A week or so ago, I read an essay titled "What self-help books tell us about ourselves” in The Economist. After reading the article a couple of times, highlighting parts, and writing notes, I realized that I wanted to share my thoughts—not only about self-help books, but about reading in general. The article presented the … Continue reading Reading to Grow: Nurturing the Self and Connecting with Others
Category: Reading
A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family, loved ones, and friends. Mine was peaceful and quiet, and I did a lot of reading, but I also found 12 hours to watch the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns. If you are in the United States and … Continue reading A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
The Activity and Art of Reading
My friends, I’ve been spending some time this week writing reflections and a review of Vicki’s excellent book, Surviving Sue. I’m hoping to publish it this Friday, but my heart and mind are taking me on an interesting journey as I read my notes and try to draft the post. So, of course, I need to … Continue reading The Activity and Art of Reading
My Reading List: 2024-2025
It’s that time of year when I recap the books I’ve read and share my reading plans for the upcoming year. Last year, I managed to read 13 books—one more than my original goal. This year, I read 21 books, and I couldn’t be happier. My reading time feels like a mini-retreat—a chance to lose … Continue reading My Reading List: 2024-2025
Switching to In-Depth News
A little over two weeks ago, I embarked on an experiment to change the way I consume news. As most of you know, I retired from the military a little over a year ago. I was used to receiving and consuming a lot of information in various forms, and as the news junkie that I … Continue reading Switching to In-Depth News
Reading Well
As you start preparing your reading goals for 2024, remember that, "it is not enough to read widely. One must also read well. One must read virtuously. Virtue can most simply be understood as excellence. Reading well is, in itself, an act of virtue, or excellence, and it is also a habit that cultivates more … Continue reading Reading Well
My Reading List: 2023-2024
Organizations are publishing their 2023 best books lists, so I decided to write about the books that I read this year and the ones that I’m planning to read in 2024. Since I’m always finding new and interesting books, the list for next year might change. I mostly read non-fiction and take a lot of … Continue reading My Reading List: 2023-2024
Book Recommendations
I read mostly nonfiction books and want to share a list of books that helped me over the years. "Quiet" by Susan Cain - If you are an introvert and want to understand what it is and learn how to embrace it. This book changed my life. Back cover information, “In Quiet, Susan Cain argues … Continue reading Book Recommendations
The Leader’s Bookshelf
I’m a strong believer in lifelong learning and that you need to master your profession, especially if you are a leader. I know that some people are natural leaders, but leadership can be taught, and professional reading is essential if you want to be an effective leader. General George Patton, for example, spent many hours … Continue reading The Leader’s Bookshelf
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 