen cultural analysis of modern stresses and practical “how-to” strategies and everyday activities that build up kids' mental strength, resilience, happiness, and success. BUY Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine by Dr. Michele Borba RECOMMENDATIONS Listen to other parenting podcasts on Nonfiction4Life: #81: “The Gift of Failure” by Jessica Lahey #90: “Teach Your Children Well” by Dr. Madeline Levine #96: “How to Raise an Adult” by Julie Lythcott-Haims Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

As a Forbes Next 1000 entrepreneur and founder of the mentorship program Etre, Illana Raia connects girls directly to the leaders they want to meet and encourages them to ask the questions that are really on their minds. The result is The Epic Mentor Guide, a treasure trove of never-before-seen work/life advice from 180 boss women, each successful in her own sphere of influence. Raia's book includes advice from female astronauts, news anchors, CEOs, surgeons, engineers, Olympians, Wall Street wizards, world-renowned chefs, fashion designers, award-winning film directors, and more. QUOTES FROM RAIA "Sometimes it's better to know what's coming even before you start." " We define a mentor as someone who takes an active interest in your future, someone who invests her time and energy to bolster your confidence, challenge your assumptions, and inspire next steps." "Oh, these women. Role models, champions, and rock stars one and all." "Answering girls' questions about diversity and inclusion, raising hands, speaking up and standing out, The Epic Mentor Guide is [the] inside track to the workforce before you get there.” BUY The Epic Mentor Guide: Insider Advice for Girls Eyeing the Workforce from 180 Boss Women Who Know by Illana Raia RECOMMENDATION For a great companion book for women, read Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (and Why It's Different Than You Think) by Reshma Saujani. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

Urban economist Dr. Matthew Kahn in his latest book, “GOING REMOTE: How the Flexible Work Economy Can Improve Our Lives and our Cities,” shows us how the urban landscape is shifting in our favor. Whether we're working from home, in person, or in a hybrid fashion, Kahn explains how the pandemic has created opportunities for everyone to have more freedom. In fact, according to Kahn, the rise of remote work presents especially valuable chances for flexibility and equity in the lives of women, minorities, and young people. Working from home can significantly improve the standard of living for millions of people by changing the arc of how we live, work, and play. For more, see the Nonfiction4Life website. BUY Going Remote: How the Flexible Work Economy Can Improve Our Lives and our Cities by Matthew E. Kahn. RECOMMENDATION Compare Robert Putnam's revised and updated book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.

On a dare from his son, author A.J. Jacobs set out to thank everyone who contributed to bringing him a cup of coffee. The result is his book, “Thanks A Thousand,” and a TEDTalk viewed by more than a million people.  Jacobs's “Gratitude Journey,” a timely exploration of our interconnectedness, illustrates our need to eschew tribalism and recognize the staggering number of people who make our everyday lives wonderful. Read more on our website. BUY Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey (TED Books) Watch A.J. Jacobs deliver his now-famous TEDTalk with over 1 million views! Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In "WE GATHER TOGETHER: A Nation Divided, A President in Turmoil, and a Historic Campaign to Embrace Gratitude and Grace," beloved bestselling author Denise Kiernan turns her passion for history and unparalleled research to a topic that couldn't be timelier: gratitude. Spanning centuries, "WE GATHER TOGETHER" is anchored amid the strife of the Civil War and driven by the fascinating story of Sarah Josepha Hale, a widowed mother with no formal schooling who became one of the 19th century's most influential tastemakers. Despite personal tragedy and ongoing political conflict, she campaigned for decades to make real an annual day of thanks. For more, see the Show Notes on the Nonfiction4Life website. BUY We Gather Together: A Nation Divided, a President in Turmoil, and a Historic Campaign to Embrace Gratitude and Grace

How have some businesses managed to thrive during the Covid-19 pandemic? New York Times #1 bestselling author Joseph Michelli scours 140-plus businesses worldwide to collect lessons in his latest book, Stronger Through Adversity: World-Class Leaders Share Pandemic-Tested Lessons on Thriving During the Toughest Challenges. With his own life as “proof that you can become stronger through adversity,” Michelli identifies 20 ways organizations have managed to turn breakdowns into breakthroughs during these trying times. Listening with empathy, using a sense of humor, and admitting errors are just a few ways leaders today are moving ahead with success, creating a new normal at work. “There is a link between growth and resistance...Leaders must push through habits and emotional resistance to grow themselves and their teams,” says Michelli. BUY Stronger Through Adversity: World-Class Leaders Share Pandemic-Tested Lessons on Thriving During the Toughest Challenges RECOMMENDATIONS Watch a funny clip about customer service from Meet the Parents. Check out this scene from Love Actually making fun of customer service overperformance.

SUMMARY Dr. Fred Luskin, author of the bestselling book Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, founded and currently serves as Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. His forgiveness work has been applied the world over in veteran's hospitals, churches, in resolving legal disputes, with cancer patients as psychoeducation, and in psychotherapy. Luskin has had extraordinary success helping people recover from the murder of their family members as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, as an aftermath of the attacks on 911, in Sierra Leone after their civil war, and in artic Canada where native populations deal with the loss of their ancestral lands. LESSONS FROM LUSKIN How do grudges start? “Renting too much space in our mind to a problem comes from taking something too personally. Blaming someone else for our feelings then takes away our power, and we progress to forming our grievance story. Behind the process lies our tendency to make unenforceable rules that the world or other people are supposed to follow.” What stops us from forgiving? “The major obstacle to forgiving is a lack of understanding just what forgiveness is. Some of us confuse forgiveness with condoning unkind actions.” What is forgiveness? “Forgiveness is the feeling of peace that emerges as you take your hurt less personally, take responsibility for how you feel, and become a hero instead of a victim in the story you tell.” Why should we forgive? “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it changes the present. Forgiveness means that even though you are wounded you choose to hurt and suffer less. Forgiveness means you become a part of the solution. Forgiveness is the understanding that hurt is a normal part of life. Forgiveness is for you and no one else.” BUY Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness RECOMMENDATION Read the book, "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption." Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Harvard-trained geriatrician and award-winning author Louis Aronson introduces a revolutionary perspective on growing old in her book, “ELDERHOOD: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life.” Sharing stories from her personal and professional life, and drawing from history, Aronson offers clarity and understanding about “elderhood,” the third and final stage of life after childhood and adulthood and a period that can span up to 40 years or more. With new insights into aging, medicine, and humanity itself, Aronson teaches us how to move beyond wrinkles and baldness and reframe these later decades of elderhood so we can better prepare for and thrive during our final years. QUOTES FROM ARONSON “In medicine, we spend most of most days really dealing with some pretty intense things that fill us with emotions and feelings and thoughts and experiences that are the stuff of literature.” “Elderhood, or the specter of being seen old by others,…pretty much starts somewhere between 60 and 70 for most people…but if you're in Silicon Valley, and if you're over age 30 or 35, you're already old.” “People start getting happy in their late 50s, and their happiest time of life…is, hands down, the 60s and 70s.” “When asked the recipe for a good old age, I often give a list: good genes, good luck, enough money, and one good kid, usually a daughter.” “A majority of the most powerful people in politics and many other industries are people in their 60s and early 70s.” “We have created a society where we do everything possible to stay alive yet dread being old.” BUY Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life RECOMMENDATIONS Enjoy watching a TEDTalk of a mother and son's tender photographic journey through dementia. For a practical guide to living out the final years with joy and resilience,  BUY Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives by Daniel J. Levitin. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Canadian astronaut, author, and CEO Dave Williams in Leadership Moments from NASA: Achieving the Impossible examines the resilient culture and diverse leadership styles at NASA. In an organization where decisions can literally be matters of life and death, leadership styles matter! Using oral histories and interviews, Dave Williams and his co-author Elizabeth Howell help us understand many triumphs and tragedies spanning more than 50 years of space exploration. We learn how NASA was able to send a man to the moon in less than a decade of John Kennedy's announcement and how it continues to daringly push the limits of space exploration with confidence and courage. Despite all its setbacks, NASA has persisted as a place that continues to attract the best and brightest minds. KEY LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS Listen to your team; encourage people to speak up. Hire a diverse workforce using a competency-based model; empower bright, capable employees to use their expertise. Avoid the pitfall of “not saying we were wrong when we were wrong.” Organizational resilience and agility are critical and are often built through bouncing back from failure. QUOTES FROM WILLIAMS “The NASA culture defies the limits of traditional leadership by creating peak-performing teams where each individual strives relentlessly to build their competency, to build trust and to create strong links in a chain that binds the team together.” “Leadership is the art of influencing others.” “The perspectives on leadership at NASA…have been validated through the results that were achieved with their widespread utilization over the past 60 years of human spaceflight.” BUY Leadership Moments from NASA: Achieving the Impossible RECOMMENDATION Learn of Williams's personal experiences in space and NASA leadership in his memoir, Defying Limits: Lessons from the Edge of the Universe. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit

SUMMARY "In My Mother's Footsteps" by Mona Hajjar Halaby layers the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict with honest recollections of a Palestinian mother and daughter who both lived in their homeland at different times. Leaving California to spend a year teaching conflict resolution to schoolchildren in Ramallah, Halaby keeps a journal of her observations, feelings, experiences, and impressions of the challenges of living in a militarized, occupied town. This sabbatical gives her a chance to claim a homeland where she'd never lived.: “For me—a Palestinian in the Diaspora, whose mother has been denied the right to return to her home lost in 1948—my coming back and living in Palestine was a way of reinstating my connection to the land of my mother and grandparents. Like a homing pigeon who always returns to its coop, it was a way of saying, 'I might be far away geographically, but I still belong here.'” Then, after 59 years of exile, Mona's mother also returns to Jerusalem where, in a poetic role reversal, Mona would guide her through the narrow cobblestone alleys of the Old City where she grew up. Throughout the book, Halaby recounts seminal political decisions, such as the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate for Palestine, all etching a deep and long-lasting mark on the country and her family. Ultimately, however, she has much deeper reasons for raising her voice: “I cannot turn a blind eye to the injustices perpetrated against the Palestinians, or to any dispossessed or subjugated people. Can I forgive, or forget, what was, and is still being done to the Palestinians? With work, forgiving is doable, but forgetting is unthinkable. I cannot and do not want to forget the tragedies that have shaped my family and my people's lives. I want to honor the memory of their forced exile and share their story with the rest of the world.” QUOTES FROM HALABY “Jerusalem was known to be one of the most tolerant places in the world, where different cultures and religions lived side by side, and respected one another, living in balance and harmony.” “Mama was larger than life. The puffiness of her palm reminded me of a loaf of warm pita bread, and when she laced her fingers into mine like a pretzel, I felt safe. I would have walked with her to the ends of the earth.” “Refugees are like seeds that scatter in the wind, and land on different soils that become their reluctant homes.” “I kept trying to imagine what the Ramallah siege must have felt like for younger children...I would have anticipated the opposite. I always assumed that children experiencing trauma and military violence grow up too fast.” “Palestinians are strong and tough, like sabir, the cactus plant growing in their indigenous land, and which also means “patience” and “endurance” in Arabic. Not only have they survived the indignity and brutality of the Occupation, but they have also done it with dignity and pride. They will not surrender their struggle for Liberation.” “It's not a conflict about ancient hatred, or religion, as it is a modern struggle over land and who gets to live on that land.” BUY In My Mother's Footsteps: A Palestinian Refugee Returns Home RECOMMENDATION Watch “Jerusalem, We Are Here,” a virtual tour created by displaced Palestinians, including Mona Halaby as English narrator. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In his book “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less,” Leidy Klotz shows how we systematically overlook the concept of taking away. Instead, we tend to default to fixing through adding. Moreover, additive ideas come to mind quickly and easily; subtractive ideas require more cognitive effort. So, Professor Klotz from the University of Virginia, where he directs the Convergent Behavioral Science Initiative, has pioneered behavioral research pinpointing how and why we underutilize this fundamental approach to problem-solving. He also offers several tools for “using the minus sign” to gain greater satisfaction in our personal and professional lives. KEY POINTS Providing proof of competence after subtracting can be challenging. Synaptic pruning, when our brains clean up unused connections between neurons, is an example of natural, physiological subtraction. By repeating the word “more” and asserting “Greater production is the key to prosperity and peace,” President Truman's eschewed subtraction and set the United States on a path of accumulation. To subtract effectively, use “stop-doing” lists and “lesslists.” “Remove” first, then apply the popular trifecta of “reduce, reuse, recycle.” QUOTES FROM KLOTZ “Subtraction is the act of getting to less, but it is not the same as doing less. In fact, getting to less often means doing, or at least thinking, more.” “When we subtract information from our mental storerooms, our processing speeds up like a computer after closing a memory-intensive program that has been running in the background. Working at full capacity, we can create new knowledge—and perhaps even distill it into wisdom.” “Subtractors need not be minimalists, laid-back, anti-technology, or possessed of any other philosophy that owes some of its popularity to its ease.” BUY Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less RECOMMENDATIONS  For a children's take on subtraction, BUY The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Watch this video to simplify your home by mastering Marie Kondo's way of folding basic clothing items. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit  

At age 70, Letty Cottin Pogrebin felt fit as a fiddle on that fateful day she walked three miles to her routine mammogram. A founding editor of Ms. (magazine) and women's rights activist, she had energy and to spare until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Facing six weeks of radiation treatment, she was now obligated to join others in the waiting room of Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City. So, putting on her journalist hat, she began interviewing fellow patients. The result? How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick–an invaluable handbook about “The New Illness Etiquette” for both the sick and their friends. 00:10   Intro to Letty Cottin Pogrebin, book author and founding editor of Ms. (magazine) 01:15   Flu and cold season begins 01:45   Pogrebin gets a routine mammogram at age 70 02:10   Breast cancer diagnosis comes without warning signs 04:00   Shares news of cancer and radiation with close friends via email 05:00   Searches in vain for a book about sickness and friendship 05:50   Interviews waiting-room patients for How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick 06:31   Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center attracts people the world over 07:45   Discovers discrepancies between their the experiences and wishes of sick people 08:15   Unexpectedly learns about caregivers' needs 09:30   Illness has a ripple effect, touching families and friends 09:50   Bottom line: people want to be honest—both the sick and their friends 10:40   What a friend should be able to ask a sick friend 11:10   What a sick person should be able to say to a friend 11:55   Truth-telling and “The New Illness Etiquette” 12:30   A friend reacts perfectly to Pogrebin's diagnosis 13:15   Asking “Do you want to talk about it?” gives a sick person control 13:25   Other lines that are both true and helpful 14:30   Sick people don't want to hear or answer, “How are you?” 15:55   Their responses can overwhelm friends with TMI 16:15   Asking “What's happening?” gives patient control over how much to disclose 17:30   Nobody wants to be labeled sick (such as “cancer girl”) 18:15   Saying, “You look great!” can give false reassurance and seem disingenuous 18:30   “Empathy translated into action equals kindness” 18:50   “Illness is friendship's proving ground” 19:15   Guidelines for visiting sick friends – be considerate 20:40   Guidelines for giving gifts to sick friends – pay attention to diagnoses 21:00   Examples of inappropriate gifts and insensitive comments 22:30   Personalize a friend's illness to the point you know what gifts to give 24:15   Humor and laughter depend entirely on how well you know the patient 24:50   Remembers laughing at Marlo Thomas's funny jokes 26:00   Disparages fruit baskets and extols massages (and other sensitive gifts) 27:20   Why ice cream scoops adorn the book cover 28:50   Contrasts generous gifts with the gift she really wanted 29:15   Follow up “What would you like?” with “You know I'm bringing something.” 30:25   Illustrates differences between sick men and sick women 30:50   25% of men interviewed hadn't disclosed their illness 31:15   Tells a heartbreaking story of Orthodox Jewish man hiding his cancer diagnosis 33:45   Cultural and gender barriers prevent many men from sharing the truth 34:10   Women tend to feel comfortable confiding in close friends 35:30   The book includes many lists for how to be helpful & honest 36:00   First step: learn what to say to a friend who's sick (“Do no harm.”) 36:20   Also, learn appropriate things to say to the bereaved 37:10   Recommendation – Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face (on Netflix) BUY How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick Watch the trailer for Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face. Connect with Nonfiction4Life on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Mother of presumably the most musical family in the world, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, in her breakout memoir “HOUSE OF MUSIC,” opens up about what it takes to create a musical family in a Britain divided by class and race. Kadiatu describes the difficulties of navigating the professional world of classical music while raising seven extremely gifted Black musicians in a normal home in Nottingham, England. Rising above a family history pocked by prejudice and riddled with racism, she and her husband Stuart pour their love and support into their children through unwavering emotional, financial, and intellectual commitment. Although lacking the privilege and polish of elite music schools, all seven children have developed exceptional skills and brilliant stage presence, catapulting them into the toughest musical competitions, extraordinary opportunities, and undisputed world fame. The Kanneh-Masons are a remarkable family. But what truly sparkles in this eloquent memoir is the joyous affirmation that children are a gift and we must do all we can to nurture them. KEY MOMENTS “I saw from my [unwed] sister and my mother that motherhood was a state of determination and constancy, and that love of one's children was the single urgent mission of life.” “The children relied on the rules and regularity we constructed, using them as a boundary within which their imaginations were free.” “When over two billion people already agog at an English prince marrying an African-American, tuned into the wedding and saw this teenage Black cellist framed between the flowering arches and playing with all the love and passion he knew, it was clear the world was going to change.” [When the oldest six children played on "Britain's Got Talent"], “they were determined to bring the message that the power and depth of classical music can be accessed by everyone.” QUOTES FROM KANNEH-MASON “Playing music was an organic part of family life, rooted in the routine of the wildness of every day." “Children who are gifted are often gifted with more than one direction, and these gifts have to be discovered and chosen. We were keenly aware of how responsible we were for giving our children access to who they needed to be.” “Music encompasses a vast emotional and intellectual world, and spending time to know it and to be its instrument is a great privilege. But the cost is high.” “The family home has evolved almost organically into a house of music. Our conversations are about music: listening, playing, concerts, practice. Most of the jokes and teasing insults are musical, and no day can be planned or imagined without first working out the logistics of each music commitment.” “To become a classical musician is similar to training as an athlete. It demands intense physical discipline, being alert to injury and being mentally strong.” “It has taken generations of love and sacrifice to create the conditions and the confidence for our children to be classical performers.” BUY House of Music RECOMMENDATION Watch and listen to Sheku Kanneh-Mason play “Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1” as he wins his title as 2016 BBC Young Musician. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In his memoir ONE BY ONE BY ONE, Dr. Aaron Berkowitz traces his journey as a young doctor grappling to bridge the gap between one of the world's richest countries and one of the world's poorest. On assignment in Haiti with Partners in Health, he meets Janel, a 23-year-old man with the largest brain tumor he or any of his colleagues at Harvard Medical School have ever seen. Trying to make the first big save of his medical career as a neurosurgeon, and determined to “to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need” and work toward “solidarity rather than charity alone,” Dr. Berkowitz aims to save Janel's life by bringing him back to Boston for a 12-hour brain surgery.  With heart-wrenching twists and turns, the story of Janel's uncertain medical future parallels Dr. Berkowitz's own uncertainties as a doctor. Berkowitz brings the reader to the front lines of global humanitarian work as he struggles to overcome the challenges that arise when well-meaning intentions give rise to unintended consequences, when cultures and belief systems clash, and when it's not clear what the right thing to do is, let alone the right way to do it. KEY FACTS About 4 billion people lack access to basic healthcare. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. More than 10,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work in Haiti (one for every 1,000 people), yet Haiti remains one of the poorest countries, with some of the worst health, education, and sanitation statistics in the world. QUOTES FROM BERKOWITZ "I learned how a few individuals working together might just be able to make a small difference in those big billions, one by one by one.” “From illiteracy to entitlement and corruption, from going to the bathroom with the door open to refusing to sit near the bathroom, Haiti's inequities and their juxtaposition are in plain view before even arriving there.” “PIH [Partners in Health] describes its work as being based on solidarity rather than charity alone. Charity is necessary, of course: those who have more should help those who have less. But charity means us giving to them, to some abstract all. Solidarity redefines this relationship. It invites all of us to share with each other because we are each part of the same all.” “PIH recognized early on that health is not only about medicine but also about combating poverty.” “If we frame problems in terms of their constraints rather than their possibilities, prioritizing risk avoidance above all else, we are less motivated to find solutions.” BUY One by One by One: Making a Small Difference Amid a Billion Problems RECOMMENDATION Learn more about Partners in Health and their mission by visiting their website. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Christina Soontornvat thrills readers of all ages with her 2021 Newbery Honor Book, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. Winner of numerous nonfiction awards, All Thirteen is a gripping page-turner. What begins as a simple afternoon adventure for teenage boys exploring a cave escalates into a global life-or-death mission to save a soccer team and their coach. Of Thai descent, Soontornvat happened to visit Thailand on the same day the boys were lost in the cave, and she returned to the U.S. the same day they were finally rescued. With the heart of a scientist and an author, she knew she needed to capture this compelling true story. In All Thirteen, Soontornvat combines science, culture, and real-life suspense to explain the complexities of the rescue operation while simultaneously sharing the emotional and mental struggles of the thirteen young people trapped underground. RULES FOR CAVE DIVING (developed by Sheck Exley in the 1970s) Always use a single, continuous guideline from the entrance of the cave throughout the dive. Always use the “Thirds Rule”: Use one-third of your air supply on the way in, use one-third on the way out, and save one-third in case you run into an emergency. Avoid deep diving in caves. Avoid panic by building up experience slowly and being prepared for emergencies. Carry at least three lights per diver. Use the safest possible scuba equipment. Avoid stirring up silt on the bottom. Practice emergency procedures with your partner before diving, and review them often. Always carry equipment for emergencies and know how to use it. Never let overconfidence allow you to think it’s OK to break any of these rules. QUOTES FROM SOONTORNVAT “For many of the people of northern Thailand, caves are particularly sacred places that deserve respect.” “Thailand’s tourism slogan is the ‘Land of Smiles,’ and visitors to the country often say that people here smile more than most. But in Thailand, smiling isn’t something you do solely to express happiness. Thai people may smile during an argument, or when they’ve just lost their wallet, or when they get into a fender bender. A smile is a way to make the people around you feel comfortable, to keep the situation cool, and to keep cool yourself.” “The lesson I wanted to share the most comes from Coach Ek and the boys, who—like their rescuers—defied impossible odds. They taught me that ‘impossible’ exists only in your mind. You are capable of so much more than you can even imagine.” BUY All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team (Newbery Honor Book) RECOMMENDATION Watch the moment the two British cave divers found the thirteen stranded young men, a YouTube video that immediately went viral.  Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Emmy award–winning journalist and media expert Frank Sesno teaches how to question others in his book, Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change. Sesno shares the secret sauce to asking the right question at the right time. Mastering this simple skill sets apart successful people in all disciplines from the pack. With more than three decades of diverse journalistic reporting under his belt, Sesno knows how to use questions to break down barriers, discover secrets, solve puzzles, and imagine new ways of doing things. He explores all different types of inquiries—from strategic and confrontational questions to empathy and creativity questions. Sesno’s advice will help you know what to ask and when, what you should listen for, and what you can expect as the outcome. By asking more, you can get people talking! KEY INQUIRY SKILLS HELP YOU… Connect with strangers Enhance friendships Cement relationships Land career opportunities Interview candidates Advance short and long-term goals Improve dinner-party conversations Solve mysteries Challenge experts Learn to listen Develop sharp strategies Discover your legacy Invent and innovate Express empathy Convey interest Generate trust Hold people accountable Advocate effectively Project moral authority Drive creative thinking Confront power Develop mission statements Solve problems Generate trust Find meaning Shape the future Change the world! QUOTES FROM SESNO “Questions are humanity’s unique attribute. They are our investment in ourselves and in the future. When we ask more, we open our minds and challenge others to open theirs. We organize our thoughts so we can tackle big ideas and probe with precision. We learn and lead and discover.” “Smart questions make smarter people.” “A few well-placed questions will jump-start a conversation. The more you ask, the more you get. You decide what and how much you want to serve up. The ingredients for this recipe are readily available and require just a little preparation.” “Questions are our way to connect with other human beings. I believe that inquiry, not imitation, is the sincerest form of flattery.” BUY Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change RECOMMENDATION Get more tips for asking great questions by listening to Nonfiction4Life podcast episode #110: The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead by Warren Berger. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY For more than 20 years, Heather Lende has written obituaries for the Chilkat Valley News in the tiny town of Haines, Alaska. Now, the New York Times bestselling author weaves her own life lessons together with recollections of the deceased. And we get Find the Good: Unexpected Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer, a gentle, insightful memoir mixed with humor and sensitivity. More than a storyteller, Lende is a “story catcher” who knows the challenge of describing life with words that both honor the dead and bless the living. But she manages well. "Find the Good" reminds us all to live more gratefully by seeing life through the lens of optimism. 00:25   Intro to author Heather Lende from Haines, Alaska 01:25   Obituary writers describe a life in 500-600 words 01:30   Lende’s mantra: “Find the good.” 02:00   Writing our own obituaries, every day 02:25   Unpacking the title, “Find the Good” 03:45   Countering sadness 04:15   Lende’s career begins in 1996 05:45   Characteristics and qualifications of a good obituary writer 07:45   Be a “story catcher” 08:45   Who approves obituaries? 11:00   Lende’s own brush with death changes everything 12:20   Recovery breeds empathy and gratitude 12:45   Wounds, seen and unseen 14:00   Deaths hit close to home 15:00   “I’m just the chronicler of these tragedies,” trying to give families hope 15:40   Using her art to make a difference and move hearts 16:30   Lende faces her own grief with unwed daughter’s pregnancy 17:00   “Draw lines in the sand so you can move them.” 17:45   Wisdom from an elderly Southern lady 19:00   Sometimes the “Big Worry” isn’t a worry at all 19:40   “Practice staggered breathing” 20:25   Life lessons from choir metaphors 22:00   “Writing obituaries is my way of transcending the bad news.” 22:25   The story of Richard Boyce, a fisherman lost at sea 24:45   The power of a father’s love 25:20   Story of Russ, the town cemetery gardener 26:00   A long-lost son returns, dies, and gives his home to hospice 27:00   The power of simple greeting cards and the family Bible 28:32   The story of Rene—writing a pre-death obituary for a breast-cancer victim 29:02   What would you do with your remaining days? 30:42   Quantity vs. quality of life 30:59   Everyday blessings 31:20   Life’s two greatest regrets 31:45   Longing for small-town living 32:10   The downsides of small-town living 34:05   Navigating “spiritual boot camp” 35:00   Nurturing the skill of “finding the good” 35:20   Hearts turn to stone, but stones also turn to hearts 36:15   The story of Vic—proof people can change 37:15   How to get a good obituary 37:45   Who will write Lende’s obituary? 38:30   The immediate value of an obituary 39:10   What Lende hopes her readers feel 39:40   How to create small towns anywhere QUOTES FROM LENDE "If indeed all the wisdom I had in my heart was to be summed up in final words and it was difficult to speak more than, say, three, what would I rasp before my soul flew up the chimney? Find the good. I surprised myself with this pretty great notion. Find the good. That’s enough. That’s plenty. I could leave my family with that." "Awful events are followed by dozens and dozens of good deeds. It’s not that misery loves company, exactly; rather, it’s that suffering, in all its forms, and our response to it, binds us together across dinner tables, neighborhoods, towns and cities, and even time. Bad doings bring out the best in people." "I have a friend who says we spend the first half of our life building it and the second half preventing it from falling apart. I’d rather be under construction when I die." “We are all writing our own obituary every day by how we live. The best news is that there’s still time for additions and revisions before it goes to press.” "The invisible part of a mother’s heart is the strongest and most flexible because it enlarges with each child and grandchild. Rather than divide the heart’s chambers into smaller rooms as the family grows, love multiplies them." "No matter how many obituaries I write, I will never get used to talking to someone one day and learning that they’ve left town, and the entire planet, the next. It may not shock me the way it does others, but that doesn’t make it any easier. There is no good in missing someone so badly you can’t even hum." BUY Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer Other Books by Heather Lende BUY If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska BUY Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: A True Story of Bad Breaks and Small Miracles RECOMMENDATIONS Listen to Nonfiction4Life podcast episode 102, Farewell: Vital End-of-Life Questions with Candid Answers from a Leading Palliative and Hospice Physician by Dr. Edward T. Creagan with Sandra Wendel. Check out Nonfiction4Life podcast episode 172, The Parlay Effect: How Female Connection Can Change the World by Anne Devereux-Mills. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY “The Power of Kindness: Why Empathy Is Essential in Everyday Life” by Dr. Brian Goldman is the result of a veteran ER physician questioning his empathy quotient. Concerned his ability to be kind has diminished, Goldman travels the world looking for stories and data about empathy. Relieved to learn neuroscientists believe humans are hard-wired to experience empathy, he investigates why kindness is so vital to our very existence. KEY TERMS Empathy – the ability or capacity to imagine what it’s like to be someone else and have your actions be informed by that Empathy Fatigue - can result from a barrage of media images and news coverage designed to make us care about one cause after another Compassion – the doing part of empathy, sometimes called emotional concern Validation - a method used to show empathy towards Alzheimer’s patients Synchrony - the superhighway that leads to connection and to kindness Apathy – the antonym of empathy The dark triad ­– those not kind at all: narcissisists, psychopaths and sociopaths, Machiavellianism Callousness – a general disregard for other and a lack of empathy QUOTES FROM GOLDMAN “When I’m kind to people, I see them as being like me, and me like them.” “You’re more likely to empathize with members of another group if you discover reasons to like [them].” “Some of us are born extraordinarily kind. But most get there only after experiencing pain and then learning from it.” “If you want to be kind to others, the first person you must connect with is you.” BUY The Power of Kindness: Why Empathy Is Essential in Everyday Life RECOMMENDATION Watch Dr. Brian Goldman’s TED Talk, “Doctors make mistakes. Can we talk about that?” Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY  Anne Devereux-Mills, once a powerful New York advertising executive, captures her story of creating authentic female connections in her book, “The Parlay Effect: How Female Connection Can Change the World.” After experiencing a “trifecta of setbacks”—losing her job, health, and last child (to college)—Devereux-Mills found herself in a new city with no real female friends. Tired of transactional relationships, she was hungry for “four quarters instead of a hundred pennies.” So, she invited complete strangers into her home for food and conversation, and Parlay House was born. In her words, Anne “set out to replicate [the] magic of growth through difference—and to do it by building a community of women. Ideally, the organization I envisioned would include a wide-ranging group of dynamic women and provide a safe place for us to gather, laugh, relax, talk about important ideas and, for at least a few hours every month, put ourselves first, something women rarely do. I wanted to explore this idea of self-expansion.” KEY TERMS Parlay – to speak; a bet where the stakes are higher when you’re doing it together with others Parlay House – an inclusive series of in-person and digital gatherings for women that fosters authentic connections and supportive relationships, especially for women at inflection points and crossroads The Parlay Effect – goodness transferred one-to-one then often multiplied exponentially as people observe positive acts and begin to pass them on; an action from one person to another amplified and replicated at an exponential level that generates the hope that small actions can truly be part of a significant cascade of good One Small Thing – a single act of kindness Cascading – when one small thing triggers multiple empathetic acts QUOTES FROM DEVEREUX-MILLS “When I lost power, I lost connections, and I didn’t want to have relationships that were based on transactions.” “Empowered by other women, women don’t just pay it forward; they pay it outward.” “I have a personal saying that goes like this: ‘We are stronger when we are connected.’ This is what inspired me to create the community of Parlay House. It taught me that the company of other women helps me to feel grounded, fulfilled and empowered.”  BUY The Parlay Effect: How Female Connection Can Change the World RECOMMENDATION To find how and where women are connecting with other women, check out the Parlay House website. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, author of “Balanced and Barefoot,” urges parents, teachers, and administrators to embrace “free play” for children of all ages. Today, without merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters, time to roll down hills and get dirty, these modern kids are experiencing an alarming increase in sensory and emotional disorders. But Hanscom, comes to their rescue with “Balanced and Barefoot,” a book full of compelling reasons to encourage unrestrained outdoor play and movement. Not only is free play more fun, she argues, but, without it, cognitive and physical development are stunted. As a mother and therapist, Angela Hanscom observed a steep decline in sensory-motor development among her children’s peers. So, she started TimberNook as a vehicle to get children outdoors where they could enjoy the rich sensory experiences nature offers. What began as a backyard experiment has now grown into a movement to inspire, restore, and challenge little minds and bodies in communities across the world.  KEY TERMS “Active free play”- being fully engrossed with our whole body in an experience “Deep play” – play that involves purpose and teaches social skills “Vestibular sense” – sense of balance controlled by little hairs in our inner ear; helps us effectively navigate and move around our environment “Proprioception” – the ability to sense what different parts of our body are doing without even looking at them; awareness of where our body is in space “Loose parts” – multi-purpose play items (e.g., a stick, planks, baskets) KEY POINTS Research shows kids are in a seated position for about 9 hrs/day. Spinning helps kids to integrate all their senses and to organize their brains. Playgrounds have morphed into colorful, very safe, low-to-the-ground, low-risk places for play easily mastered by age four or five. The unpredictability of outdoors challenges and develops all the senses. Constantly keeping a baby upright endangers a child, including creating more ear infections. QUOTES FROM HANSCOM "Active free play outdoors is a kind of play that promotes healthy sensory and motor development in children. It is the antidote to your child spending hours sitting indoors and staring at screens, and to you as a parent being too busy and overscheduled with kid activities to enjoy parenting. The outdoors awakens and rejuvenates the mind and engages all the senses." "In nature, children learn to take risks, overcome fears, make new friends, regulate emotions, and create imaginary worlds. "Active free play--particularly in the outdoors--is absolutely the most beneficial gift we as parents, teachers, and caregivers can bestow on our children to ensure healthy bodies, creative minds academic success, emotional stability, and strong social skills."   "Having the ability to play away from the adult world opens up many opportunities and feelings of freedom." "When children play outdoors, they are naturally motivated to move--strengthening their muscles with each move, each step, and every encounter with nature." BUY Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children RECOMMENDATIONS Check out the Playgroundology website and blog. Listen to Nonfiction4Life podcast #36 with Richard Louv, author of Vitamin N: 500 Ways to Enrich the Health & Happiness of Your Family & Community. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY “Strong Like Water: How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life,” by new author Laila Tarraf chronicles one woman’s painful struggle with emotional trauma. The eldest of three children of Lebanese immigrant parents, Tarraf takes on the dual role of mediator between a warring mother and father and bridge between two cultures and languages. Finally, in her forties, when life serves up the crushing loss of her husband and both parents in quick succession, Tarraf can no longer ignore her own powerful emotions. In this “leader-sort of business book disguised as a memoir,” Tarraf tells her story with both brutal honesty and tender vulnerability. Her eventual transformation comes when she learns to strengthen her heart while giving it “equal playing time” alongside her head. Connecting the two becomes the key to unlocking both personal and professional growth. KEY IDENTIFIERS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM EMOTIONAL TRAUMA Taking on the hero, helper, or fixer persona Disconnecting Overachieving Becoming self-reliant prematurely Keeping relationships at a distance; lacking intimacy and trust Pretending to not need comfort and nurturing QUOTES FROM TARRAF “Overachieving is the probably the most acceptable and respectable coping mechanism there is.” “There was no room for pain in my world…I had to keep moving mentally, emotionally, and physically to avoid the inevitable hardships in life.” “I kept on pushing down my disappointment, one swallow at a time, until I actually forgot that I possessed the very basic need of wanting to be cared for by my parents—or anyone for that matter.” “We all need space to know how we feel.” “True power comes from connecting your head to your heart.” “When a leader shows vulnerability…[she] normalizes it for everyone around [her].” BUY Strong Like Water: How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life RECOMMENDATION Check out She Writes Press, an award-winning publisher for women authors. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Not just another rags-to-riches story, “Unstoppable” by Joshua M. Greene is the unbelievable true story of “Siggi B. Wilzig’s Astonishing Journey from Auschwitz Survivor and Penniless Immigrant to Wall Street Legend.” Initially reluctant to write another dark Holocaust-survivor story, Greene, was surprised to find the post-Auschwitz life of Siggi B. Wilzig full of great hope. A force of nature, this Holocaust survivor not only became a business behemoth in both the oil and banking industries but also a powerful example of how to live every day fully, joyfully, and generously. “This is a book that will make you feel good about being an American,” says Greene. “He saw this as a place that gave immigrants a chance, a place where character was vaulted as a noble quality over cunning and cutthroat business practice.” According to Greene, what Siggi would want us to know today is to never give in to despair; never give in to the darkness. In our time, when heroes are in short supply, Siggi provides hope and heroism. SIGGI’S SALIENT QUALITIES Strong self-confidence that rebuffed any type of intimidation Early awareness of how adults thought and behaved Belief in the Almighty Authentic interest in caring for humanity Love of life (joie de vivre) Wicked sense of humor Drive for learning Foxlike intuition Fierce loyalty Extreme generosity Unstoppable! BUY Unstoppable: Siggi B. Wilzig's Astonishing Journey from Auschwitz Survivor and Penniless Immigrant to Wall Street Legend RECOMMENDATIONS Check out The Blue Card, an organization founded by Siggi's daughter Sherry Wilzig to provide support and assistance to Holocaust survivors suffering from cancer. Enjoy watching the YouTube video of Joshua M. Greene describing Siggi as he confronts the Federal Reserve. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit  

169 Show Notes LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light by Melissa Bernstein   SUMMARY   LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light by Melissa Bernstein, released March 16, 2021, reveals the raw truth the author has hidden most of her life. Co-founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug, Melissa Bernstein has grappled with existential anxiety and depression, bringing her to the brink of self-harm. Both haunting and hopeful, LifeLines is an unfiltered look at one survivor’s journey from deep darkness to liberating, rapturous joy.   From the time she was little, Bernstein never felt safe sharing her dark, despairing feelings. Instead, she turned to writing for solace. For decades, she kept these words private while vehemently denying her anxiety and depression and clinging to control in any form, especially perfectionism. But hiding behind that façade finally became too much to bear. Now, in her book Lifelines, she unapologetically pulls back the curtain to reveal how she has lived with and finally conquered her own terrifying demons.   Speaking for all the creative misfits, Bernstein speaks out about her difficult journey so others can also find a way to save themselves from the black hole of mental illness. Although “we all have the power to channel darkness into light,” accepting our emotional selves is key to turning things around. Finally accepting her own mental challenges, Bernstein has learned to harness their power and channel them into brilliant, profound creativity and light. Four lines on the book cover summarize how Bernstein has turned her inward struggles outward: Today I saved a life; Although it was my very own;Which won’t serve a greater purpose; Till I rescue lives unknown. Choosing life has allowed Bernstein to transcend pain and loneliness and courageously bridge into connection and joy. “This deep yearning for connection ushered in optimism I had never known. I now realized my mission extended well beyond the creation of toys.” Melissa Bernstein has been the chief designer of more than 5000 playthings sold by a half-a-billion dollar, wildly successful toy company. But, in the words of Bernstein’s husband Doug, “this book—authentic, unedited, and her own words—is her greatest gift yet.” BUY LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light RECOMMENDATIONS If you’re looking for support and authentic connection on your own journey toward mindfulness as well as a sense of purpose and meaning, join LifeLines.com, an online community, resource center, and content hub developed and underwritten by the Bernsteins. The website, launched March 1, 2021, is stunningly beautiful as well as a lot of fun to navigate. Questions or concerns? Melissa would be glad to talk to you directly! Contact her at melissabernstein@lifelines.com. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

John Rocco, #1 New York Times bestselling children’s author and illustrator, shares his recent release, How We Got to the Moon. Organized in seven sections, the book takes readers from age ten to 99 through the years of Apollo, a decade of serious space exploration. Using vivid illustrations and just the right amount of technical and historical information, Rocco highlights famous people such as Werner von Braun and President John F. Kennedy and many, many of the lesser-known 400,000 who helped America get to the moon. His artwork also simplifies complex scientific principles making them understandable for the casual reader and intriguing for the more serious. The space race was more than a friendly competition with the Soviets. As Rocco says, “To the men and women working on Apollo, it was more than an exploration of this new frontier called space; it was a race for survival. The American way of life was at stake.” So, Americans went to work and, against all odds, made it happen! Longlisted for the National Book Award and a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, How We Got to the Moon is also a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist and a Mathical Award Winner. BUY How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure RECOMMENDATIONS For a taste of John Rocco’s illustrations and dozens of great resources, visit his website. To see how Americans handled a failed mission, BUY Apollo 13. For family viewing and a history lesson in rocket-building, BUY October Sky. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube  Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It, Jason Karlawish, physician and writer, combines deep research with personal practice as Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center. Part case studies, part history, part present assessment, and part future projection, Karlawish’s book presents a strong argument for recognizing Alzheimer’s disease as a crisis. However, listing numerous biomedical breakthroughs, political gains, technological innovations, and formalized help agencies, the author leaves the issue shimmering with hope. We can, in fact, assign dignity to dementia, support caregivers and loved ones, and help patients reclaim autonomy and self of self. KEY TERMS, EVENTS, AND PEOPLE Dementia – disabling cognitive impairments (memory, attention, concentration, multitasking) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) – noticeable cognitive impairments causing inefficiencies in daily activities, but not disability Alzheimer’s Disease – one of the most common diseases of the brain causing dementia and MCI The Alzheimer’s Association – formed as a self-help group in late 20th century by seven families incensed by the poor quality of care of absence of support for patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease The National Alzheimer’s Project Act – enacted by Obama authorizing Congress to have all Federal agencies to come together to create a national Alzheimer’s plan The “founding fathers and mothers” of Alzheimer’s – early 20th century included mostly German-speaking psychiatrists and neuropathologists; late 20th century included women caring for family members who, encountering an indifferent healthcare system, formed self-help groups Robert Katzman - wrote “the essay heard round the world” reframing senile dementia as Alzheimer’s disease Jerry Stone – wealthy Chicagoan whose wife had Alzheimer’s helped bring together the seven family Hilda Pridgeon – formidable feminist force instrumental in organizing the Alzheimer’s Association Bobbi Glaze – partnered with Pridgeon to form the Alzheimer’s Association designed for the middle class—the neither rich or poor—who need help QUOTES FROM KARLAWISH “[The] “physical, psychological, financial, and moral suffering…adds up to a humanitarian problem [and] the solution isn’t simply better medical care.” “Short of a cure, short of a cure for each and every cause of dementia, we will have to learn to live with the disease.” “People are desperate to hold on to something that is very essential at least moral agency which is what allows us to think and decide.” “[Over the last several decades] the risk of developing dementia has been declining…The data suggests it’s about access and opportunity.” “A very mature, sensible way to live is to [recognize] that some degree of cognitive changes is going to be part of our lives.” BUY The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It RECOMMENDATION For extensive resources offered to Alzheimer’s disease patients and caregivers, check out the Alzheimers’ Association website. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In her book Passports and Pacifiers: Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time, Kaitlyn Jain, mother of four and a world traveler, shares her travel tips and family adventures. On every trip, Jain brings along her positive attitude and sense of humor while she and her husband balance careful planning with spontaneity. To afford their globetrotting, the Jains find deals and hone their parenting and packing skills. Part memoir, part guide Passports and Pacifiers is sure to inspire even the most reluctant parents to pack up the kids and go! KEY TRAVEL TIPS Meal-planning: take lots of snacks; realize peanut butter is considered a liquid and is not found in most other countries (“Every culture has something that’s bland…that the picky eater will eat.”) Sleeping: break up the day with scheduled naps; drive during naptime (“Parents lose forty-four days, or over a thousand hours, of sleep in in the first year of an infant’s life.”) Top priorities: budget is number one; packing what you need but not more than you can carry; having a flexible itinerary Packing: start a week in advance by using a list (always including a pair of pants, sturdy shoes, and a swimsuit); do laundry at least once on the trip; let older kids bring a backpack (one carry-on); minimize equipment Disciplining in public: remember kids have tantrums at home or abroad; welcome the kindness and help of strangers; don’t shame others QUOTES FROM JAIN “As parents, we experience life again through the eyes of our children. Sometimes that may involve ghastly moments, but I have found that…more often, we get to relive the highlights.” “Travel exposes kids to so many intangible benefits—seeing and trying new things, expanding their perspective, learning compassion, and experiencing different cultures.” “Yes, sometimes there are tantrums and things don’t go according to plan…but, like raising kids, travel with them is rewarding. It is entertaining. It is memorable and awe-inspiring. I will take those occasional meltdowns for the opportunity to see my kids’ raw reactions….” “Not every baby likes to fly and not every kid will eat whatever they’re given. However, we find that when our kids get three essential things—sleep, food, and exercise—they tend to behave. Even while traveling.” “Pacifiers aren’t just the physical object a baby puts in her mouth to suckle. They are those things that soothe us, our comforts of home.” BUY Passports and Pacifiers: Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time RECOMMENDATIONS Exciting news! Find Nonfiction4Life listed in the Top 30 Nonfiction Podcasts on Feedspot, a news and blog reader used by over 4.3 million users globally. Find all your favorite websites in one place. For 25 Essential Tips for Traveling with Kids, look at the Momondo blog. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY To be happy together, whether you’re starting a new relationship, weathering difficult times, or jump-starting a long-term marriage, Suzie and James Pawelski can help. Their book, Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts, isn’t the typical approach to romance. But this husband-and-wife research team has found how to ignite (or reignite) passion. KEY POINTS Together, the Pawelskis identify four key areas crucial to building and sustaining love over the long run: Harmonious passion: remembering who we are as individuals and seeking out new adventures together that both enjoy Positive emotions: feelings of joy, gratitude, and hope to help motivate couples to invest in each other’s well-being and engage in mutual care Mindful savoring: the importance of actively and consciously valuing another and expressing this appreciation to nurture and enhance the relationship Character strengths: why we need to define, find, and cultivate our individual potential and support our partner’s growth simultaneously Happy Together is the first book to apply principles of positive psychology to create successful, satisfying bonds that last. It’s a roadmap for rewarding, long-lasting romance. Refreshingly upbeat, the Pawelskis encourage couples to focus on their strengths. In other words, rather than prescribe cures for failing relationships, they suggest exercises as simple as talking about each other’s strengths to build positive emotions. From there, couples can further leverage strengths by planning dates that bring out the best in both partners. Another healthy exercise to lengthen and strengthen sweet moments of emotional closeness is slowing down to share your love story—the highs and the lows. Recounting how you’ve both conquered challenges and relished the good times can greatly increase your enjoyment of those experiences. Of course, falling in love and even being in love doesn’t mean you will magically have your dream relationship. Rather, relationships improve over time when partners practice key skills and cultivate loving habits. The Pawelskis encourage us to practice these skills in our own “relationship gym” because all relationships need work. BUY Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts by Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, MAPP and James O. Pawelski, Ph.D RECOMMENDATIONS Check out the Pawelskis’ website Build Happy Together, and spend 15 minutes with your loved one taking the VIA Survey of Character Strengths. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY A Mother’s Grace: Healing the World One Woman at a Time, by Michelle Moore, includes a collection of inspiring stories of a dozen everyday women who have transformed grief, crisis, and tragedy into an extraordinary passion to lift, love, and heal others. Linking arms with these contributing authors, Moore has formed the award-winning nonprofit Mother’s Grace, a consortium of women-led agencies that stand at-the-ready to offer families in crisis both financial and emotional support. True to the mission of Mother’s Grace, they strive to become an answer to the prayers of women in acute situations. Inspired by memories of her own mother’s grace, Moore continues to lead what was once a grass-roots effort holding garage sales. Today, Mother’s Grace is a powerful, $6-million organization making the world a safer, more hopeful, and more empathetic place. KEY QUESTIONS What is grace? The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor, a disposition to benefit or serve another.  How can you find your passion? Journaling Listening to yourself Taking one tiny step towards “that thing” How can you help children learn to be giving? Start them young Include them in your own giving Encourage them to take leadership positions Involve them in adventure philanthropy QUOTES FROM MOORE “You don’t have to set the world on fire to make a difference; if you go to your grave making a difference in one family’s life or one friend’s life, that’s something to be thankful for because that’s why…we’re put on this life.” “There is grace in this endeavor we call life…it’s a journey of love and light and we all need to constantly renew our appreciation for life.” “Each of the women in this book [is] a force to be reckoned with, a sterling example of resilience, and a beautiful, shining example of turning extreme loss and heartache into something positive, generous, and spiritually healthy.” BUY A Mother's Grace: Healing the World, One Woman at a Time RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES BUY Big Miracle NotMYkid – a nonprofit organization that provides children and families with truly lifesaving programs, support, resources, and education with a mission to empower and educate youth, families, and communities with the knowledge and courage to identify and prevent negative youth behavior Eric’s House - a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing integrative grief care to people who have suddenly lost someone they love, with a specialization in suicide and substance-related losses For the Love of Conor - supports organizations that promote the prevention of substance abuse and promote positive life choices for youth and young adults TAPS – provides comfort, care, and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Dr. BJ Fogg, founder and director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University, unveils his breakout book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. A bright yellow sheath striping the book cover boldly claims, “This Book Will Change Your Life!” Inside the book, Fogg explodes myths promoting traditional approaches to change, explaining why old ideas such as exercising willpower, strengthening resolve, and getting motivated just don’t work. In their place, we learn the Fogg Behavior Model that cracks the code to human behavior by revealing how we actually form new habits. In brief, we can change by simply starting small. Indeed, by starting tiny! Beloved by more than 40,000 students, Fogg himself embodies his own teachings, finding success at every turn by creating Tiny Habits. His advice: “You don’t need to procrastinate changing your habits. It’s so simple and easy and straightforward!” KEY POINTS Only three things can change behavior: having an epiphany; redesigning an environment; and making tiny, incremental changes that wire in habits. Tiny Habits don’t require tapping into willpower or sustaining high levels of motivation. Willpower is effective in helping us get things done, but it’s not good for creating habits over time. Focus on “wants” rather than on “shoulds.” Big aspirations or audacious goals are great, but the way to get to them is through Tiny (consistent) Habits. Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, creators of Instagram, found wild success because their original design was very simple. “After” is the best place to place a prompt, relying on a routine already in place. Action prompts (AKA: anchors or routines) work best for creating Tiny Habits. “Pearl Habits” originate with something that annoys us. To be most effective, Tiny Habits should be immediately followed by a celebration. SOME MYTHS FOGG EXPLODES It takes 21 days to create a habit. I need to measure my progress in order to create a habit or break one. By setting a resolution I can change my habits. If I find what’s behind my habit — the craving — then I can break it. Changing behavior is painful or unpleasant. I must have an accountability partner in order to stick to my new habit. You should change only one habit at a time. The only way to stop a bad habit is to replace it with something else. You need to track your behavior daily to form or break a habit. As you get older, you lose the ability to change your habits. If you repeat a behavior enough, it becomes a habit. QUOTES BY FOGG “Information alone does not reliably change behavior (AKA ‘the Information Fallacy’).” “Help people do what they already want to do.” “Behavior change is a skill…but as you practice it, it becomes second nature—just like driving.” “Forget about everything you thought you knew about habits and behavior change, and start over! There’s a new and better way of thinking about this.” BUY Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything RECOMMENDATION BUY the movie What About Bob? Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Howard Ross, a lifelong social justice advocate, has authored the Washington Post bestseller, Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives. Smashing long-time myths we hold dear, Ross addresses the many faces of unconscious bias. His book offers a plethora of data and anecdotes illustrating the urgency to develop a greater awareness of our own irrational beliefs and leanings. In short, Ross lays out a strong case for watching ourselves more carefully to notice and at least neutralize our biases.   SOME KEY TERMS Unconscious Bias - comes from social stereotypes, attitudes, opinions, and stigma we form about certain groups of people outside of our own conscious awareness; can be fed by snippets of information that we might get from biased media or social media or other sources, which are often taken out of context Theory of Mind - the ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, wants, and knowledge to others, and to understand when others have beliefs that are the same or different from our own Superego - the civilizing facet of the personality structure, controlling the id through rules that we have picked up during our life Selective Attention - a mental process through which we see some things but not others, depending upon our point of focus Diagnosis Bias - the propensity to label people, ideas, or things based on our initial opinions Pattern Recognition – the tendency to sort and identify information based on prior experience or habit (includes stereotyping) Confirmation Bias - a tendency for people to gather information or respond to a circumstance in a way that confirms their already established beliefs or ideas Priming - the implicit tendency to respond to something based on expectations created by a previous experience or association Anchoring Bias (AKA focalism) - the common tendency to rely too heavily or “anchor” on one trait or piece of information when making decisions Mirror Neurons – cause us to feel a deep connection to the experiences of others; sometimes called “the basis of civilization” QUOTES FROM ROSS “Unconscious influences dominate our everyday life. What we react to, are influenced by, see or don’t see, are all determined by reactions that happen deep within our psyche. Reactions which are largely unknown to us.” “We are constantly making decisions that are influenced by unconscious biases. In fact, even when our biases seem conscious, they may be influenced by a pattern of unconscious assumptions that we have absorbed throughout our lives.” “Whether you think they should or not, qualifications rarely have anything to do with Presidential elections. In fact, since 1950 arguably the least qualified candidates won more often than they lost! Whether we should or not, we vote for president based on how the person makes us feel.” “We are trained to think we can talk people out of their points of view if we give them the right ‘evidence.’ But…political biases actually distort our ability to reason logically. In the battle between emotion and rationality, emotion usually wins!” “Most people I know like to think of themselves as ‘good people.’ We like to think that we treat everybody around us fairly, at least most of the time, and we shudder to think that we might be biased in our nature. And yet it is apparent that to be biased is almost as normal as breathing, and that our hidden fears and insecurities often get expressed in the various ways we react and respond to each other.” “We like to think we are rational, and that our emotions are secondary. This is not unusual in Western cultures. We have a long history of valuing the rational over the emotional.” “We tend to have much greater empathy for people who are similar to us, particularly racially.” RECOMMENDATIONS BUY Our Search for Belonging: How Our Need to Connect Is Tearing Us Apart BUY Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think  Begin to identify your own biases, take the free, computer-based Implicit Association Test (IAT). Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Ryan Atkins shares the true and difficult journey with quadriplegia in his memoir, One Step Closer: How a Life-Altering Accident Led Me to Everything I Almost Missed. A college student in 2009, Atkins has the world by the tail. But a freak car accident leaves him paralyzed below the shoulders, changing his life fundamentally. Even after working and fighting harder than most to regain his mobility, physical miracles continue to elude him. So, he has to reach deeper for help, hope, and meaning. His crumbled dreams are reshaped and his hope soars as he rediscovers the need for God and what matters most. KEY POINTS FOR COPING Writing – process ups and downs of recovery and adjustment; overcome terror of being vulnerable Accepting help – realize others genuinely want to help/serve; take a dose of humility Turning to God – He reveals meaning and purpose while also helping us see our true identity Embracing an eternal perspective – see life beyond the here and now, recognizing mortality is merely a blip in eternity QUOTES FROM ATKINS “As unbearable as a lifetime of paralysis sounded, having people think I was mentally compromised was even worse.” “Suddenly I was no longer viewing Jesus as a genie whose sole purpose was to grant my wish of walking once again. Unexpectedly, the healing itself began to take a back seat on my priority list. ‘Seek the Healer, not just the healing’ became my mantra." “It really took me getting flat on my back to develop a sense of empathy, a desire to have a purpose greater than just myself.” “Life took on a much deeper meaning and richer hope for the future.” “As it turns out, there is a thin line between allowing suffering to accomplish its purposes and adopting a scarcity theology that assumes hardship and lack in and of themselves are the central pillars of godliness.” “God can still allow me to have a purposeful life no matter what the abilities of my arms and legs.” “There’s a reason to have hope!” BUY One Step Closer: How a life-altering accident led me to everything I almost missed RECOMMENDATION For more about Ryan’s journey being a quadriplegic, check out his blog, “Flat on My Back.” Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In her award-winning book, Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents, Iris Waichler blends her personal experience with her professional expertise as a licensed clinical social worker and patient advocate for over 40 years. Her book is designed to help caregivers who are now 53 million strong in America, 90 percent of whom are adult children or spouses. Realizing caregivers lose a loved one twice, the author teaches how to cope with and overcome the overwhelming challenges that arise while caregiving for a loved one—especially an aging parent. Packed with invaluable information, Waichler addresses a myriad of pertinent topics ranging from dealing with grief and estate planning to taking precautions to avoid scams and finding the right level of care for an elderly parent. AVOIDING CAREGIVER BURNOUT: Pay attention to your body (headaches, body aches), emotional symptoms (increased irritability), and mental pressures (guilt). Have a backup/respite plan, and then revisit the plan frequently and adapt it to allow for changes. Incorporate weekly time off to recharge. MORE IDEAS TO HELP CAREGIVERS: Hire a geriatric care manager. Identify people who live nearby who can help. Divide caregiving assignments, maximizing skill sets. Use reminiscence therapy. Reach out to get additional help. QUOTES FROM WAICHLER “It doesn’t matter how old you are when you lose a parent. It can be a surprise even when you expect it. It remains a loss or an absence in your life regardless of the relationship you had. Your life is forever changed.” “This role reversal…can be emotionally difficult and stressful for all concerned. It can test everyone’s patience and commitment.” “The best thing you can do for a person with dementia is recognition of the person they were and are and be compassionate in your communication.” “The people we see in their old age today are an altered reflection of who they were when they were young.” “The intimacy of being with someone who is ill, and taking care of that person, is both a powerful and painful experience.” RECOMMENDATION Find a geriatric care manager and other resources to support caregivers at the Aging Life Care Association. BUY Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Radiologist, author, and speaker Linda K. Olson shares the story of becoming a triple amputee in her new book, Gone. On the cusp of becoming doctors, Olson and her husband are hit by a train in Germany, leaving Linda without three limbs. Uttered by her husband Dave just after the accident, the words “If you can do it, I can do it” become the couple’s mantra. Olson’s book, “A Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking Back My Life,” takes us through the arduous years of healing and rehab to the happy years of creating a family, pursuing a dream career, and traveling the world. KEY MOMENTS FOR OLSON Losing three limbs Choosing humor and happiness over misery Making lists of things to attack Learning to walk Living alone to finish a medical residency Getting pregnant and having two children Going on high-adventure camping trips Becoming a world-renowned radiologist Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease Giving motivational speeches around the world KEY QUOTES FROM THE OLSONS From Linda’s husband Dave in his first conversation with her after the accident: “I didn’t marry your arms and your legs….I married you—what’s inside." From Linda’s daughter Tiffany from her online writing class at UCLA: “I wanted everyone to know that her disability was only physical, not mental, and that she could do everything that everyone else could do." From Linda’s son Brian in his personal statement for medical school: “As a couple, my parents reveal the dedication and effort required in a genuine partnership. I have learned that what some call sacrifice is actually a combination of compassion, respect, and willingness—even eagerness—to change for someone else.” From Linda: “Attitude was the only thing I had control of, so my mind went into overdrive trying to be optimistic and cheerful. I pretended my brain was a muscle, which, if squeezed tightly enough, would power my way through, all the challenges ahead of us.” BUY Gone: A Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking Back My Life RECOMMENDATION Watch Linda do 22 one-arm pushups! Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Brad Aronson, author of the National Bestseller HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act a Time, discovered content when his wife was recovering from leukemia. Inspired by the many demonstrations of "humankindness" that supported their family through this dark time, he began writing a blog. Then, realizing that even the smallest of gestures from friends and strangers can lift, Aronson began seeking out simple acts of kindness across the globe. Collecting these good deeds of everyday heroes, Aronson now offers HumanKind. But it’s more than just a compilation of feel-good anecdotes. The book also provides a resource section filled with dozens of ideas, organizations, and service opportunities to motivate anyone wanting to “change the world one small act at a time.” "The most uplifting and life-affirming book in years" (Forbes). All author royalties go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. KEY IDEAS Barriers to offering acts of kindness include feeling we can’t make a difference or feeling awkward reaching out to others. Small acts of kindness can have large ripple effects. The best way to start making a difference is by taking baby steps (e.g., sending a text, sharing a joke). Long-term follow-up is invaluable to those in long-term difficult circumstances. We don’t have to solve everyone’s problems; we just need to be there and be ourselves. QUOTES FROM ARONSON “I believe that most people are good.” “We all have different gifts to give—what’s important is rising to the occasion, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.” “Just doing anything matters!” “[Heroes] don’t command an army of helpers or have an abundance of free time. They’re everyday people who focus on what they can do to make a difference. Their acts of kindness change lives and even save them. These everyday heroes don’t just hope the world will get better—they make it better.” “Conversation is a medicine any of us can dispense and it provides lasting respite.” “No expression of love is wasted, and even the smallest gestures tend to go much further than we think they will.” BUY HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time RECOMMENDATIONS For many ideas to change the world one small act at a time, check out JustServe. Consider giving to or getting involved with Mentors International. Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Much-decorated professor and accomplished author, Charlotte Gray chronicles Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention. Bell originally hailed from Scotland, emigrated to Canada for better health, and eventually settled in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) where he acted virtually solo while inventing what we know as the modern telephone. Although Bell felt miserable having to keep careful notes, his writings proved essential to his landmark patent, which ultimately made him the winner of the tight race to transmit human voices over wire. Says Gray, “His imaginative breakthrough is…what makes Alexander Graham Bell the quintessential inventor of the nineteenth century—the era when an untrained individual working alone could dream up such a crucial scientific advance.” KEY CHARACTERS Alexander Graham Bell – the father of modern communications and inventor of the telephone Melville Bell – Alexander’s father who taught him the physics and nuances of sound; inventor of “Visible Speech” to help the hearing-impaired assimilate into the hearing world; plagued by a degree of jealousy towards his son-in-law while also insisting Bell complete and submit his patent application Mabel Hubbard – student-turned-wife of Bell ten years his younger; went deaf at age five from scarlet fever Gertrude Mercer McCurdy – Alexander’s mother-in-law, a deaf woman, who insisted her daughter Mabel pursue rigorous intellectual achievements Gardiner Greene Hubbard – Bell’s father-in-law and business partner; instrumental in getting Bell to file a timely patent Samuel F.B. Morse – invented the Morse Code, an invention that catapulted the speed of communications Elisha Gray –rival inventor who first congratulated Bell then later disputed the win Thomas Edison – Bell’s contemporary and competitor; enjoyed the process of invention more than the inventions themselves Helen Keller – deaf and dumb genius; contemporary of Bell who often invited Bell to her own stage appearances Thomas Watson – Bell’s 22-year-old assistant of the famous “Watson, come here” moment QUOTES FROM GRAY “Electricity seemed to them like an invisible power, and if they could harness it, they could go to the moon.” “European ‘oralists’ appealed to the notion of speech as God’s special gift to mankind, which it was cruel to withhold from deaf children. Since the Renaissance, the human voice had been regarded as an image of the divine soul, and language as the source of civilization.” “[Bell] never accepted the argument that sign language was ‘natural,’ and he continued to insist that most deaf children were better off if they remained in the speaking world.” “Today, we can understand the technological revolution of Bell’s day only if we compare it with the impact that microprocessors have had on our own lives.” BUY Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention RECOMMENDATIONS Watch “Telephone Hour” from the musical Bye Bye, Birdie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPU3ymk2ms) BUY Dial M for Murder (DVD) BUY the '90s romantic comedy, Sleepless In Seattle, and see how the telephone plays an essential role in society. Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY In her memoir, The Smallest Lights in the Universe, author and astrophysicist Sara Seager shares her journey exploring both outer and inner space. An MIT professor standing on the cutting edge of discovering exoplanets, she is widowed at age 40 and plunged into deep grief. But with patience, time, and the help of a tight-knit widows’ group, Seager finds small lights to grasp while pulling herself out of overwhelming sorrow. When the piercing pain subsides, new connections serve as life-giving light. As the story unfolds, we see Seager’s professional work providing a metaphor for her personal life: “At its essence, astrophysics is the study of light. We know that there are stars other than the sun because we can see them shining. But light doesn’t just illuminate. Light pollutes. Light blinds. Little lights—exoplanets—have forever been washed out by the bigger lights of their stars, the way those stars are washed out by our sun. To find another Earth, we’d have to find the smallest lights in the universe.” KEY POINTS In contrast to watching a baby grow and develop, watching someone die means taking steps backward every day. Helping our loved ones die peacefully is our gift to them. Timing and cause don’t really affect losing a loved one; grief is grief. Healing is enhanced when the person left behind has few or no big regrets. Finding like-minded people going through a similar experience of loss is very helpful. Being a widow is like having no emotional reserves—no extra emotional strength—so when anything goes wrong, widows can come unglued. Being there for a friend months and years after she loses a spouse might be even more important than helping her immediately after. Those who heal best from grief give into the feelings and exercise patience. QUOTES FROM SEAGER “When you hit rock bottom through grief…or depression or anything, you have to hold on to those smallest lights…the smallest glimmer of hope to climb out.” “My life became a study in contrast, the light and the dark, the hopeful and the hopeless. I spent my days at MIT with my students, trying to see. I spent my evenings at home with Mike, pretending to be blind.” “When you lose someone, you don’t lose them all at once, and their dying doesn’t stop with their death. You lose them a thousand times in a thousand ways. You say a thousand goodbyes. You hold a thousand funerals.” “The lesson I took from it? The universe might be infinite, but our appetites for exploring it are finite, and so are our resources. Time is the most precious resource of all.” BUY The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir RECOMMENDATIONS BUY or watch The Theory of Everything, the story of another brilliant astrophysicist and futurist Stephen Hawking. BUY or watch Hidden Figures, the story of smart African American mathematicians who worked at NASA.  

Author Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon, once a shy, timid child riddled by fear, shares her breakout memoir, Flying Free: My Victory over Fear to Become the First Latina Pilot on the US Aerobatic Team. Her book, 20 years in the making, features Aragon facing her fears head-on through learning to fly. With fierce determination matching her mathematical superpower, she becomes the first Latina pilot to secure a place on the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team. But her journey to "flying free" includes much, much more. Aragon not only overcomes her fear but she also conquers racial and gender prejudices as well as her own mental barriers to getting a Ph.D. in engineering from UC Berkeley. KEY POINTS Life is unfair. Women are often taught to abdicate authority and not be in command. Change usually happens gradually, one day at a time, through doing daily, small, challenging tasks. Visualization costs nothing but is a very effective way of honing skills. Saying “no” to things too many times boxes us into a safe, boring life. QUOTES FROM ARAGON “I had been living a very narrow life and letting my fear define me, and then, at one point, I realized that living life too safely was dangerous for my spirit, and I decided to do something that was terrifying to me.” “Flying became my art, my science, and my passion. I used my training in math to optimize split-second performances in the air.” “Everybody has something that can help them achieve anything.” “When you face your fears, and triumph over them, life opens up before you, becomes more exciting, larger, and more vibrant.” “I’ve learned this about having a dream: It doesn’t matter if you tell anybody or not. What matters is that you make some progress in that direction every day.” BUY Flying Free: My Victory Over Fear to Become the First Latina Pilot on the US Aerobatic Team  RECOMMENDATIONS Listen to Nonfiction4life Episode 86: Fly Girls by Keith O’Brien Listen to Nonfiction4life Episode 137: Limitless Mind by Dr. Jo Boaler Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Heidi Herman serves up her latest book, On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life. Taking the title from an Icelandic expression meaning “Carry on, keep doing what you’re doing, forge ahead, and keep moving!” and inspired by her nonagenarian mother who lived by this mantra, Herman compiles dozens of ideas to fully embrace each day with enthusiasm and curiosity. She includes both spontaneous and planned activities for a rich life filled with zest, offering a wide variety of activities and challenges for those in retirement or for anybody with a little free time looking to add some fun and adventure to everyday living.   SOME "BUTTER" IDEAS “Grandmas Project,” spearheaded by Jonas Pariente, allows families to capture videos of older family members sharing their heritage through cooking or sharing recipes and skills that they want to pass on. “Take the scenic route” by traveling by train or bus. Keep learning by taking advantage of free community classes, going to museums, or attending lectures at nature preserve. Volunteer in places you love—National Parks, libraries, gardens, and nonprofits. “Musicians on Call” connects musicians and singers who bring music to healthcare facilities. “Be a hometown tourist” by referencing brochures in hotels, using resources from the Chamber of Commerce, touring local factories, and checking online for nearby events. QUOTES FROM HERMAN “Being spontaneous—even occasionally—also prevents us from getting into ruts and opens the door to more connection with our family and friends. And it turns out that playing life by ear can be beneficial for our health and happiness.” “There’s no reason that the lack of a companion should stop us from visiting someplace new. In most cases, if we’re enjoying a park, a museum, or a gallery alone, no one will take a second look. Likely, no one will care or find it odd if we’re alone…Let’s not worry about what other people think.” “There is no maximum age for new experiences and no expiration date for a challenge. To truly reach life’s full potential, we should never stop pushing ourselves toward something new. Testing our limits helps us determine what we’re fully capable of, whether that’s a physical accomplishment, a mental challenge, or a leadership achievement in a group.” “As adults, we often have to remind ourselves that it’s okay to play, laugh, and joke around and that, in fact, it’s healthy. Too often we avoid play because we’re self-conscious about looking silly, especially as we get older.” BUY On With The Butter: Spread More Living onto Everyday Life RECOMMENDATIONS Listen to Episode 139 of the Nonfiction4Life podcast with Jo Giese, "Never Sit If You Can Dance." https://www.nonfiction4life.com/139-never-sit-if-you-can-dance-jo-giese/ Listen to Episode 12o of the Nonfiction4Life podcast with Melody Warnick, "This Is Where You Belong." https://www.nonfiction4life.com/120-this-is-where-you-belong-melody-warnick/ Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

 SUMMARY Little did Pushpendra Mehta know that by answering one simple question on Quora, his book, Observe to Unmask: 100 Small Things to Know People Better, would emerge. The question: “What small thing can tell you a lot about a person?” Mehta’s answer would get over 1 million views and lead to his collecting bits of wisdom for understanding human nature. As a writer, marketer, and mentor, Mehta has been a lifelong observer, watching for subtle clues about people hidden behind their “masks.” Says Mehta, “Most of us wear a mask, a social mask to hide who we really are and what we’re feeling, to protect ourselves, to avoid conflicts, or to masquerade a personality trait that wouldn’t otherwise be appreciated or accepted. The fear that the world is going to find us out leads us to adorn a mask. This displays us in the best possible light—giving, kind, confident, secure, and humble.” Although not backed by data or scientific evidence, Mehta’s experience and intuitive insights help us "observe to unmask." KEY IDEAS FOR UNMASKING Gather as much information as possible about a person’s early years. Learn a person’s backstory by assessing his sense of humor. Notice body language for a tipoff for a person’s true nature and passions. Study social media posts that reveal who someone is. QUOTES FROM MEHTA “Observe a person’s bookshelf or find out the type of books he or she reads, owns, borrows, or likes to discuss. It will tell you more about his or her personality, interests, and character.” “Ask a person to look back and share…the best and the worst days of his or her life. This will tell…a lot about what a person treasures most, what troubles them, and how they overcame crises and challenges.” “If you want to know a person really well, get the honest opinion of his or her parents, grandparents, children, siblings, spouse or partner—or ex-spouse or partner—best friend, household staff, executive assistant, or former friends.” RECOMMENDATION Listen to Nonfiction4Life Episode #110: The Book of Beautiful Questions by Warren Berger.   Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

Giving hope to the average achiever, Rich Karlgaard shares his latest book, Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early. He observes, “We’ve created a new system of snobbery based on IQ scores and elite university degrees. To mitigate this crisis, we must stop excessively glorifying precocious achievement and seeing human development as a ‘fast track’ on ramp for early success. Not only is it unjust to the majority of us, it’s profoundly inhumane.” Why? Because “it ignores the natural-born gifts that we all possess. It cuts off paths of discovery for our more latent or later-blooming gifts and passions. It trivializes the value of character, experience, empathy, wisdom, reliability, tenacity, and a host of other admirable qualities that make us successful and fulfilled. And it undercuts the majority of us who are potential late bloomers.” Karlgaard warns, “We are in danger of losing a valuable narrative about our lives: that we are capable of blooming at any age and in any stage of our lives.” KEYS FOR ENCOURAGING BLOOMING (at any age) Don’t buy into the national obsession with high IQ/SAT/ACT test scores. Nurture curiosity. Resist fast-tracking. Encourage gap years. Give self-doubt a name; consider it a superpower. Learn to reframe using positive self-talk. Embrace opportunities to fail. KEY QUOTES FROM KARLGAARD Why the push for early achievement? “In the past, success was not about becoming rich or famous, or about achieving as much as possible as early as possible. Rather, it was about having the opportunity to live to our fullest potential. It was about being appreciated for who we are as individuals. But that’s been corrupted by the Wunderkind Ideal and our obsession with testing, ranking, and sorting young adults; by our cultural fascination with youth, particularly youthful über-achievement; and by an increasingly algorithmic economy that rewards raw synaptic speed instead of experience and wisdom.” What are the dangers of forcing early achievement? “We’re not wrong to recognize and congratulate early bloomers. Their achievements deserve acknowledgement. But our culture’s obsession with early achievement has become detrimental to the majority of the population—to the multitudes of us who develop in different ways and at different paces. It pushes the message that if you haven’t become famous, reinvented an industry, or banked seven figures while you’re still young enough to get carded, you’ve somehow made a wrong turn in life. This message, I believe, is far more dangerous than most people realize.” “By forcing adolescents to practice like professionals, to strive for perfection, and to make life choices in their teens (or earlier), we’re actually harming them. We’re stunting their development, closing their pathways to discovery, and making them more fragile. Just when we should be encouraging kids to dream big, take risks, and learn from life’s inevitable failures, we’re teaching them to live in terror of making the slightest mistake. Forging kids into wunderkinds is making them brittle.” “Early bloomers enjoy many advantages in affluent societies. But one huge disadvantage they face is that by dint of their youth and accomplishments, they give themselves credit for their success, more than the rest of us do.” Why do most bloom late? “Truth is, many factors can slow our blooming early in life, including delayed physical or neurological development, early childhood trauma, nonstandard learning styles, socioeconomic status, geographical restrictions, illness, addiction, career turbulence—even plain bad luck. Many of us, growing up, are unable to reach our full potential at school—and therefore fall short of our university and professional potential—because we’re fed negative messages about our learning abilities.” “All of us know someone, care about someone, or love someone who seems stuck in life. The critical thing to remember is—we cannot give up on ourselves, or on others, even (and especially) if society has made it harder to catch up.” When do people tend to bloom? “A parent might jump back into the workforce after a decade of child-rearing, feeling ten years behind but being ten years wiser. Or a retiree might find a deeper meaning in life by finally pursuing a childhood dream or mentoring others. Late-blooming can happen at any age, and it can happen more than once in a person’s lifetime.” “Every person needs to have the chance—multiple chances, really—to follow their unique timeline of evolving brains, talents, and passions.” What are some characteristics of late bloomers? “Many late bloomers gain a greater sense of compassion. They show greater reflective thinking, diminished ego-centeredness, and a deeper appreciation of others’ challenges—what psychologists call greater prosocial behavior.” BUY Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement RECOMMENDATIONS BUY The Soft Edge: Where Great Companies Find Lasting Success Check out Forbes “30 Under 30”. Follow us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Early childhood and parent educator Rahima Dancy encourages parents to trust themselves in the 3rd edition of her book You Are Your Child's First Teacher: Encouraging Your Child's Natural Development from Birth to Age Six. Since its first edition, the book now includes advice about technology and even how to teach while the children are around--an environment millions of parents find themselves in during the pandemic.  However, long before this worldwide situation emerged, Dancy knew this: “In the nuclear or subnuclear family, far too much energy gets focused on the child because he or she is the most interesting subject around (try getting excited about waxing the kitchen floor!), but after a time many mothers find themselves getting cabin fever. It becomes increasingly difficult, both emotionally and intellectually, to be home day after day with this child. This is due, in part, to a lack of the perceived value of mothering, but also because children’s demand for attention expands to use up whatever might be available.” So, tapping into the principles of Rudolf Steiner, educator and scientist who helped launch the now famous Waldorf Education, Dancy teaches us how to build the head, heart, and hands of our children. She rushes to our rescue, recognizing, “Our culture no longer provides a strong and unified message about how children should be raised. In addition, most of us live far away from our own parents or extended family, the people who traditionally provided wisdom, help, and continuity in rearing children.” KEYS TO REPLENISHING Being in nature Sleeping Meditative practice Creating art QUOTES FROM DANCY “The art of mothering has been replaced by the science of parenting, yet many parents have come to question the values their own parents embraced…they are at a loss as to what to do or wonder why being home with a young child can be so difficult.” “To expect a thirty-seven-year-old PhD candidate or a woman who has had an exciting career to be fulfilled spending her days in an apartment with a two-year-old is unrealistic.” “Modern life simply doesn’t support what young children need, which is to see us doing work that involves movement. What they actually see us doing isn’t satisfying to them. As a result, they seem to demand more attention, when in fact they are asking to observe us doing ‘real work’ that involves movement and transformation of materials—something they can both share in and then imitate in their play.” “Many parents try to develop their children’s emotions and their awareness of emotions by naming, expressing, and even practicing emotions with them. We also tend to expose young children to situations that are far too powerful for them emotionally; notice the unhappy children in the theater at the next movie you attend!” “One of our primary tasks as our children’s first teachers is to provide them with impressions of the world that are appropriate for them to take in and copy. This means guarding and protecting them from sensory overload in a world of urban frenzy, and surrounding them with experiences that teach them about the world in a gentle way by letting them do things directly themselves and later act them out in their play.” Final words of comfort for parents: “Although you can’t go back in time and do things differently with your child, it is also important not to feel guilty about choices you have already made. You were just as good a parent then as you are now. You made the best decisions you could then, based on your knowledge and perceptions of your choices. Guilt only takes us out of the present moment and makes us less able to see what is needed now, thus perpetuating problems rather than leading to meeting the present creatively. If there is going to be the possibility of healing, it must take place in the present. We make the best choices we can for our children in each moment, just as our parents did for us.” BUY You Are Your Child's First Teacher, Third Edition: Encouraging Your Child's Natural Development from Birth to Age Six RECOMMENDATION BUY Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids   SUMMARY Early childhood and parent educator Rahima Dancy encourages parents to trust themselves in the 3rd edition of her book You Are Your Child's First Teacher: Encouraging Your Child's Natural Development from Birth to Age Six. Since its first edition, the book now includes advice about technology and even how to teach while the children are around--an environment millions of parents find themselves in during the pandemic.  However, long before this worldwide situation emerged, Dancy knew this: “In the nuclear or subnuclear family, far too much energy gets focused on the child because he or she is the most interesting subject around (try getting excited about waxing the kitchen floor!), but after a time many mothers find themselves getting cabin fever. It becomes increasingly difficult, both emotionally and intellectually, to be home day after day with this child. This is due, in part, to a lack of the perceived value of mothering, but also because children’s demand for attention expands to use up whatever might be available.” So, tapping into the principles of Rudolf Steiner, educator and scientist who helped launch the now famous Waldorf Education, Dancy teaches us how to build the head, heart, and hands of our children. She rushes to our rescue, recognizing, “Our culture no longer provides a strong and unified message about how children should be raised. In addition, most of us live far away from our own parents or extended family, the people who traditionally provided wisdom, help, and continuity in rearing children.” KEYS TO REPLENISHING Being in nature Sleeping Meditative practice Creating art QUOTES FROM DANCY “The art of mothering has been replaced by the science of parenting, yet many parents have come to question the values their own parents embraced…they are at a loss as to what to do or wonder why being home with a young child can be so difficult.” “To expect a thirty-seven-year-old PhD candidate or a woman who has had an exciting career to be fulfilled spending her days in an apartment with a two-year-old is unrealistic.” “Modern life simply doesn’t support what young children need, which is to see us doing work that involves movement. What they actually see us doing isn’t satisfying to them. As a result, they seem to demand more attention, when in fact they are asking to observe us doing ‘real work’ that involves movement and transformation of materials—something they can both share in and then imitate in their play.” “Many parents try to develop their children’s emotions and their awareness of emotions by naming, expressing, and even practicing emotions with them. We also tend to expose young children to situations that are far too powerful for them emotionally; notice the unhappy children in the theater at the next movie you attend!” “One of our primary tasks as our children’s first teachers is to provide them with impressions of the world that are appropriate for them to take in and copy. This means guarding and protecting them from sensory overload in a world of urban frenzy, and surrounding them with experiences that teach them about the world in a gentle way by letting them do things directly themselves and later act them out in their play.” Final words of comfort for parents: “Although you can’t go back in time and do things differently with your child, it is also important not to feel guilty about choices you have already made. You were just as good a parent then as you are now. You made the best decisions you could then, based on your knowledge and perceptions of your choices. Guilt only takes us out of the present moment and makes us less able to see what is needed now, thus perpetuating problems rather than leading to meeting the present creatively. If there is going to be the possibility of healing, it must take place in the present. We make the best choices we can for our children in each moment, just as our parents did for us.” BUY You Are Your Child's First Teacher, Third Edition: Encouraging Your Child's Natural Development from Birth to Age Six RECOMMENDATION BUY Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids  Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World, by Maryanne Wolf, includes a treatise for deep reading in a world that has shifted from print to digital medium. In her book, Wolf addresses a myriad of attendant issues, concerns, and questions about the future of reading. While explaining the complexity surrounding the acquisition of reading skills, she also extols the virtues and joys of moving from information and knowledge to wisdom. Packed with research as well as sage insights from a multitude of sources, Reader, Come Home tackles themes “at the doorway of galactic changes over the next few generations” while also issuing the ever-alluring invitation to simply read. KEY TERMS print medium – advantages slower, time-consuming, deep reading processes digital medium – allows for rapid skimming, word-spotting, and multi-tasking phonics vs. the whole language – “the debate that should never have been” deep reading – a system of inferential, abstract, empathic, critical analysis, perspective-taking processes neuroplasticity – brain’s ability to form new circuits by connecting older parts; “underlies just about everything interesting about reading” attention – concentration essential for developing deep reading skills annotating – (handwritten) slows us down; enhances reflection circuit-building – begins with lots of practice while learning foundational skills during learning-to-read phase; moves into reading-by and reading-to phrase and talking about the content biliterate brain – one that can switch between print and digital mediums QUOTES FROM WOLF "Human beings were never born to read." “When language and thought atrophy, when complexity wanes and everything become more and more the same, we run great risks in society politic—whether from extremists in a religion or a political or, less obviously, from advertisers.” “There are no shortcuts to becoming a good reader.” “I want children to learn the capacity for…cognitive patience.” “Deep literacy is intrinsically connected to democracy.” BUY Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World RECOMMENDATION BUY Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY When Genevieve Piturro, jumped off the New York City corporate ladder, she didn’t know her burning passion to deliver pajamas and books to children in shelters would turn into the wildly successful, nationwide nonprofit Pajama Program. Her book, Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection, and Lead with Meaning, tells the story of her rocky-road journey. Since 2001, Pajama Program has delivered over seven million pajamas and books to children across the United States and Puerto Rico. Many of those children had never had a bedtime story; many had never owned a pair of pajamas. More than twenty years into her charitable endeavor, Piturro has become an international speaker, consultant, and author whose mission now includes inspiring others to find their purpose, pursue their passions, and find fulfillment. KEY STEPS TO FINDING YOUR PURPOSE (“The Heart of the Matter”) Ask yourself, “Is this all there is to life?” Listen to your “heart-voice.” (Ask it to speak up!) Invite “that precious thing” into your life.” Write down five things that make your heart sing; winnow your list by giving time to the top three. Assemble a cheerleader squad to be on your side and to act as armor.  QUOTES FROM PITURRO “You can’t ignore that one thing that is your calling.” “Many of us feel there’s something missing in our lives—and often, too, in our work. It’s human nature to seek meaning, to feel we have a purpose on this earth.” “We all want to share in doing something that extends beyond our own wants, something that soothes others and has a lasting impact.” “You don’t need to see the whole path before you—you just need to take the first step and trust that the next ones will be revealed.” “You may doubt yourself at first and others may doubt you, but you’ll also find people who will support you.” “Leadership is not measured by how much you advance, but by how much you advance other people.” “It may be difficult to top the highs you’ll experience from encounters with amazing individuals who have the ability to support you and multiply your reach tenfold, but you can harness that exhilaration to reach even further and change even more.” BUY Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection, and Lead with Meaning RECOMMENDATION Watch Genevieve Piturro on Oprah tell her story and get a big surprise! Listen to a related podcast: https://www.nonfiction4life.com/141-disrupt-yourself-whitney-johnson/ Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

Nightingale Tales: Stories from My Life as Nurse, by Lynn Dow, spans 50 years of one nurse's career experiences–some funny, some sad, and all true. A registered nurse, Dow began her medical career reluctantly but eventually worked as a staff nurse, head nurse, teacher, and mentor at large medical centers on both the east and west coasts. As handmaidens to physicians in the 1950s, nurses evolved into admired independent practitioners by the start of the new millennium. Nightingale Tales is a peek into that transition, as told by a nurse who lived it. Each chapter is a stand-alone story depicting the changes in the profession, brought about by time, the feminist movement, and advances in technology. KEY CHANGES Recovery time: from weeks to days Smoking: allowed inside hospitals around machines and in breakrooms “Cracking the chest”: preceded CPR Hospital beds: manual cranks replaced with electric beds and remote controls Pharmaceuticals: borrowed from other patients or units; dispensed by nurses after 5 pm and weekends Uniforms: highly starched dresses and caps replaced with comfortable scrubs Gloves: rarely worn except in surgery; physician’s order required Leadership styles: dictatorial approach became more human and lenient Litigation: rarely used as an option for malpractice cases KEY QUOTES “We had to do it all without ever losing sight of the fact that our primary concern was to nurture our patients. We did not have the high-tech equipment so common today when I first became a nurse; back then, we relied on our powers of observation. We looked at the patient instead of the computer readouts. “If aspirin were discovered today, it would most likely be banned by the Federal Drug Administration.” “I appreciate the advantages of technology, and no way do I wish nurses would go back to practicing the way I did—but I must admit, I long for a little more of the personal touch, a better understanding of what it is to be a patient. Machine-watching is important—but it would be nice if modern nursing involved a little more patient-watching as well.” BUY Nightingale Tales: Stories from My Life as a Nurse RECOMMENDATION BUY The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY With one feature article in The New York Times, journalist Nikita Stewart began telling the compelling true story of Troop 6000: The Girl Scout Troop that Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World. The book actually weaves together three stories: the history of Girls Scouts, the story of a family navigating the New York City homeless system, and the larger homeless problem plaguing our nation. Chelsea Clinton, a former Girl Scout calls Troop 6000 “a book about dreamers and builders, about mothers who never give up, and daughters who hope for and demand more.” Troop 6000 is told principally through the eyes of Giselle Burgess, a young single mother of five trying to provide for her family while living at the Sleep Inn in Queens, a hotel turned into a homeless shelter. Imprisoned by curfews and lack of amenities, Burgess and her family need something to belong to, something to feel proud of while making real contributions to their community. So, with a handful of excited girls and with the support of dedicated parents and advocates, Burgess starts Troop 6000. “In Troop 6000, readers will feel the highs and lows as some families make it out of the shelter while others falter, and girls grow up with the stress and insecurity of not knowing what each day will bring and not having a place to call home, living for the times when they can put on their Girl Scout uniforms and come together. The result is a powerful, inspiring story about overcoming the odds in the most unlikely of places.” ~from Amazon summary Inspired by Burgess and their shared experiences of poverty and hardship, others have created troops for the homeless not only throughout New York City but also across the country. BUY Troop 6000: The Girl Scout Troop That Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World RECOMMENDATION Watch Jimmy Fallon surprise Giselle Burgess with a holiday donation. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY J.W. (Terry) Freiberg, also known as “the Oliver Sacks of Law,” continues shedding light on connections in his latest “loneliness book,” Surrounded by Others and Yet So Alone: A Lawyer's Case Stories of Love, Loneliness and Litigation. Social psychologist turned lawyer and master storyteller, Freiberg explores chronic loneliness through five stories of faulty connections. KEY POINTS Solitude is not the equivalent of loneliness. The word “loneliness” only came into the English language around 1800, probably because social structures did not leave much space for loneliness. John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago documented the lethality of loneliness. People are disinclined to admit their loneliness, often hiding it. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General and author of Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World brought to light the loneliness epidemic. Loneliness hurts. Children hone time-specific connection skills around non-sibling other children. COVID-19 is preventing proper social development. QUOTES “Chronic loneliness has become a public health crisis of the first order.” “Just as you cannot study hunger without researching and reporting about the food supply, you cannot study loneliness without thinking about the connections that people make—or fail to make—with one another.” “Loneliness is not an emotion but is, instead, a sensation. Loneliness…is the sensation of inadequate connections to others, just as hunger is the sensation of inadequate nourishment and thirst is the sensation of inadequate hydration.” “You can talk yourself out of being angry (an emotion) but you cannot talk yourself out of being hungry or thirsty—or lonely (three of the sensations).” BUY Surrounded by Others and Yet So Alone: A Lawyer’s Case Stories of Love, Loneliness, and Litigation RECOMMENDATION Go to Dr. Freiberg’s website, “The Loneliness Books,” and check out the button “Articles” to find the “UCLA Loneliness Scale” to help measure loneliness and the “The Relational Assessment Worksheet.” Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website   Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY David Kamp shines light on a bright, optimistic movement in his book, Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution that Changed America. When a group of progressive intellectuals, artists, and activists decided to focus on disadvantaged children, a children’s television revolution began. Driven by their agenda was to “do good,” this group also believed “the federal government could and should play a major role in early-childhood initiatives.” Fortunately, political winds blew in their sails, providing both funding and enthusiasm for a plethora of children’s television educational programming in the 60s and 70s. Meanwhile, the social sciences were also gaining credibility, adding psychological and educational underpinnings to what may have otherwise been perceived as simply silly or fluffy. With the burgeoning popularity of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the political will to provide free access to learning, children’s television enjoyed the “Age of Enlightenment, Jr.” Further fueling this critical movement were “media professionals, thought leaders, and politicians alike prioritizing children and education as they never had before—and in so doing, changing the lives of millions.” In short, Kamp’s Sunny Days, substantiated by interviews and research, helps paint a picture of a rare time in history when people chose to put the public good above their own careerism. KEY PEOPLE & PROGRAMS Joan Ganz Cooney & Lloyd Morrisette – led the charge to leverage television for preparing preschoolers for school Bob Keeshan - founder, creator, and main character of the show Captain Kangaroo; eschewed using children’s television to promote children’s toy guns and other toys Children’s Television Workshop (CTW) – original American nonprofit responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-known, Sesame Street Sesame Street – the granddaddy of all children’s television programs developed in the 60s and 70s Jon Stone – original conceiver and key showrunner of Sesame Street; brought a certain hipness to TV, making the show popular with children and adults alike Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In – American sketch comedy show that inspired the pacing for Sesame Street Jim Henson’s Muppets – held magic in their abstract nature; stimulated imaginations Electric Company – a fast-paced spinoff of Sesame Street designed to teach Schoolhouse Rock – conceived by ad men at McCaffrey & McCall when they recognized children could easily memorize words to songs Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood - long-running children’s program conceived by Fred Rogers and informed by developmental pediatric psychiatrist Margaret McFarland Matt Robinson – creator of Muppet character Roosevelt Franklin whose mannerisms and speech were primarily representative of an African-American man Free to Be…You and Me – program hosted by Marlo Thomas; promoted a strong feminist agenda QUOTE FROM KAMP “Children’s advocates…had high regard for children, believing them capable of intellectual and emotional engagement, and of seeing through cutesy artifice.” BUY Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution That Changed America RECOMMENDATION BUY Puppet Pals, brightly-colored, oversized children’s puppets (designed and sold by Andrew Olsen). BONUS PODCAST LISTEN to a related Nonfiction4Life podcast: "The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers" by Maxwell King. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY One of 75 top-performing real estate brokers in the country for the past ten years, Tracy McLaughlin reveals industry secrets in her breakout book, Real Estate Rescue: How America Leaves Billions Behind in Residential Real Estate and How to Maximize Your Home’s Value. After spending more than two decades helping her clients buy and sell homes, McLaughlin has had the highest-grossing sales in Marin County, California for 14 consecutive years. Now, with her hard-won expertise, she shares essential tips and tricks for both sellers and potential homeowners. McLaughlin also writes to influence key stakeholders who have the power to elevate industry standards for agents and brokers. KEY POINTS Three big mistakes sellers make: getting too emotionally attached to a home, resisting professional advice, and not keeping homes up-to-date. Low standards required to become a real estate agent blight the reputation of the profession. Every 8-10 years, there’s a swing in what’s considered desirable home design; buyers, not architects, drive design. Accurately pricing a home not only helps it sell but usually drives up its market value. Staging is very effective for adding value and decreasing time on the market. “Resto” – verb created to describe using the Restoration Hardware design as inspiration In the past 50 years, square footage has increased by 1000 feet, and living space for each person in a home has nearly doubled. QUOTES FROM McLAUGHLIN “Residential property accounts for 75 percent of the global value of property.” “According to a study by the Bank of Montreal, 80 percent of homebuyers know if a house is right as soon as they walk in the door.” “Just because something is unique or rare…doesn’t make it valuable. The market must value it.” “Both millennials and baby-boomer parents embrace modernism.” “For every dollar you invest in prelisting preparation, you get about $3.50 in your pocket.” BUY Real Estate Rescue: How America Leaves Billions Behind in Residential Real Estate and How to Maximize Your Home’s Value (Buying and Selling Homes, Staging a Home to Sell) RECOMMENDATION Watch Home Improvement, a family-friendly humorous sitcom. BUY Home Improvement - Complete 1-8 Season Box Set [DVD] [2016]  Connect with us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

SUMMARY Dr. Leonard Sax, a premier child psychologist, peels back the veneer of successful families in his latest bestseller The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups. Originally intending to contrast American parents with those outside the U.S., Sax explains how and why bonds across generations have been broken. Today, American parents are confused about their role, resulting in status insecurity. Having traveled and lectured frequently throughout Germany, Scotland, German-speaking Switzerland, and New Zealand, Dr. Sax extols the virtues of these foreign countries where the culture still supports strong families and parent-child bonds. American kids used to spend their weekends hanging out with grownups, being mentored, and learning values and skills. Now, they are now much less creative than they were 20 years ago and far more likely to be diagnosed with mental illness such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Sax sends a clarion call to parents to renew their relationship with their children by asserting themselves as authority figures. He gives us a vision for how to better prepare our children to thrive. Parenting, after all, is for teaching children what matters not only now but in the future. PARENTING IDEAS FOR BUILDING STRONG FAMILIES Having family dinners together Limiting social media and access to devices, especially in the car and in the bedroom Spending time together Helping kids connect with more adults Controlling the number of extracurricular activities Vacationing as a family without friends Teaching humility by showing interest in other people Assigning chores to children Installing parental monitoring apps Talking and listening Prioritizing character over grades QUOTES FROM SAX “The job of the parent is to teach self-control. To explain what is and is not acceptable. To establish boundaries and enforce consequences.” “Kids need to value their parents’ opinion as their first scale of value, at least throughout childhood and adolescence.” “There is one inescapable truth: you must teach by example…To become a better parent, you must become a better person.” BUY The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups RECOMMENDATIONS Watch Andy Griffith episode “Opie, the Birdman” BUY Gidget: The Complete Series Read or watch To Kill a MockingbirdBUY To Kill a Mockingbird (Harperperennial Modern Classics) BUY To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition OTHER BOOKS BY DR. LEONARD SAX BUY Girls on the Edge: The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls--Sexual Identity, the Cyberbubble, Obsessions, Environmental Toxins BUY Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men BUY Why Gender Matters, Second Edition: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know About the Emerging Science of Sex Differences Send your parenting questions directly to Dr. Sax on his website. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit