Learning and Development Essentials by Albert Singh, Vibrant Publishers

A nice, basic book that is a decent introduction to Learning and Development. It covers things like basic theories of not only learning and development but of learning. It covers some of the tools that you might need if you are developing an L&D program and even touches on data gathering and reporting. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out July 18, 2026

ARC kindly provided by BooksGoSocial and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn

Kuehn didn't know the story of her family until a filmmaker sent her a lettter. At first, she ignores it, thinking that it must be a mistake, he must have meant some other Kuehn's. But as she digs into her family's past, she discovers that her family was more invovled with WWII than she ever knew. 

It's an interesting story that certainly has missing pieces bcause Kuehn's aunt burned much of the family's memorabilia and most of the people involved are dead. 

Kuehn did a LOT of research to put her files together. And most of the work was done pre-internet so she had to figure out whereto go to even look to find information. 

Four stars

This book came out November 25, 2025

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Hotter by Laura Clery

Clery is a well-known internet personality whose most memorable character is probably Pamela Pumpkin. I didn't know much about her but I've been on a biography kick lately and picked this book up. 

I was not expecting to find out about her marriage imploded as her husband spiraled further and further into some sort of madness. We get a deep look into the answer of "why did she stay?", at least her version of it. And it makes sense in that it was very much a case of a frog being boiled. Did she make bad decisions even after her divorce? Yes, she did. She's very up front about that. 

This is more a selection of essays than a coherent book which threw me off but I did, ovrall, enjoy her stories and a glimpse into the life of someone who is trying to do the best she can by her children and then for herself.

Four stars

This book comes out July 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opnions are my own

The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing

This book is made up of short chapters looking at how we can survive in our current world. Specifically, looking at it through the lens of the matsutake mushroom. This is a mushroom that grows where things have been destroyed and there are whole communities built around finding them. For me, the description of the communities was the best part of this book. 

It was an interesting collaboration of ethnography and anthropology. I didn't always understand the points the author was trying to make. I also thought the subtiled was misleading as this book wasn't particularly political.

Three stars

This book came out November 28, 2017

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Freedom by Angela Merkel, narrator Juliet Stevenson

I was a little intimidated by the 27 hour listening time but was intrigued by a woman who I only knew a little about. And I'm glad that I picked up this book. Not only is it well-written, Merkel has lead a fascinating life. The narrator was a perfect fit, reading the book as I imagine Merkel would, albeit in German. 

As the foreward notes, the book is almost equal between her time out of the chancelloarship and in it. She starts at the beginning, growing up in the GDP, eastern Germany. She was born before the Berlin Wall went up, and was old enough to understand what happened when the wall came down. 

During her time as the Chancellor of Germany, Merkel dealt with any number of political pitfalls. There is a large section given to refugees in Germany. She also crossed swords with Putin and spent time with both Bush and Obama (she speaks of the latter two highly.) She speaks very... professionally about President Trump.

Four stars
This book came out January 1, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Says Us! Scripts and Quips from Says You! Vol. 2: The Words Spread by Richard Sher

Such a fun way to consume one of my favorite radio shows. It's even better to listen to them but this wasn't bad. Twenty games of six rounds each, consisting of games like defining words, guessing the best definition, and terrible (-y good?) puns. 

Best consumed slowly. 

Five stars

This book came out in October 2012

Hard copy I kept

Opinions are my own

Replaceable You by Mary Roach

I usually read Roach's books in hard copy but the audiobook was available sooner. I'm not sure if that contributed to my not enjoying this book as much as usual. Like in most of her books, Roach does a deep dive into a particular topic, this time in the ways that we enhance and recreate our own bodies. Some are practical ways like new hearts or intubation but there are also skin grafts, hair transplants, and plastic surgery that she explores. A lot of it was matter-of-fact but I was surprised to hear that one person told Roach that being intubated was a relief as it allowed her to breathe for the first time in awhile. 

Three stars

This book came out September 16, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

You Wanna Be on Top? by Sarah Hartshorne

I didn't pay attention to the subtitle when I reserved this book. I didn't realize this was a memoir and thought this was a history of ANTM. It took me a bit to pivot into enjoying this book, but I was quickly on board. 
Sarah starts her story when she's in college, her friend(s) encouraging her to try out for the show. She walks us through her tryouts with a glimpse into how her own life was edited to make her more interesting for the audience. 

Four stars

This book came out July 8, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

  Opinions are my own

You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate

I've been on a run of celebrity biographies lately and have to say that I enjoyed this one. Applegate talks about most of the things that I think fans would want to know about. There are a number of names redacted and she has memories that she just can't bring to the fore for various reasons but we get to know about this amazing person who has been acting since she was a child. She talks about her childhood, the famous people she's met at various stages of her life, the shows and movies that she was a part of, and how she is dealing with her MS diagnosis. 

Four stars

This book came out March 3, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Salt, Sweat & Steam by Brigid Washington

Washington opens with the story of her reason for joining the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Joseph. She details her romance with this man and the heartbreak that occurs when he breaks up with her. So she does what any sane human would do to mend her heart, dive head first into an expensive learning program that, initially, she's not sure she should even take. 

She describes her roommates, her classes, her instructors, and the food. The storytelling around each topic is straightforward and matter of fact. 

I was lucky enough to get both an ebook and an audiobook. If you have the option, I recommend the audiobook. Washington reads it herself making it that much more personal. While the ebook was fine, the audiobook is enjoyable as many passages seem more like conversation than the written word. Overall, this book is fine but parts feel disconnected from each other, more like sections than a smooth story. The food descriptions make the book while her romance (?) with Leo definitely detracts. But Washington does show all sides of herself, even the ones that don't listen to her friends and his family not to follow this romance. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 28, 2026

ARCs kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Invisible Influence by Jonah Berger, Keith Nobbs (Narrator)

I think more people are going to be aware of some of the ideas behind this book, especially after Meryl Streep's speech in The Devil Wears Prada about why Anne Hathaway is wearing her sweater. Berger studied the reasons that we make decisions. This is a very Western-centered (especially American) look at how we make choices whether it's the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, or the beer we order. He also looks at how certain styles and colors cycle in and out of popularity. 

Three stars

This book came out Jun 14, 2016

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson

I've enjoyed Lawson's books since the first one came out and started reading her blog soon after. She lays bare a lot of her life but this book is a little different. Instead of essays, thes are more like fleeting thoughts. Some are a little sad but most are philosophical and many feel like a warm hug of understanding. 

If you've ever thought that no one in the world can understand you, I think you will find at least one essay that speaks to you. But probably more.

Some of the essays were a little TOO short (which sounds weird), but I could only read this book as chunks at a time. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 31, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Viking Penguin and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally

I picked up this book on a whim, enjoying both the cover and the title. McNally has certainly lived an interesting and varied life including acting, directing, writing, and opening restaurants. I wish we had read more about the restaurants, being in the hospitality industry right now. He also came off as a little to much of a martyr, blaming himself for every relationship in his life that went wrong. He may not have a great personality, and it was mostly a matter of fact recitation rather than self-flagellation but it was still a little tiring.

Four stars

This book came out May 14, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Coaching Effect by Sarah Wirth, Bill Eckstrom

This book has the premise that coaching elevates teams more than managing does. They studied sales teams becuase they are easier to track immediate results. They also talk about the four growth rings: stagnation (low/no growth), chaos (performance low), order (predictibility), complexity (growth through discomfort). 

They also talk about the tools needed for high performance growth: one-on-one meetings, team meetings, performance feedback, and career development plans. It's not only important to have these things but to do them on a particular cadence and in a particular style (in person, email, etc.)  It IS important to be clear and specific, to structure the talk for feedback, and to ask what questions rather than why questions, and to pay attention to your tone. 

It was an interesting book and fine enough to read, but I didn't really connect with the style.

Three stars

This book came out April 2, 2019

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own
 

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Stephane Breitwieser is one of the most prolific art thieves of recent times (at least who has been found.) But he doesn't steal for money. Instead, he keeps all of the art for himself, to look at.

This book covers his early life as well as his meeting of Anne-Catherine, the woman who opens up his world. Previously, he had not really connected to anyone, but mainly to objects. And it is likely that love of objects that helps to spur on his urge to steal art. He doesn't steal for money, at least not before his jail stint, but for the love of the items. 

He is eventually caught though and, due to the vagaries of the law, is not jailed though he stole millions of dollars. But they are all non-violent so his time is not as long as one might expect. 

The author took some time in building this story, even getting to inteview Breitwieser. 

Four stars

This book came out June 22, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Sinek first focuses on the Navy and how the leaders eat last. This contributes to the circle of safety that their teams feel. And those circles are important to making sure that teams can survive and thrive. Circles are our relationships, and, if people don't feel like they are in a circle, they become disconnected and disaffected. 

He talks about the fact that leaders are not always the people with the titles of "Being in Charge," and, indeed, ends the book with an admonition for us all to become leaders. 

Sometimes, we follow the people in charge, just because they look like the people who we should be following. But we need to pay attention to our own higher moral authority as well. Sinek explores a number of stories and studies where the people in charge subvert the moral authority and how people reacted. And, while we may follow the strict law of the land, that may not be the same as having a high moral character. He points to the Titanic which knew that the lifeboat laws were going to be updated soon but still set out with only enough for about 1/4 of the people on board.

Like many authors of the time, Sinek falls into a familiar trap; he more or less ignores Generation X. He speaks long about millenials and quite a bit about Boomers, but barely touches on a whole swath of the population. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 21, 2014

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

I Haven't Been Entirely Honest by Miranda Hart

I knew of Miranda Hart from her show, "Miranda," and didn't look to closely at what this book was before requesting it from the library. I didn't realize how much of this would be talking about her illness. I was newly dealing with my own brush with a scary illness and had to take a break from the book for awhile.

She talks a lot about what worked for her in coming to terms with the life she has versus the life she thought she was supposed to lead. Instead, she had to become very introspective, to go into a metaphorical cave to find the treasures of her life. 

As Hart reads the biography, it becomes apparent that many of the most delightful parts of her fictional character are a part of her own true life. Speckled with poetry and suggested dance breaks, this was an interesting story that I may have enjoyed more if I were in a different place in my own life. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 10, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read

Read goes through the history of MLMs, multi-level-marketing companies. She starts with Rehnburg and Nutrilite, detailing how the man started in business then started branching out to make money off of his salespeople, rather than off the product itself. Rehnberg was just one of the prongs though, it really took off when he met Meidinger and Castleberry, the latter at a Carnegie course. 
From Nutrilite, she goes through the histories of Mary Kay, Holiday Magic, Costcot, and Dare to be Great. 
Read walks us through the different ways these MLMs started, and how they grew. They might start with vitamins or makeup but then morph into self-help and or leadership courses. 
Woven in with these histories are the stories of women who took the MLM pill. Each one had a different reason for joining. All left, disillusioned. 
An in depth look at a number of MLMs and why they are still succeeding today. A good recommendation from NPR's Best Books.

Four stars

This book came out May 6, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz

I love winter. After a Midwestern fall (yes, very specific to the Midwest) it is my favorite season. This book appealed to me because I thought I'd find ways to love it even more. And that is in there, to an extent, but there is a lot about how the author hates winter. And how she believes that all Americans hate winter. Which, you are allowed to have your own opinions about the season but she talks about it quite often. Quite. Often. 

All things being equal, there a number of good suggestions that fall under the broader categories of appreciating winter (get out into nature, speak positively about the season at least once a day), make it special (use low, warm light, extend the holiday feeling into the new year), get outside (how to dress for the weather, using friends, concentrating on the easy wins.)

Three stars

This book came out October 22, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

Recent biographies I've led have seemed rather shallow. This, is not one of those. Brady lays out all of her stories and experiences in raw detail, most of it revolving around growing up as someone whose autism went undiagnosed until she was an adult. Even her own family just thought she was an asshole for awhile.

Of course, she grew up in a time when autism wasn't widely diagnosed, and even when it was, it was to a narrow band that she wasn't a part of. After all, as several doctors tell her, she has boyfriends! and can maintain eye contact! and isn't an "unattractive sea monster with no interest in forming meaning ful relationships." Instead, her quirks seem to have gotten her branded as a manic pixie dream girl. But her "quirks" include things like scratching her arms after people touch her and having episodes where she destroys rooms and furniture. Brady is also very up front about using people for housing, attacking someone with a bottle, and her life as a stripper. I wondered about the last as strippers are often touted as having good people skills (and she says several times she doesn't understand social nuance) but she talks about the fact that she was able to do the same routine every night in dim lights. 

There is quite a bit about her time in entertainment as well. I knew her from her season on Taskmaster where she was a bit chaotic but a lot of fun. She talks about that time as a dream job which makes sense because she was allowed, at times, to drop her masking completely.

Highly recommend the audiobook as Brady reads the story herself. 

Four stars

This book came out February 14, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own