168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Laura Vanderkam)

 

I really enjoyed this book and I buy into her theories. Some of the reviews I read were quite critical and not complimentary. When I read a book like this, I tend to take what might work for me and don't worry about the rest - and I think she means that as she writes it. It has a ton of ideas. Take what works for you and leave the rest. You can fit in what really matters to you. For example, I want to be an exerciser - but even in summer break I can't seem to fit it in. Clearly, that's a matter of priorities. She says that if the average person started exercising every time he was tempted to turn on the tube, he could be doing triathlons competitively within a few years (chapter 8: A Full Life).

What works for me:

• She says that most of us are not as busy as we think. I believe that is true. There is always room to assess how we're spending out time. She really advocates for tracking your time. I would like to do that - but I would like an easy system - preferably on my phone. Is there an app?
• After you have tracked your time, start totaling the categories and do a personal self-evaluation about how you're spending your time
• She encourages you to make a list of 1000 dreams (chapter 2). Pick the activities that really matter to you and schedule them in first. 
• 100 things you'd like to do during your life time (pick your categories and list 10 things)
• 10 places you want to visit
• 10 books you want to rest
• 10 restaurants you want to try
• 10 skills you want to learn
• 10 financial goals you have for yourself
• 10 books (articles) you want to publish
• etc!
• Figure out what your core competencies are (what matters most and what you are actually good at doing) and outsource the rest, if you can
• Create a block schedule where you plan to fit in the things that are most important to you (in other words, the big rocks first theory)
• Give yourself time to do the things you love. You'll be happier.

I read this on my kobo. When I was finished, it told me how long I took to read it that I spent an average of 11 minutes per reading session - which surprised me. My goal is to spend 30 minutes reading every morning....and frankly, I thought I was doing that - but apparently I read this more in smaller spurts than that.

Goodreads says:

There are 168 hours in a week. This is your guide to getting the most out of them.

It's an unquestioned truth of modern life: we are starved for time. We tell ourselves we'd like to read more, get to the gym regularly, try new hobbies, and accomplish all kinds of goals. But then we give up because there just aren't enough hours to do it all. Or if we don't make excuses, we make sacrifices- taking time out from other things in order to fit it all in.

There has to be a better way...and Laura Vanderkam has found one. After interviewing dozens of successful, happy people, she realized that they allocate their time differently than most of us. Instead of letting the daily grind crowd out the important stuff, they start by making sure there's time for the important stuff. When plans go wrong and they run out of time, only their lesser priorities suffer.

Vanderkam shows that with a little examination and prioritizing, you'll find it is possible to sleep eight hours a night, exercise five days a week, take piano lessons, and write a novel without giving up quality time for work, family, and other things that really matter.

Languishing (Corey Keyes)

 

The subtitle (How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down) is what drew me to this book. It was a good end of year read. The author has a compelling story from his own life, is well researched and has some practical tips on how to add spark to your life so you're flourishing instead of languishing.

His five vitamins of flourishing are:
Learn: Create stories of self-growth
Connect: Build warm and trusting relationships

Transcend: Accept the inevitable plot twists of life

Help: Find your purpose (even in the mundane)
Play: Step out and have fun

 10/10 recommend! 

I'm not sure how I found this book. I need to do a better job of keeping track of who recommends books. I think it must have been mentioned in other books I've read because he references a number of authors I'm familiar with like Adam Grant, Gretchen Rubin and others.

Some [people] see things as they are and say why?

I dream of things that never were and say, why not?

- John F Kennedy (p. 226)

Goodreads says:

The Emory University sociologist who coined the term languishing—low-grade mental weariness that affects our self-esteem, relationships, and motivation—explores the rise of this phenomenon and presents a comprehensive guide to flourishing in a world that demands too much.

If you’re muddling through the day in a fog, often forgetting why you walked into a room . . . 
If you feel emotionally flattened, lacking the energy to socialize or feel joy in the small things . . . 
If you feel an inner void—like something is missing, but you aren’t sure what . . . 

Then this book is for you.

Languishing—the state of mental weariness that erodes our self-esteem, motivation, and sense of meaning—can be easy to brush off as the new normal, especially since indifference is one of its symptoms. It’s not a synonym for depression and its attendant state of prolonged sadness. Languishers are more likely to feel out of control of their lives, uncertain about what they want from the future, and paralyzed when faced with decisions. Left unchecked, languishing not only impedes our daily functioning but is a gateway to serious mental illness and early mortality.

Emory University sociologist Corey Keyes has spent his career studying the causes and costs of languishing—the neglected middle child of mental health. Now Keyes has written the first definitive book on the subject, examining the subtle complexities of languishing before deftly diagnosing the larger forces behind its the false promises of the self-help industrial complex, a global moment of intense fear and loss, and a failing healthcare system focused on treating rather than preventing illness.

Ultimately, Keyes presents a groundbreaking approach to breaking the cycles keeping us stuck and finding a path to true flourishing. Unlike self-improvement systems offering quick-fix mood boosts, his framework focuses on functioning taking simple but powerful steps to hold our emotions loosely, becoming more accepting of ourselves and others, and carving out daily moments for the activities that create cycles of meaning, connection, and personal growth.

Languishing is a must-read for anyone tempted to downplay feelings of demotivation and emptiness as they struggle to haul themselves through the day, and for those eager to build a higher tolerance for adversity and the pressures of modern life. We can expand our vocabulary—and, with it, our potential to flourish.

[Un]Intentional (Doug Smith)

 

This was an audio book I decided to listen to while delivering flyers for the food bank drive (hours and hours of walking!) It was really good. He has a Biblical approach to the problems with screens. The people creating social media are very intentional at capturing our attention and as a result, we have started to live our lives in unintentional ways. I was quite persuaded by his argument that we have to take back the control and be in charge of our own lives and one of the key ways to do that is to break the screen addiction. I was quite persuaded by the author's approach to this topic. I know I'm much happier and contended when I spend time reading and listening to good podcasts and audio books. The pull of social media is really strong and easy to get sucked into as a time waster.

Goodreads says:

Most of us are unintentional with screens, but tech industry architects intentionally make their content distracting, manipulative, and addictive.

[Un]Intentional shows how our obsession with screens often takes us—unintentionally—to places we regret. It reveals the way many apps, games, and videos are designed to entice us to make decisions and form harmful habits that profit the creators at our expense.

[Un]Intentional helps you break free by guiding you through proven biblical practices to reclaim your thought life, make good decisions, and fulfill your God-given mission.

Hello, Habits (Fumio Sasaki)

 

I love books about habits. This one gave me plenty to think about with what habits I'm focusing on and tracking.

p. vii It isn't talent. It's continuing.

Genius is often only the power of making continuous efforts (Elbert Hubbard)

p. xi

Habit is as second nature (Cicero)

Habit a second nature! Habit is ten times nature. (The Duke of Wellington)

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit (Will Durant)

p. 4 All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone. (Blaise Pascal)

p. 5 We're happier if we don't have too much free time.

p. 6 Indolence is a delightful but distressing state; we must be doing something to be happy. (Gandhi)

p. 62 I don't do special things for the purpose of something something special. I do ordinary, everyday things in order to do something special (Ichiro)

p. 113 The fuel that a rocket uses for the first few minutes immediately after launch is greater than the amount used in the eight hundred thousand kilometers to follow.

p. 170 When my habits are on track to getting cemented, I gain a sense of cntentment. For example when exercising, I'll feel that I can go on running forever. But if I decide to test my limits and run until I'm exhausted,  know I'll get the impression that running is too strenuous, which will have na impact on the next time I run. 
It's more important than anything to continue our habits, so I stop when I think I want to do more. I quit while i'm around 80%. That way, I'll stop the action wit hthe impression that it's fun.....I don't keep going until it isn't fun anymore....Muscles develo further when they go beyond their limits and are hurt. Top athletes undergo tough practices beyond their comfot zones, but that lies far ahead, in a future time when we have already acquired our habits. Quitting in the middle of something is effective for developing the habit in the first place.

Good reasons for never skipping a day:
p. 173 When Nippon Professional Baseball goes off season, all the players, return to their hometowns. But even during off-season, Ichiro alone shows up at the ballpark and starts his training.
"I once tried to take time off. To see if it would help, I didn't work out for a month. Then it didn't fee llike m body anymore. As if my body were sick," he said.
Ichiro tried different methods at least once, but ultimately did the opposite of what other players do. He i a true seeker of truth. What's important to him is to not quit completely.
The novelist John Updike also made it a habit to write every day, instead of waitng for inspiration. The reason was, there's so much busy work a writer can do. "You can actually spend your whole life being a writer and totally do away with the writing."

p. 174 Anthony Trollope (the God of habits according to the author) made it his task to spend two and a half hours writing before going to work. He wrote forty-seven novels and sixteen other works while working full-time, leaving behind a sizable oeuvre in the history of literature. 
His secret to producing so many works was starting the next project as soon as he finished the previous one. Once, he complete a lengthy work that comprised six hundred pages. A normal author would have wanted, perhaps, to celebrate or take plenty of vacation time. But because he had about fifteen minutes remaining until his usual two and a half hours were up, after finishing the manuscript, he simply put it aside and got started on his next one. 
The senses of pianists and guitarists are said to become dull when they don't touch their instrument for just one day. Some musicians claim they lose three days of practice if they skip just one. Not only is there no improvement when they don't touch their instrument for a day, they lose what they've nurtured. For me as well, three or four days without exercise makes it difficult to return to my previous condition. I get out of breath if I run, and I feel heavier. 
I have a real sense that the longer I veer from my habits, the tougher it gets to resume them. That's all the more reaso to avoid lapses in between. Your habits are further bolstered as you proceed to move forward with them.

p. 203 Do it; it's better than not doing it
He interviewed a professional runner. He's been running every day for more than 20 years. He still has days he doesn't want to run.

While habits refer to actions that we perform with barely a thought, we can't always make choices without thinking; conflicts will always, eventually, arise. Because we're human, there will always be times when we simply aren't in the mood to do something.
There is suffering in continuing to practice habits. But compared to the regrets we have when we don't practice them, I think it's far better to do them. By accumulating failures in our attempts to do something, we will someday gain a greater amount of rewards. If we don't make the attempt, we'll have the same regrets anyway, and we'll also have a sense of self-doubt. So we can choose whichever seems to be even slightly better: doing the task at hand, even when we don't want to.

p. 220 Create habits that are unique to you

It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races (Mark Train)

Ichiro has reflected on the intensive training he used to go through like this:
"It's true that when I was spending time at the Orix training cap when I was eighteen, nineteen and twenty, I was hitting hundreds of balls until two or three in the morning. Looking back, I can see that it wasn't a rational way to practice. But if someone told me that at the time and I hadn't done it, thinking that itw as a waste of time, I wonder if I would have thought this way now." 

There are also things that seem necessary for us despite our different situations. Records are one example. You should keep records of the conditions - your mood, physical condition, the season, how busy you are - in which you can it can't continue to practice your habits. If you keep records, you'll begin to see how to avoid difficulties that you've experienced before. 

There are no examples of habits that you have to acquire. The important thing is to think for yourself.

p. 223 Make eace with the knowledge that your habits will eventually collapse

Habits are surprisingly tough, and habits are surprisingly fragile (Gretchen Rubin)

Habits will eventually collapse. The important thing is to keep rebuilding them.

Write a "spell of restoration"

When we keep notes on the methods that have worked, we become confident that we can always find out way back to that state.

Maintain a sense of novelty in achieving habits: When you want to make a change to yourself, a tip is to not think about whether it will make things better. If things get back, you can make another change when you realize it. If a change doesn't change things the way you wanted it to, you can make another change.

p. 235 Whether it's your choice:

Two rats placed in separate cages are given an electric shock. Of teh two rats, only one of them can press a lever that allows both to escape the electric shock. As a result, the rat without access to the lever ends up showing signs of chronic stress, which leads to weight loss, ulcers, and even a higher incidence rate of cancer. Although both rats are given the electric shock for the same amount of time, the rat with the power to choose to avoid the shock experiences less stress.

....in other words, when we feel like there is no choice in our situation, it affects our health.

Deciding you do have control over things in your life (no matter how small the things are) is key.

p. 237 It's okay to judge your own efforts by your own standards

He's quoting a part from Spark, The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain:

Phil Lawler, a junior high school PE teacher, added heart rates to the measurements taken during PE class. One day, he had an eleven-year-old girl who wasn't good at exercising put on a heart rate monitor as she ran. Since she wasn't good at exercising, her time probably wasn't good. But Lawler was surprised when he looked at her heart rate. In theory, a person's age is subtracted from 220 to get what is generally considered the maximum heart rate. And Lawler couldn't believe hsi eyes when he saw her heart rate: an average of 187.

Age elevent meant her maximum heart rate would be about 209. And it increased to 207 when she reached the finish line that day. That meant she had run mostly at full speed. Reflecting on that day, Lawler said:
"You gotta be kidding me! Normally, I would have gone to that girl and said, "You need to get your ass in gear, little lady!"
"I started thinking back to all the kids we must have turned off to exercise because we weren't able to give them credit. I didn't have na athlete in class who knew how to work as hard as that little girl."

Running at a fast speed is different from doing your best. Whenever I read this anecdote, the tears start to fall. The girl who wasn't good at exercising had practically been crushing her chest putting in more of an effort than anyone else in her class.

p. 241 The simple truth about talent:

...sociologist Daniel Chambliss, who studied top swimmers for many yeras found:

• The best performaance is the result of accumulating countless small skills.
• There is nothing special or superhuman about what athletes do.
• Athletes achieve outstanding results through continuous efforts.

What this paper says is terribly ordinary: the ones who keep working diligently come out ahead....the diligent continuation of habits creates talent.

p. 244 Knack versus talent:

• Knack: A natural ability or predisposition for a certain skill, which helps you acquire it quickly.
• Talent: The skills and capacities that you acquire as a result of continuing to do something.

Recap: The 50 Steps for Acquiring Habits

1. Sever ties with vicious circles.
2. First, decide that you're going to quit.
3. Leverage turning points.
4. Quit completely - it's easier.
5. Know that you always have to pay the price.
6. Examine the triggers and rewards for your habits.
7. Become a detective who looks for the real criminal.
8. Don't make identity an excuse.
9. Start with keystone abits.
10. Keep a diary to record observations about yourself.
11. Meditate to enhance your cognitive ability.
12. Realize that enthusiasm won't occur before you do something.
13. Whatever you do, lower your hurdles.
14. Realize that hurdles are more powerful than rewards.
15. Raise the hurdle for habits that you want to quit.
16. Spend money on your initial investment.
17. "Chunk down".
18. Make your targets ridiculously small.
19. Start today.
20. Do it every day (it's easier).
21. Don't make up "exceptions" as you go.
22. Enjoy it because you aren't good at it.
23. Set triggers.
24. Create an adult timetable.
25. Realize that no one has the power to concentrate.
26. Take action according to the date.
27. Set up temporary rewards.
28. Make good use of people's attention.
29. Make an advance declaration.
30. Think from a thid-party perspective.
31. Quit in the middle of something.
32. Don't quit completely.
33. Keep records of your habits.
34. Take necessary breaks to conserve your strength.
35. Nap (the effects of a power nap are enormous).
36. Rest aggressively.
37. Cherish the things that you aren't making into a habit.
38. Don't mix up your "objectives" and your "targets".
39. Look only at the targets in front of you.
40. Experience failures - they're indispensable for your habits.
41. Stop worrying about how long it will take for something to become a habit.
42. Do it it's better than not doing it.
43. Gradually increase the level of difficulty.
44. Overcome each challenge along the way.
45. Keep at it, and increase your self-efficacy.
46. Create a chain reaction.
47. Adapt habits s needed.
48. Create habits that are unique to you.
49. Make peace with the knowledge that your habits will eventually collapse.
50. Know that there is no end to habits.

14 Good Habit Inhibitors
1. Believing that a bad habit is necessary to relieve stress.
2. Trying to focus on just the good points.
3. Relying on your motivation.
4. Not having the right tools.
5. An awareness of the difficulties.
6. The sense of self-doubt produced by one failure. 
7. Starting at a "good" time.
8. Thinking that tomorrow, you'll be Superman.
9. Creating an exception for the day in question.
10. Thinking that it's too late to start.
11. Not having a trigger.
12. Giving yourself a conflicting reward.
13. Pretending something never happened.
14. The "single-coin" issue.

Goodreads says:

The internationally best-selling author of Goodbye, Things shares insights and practices to help you become the best version of yourself.

Fumio Sasaki changed his life when he became a minimalist. But before minimalism could really stick, he had to make it a habit. All of us live our lives based on the habits we’ve formed, from when we get up in the morning, to what we eat and drink, to how likely we are to actually make it to the gym. In Hello, Habits, Sasaki explains how we can acquire the new habits that we want―and get rid of the ones that don’t do us any good.

Drawing on leading theories and tips about the science of habit formation from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, along with examples from popular culture and tried-and-tested techniques from his own life, he unravels common misperceptions about "willpower" and "talent," and offers a step-by-step guide to success. Ultimately, Sasaki shows how ordinary people like himself can use his principles of good habit-making to improve themselves and change their lives.

How To Keep House While Drowning (KC David, LPC)

 

I learned about this book from someone i follow on instagram. Can I be honest? I was a little put off by all the lack of upper case letters on the cover....but after reading it I think maybe that was strategic. I don't really have a hard time with keeping house and being organized so I wasn't sure this book would be for me - but the more I read the more I appreciated her thinking. Self-compassion is key and so many of the approaches she talks about would work in many other aspects of my life like teaching school, being a Relief Society president and more. 

Notes:

Setting priorities
She explains a really helpful tool for prioritizing: the 9 square. 

p. 12 Pick an rea of your life: school, activism, parenting, et cetera. Write a list of things you think are important for yourself. First, think of hte items that have the highest impact. Next list the items that have a medium impact. Next, divide them into those things that take low effort, medium effort or a high amount of effort and place the items in corresponding squares on the chart.
Once the chart is filled out, you can it to determine what to focus on When things in your life are ideal, you may strive to d o all he squares. Come under some stress and the black square is de-prioritized without guilt. Come under a bit more stres or for a prolonger period and the dark blue squares are de-prioritized in order to focus on the light blue squares. 

Sometimes, priorities that do the most good with the least amount of energy is what you should focus on. 
This tool will give you permission not to feel guilty about what you don't do. 

Handling criticism:

 p. 115 Even as we become comfortable giving ourselves kindnessa nd compassion in the midst of struggle, we often still have to contend with friends or family members who are at different parts of the journey of moral neutrality. How do we respond when someone criticizes the state of our home or tries to "help" us by giving advice that really doesn't fit?

My favorite phrase for well-meaning family is, "I know you want to see me in a fictioning environment and I want you to know that I want that for myself also. I am on my own journey to find aht works for me and what I need most from you is a nonjudgmental support. One thing that could really help me right now is ________."

And give them a tangible task that they can do! "Take these bags of clothes to the donation bin," "Sit with my while I clean my room," "Help me call a cleaning service or make a doctor's appointment." Sometimes all our loved ones need is to be redicrected to a way they can actually help. If after you give them ways to help they decline, it's okay to say, "Then teh most helpful thing you can do for me is not make comments about my space."

If you have a particularly rude or pushy person in your life, you can use my favorite boudary phrase, which s "thank you for your concern, but I am not taking any feedback on that issue right now."

Or my personal favorite "The key for me being able to given to run a functioning home was when I stopped talking to myself the way you are talking to me right now."

On weight:
your weight is morally neutral (capitals left off on purpose because the author did that...even though it pains me)

p. 139 One night I was lying in bed and cuddling my eighteen-month-old. She was asleep in my arms with her angelic face resting in the crook of my elbow. We were lying next to my husband, a man whom I love deeply and who loes me. On the floor on a little pallet was my three-year-old, a spitfire little sprite who brightens my world. I realized that I only ever wanted to be skinny because i wanted to be loved and happy. But I already have that. Skinny hasn't seemed very important to me since then.

Goodreads says:

How to Keep House While Drowning will introduce you to six life-changing principles that will revolutionize the way you approach home care—without endless to-do lists. Presented in 31 daily thoughts, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you feel over home care.

Inside you will learn:
· How to shift your perspective of care tasks from moral to functional;
· How to stop negative self-talk and shame around care tasks;
· How to give yourself permission to rest, even when things aren’t finished;
· How to motivate yourself to care for your space.

Spoon (Amy Krouse Rosenthal)

Great story on remembering to focus on your strengths and be the best you you can be.

Goodreads says:

Meet Spoon.

He's always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn't cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do they think about Spoon? A book for all ages, Spoon serves as a gentle reminder to celebrate what makes us each special. 

The Motivation Myth (Jeff Haden)

 

I read another book on motivation and this one has the same thinking....people are only motivated when they DO something. It isn't inherent and it isn't like you're either motivated or you're not. You make your own motivation.

Successful people are successful because they do things differently from other people. 

- Jerry Seinfeld

He talked about how Jerry Seinfeld has a motto of "how to go the true extra mile, Seinfeld style". ie Work harder than everyone else, do things differently than others, start a streak and never break it

Like most bottom lines, this one is clean and simple.

Don't tell me your goals. Don't tell me your dreams.

Tell me your plan.

p. 255 He talks about a CEO, Dave Kerpen (Likeable Local) and how he handwrites three thank you notes every day. That would up my daily gratitude focused work! 

This book was a recommendation in another book I read - and it was well worth the time. There were a lot of great tips that I will implement.  One of his favorite successful people seems to be Jery Seinfeld. I'm okay with that!  I loved hearing his suggestions for success.

The best chapter was chapter 5...where he lays out steps for success:

• plan for super productive days...he called them Monster Energy Extreme Productivity Days
• Step 1 Let everyone know you won't be available
• Step 2 Decide how long you will work
• Step 3 Totally commit to how long you decided to work
• Step 4: Start your EPD at an unusual time (the idea is to break free of your usual routine)
• Step 5: Delay and space out your rewards
• Step 6: Refuel before you think you need to refuel
• Step 7: Take productive breaks, not relaxation breaks
• Step 8: Take your breaks at a counterintuitive moment
• Step 9: Don't stop until you're done - even if finishing takes longer than expected
• How to have your most productive week ever
• Step 1: Every Sunday, map out your week
• Step 2: Actively block out task time
• Step 3: Follow a realistic to-do list
• Step 4: Default to thirty-minute meetings
• Step 5: Stop multitasking
• Step 6: Obsess about leveraging "edge" time (ie when you're driving, read while in lines, etc)
• Step 7: Track your time
• Step 8: Be thoughtful about lunch. Some ideas: network, build bridges with people/departments. Don't eat with the same people every day. Go for a walk during part of your lunch
• Step 9: Protect your family time
• Step 10: Start every day right (exercise, study, eat a good breakfast, etc.)
• How to have the most productive mind-set ever
• Step 1: Stop making excuses for doing less
• Step 2: Stop letting disapproval, or even scorn, stand in your way (people will notice...don't worry about what they say)
• Step 3: Stop letting fear hold you back
• Step 4: Stop waiting for inspiration
• Step 5: Stop turning down the help you need
• Step 6: Stop stopping
• How to have the willpower...without needing willpower
• Step 1: Eliminate as many choices as possible (eat the same thing for breakfast or lunch, have routines...follow them)
• Step 2: Make decisions tonight so you won't need to make them tomorrow
• Step 3: Do the hardest thing you need to do first
• Step 4: Refuel often
• Step 5: Create reminders of your long-term goals
• Step 6: Remove temptation altogether

Learn to ignore the things you have no control over

Goodreads says:

From Inc.com's most popular columnist, a counterintuitive--but highly practical--guide to finding and maintaining the motivation to achieve great things.

It's comforting to imagine that superstars in their fields were just born better equipped than the rest of us. When a co-worker loses 20 pounds, or a friend runs a marathon while completing a huge project at work, we assume they have more grit, more willpower, more innate talent, and above all, more motivation to see their goals through.

But that's not at actually true, as popular Inc.com columnist Jeff Haden proves. "Motivation" as we know it is a myth. Motivation isn't the special sauce that we require at the beginning of any major change. In fact, motivation is a result of process, not a cause. Understanding this will change the way you approach any obstacle or big goal.

Haden shows us how to reframe our thinking about the relationship of motivation to success. He meets us at our level--at the beginning of any big goal we have for our lives, a little anxious and unsure about our way forward, a little burned by self-help books and strategies that have failed us in the past-and offers practical advice that anyone can use to stop stalling and start working on those dreams.

Haden takes the mystery out of accomplishment, proving that success isn't about spiritual awakening or a lightning bolt of inspiration --as Tony Robbins and adherents of The Secret believe--but instead, about clear and repeatable processes. Using his own advice, Haden has consistently drawn 2 million readers a month to his posts, completed a 107-mile long mountain bike race, and lost 10 pounds in a month.

Success isn't for the uniquely-qualified; it's possible for any person who understands the true nature of motivation. Jeff Haden can help you transcend average and make lasting positive change in your life.

Here Be Dragons (Susannah Lloyd)

 

I think I will love reading this book aloud to my class. It kind of reminds me of Sam and Dave Dig a HoleSam and Dave Dig a Hole. Foolishness which doesn't fool the kids is always a hit. 

Goodreads says:

Children will love this funny, witty and hugely enjoyable book about a very silly knight who goes in search of a dragon!

This book is about a knight on a mission: to find and slay a dragon. The other knights have told him that there's no such thing as dragons, but he doesn't care. For he has a map, and the map says: 

"HERE BE DRAGONS."

He travels right to the spot marked ‘X’, past treasure, suspicious bones and many signs telling him to turn back. He wanders up and down a huge, spiky hill (the dragon's back) shouts into a burrow (the dragon's nose) and eventually walks into a cave (the dragon's mouth)… Will the hapless knight see the dragon before it's too late?! 

Young readers will love spotting the dragon in the background in this laugh-out-loud story from the author of This Book Can Read Your Mind. 

Beautiful and comedic illustrations with hidden clues hinting at the dragon's whereabouts accompany funny and lively text which young readers and their parents alike will love to read aloud!

Just Because (Matthew McConaughey)

 

I had no idea Matthew McConaughey was an author nor that he has a business for high school students trying to live with good mental health. 

This is a lovely story that is well illustrated. The lesson: You can change the ending! 

Goodreads says:

The debut picture book by Academy Award-winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey

Just because I’m in the race,
doesn’t mean I’m fully ready.
Just because I’m shaking,
doesn’t mean that I’m not steady.

Have you ever felt worried and excited at the same time?

Have you ever had your feelings hurt but forgiven someone anyway?

Have you ever thought there was more than one right answer to a question?

That’s because contradictions are all around us. And they make us who we are.

Filled with his trademark humor and wisdom, Academy Award–winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey has crafted a soulful and irreverent collection of life lessons that empowers readers, big and small, to celebrate how we are all full of possibility.

Why? Just because.

The Fitness Curveball (Tim Borys)

 

I had hopes that this book would talk about how to always be an exercises, even when life throws you curveballs. It doesn't really do that though. It does have some good information on habits and belief systems although some of the practices he suggests are a little weird and a waste of time, if you ask me. Having a good foundation of habits definitely is helpful though for when things go sideways, so I'll give him some credit. There is a lot on proper form for exercise too - which is hard to soak in through reading. I bet he's a good personal coach. He book was just so so if you ask me though. 

Goodreadsa says:

Nothing!! There's nothing on Goodreads and mind was the first review. Now that's new! 

The Magical Yet (Angela DiTerlizzi)

 

Great story for character, goal setting and more. Awesome message.

Goodreads says:

Award-winning author-illustrator Maryann Cocca-Leffler presents an inspiring picture book about overcoming challenges and frustrations with the Power of Yet .

“I can’t do it!”
“Can’t do it YET.”

This charming picture book tells the story of one small piglet who uses the Power of Yet to conquer frustration. While it may not be possible to perfectly flip pancakes or play the violin yet, with practice and patience and courage and grit, anything is possible!

Maybe (Kobi Yamada)

 

Beautiful! This would be perfect for the last day of school. The question is, could I read it on the last day of school without crying?

Probably not. 

Still worth it. 

Goodreads says:

You are the only you there ever has been or ever will be. You are unique in all the universe. Just the odds of you being here at this exact place and this exact time are so great and so rare that it will never happen again.

Written by the New York Times best-selling author of What Do You Do With an Idea?, this is a story for everything you will do and everything you can be—for who you are right now and all the magical, unbounded potential you hold inside. With rich, enchanting illustrations, it’s a reminder that you were meant for incredible things. And maybe, just maybe, you will exceed your wildest dreams.

From Strength to Strength (Arthur C Books)

 

This book looked like it was totally my jam. I have read a number of books on aging. Mostly, the books I've read have had an approach of aging well and accomplishing all you can. This one was more focused on letting things go, accepting declines and settling down into spirituality. I don't really buy into the striver curse. I plan to keep having goals and striving. If not, what else there? Oh ya....walk and meditate and ponder. I totally agree that you must make time for self-development by scheduling your meditation, prayer, reading and practice every day. Those are good things....but what is one going to do the rest of the day? He says that your decline, as painful as it is should be experienced - and shared. He also encourages the reader to embrace their weaknesses and to start by imagining the peace in your heart from no longer pretending you are not weak. This is all in an effort to have other drawn to you and learn from you. I'm not so sure anyone would find it that inspiring.

I did like his questions to ask yourself as you embark on new chapters. I thought they'd be good questions to ponder on each birthday:

• What activities will you keep?
• What activities will you evolve and do differently?
• What activities will you let go of?
• What new activities will you learn?
• What will you commit to doing in the next week to evolve into the new you? the next month? the next six months?
• In a year, what will be the first fruits to appear as a result of your commitments? 

I finished this book because I have the idea that that's what readers do. I can't say it was that profound or inspiring though, as much as I wanted it to be! 

The author sums up the book with:
Use things
Love people
Worship the divine

Good advice. The author is just three years older than me, but I don't think I'm going to  follow his thinking just yet. I think I am not ready to give up on being a striver just yet though. 

Goodreads says:

The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks.

Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs.

What can we do, starting now, to make our older years a time of happiness, purpose, and yes, success?

At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life.

Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach. By refocusing on certain priorities and habits that anyone can learn, such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress, we can set ourselves up for increased happiness.

Read this book and you, too, can go from strength to strength.

What Do You Do With a Chance? (Kobi Yamada)

 

At first, when I read this, I thought, "This isn't a kid's book!" However, thinking about it a little more, I think it'd be a good way to talk to kids about trying something they feel a little uncomfortable with. Some people don't like to try anything they aren't sure will work. This book would also be great for teenagers and adults too! 

Goodreads says:

The award–winning creators of The New York Times best sellers What Do You Do With an Idea? and What Do You Do With a Problem? return with a captivating story about a child who isn't sure what to make of a chance encounter and then discovers that when you have courage, take chances, and say yes to new experiences, amazing things can happen.

In this story, a child is visited by his first chance and unsure what to do with it, he lets it go. Later on, when a new chance arrives he reaches for it, but this time he misses and falls. Embarrassed and afraid, he begins ignoring each new chance that comes by, even though he still wants to take them. Then one day he realizes that he doesn't need to be brave all the time, just at the right time, to find out what amazing things can happen when he takes a chance…

The final addition to the award-winning What Do You Do With…? picture book series created by New York Times best selling author Kobi Yamada and illustrator by Mae Besom, What Do You Do With a Chance? inspires kids of all ages and parents alike to find the courage to go for the opportunities that come their way. Because you never know when a chance, once taken, might be the one to change everything.

We Will Rock Our Classmates (Ryan T Higgins)

 

More surprises from Penelope! Great story for contrasts and contradictions! There are plenty of surprises along the way:

• Feeling different than everyone else (everyone ALWAYS wants Penelope to be a dinosaur when they play....she never gets to pretend she's something else)
• When they're playing dentists they scold Penelope for not flossing AND they find someone's backpack stuck in her teeth
• Is nervous about performing (you would think a bring strong dinosaur would never feel nervous!)
• Daddy Rex teaches Penelope about great things people in her family have accomplished and this helps buoy her up

Goodreads says:

Readers will twist and shout for this headbanging companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling We Don't Eat Our Classmates.

Penelope is a T. rex, and she's very good at it. She also likes to rock out on guitar! With the school talent show coming up, Penelope can't wait to perform for her classmates. But sharing who you are can be show-stoppingly scary, especially when it's not what people expect. Will Penelope get by with a little help from her friends?

We Are Family (LeBron James and Andrea Williams)

 

I read this aloud to my class. I probably wouldn't have picked it (even if I had read it ahead of time) but when the student who rarely listens to the read alouds comes to you and says, "Could we PLEASE read this one next?"! the answer will always be YES! 

As I got reading, I realized there were some things that were just a little too much for the age of students I teach. There's domestic violence, teen pregnancy, bullying, financial stress, alcoholism and more. The authors are also very elaborate with their description. While it's really well explained and would be great to help you get into the mind of the character, it just didn't move fast enough as a read aloud. I started to read ahead and find parts I could skip and that worked just fine. 

All that being said, there are some great lessons taught in this book. Lessons about never giving up on your dreams, pushing through trials, supporting your friends and possibility thinking. LeBron James apparently co-wrote the book, and that's always going to be a hit with the kids who love basketball. That man does a lot of good in the world and I'm happy to support his efforts by buying and reading this one.

Goodreads says:

Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them?

When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their basketball season, in this inspiring new middle grade novel from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams.

Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.

And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.

For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.

It's an inspiring, original middle grade story from NBA superstar LeBron James and acclaimed author Andrea Williams that channels the many relatable challenges so many young kids face.

The first step to winning is getting out on the court.

This is a Moose!

Sometimes people just won't play the role we expect them to!

Goodreads says:

Lights! Camera! Moose!

MOOSE? Yes, Moose! When a movie director tries to capture the life of a moose on film, he's in for a big surprise. It turns out the moose has a dream bigger then just being a moose—he wants to be an astronaut and go to the moon.

His forest friends step in to help him, and action ensues. Lots of action. Like a lacrosse-playing grandma, a gigantic slingshot into space, and a flying, superhero chipmunk.

In this hilarious romp, Richard T. Morris and bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld remind us to dream big and, when we do, to aim for the moon.