Outback Odyssey By Paul-Rushworth Brown

 

Credits: Writers Series | Guest: Paul Rushworth-Brown

Meet Paul Rushworth-Brown

Paul Rushworth-Brown is an Australian historical fiction author and educator whose writing blends realism, emotion, and truth-telling. Born in England and raised in Australia, he draws on his own experiences working in the outback and teaching history to craft stories that explore identity, belonging, and the legacy of colonisation. His latest novel, Outback Odyssey (Historium Press, 2024), reimagines post-war Australia through the eyes of a Yorkshire migrant drawn into the spiritual world of the outback. The book has been praised internationally for its empathy and authenticity and was recently nominated for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Through his work, Paul invites readers to see Australia not just as a landscape, but as a living story — one that remembers. He also has authored Skulduggery, Red Winter Journey and Dream of Courage. Credit: Paul Rushworth-Brown. 

His interview is also available at ❤️iHeartRadio. 

Credit: Outback Odyssey

Bag Man By Lew Frankfort

Credit: Bag Man; Lew Frankfort

Overview

The longtime CEO of Coach shares stories and strategies behind the company's stunning growth from a $6 million business to a $5 billion global brand. Lew Frankfort knew nothing about fashion when he became assistant to the founder of Coach. By the time he left, Frankfort had spent 29 years as CEO, growing Coach from a scrappy maker of leather bags with a small cult following to a beloved lifestyle brand. Along the way, Coach created a new market segment--accessible luxury--that redefined an industry. In Bag Man, Frankfort explains how the son of a Bronx policeman, after working in city government, built a business that challenged conventions, grew it 1000%, and became recognized as one of the world's best CEOs. Credit: Thrift Books.

True Nature By Lance Richardson

Credit: True Nature; Lance Richardson

 

Overview 

Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014), a towering figure of twentieth-century American letters, achieved so much during his lifetime, in so many different areas, that people have struggled to pin him down. While ambivalent about his WASP privilege—as a teenager he demanded that his name be removed from the New York Social Register—he attended Yale and cut his teeth in postwar Paris, co-founding The Paris Review as he worked undercover for the CIA. But then, after a rebellious stint as a Long Island fisherman, he escaped into a series of wild expeditions: floating through the Amazon to recover a prehistorical fossil; embedding with a tribe in Netherlands New Guinea; swimming with sharks off the coast of Australia. His novels, inspired by his travels, were unclassifiable meditations about Caymanian turtle hunters and frontier outlaws in the Florida Everglades. Meanwhile, his nonfiction became legendary: nature books like Wildlife in America—“key parts of the canon of emergent environmental writing,” says Bill McKibben—as well as advocacy journalism supporting Cesar Chavez, Leonard Peltier, and Native American land claims. Credit: True Nature; Better World Books.

Meet Author and Speaker Mark Sherwood, ND

Meet Dr. Mark Sherwood, known internationally as a recognized pioneer in functional medicine, biohacking, and longevity. Through his work he's transforming lives and inspiring millions through revolutionary approaches which have influenced millions globally, empowering people to take charge of their wellness and redefine aging. He works alongside his wife, Dr. Michele Sherwood, both delivering insights to people on disease prevention and reversal.

We'll learn more about Dr. Mark Sherwood's track record that celebrates not only the patients overcoming chronic conditions but also thriving with enhanced performance and extended health spans. As he and his wife are trusted voices of health, they're also visionaries in wellness. Their professional collaborations are available through television, books, movies and public speaking. Learn more about their work by visiting Functional Medicine Institute and Sherwood TV.

 

 Tune into Dr. Sherwood's appearance @ BBS Radio.

 

 

Credit: The Quest for Wellness; Mark Sherwood, ND

 

Credit: Fork Your Diet; Drs. Michele Neil-Sherwood & Mark Sherwood

Twice By Mitch Albom

Credit: Twice

Overview 

 

What if you got to do everything in your life —twice? The heart of Mitch Albom’s newest novel is a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.

When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one he must accept the consequences of his second try—for better or worse. He grows up correcting his mistakes and saving himself from adolescent embarrassments. He even takes foolishly dangerous risks, just to see what it’s like to come close to death, before tapping back to safety.

Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment. But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives into to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever. Read more here @ Twice By Mitch Albom.

 

The Flight Attendant By Chris Bohjalian

Credit: The Flight Attendant By Chris Bohjalian

 Overview

Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She’s a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets.  

Afraid to call the police—she’s a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home—Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it’s too late to come clean-or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did? Set amid the captivating world of those whose lives unfold at forty thousand feet, The Flight Attendant unveils a spellbinding story of memory, of the giddy pleasures of alcohol and the devastating consequences of addiction, and of murder far from home. Credit: The Flight Attendant; Chris Bohjalian.

Don't Be Yourself By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

 

Credit: Don't Be Yourself, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Overview

"Just be yourself" might be the worst advice you've ever received. For years, we've been told that authenticity is the key to success—that we should be true to ourselves, tune out others' opinions, and lead with unwavering genuineness. This feel-good message has spawned countless self-help books, leadership seminars, and viral social media posts. There's just one problem: science says it's wrong. Drawing on decades of research, renowned psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reveals an uncomfortable truth: our obsession with authenticity is backfiring. From Silicon Valley's authenticity worship to failed diversity programs, he exposes how our fixation on our "true selves" undermines both individual and organizational success. The most successful people aren't those who rigidly "stay true to themselves." They're the ones who adapt and evolve, largely by paying a great deal of attention to how others see them and adjusting their behavior to the requirements of each situation. The evidence is clear: when we focus less on expressing our authentic selves and more on understanding others, we become better humans. Blending the latest revelations in psychology with razor-sharp cultural critique, Don't Be Yourself doesn't just challenge conventional wisdom—it offers a playbook for long-lasting career success. Credit: Don't Be Yourself; Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.  

Fiscal Follies By Author Daniel C. Munson

 

Credit: Sasha Talks | Writers Series, Guest Daniel C. Munson

Meet Author Daniel C. Munson

Daniel C. Munson worked for many years as a chemical engineer and has written for national financial magazines such as "Barron's" and "Financial History" for over twenty years. He has also written for technical and regional history journals and authored a regional history book. In "Fiscal Follies," Munson pricks the bubble of scientific pretension that surrounds economics and finance and the social sciences generally in a humorous, light-hearted way, pointing out precisely why these forms of “science” are so different. As a free-lance writer, Daniel's been successful in getting published ~20 times in national magazines. His professional experiences as a chemical engineer contribute to his unique insights among global freelancers. Credit: Daniel C. Munson; Fiscal Follies. 

 

Daniel's Writer Series appearance is also available @ ❤️iHeartRadio.  

 

  

Eat What You Want! Stop When You Want! By Sora Vernikoff

 

Credit: Sasha Talks | Writers Series, Guest Sora Vernikoff

Sora Vernikoff is a No Diet, Weight-Loss Coach at www.nodieting.net. Over 20 years ago, Sora healed herself of compulsive overeating by transferring her classroom “management” techniques to food “management” techniques thanks to her educational expertise teaching really challenged kids in East New York, Brooklyn. This led to the development of an easy to use no-diet, weight-loss system that she went on to teach to hundreds of unhappy dieters. Sora’s book "Eat What You Want! Stop When You Want! A No-Diet, Weight-Loss Program" became a #1 Amazon Best Seller when it was published; also her book became the 2018 Distinguished Favorite by The New York City Big Book Award Contest. As an educator, speaker and author, Sora teaches her no diet system both online and offline. She likes to say, “If you want to eat what you want, stop when you want and become forever thin and healthy, then visit nodieting.net and start making peace with food today.” Credit: Sora Vernikoff; NoDieting.net. 

 Sora's Writer Series appearance is also available @ ❤️iHeartRadio.   

 

How Countries Go Broke By Ray Dalio

Credit: How Countries Go Broke

Overview

For decades, politicians, policymakers, and investors have debated these questions, but the answers have eluded them. In this groundbreaking book, Ray Dalio, one of the greatest investors of our time who anticipated the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2010–12 European debt crisis, shares for the first time his detailed explanation of what he calls the “Big Debt Cycle.” Understanding this cycle is critical for helping policymakers, investors, and the general public grasp where we are and where we are headed with the debt issue. Dalio’s model points toward surprisingly straightforward solutions for dealing with the debt problems that the US, Europe, Japan, and China face today. How Countries Go Broke also shows how these debt problems are related to the other forces—political within countries, geopolitical between countries, natural (droughts, floods, and pandemics), and technological (most importantly, AI)—that together are causing what Dalio calls the “Overall Big Cycle” changes in the world order. By reading this book, you will improve your understanding of what’s happening now and what to do about it. Credit: Barnes & Noble; Economic Principles.

Invite: Meet & Greet for All Writers and Authors

Credit: Writers Series, Presented by Sasha Talks

 Greetings!

... Calling All Writers, Authors and Journalists ...

 Professionals and Students Welcomed

 Writers Series is hosting new guests this season to celebrate their work.

Books

Magazines

Case Studies

Literary Art Projects 

  Visit here to learn more about sharing your love of writing.

*Sasha Talks Terms of Service and Disclaimers Apply. 

 

 #beheard #celebrate #books #articles #studies #writing #storytelling 

Change Your Brain Everyday By Dr. Daniel G. Amen

Credit: Change Your Brain Every Day By Dr. Daniel G. Amen

Overview

In Change Your Brain Every Day psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist Daniel Amen, MD, draws on over 40 years’ clinical practice with tens of thousands of patients to give you the most effective daily habits he has seen that can help you improve your brain, master your mind, boost your memory, and make you feel happier, healthier, and more connected to those you love.

Incorporating Dr. Amen’s tiny habits and practices over the course of a year will help you:

 

- Manage your mind to support your happiness, inner peace & success
- Develop lifelong strategies for dealing with whatever stresses come your way
- Create an ongoing sense of purpose in a way that informs your daily actions 

- Learn major life lessons Dr. Amen has gleaned from studying hundreds of thousands  of brain scans.  Credit: Dr. Daniel G. Amen, MD.

When Breath Becomes Air By Paul Kalanithi

 

Credit: When Breath Becomes Air

Overview

At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir.

Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. “I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything,” he wrote. “Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: ‘I can’t go on. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both. Credit: When Breath Becomes Air.

The Happiness Files By Arthur C. Brooks

Credit: The Happiness Files, Arthur C. Brooks

 

Overview

Imagine if your life were a startup. How would you lead it and shape it to be most successful?  That’s the question behind The Happiness Files, a rich selection of enlightening and instructive essays by Arthur Brooks, known worldwide for his inspiring yet practical wisdom and advice in his weekly column for The Atlantic and in his bestselling books, From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want (coauthored with Oprah Winfrey).  The simple answer, as Brooks wisely explains, is to manage your life in a way that leads to truly valuable rewards: love, enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning—in other words, happiness. Credit: Arthur C. Brooks.

The Secret Book Society By Madeline Martin

 

Credit: The Secret Book Society

Overview

London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories. Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder. As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything. Credit: The Secret Book Society. 

Writing with Purpose - Join the Fun!

 

Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Write for Us

Calling All Writers, Authors and Literary Creators!

Do you love writing about topics that educate readers?

Well ... 

Style My Soul welcomes writers of all levels to share their expertise.

Visit www.stylemysoul.com to learn more.

Write for Us  

 

"The Steps Between Us" By Lauren Gibbons Paul

 

Credit: Writers Series, Guest Lauren Gibbons Paul

 

Meet Lauren Gibbons Paul

Lauren Gibbons Paul is a Boston-area writer. She worked as a freelance business/technology journalist for more than 30 years. Her pivot to fiction coincided with taking up ballroom dance lessons seven years ago. Lauren was immediately fascinated by the glamorous world -especially the instructors - most of whom come here from other countries. This world is a perfect backdrop within which to explore themes of wanting to belong, wanting to be seen, making one's way in America. Credits: Lauren Gibbons Paul; Clippings.Me.

Lauren's Writer Series appearance is also available @ ❤️iHeartRadio.  

 

Credit: The Steps Between Us By Lauren Gibbons Paul

BLINDSPOTTING By Martin Dubin

Credit: BLINDSPOTTING By Martin Dubin

 

Overview

 Blindspotting: How To See What's Holding You Back as a Leader

What you don't see about yourself can hold you back as a leader. As leaders, we all hit a point when things stop going well. A problem emerges that we think we can handle but discover we can't. The tools that got us this far somehow stop working. We don't understand; what are we missing?

What we don't see is what we can't see: we have blindspots. It's a known fact that we're often not great judges of ourselves, even when we think we are. Sometimes we're simply unaware of a behavior or trait that's causing problems. Other times, where we see normal, effective behavior, others see tremendous deficits. Bottom line: until we uncover these blindspots, we can’t move forward or deliver on our goals as leaders.

The good news is that you can learn to do your own blindspotting. Clinical-psychologist-turned-entrepreneur-turned-business-coach Martin Dubin has spent years learning when and how leaders get in their own way, and he has turned that experience into a deeply practical blueprint to help you identify your professional blindspots and work to overcome them. Blindspotting provides a framework for understanding six types of blindspots, then takes you inside coaching sessions with profoundly relatable leaders going through the process of learning to recognize their own blindspots. Along the way, you get the practical guidance you need to identify and manage those same blindspots in yourself, unlocking high performance and great leadership. Credit: BLINDSPOTTING by Martin Dubin. 

Meet Andrew Robinson: Storyteller, Writer & Published Author

 

Credit: Writers Series By Sasha Talks; Guest: Andrew Robinson

 

Meet Andrew Robinson

 

Andrew Robinson is a veteran writer who crafts stories through blending his life experiences and curiosity to explore the unknown. Andrew's storytelling has garnered attention from audiences spanning across multiple genres within the fiction and non-fiction realm. These publications include children's books, young adult sci-fi series, murder mysteries, memoirs, comedies, screenplays, short stories, television pilot series, comic books and the list keeps growing! Also as a former owner of a publishing company, he dispenses technical guidance and wisdom to enlighten flourishing writers among the audiences. Writers discover his favorite punctuation as Andrew humbly shares how his work attracts new writing opportunities from clients worldwide. This conversation navigates through tales that exemplify the purpose of writing - to bring people together to share their experiences. Credit: Andrew Robinson.  

 Andrew's Writer Series appearance is also available @ ❤️iHeartRadio. 

"The Defiant Crusade" By Julian Morris-Haaker

Credit: Writers Series By Sasha Talks; Julian Morris-Haaker

 Meet Julian Morris-Haaker

Julian Morris-Haaker is a self-published author who has been in the business of telling tales regarding war and conflict on a fantastical scale for nearly 10 years. He primarily writes fiction, a hybrid of science fiction and fantasy ,where he challenges peoples' perceptions of conflict to reveal there is so much more that goes on beneath the surface. Telling stories and writing poetry has been a coping mechanism since Julian's parents passed away. He applied his personal experience of pain and grief to begin his journey of becoming an author. This outlet has granted him an opportunity to tell fantastical tales exhibiting defiant hope and rage against the inevitable. The four books of the series are as follows - Airborne: The Defiant Crusade, Landfall, Vigilance, and Galvanic Eruption. Credit:  Julian Morris-Haaker.

 Julian's Writer Series appearance is available @ ❤️iHeartRadio.

Writers Series Welcomes Frank DiMaio

 

Credit: Writers Series - Guest Frank DiMaio

Meet the Author  - Frank DiMaio

Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Providence College, his Doctorate from New York Chiropractic College, and a Master of Science degree from Troy State University. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he grew up in the restaurant business. This engendered a strong work ethic and a love of food, which helped him develop his perseverance, determination, and faith to be adventurous and driven.

As a published author, keynote speaker, and artist, he shares his journey. Teaching others through presentations, workshops on resilience, and keynote speeches about the healing power of positive language, and to help others shift the influence of negative words and learned behavior. *To Be and To Be With…The Yin and Yang of Emotional Prosperity*, his most recent work, offers perspectives on shifting negative emotion within the context of Chinese philosophy. Credit: Frank DiMaio; Emotional Prosperity Network. 

Frank's appearance on Writers Series is available @❤️iHeartRadio.

 

Credit: To Be .. To Be With; Author Frank J. DiMaio

Killing Kryptonite By John Bevere

 

Credit: Killing Kryptonite

 Overview

What’s your kryptonite? For so many Christians, frustration and fatigue set in as they try time and again to get free from what holds them back. God never intended for it to be this way. He destined you to be victorious in every area of your life, and more than that, He gives you the power to overcome whatever comes against you. In Killing Kryptonite, best-selling author John Bevere opens up about his own story, revealing key biblical truths that moved him from a life of struggle to a life of breakthrough. You can enjoy a life of intimacy and connection with God. You can have a vibrant, powerful faith that impacts the world around you. But first, you have to face off with spiritual kryptonite. This book is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re ready to embrace a journey of radical transformation, this message is for you. Are you ready to kill your kryptonite and step into the life you were born for? Credit: Messenger International; Amazon.

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

 

Credit: The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday

Overview

Why have history's greatest minds—from George Washington to Frederick the Great to Ralph Waldo Emerson, along with today's top performers from Super Bowl-winning football coaches to CEOs and celebrities—embraced the wisdom of the ancient Stoics? Because they realize that the most valuable wisdom is timeless and that philosophy is for living a better life, not a classroom exercise. The Daily Stoic offers 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. Every day of the year you'll find one of their pithy, powerful quotations, as well as historical anecdotes, provocative commentary, and a helpful glossary of Greek terms. Credit: The Daily Stoic; Book.

Writers Series Welcomes You

 

Credit: www.sashatalks.com

Overview

Writers Series, Limited Edition, returns to the airwaves following a global hiatus after hosting a successful season with celebrated global authors & writers representing the fiction and non-fiction literary genres. Professional writers, authors and journalists are welcome to discuss their latest works as well offer audiences a glimpse into their relationship with the craft of writing.

This audio series is shared in the English language among six continents. Also, the series belongs to major global directories. Our past guests hail from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Southeast Asia, Ireland; etc. Join the literary circle to elevate your message today!

This is Marketing By Seth Godin

 

Credit: This is Marketing By Seth Godin

Overview

Seth Godin has taught and inspired millions of entrepreneurs, marketers, leaders, and fans from all walks of life, via his blog, online courses, lectures, and bestselling books. He is the inventor of countless ideas that have made their way into mainstream business language, from Permission Marketing to Purple Cow to Tribes to The Dip. Now, for the first time, Godin offers the core of his marketing wisdom in one compact, accessible, timeless package. This is Marketing shows you how to do work you're proud of, whether you're a tech startup founder, a small business owner, or part of a large corporation.

Great marketers don't use consumers to solve their company's problem; they use marketing to solve other people's problems. Their tactics rely on empathy, connection, and emotional labor instead of attention-stealing ads and spammy email funnels. Credit: This is Marketing.

Surrounded By Idiots By Thomas Erikson

 

Credit: Surrounded By Idiots

Overview

You are not alone. After a disastrous meeting with a highly successful entrepreneur, who was genuinely convinced he was ‘surrounded by idiots’, communication expert and bestselling author, Thomas Erikson dedicated himself to understanding how people function and why we often struggle to connect with certain types of people. Surrounded by Idiots is an international phenomenon, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It offers a simple, yet ground-breaking method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with – in and out of the office – based on four personality types (Red, Blue, Green and Yellow), and provides insights into how we can adjust the way we speak and share information. Erikson will help you understand yourself better, hone communication and social skills, handle conflict with confidence, improve dynamics with your boss and team, and get the best out of the people you deal with and manage. He also shares simple tricks on body language, improving written communication, advice on when to back away or when to push on, and when to speak up or shut up. Packed with ‘aha!’ and ‘oh no!’ moments, Surrounded by Idiots will help you understand and communicate with those around you, even people you currently think are beyond all comprehension. Credit: Surrounded By Idiots.

Lean Thinking

 

Credit: Lean Thinking

 Overview

Expanded, updated, and more relevant than ever, this bestselling business classic by two internationally renowned management analysts describes a business system for the twenty-first century that supersedes the mass production system of Ford, the financial control system of Sloan, and the strategic system of Welch and GE. It is based on the Toyota (lean) model, which combines operational excellence with value-based strategies to produce steady growth through a wide range of economic conditions.
In contrast with the crash-and-burn performance of companies trumpeted by business gurus in the 1990s, the firms profiled in Lean Thinking -- from tiny Lantech to midsized Wiremold to niche producer Porsche to gigantic Pratt & Whitney -- have kept on keeping on, largely unnoticed, along a steady upward path through the market turbulence and crushed dreams of the early twenty-first century. Meanwhile, the leader in lean thinking -- Toyota -- has set its sights on leadership of the global motor vehicle industry in this decade. Instead of constantly reinventing business models, lean thinkers go back to basics by asking what the customer really perceives as value. (It's often not at all what existing organizations and assets would suggest.) The next step is to line up value-creating activities for a specific product along a value stream while eliminating activities (usually the majority) that don't add value. Then the lean thinker creates a flow condition in which the design and the product advance smoothly and rapidly at the pull of the customer (rather than the push of the producer). Finally, as flow and pull are implemented, the lean thinker speeds up the cycle of improvement in pursuit of perfection. The first part of this book describes each of these concepts and makes them come alive with striking examples. Credit: Lean Thinking.

The Sweaty Startup By Nick Huber

Credit: The Sweaty Startup By Nick Huber

 Overview

Filled with common sense and practical, actionable, advice, Nick Huber’s book reveals that you don’t have to be a genius with a world-changing idea to build a business empire and become a multi-millionaire. Business media, television and movies, and top college courses all tell entrepreneurs the same thing: To succeed in business, you need to have a revolutionary idea. To them, success is about changing the world through constant innovation. But the truth is, 99.999 percent of businesses that pursue this strategy will fail.

In The Sweaty Startup, Nick Huber shows us that you don’t need a ton of money, a brilliant new idea, complex technology, or extreme scale to succeed. There is another way to do business and find success by keeping things simple. Nick encourages readers to pursue opportunities with good odds, low risk, and moderate rewards that will set you up for a successful life, not just a successful business. Forget about mastering your craft, Huber advises. Focus on mastering sales, hiring, and delegation instead. It’s not about doing what you love or pursuing your passion. It’s about following the path of least resistance and executing on a proven idea in a proven market to win. Read more at Harper Collins.

Never Flinch By Stephen King

 

Credit: Never Flinch By Stephen King

Overview

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help. Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness. Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off. Credit: Never Flinch.

The First 90 Days By Michael D. Watkins

 

 

 

Credit: The First 90 Days, Michael D. Watkins

 

 

The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: 

Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

 

Overview

Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success.

In this updated and expanded version of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Michael D. Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions--no matter where you are in your career. Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions and adviser to senior leaders in all types of organizations, also addresses today's increasingly demanding professional landscape, where managers face not only more frequent transitions but also steeper expectations once they step into their new jobs. Read more here. Credit: HBR.

We Can Do Hard Things

 

Credit: We Can Do Hard Things

Every day, Glennon Doyle spirals around the same questions: Why am I like this? How do I figure out what I want? How do I know what to do? Why can’t I be happy? Am I doing this right? The harder life gets, the less likely she is to remember the answers she’s spent her life learning. She wonders: I’m almost fifty years old. I’ve overcome a hell of a lot. Why do I wake up every day having forgotten everything I know?

Glennon’s compasses are her sister, Amanda, and her wife, Abby. Recently, in the span of a single year, Glennon was diagnosed with anorexia, Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Abby’s beloved brother died. For the first time, they were all lost at the same time. So they turned toward the only thing that’s ever helped them find their way: deep, honest conversations with other brave, kind, wise people. They asked each other, their dearest friends, and 118 of the world’s most brilliant wayfinders: As you’ve traveled these roads—marriage, parenting, work, recovery, heartbreak, aging, new beginnings—have you collected any wisdom that might help us find our way? Read more here. Credit: Penguin Random House.

The Power of Mattering By Zach Mercurio

Credit: The Power of Mattering; Zach Mercurio

 

Overview 

Your people have a fundamental need to be seen, heard, and valued.  Increasingly, people report feeling overlooked, ignored, and underappreciated at work. Simply put, they don't feel like they matter to their leaders or organizations—and it's taking a toll. This hidden epidemic of insignificance is fueling a mental health crisis, intensifying loneliness, and, for organizations, driving disengagement, turnover, and low performance. The good news is that leaders can learn the skills to ensure that everyone around them feels valued and knows how they add value at work. Through a captivating exploration of the emerging science of mattering and drawing from hands-on work in hundreds of diverse industries and organizations, researcher and speaker Zach Mercurio reveals how mattering to others is a fundamental—yet often overlooked—requirement for thriving.

He introduces a simple yet effective framework for making daily interactions with your people more meaningful:

Noticing: the practice of seeing and hearing others
Affirming: the practice of showing people how their unique gifts make a difference
Needing: the practice of showing people they're relied on and indispensable

Filled with practical advice, helpful exercises, and inspiring real-world examples, The Power of Mattering equips leaders at all levels with the tools they need to revitalize their teams—and entire organizations—by showing people that they matter. Credit: The Power of Mattering; Zach Mercurio.

Abundance By Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

 

Credit: Abundance

To trace the history of the twenty-first century so far is to trace a history of unaffordability and shortage. After years of refusing to build sufficient housing, America has a national housing crisis. After years of limiting immigration, we don’t have enough workers. Despite decades of being warned about the consequences of climate change, we haven’t built anything close to the clean-energy infrastructure we need. Ambitious public projects are finished late and over budget—if they are ever finished at all. The crisis that’s clicking into focus now has been building for decades—because we haven’t been building enough.  Abundance explains that our problems today are not the results of yesteryear’s villains. Rather, one generation’s solutions have become the next gener­ation’s problems. Rules and regulations designed to solve the problems of the 1970s often prevent urban-density and green-energy projects that would help solve the problems of the 2020s. Laws meant to ensure that government considers the consequences of its actions have made it too difficult for government to act consequentially. In the last few decades, our capacity to see problems has sharpened while our ability to solve them has diminished. Credit: Abundance.