Living Well
Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis's taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The characters you will meet in these pages are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A thirteen-year-old girl's science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worm's-eye view to see what the CDC misses, and reveals great truths about American society. A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, world-class labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flu...everything, that is, except official permission to implement their work.
Michael Lewis is not shy about calling these people heroes for their refusal to follow directives that they know to be based on misinformation and bad science. Even the internet, as crucial as it is to their exchange of ideas, poses a risk to them. They never know for sure who else might be listening in.
What's the actual secret to happiness? Great memories! Meik Wiking--happiness researcher and New York Times bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge and The Little Book of Lykke--shows us how to create memories that make life sweet in this charming book.
Do you remember your first kiss? The day you graduated? Your favorite vacation? Or the best meal you ever had?
Memories are the cornerstones of our identity, shaping who we are, how we act, and how we feel. In his work as a happiness researcher, Meik Wiking has learned that people are happier if they hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past. But how do we make and keep the memories that bring us lasting joy?
The Art of Making Memories examines how mental images are made, stored, and recalled in our brains, as well as the "art of letting go"--why we tend to forget certain moments to make room for deeper, more meaningful ones. Meik uses data, interviews, global surveys, and real-life experiments to explain the nuances of nostalgia and the different ways we form memories around our experiences and recall them--revealing the power that a "first time" has on our recollections, and why a piece of music, a smell, or a taste can unexpectedly conjure a moment from the past. Ultimately, Meik shows how we each can create warm memories that will stay with us for years.
Combining his signature charm with Scandinavian forthrightness, filled with infographics, illustrations, and photographs, and featuring "Happy Memory Tips," The Art of Making Memories is an inspiration meditation and practical handbook filled with ideas to help us make the memories that will bring us joy throughout our lives.
With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks -- write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example -- The Artist's Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone's got it.--The New York Times Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential--Vogue
Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron's most vital tools for creative recovery - The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a "Creative Cluster" of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.
It's true that Maria Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn't even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel, Poker Hall of Fame inductee and winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings, and convinced him to be her mentor. But she knew her man: a famously thoughtful and broad-minded player, he was intrigued by her pitch that she wasn't interested in making money so much as learning about life. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance had led her to a giant of game theory, who pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish between what can be controlled and what can't. And she certainly brought something to the table, including a Ph.D. in psychology and an acclaimed and growing body of work on human behavior and how to hack it. So Seidel was in, and soon she was down the rabbit hole with him, into the wild, fiercely competitive, overwhelmingly masculine world of high-stakes Texas Hold'em, their initial end point the following year's World Series of Poker. But then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel's guidance, Konnikova did have many epiphanies about life that derived from her new pursuit, including how to better read, not just her opponents but far more importantly herself; how to identify what tilted her into an emotional state that got in the way of good decisions; and how to get to a place where she could accept luck for what it was, and what it wasn't. But she also began to win. And win. In a little over a year, she began making earnest money from tournaments, ultimately totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. She won a major title, got a sponsor, and got used to being on television, and to headlines like How one writer's book deal turned her into a professional poker player. She even learned to like Las Vegas. But in the end, Maria Konnikova is a writer and student of human behavior, and ultimately the point was to render her incredible journey into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all, she learned, is that skill is enough. Bad cards will come our way, but keeping our focus on how we play them and not on the outcome will keep us moving through many a dark patch, until the luck once again breaks our way.
I am so taken with this book that I just ordered one copy for each person in my immediate and extended family and am inviting them to a book discussion.
The author Maria Konnikova had never even played poker when she decided to enlist the help of one of the world’s premiere poker players, Erik Seidel, to teach her the art of the game.
A Harvard PhD in psychology, Maria had a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance in life had led to her interest in poker—in learning to distinguish between what can and can’t be controlled in life.
In this amazing journey that leads her to earning hundred of thousands of dollars and winning a major poker title, it’s ultimately more about the many epiphanies about life that she derived from her new pursuit.
One of Seidel’s best pieces of advice to her: “Less certainty. More inquiry.”
I’ve been pondering that while being totally and utterly engrossed in this surprisingly engaging and fascinating book!
I am able to assess others in a fair and accurate way. These self-perceptions are challenged by leading psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald as they explore the hidden biases we all carry from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes about age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexuality, disability status, and nationality. "Blindspot" is the authors' metaphor for the portion of the mind that houses hidden biases. Writing with simplicity and verve, Banaji and Greenwald question the extent to which our perceptions of social groups--without our awareness or conscious control--shape our likes and dislikes and our judgments about people's character, abilities, and potential. In Blindspot, the authors reveal hidden biases based on their experience with the Implicit Association Test, a method that has revolutionized the way scientists learn about the human mind and that gives us a glimpse into what lies within the metaphoric blindspot. The title's "good people" are those of us who strive to align our behavior with our intentions. The aim of Blindspot is to explain the science in plain enough language to help well-intentioned people achieve that alignment. By gaining awareness, we can adapt beliefs and behavior and "outsmart the machine" in our heads so we can be fairer to those around us. Venturing into this book is an invitation to understand our own minds. Brilliant, authoritative, and utterly accessible, Blindspot is a book that will challenge and change readers for years to come. Praise for Blindspot "Conversational . . . easy to read, and best of all, it has the potential, at least, to change the way you think about yourself."--Leonard Mlodinow, The New York Review of Books "Banaji and Greenwald deserve a major award for writing such a lively and engaging book that conveys an important message: Mental processes that we are not aware of can affect what we think and what we do. Blindspot is one of the most illuminating books ever written on this topic."--Elizabeth F. Loftus, Ph.D., distinguished professor, University of California, Irvine; past president, Association for Psychological Science; author of Eyewitness Testimony
Jenny: My daughter calls me in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. It’s February and she’s away at college. A phone call from her at this time of day when I usually think of her in class is a little jarring. I pick up. Right away I can tell from her voice that something is off. It comes tumbling out. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend and is feeling REALLY sad. Plus, she laments, classes are REALLY tough and she’s feeling A LOT of stress.
I immediately tell her I’m so sorry, although I’ve never actually met said boyfriend of only a few months and from what she’s told me of him I’m not overly impressed. Plus, I think, isn’t college supposed to be hard? I keep these thoughts to myself. But we were all young once, so I feel her pain: “Oh, honey,” I tell her, “that’s so hard.” And I mean it.
After a bit of a cry she begins to calm down and admits that the breakup is for the better. He blows off studying and has been distracting her from her own studies, she, my very dedicated student. But she will miss the companionship, the intimacies…I hear the beginning of more tears.
In my usual motherly way, I begin to offer some perspective to try to give her a jolt out of her doldrums. I’ve just finished reading a book that offers the perfect antidote.
It’s called The Book of Delights. The author, a poet first, decided to write a little essay every day for a year, beginning and ending with his birthday on August 1, on something each day that delighted him. Things like finding a flower sprouting up in the curb of a New York street, receiving a high-five from a stranger, writing by hand, nicknames, an observed kindness.
The book is a collection of some of his best essayettes from his year-long experiment. Each is a treasure of beautiful language and simple, but, often, profound thoughts and ideas. And then this cool thing happens to the author. As he writes his essays each day it occasions in him a kind of “delight radar,” (isn’t that wonderful!) and the more he looks for delight each day, the more delight there is to be found. It’s not that his days are “without sorrow or fear or pain or loss,” but that each day seems “more full of delight.”
I tell my daughter about the book. “Imagine, my sweet, if you go through each of your days with your “delight radar” up. How might that change what you choose to focus on?”
She likes the idea and says she’ll give it a try. The next day she calls again. “Hello,” I say. “How are you feeling today?”
“Mom, I’ve been doing that delight radar thing, and I feel so much better today! It’s really working.”
Oh, if parenting were always that easy. Offer a suggestion, and, Voila, it’s implemented and appreciated. But I will take what I can get.
Thank you, Ross Gay, for your beautiful book, for enlivening my own “delight radar,” and, most of all, for making me seem like an awesome mom to my daughter, even if only for a day.
Charlie Mackesy's beloved The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse has been adapted into an Academy Award(R) winning animated short film, now available to stream on Apple TV+
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER - USA TODAY BESTSELLER
"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is not only a thought-provoking, discussion-worthy story, the book itself is an object of art."- Elizabeth Egan, The New York Times
From British illustrator, artist, and author Charlie Mackesy comes a journey for all ages that explores life's universal lessons, featuring 100 color and black-and-white drawings.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" asked the mole.
"Kind," said the boy.
Charlie Mackesy offers inspiration and hope in uncertain times in this beautiful book, following the tale of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love. The shared adventures and important conversations between the four friends are full of life lessons that have connected with readers of all ages.
101 Real Decorating FAQs Answered
When you have a home decorating question, do you wish you had a team to consult? Now, you do! Home decor experts Melissa Michaels (The Inspired Room) and KariAnne Wood (Thistlewood Farms) answer 101 actual queries from readers like you. As Melissa and KariAnne help solve these everyday decorating dilemmas, you'll learn more about... Getting StartedWhat to do first, how to update your entire house, and decorate on a budget. Style and Trends
How to find your personal decorating style, choose a timeless look, and make your home both kid and style friendly. The Major Elements
Get foundational guidelines for flooring, wall décor, lighting, and more. Furniture and Space Planning
How to place furniture properly, maximize open floor space, and redo rooms on a tight budget. Color, Paint, and Patterns
Choose correct colors, learn paint basics, and express your creativity while avoiding clash. Organization
Tame your junk drawer, declutter kitchen appliances, and manage the mess in a multipurpose room. Accessories and Styling
Accessorize with confidence, showcase your favorite pieces, and own your style even while renting. If you're unsure about any area of decorating, chances are the answers are inside this book. Melissa and KariAnne can help!
I’m not a huge fan of “instructive” gift books when someone has a life event like graduating/new job/new home. This one I know will be read, kept and followed. I’ve had my own home for 35 years and I get a lot out of this book on the regular! - Sandy
Three months after George Saunders gave a graduation address at Syracuse University, a transcript of that speech was posted on the website of The New York Times, where its simple, uplifting message struck a deep chord. Within days, it had been shared more than one million times. Why? Because Saunders's words tap into a desire in all of us to lead kinder, more fulfilling lives. Powerful, funny, and wise, Congratulations, by the way is an inspiring message from one of today's most influential and original writers. Praise for Congratulations, by the way "As slender as a psalm, and as heavy."--The New York Times "The graduating college senior in your life probably just wants money. But if you want to impart some heartfelt, plainspoken wisdom in addition to a check, you can't do much better than [Congratulations, by the way]."--Entertainment Weekly "The loving selflessness that [George Saunders] advises and the interconnectedness that he recognizes couldn't be purer or simpler--or more challenging."--Kirkus Reviews "Warm and tender."--Publishers Weekly