The Home Edit by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin

The Home Edit
I loved the way this book was organized in the sense that it started off with small areas that would be easier to tackle, and that it show various ways to organize everything, because every space is different. (Yes I'm looking at the Entryway section, because I literally just drop my backpack at my door and pray it doesn't get in the way)
256 Pages

The Home Edit Life
.....Did I notice how this book said that I didn't have to get rid of any of my books.....yes...my friend's weren't happy with the line. 
Storing yarn in file holders/magazine boxes...like... fjklds I love it.
The pictures are so fricking satisfying...like...it's goals but energy
256 Pages

Attached by Amir Levine

Yes I knew my attachment style going in. No we are not talking about it. Y'all should know what it is by now.
I was expecting the book to be more about the development of attachment (as in here's childhood attachment and here are all the effects in has on adult attachment)
I appreciate that this book doesn't tell all the people with the anxious attachment style to just stop being anxious and try to play it cool and stuff...because....Nah. 
Also the idea that being around a secure person rubs off. Perfection. Good communication. Great.
304 Pages

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie

Oof. Was I thinking about a certain person during this and then realizing that because I'm doing that that means that I'm like...trying to fix someone else....
Don't mind me laughing uncomfortably.... We're just going to forget about how problematic I was.....
Do I want a book about people who have lived with a codependent person...yes. 
When they talk about hugs releasing endorphins and none of us can hug anyone right now....
meh.
276 Pages

Professional Development

Be Opportunity Minded: Start Growing Your Career Now by Caitlin Williams

This was a great book for thinking about how to expand in a library career. I especially liked the emphasis of a career lattice-able to expand in multiple directions-rather than just a career ladder. Working through the exercises gave me a good idea of what I can do now and in the future to grow as a librarian.

224 pages





The CREW Method: Expanded guidelines for collection evaluation and weeding for small and medium-sized libraries revised by Belinda Boon

I'm pretty sure I read this in library school, but I wanted to read it again as a quick refresher. Unfortunately, I grabbed the copy we had in the library instead of reading the online pdf. The basic concepts are solid, but man is this 1995 copy outdated, discussing things like vinyl records and art prints, and the "new shift" to CD's and DVD's. Is it bad I want to weed a book on weeding from our collection? (No, the answer is no...)

65 pages




The Weeding Handbook: A shelf-by-shelf guide by Rebecca Vnuk

This book was great! Vnuk really does break down section by section how to decide what items should stay and which should go. This book is a lot more detailed than the CREW manual, so I may refer back to this one in any weeding projects for the future.

196 pages

Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish and Other Self-Care Rituals from Nature by Rani Shah

Oh my gosh porcupines!
The wombat. Yes
Elephants. Heart eyes.
....When the author is like "let's not get into the Greek and Latin roots of the word octopus to explain why the plural of octopus is octopuses" YES LET'S GET INTO THE ROOTS. PLEASE

144 Pages

Leadershift by John C. Maxwell

Summary: John Maxwell identifies the eleven changes, or shifts, he has made over the course of his career as a leadership expert.

My Review: Maxwell had me from “…the future seems to be coming at us faster than ever. It is not going to slow down. Would anybody seriously consider the idea that tomorrow will be at a slower pace than today? Technology, social media, and the rate of change will never allow that to happen. To go forward, we need to move faster. And as leaders, we need to stay ahead, we need to see more than others, and we need to see before others.” Wise words of wisdom!

Pages: 288 pages          My Rating: 5 out of 5

Personal Improvement

Summary: I’ve been reading quite a few books lately designed to help me better understand myself and those

around me, looking for ways to bring out the best in all of us.

Review: I have found some piece of truth in each of the books below. By far the most engaging and helpful titles were When, Grit, and Quiet, which I rank 5 out of 5. The others were good as well, though, so I give them each a 4 out of 5.

Author	Title	Pages
Joyce Meyer	Eat the Cookies - Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up	208
Angela Duckworth	Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance	353
Charles Duhigg	The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business	400
Brene Brown	The Gifts of Imperfection	158
Daniel Pink	When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing	272
Cain, Susan	Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking	368

The Jane Austen Diet by Jane Austen and Bryan Kozlowski

The Jane Austen Diet by Jane Austen and Bryan Kozlowski

"What could Jane Austen possibly teach me about dieting in the modern era?" you ask. "More than you'd think," I'd answer. Kozlowski has a surprising amount to say on the matter. Using Jane's books and what is known about her life as inspiration, he covers how everyone's favorite Regency heroine would approach exercise, carbs, meat, sugar, and, yes, booze. Jane's approach, according to Kozlowski, remains as relevant as ever.

Though I never thought to put Jane Austen and self-help in the same category, Jane and her co-author were surprisingly on point. 

304 pages.

Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff

Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
by Jon Acuff

5/5

208 pages

According to studies, 92 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. You’ve practically got a better shot at getting into Juilliard to become a ballerina than you do at finishing your goals. 

For years, I thought my problem was that I didn’t try hard enough. So I started getting up earlier. I drank enough energy drinks to kill a horse. I hired a life coach and ate more superfoods. Nothing worked, although I did develop a pretty nice eyelid tremor from all the caffeine. It was like my eye was waving at you, very, very quickly. 

Then, while leading a thirty-day online course to help people work on their goals, I learned something surprising: The most effective exercises were not those that pushed people to work harder. The ones that got people to the finish line did just the opposite— they took the pressure off. 

Why? Because the sneakiest obstacle to meeting your goals is not laziness, but perfectionism. We’re our own worst critics, and if it looks like we’re not going to do something right, we prefer not to do it at all. That’s why we’re most likely to quit on day two, “the day after perfect”—when our results almost always underper­form our aspirations. 

The strategies in this book are counterintuitive and might feel like cheating. But they’re based on studies conducted by a university researcher with hundreds of participants. You might not guess that having more fun, eliminating your secret rules, and choosing something to bomb intentionally works. But the data says otherwise. People who have fun are 43 percent more successful! Imagine if your diet, guitar playing, or small business was 43 percent more suc­cessful just by following a few simple principles. 

If you’re tired of being a chronic starter and want to become a consistent finisher, you have two options: You can continue to beat yourself up and try harder, since this time that will work. Or you can give yourself the gift of done.

I love it when 'self-help' books speak to me.  And y'all, this one SPOKE. 

Also, I recommend the audiobook as the author reads it, and he is quite fun. 

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

144 pages

4.5/5

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university's slogan, "What starts here changes the world," he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.

Admiral McRaven's original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life's darkest moments. 

Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanity by Kathi Lipp

Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanity
by Kathi Lipp

240 pages

5/5

Feeling overwhelmed? Wondering if it's possible to move from "out of my mind" to "in control" when you've got too many projects on your plate and too much mess in your relationships?

Kathi and Cheri want to show you five surprising reasons why you become stressed, why social media solutions don't often work, and how you can finally create a plan that works for you. As you identify your underlying hurts, uncover hope, and embrace practical healing, you'll become equipped to trade the to-do list that controls you for a calendar that allows space in your life decide whose feedback to forget and whose input to invite replace fear of the future with peace in the present. You can simplify and savor your life—guilt free! Clutter, tasks, and relationships may overwhelm you now, but God can help you overcome with grace.

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be, by Rachel Hollis

2.5/5

240 pages

With wry wit and hard-earned wisdom, popular online personality and founder of TheChicSite.com founder Rachel Hollis helps readers break free from the lies keeping them from the joy-filled and exuberant life they are meant to have.

I get the draw of this book - really, I do.  I have friends who love it, and who have spent months trying to get me to read it.  So, I made it my first book of 2019 with high hopes.  Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me.  

Don't get me wrong, Rachel is a candid, bubbly spirit.  The world could use more of her uplifting nature, for sure, and as a fellow woman, I'm 100% rooting for her continued success.  She gets 2.5 stars for being engaging, cute, and generally funny.  However, I think this book is less self-help and more memoir - in other words, I found it shallow.  Shallow in that, while some real pain and serious issues are dealt with, mostly the book is about how awesome she is.  I cringed every time she said she was the best at something - and I cringed a lot.  Apparently, she's the biggest book nerd, the best at sex, the most motivated person on the planet, etc.  For someone like me, who is generally pragmatic and doesn't believe that life can (or should) be rainbows and unicorns, there was little of value to be found here.  

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The author not so subtlely spells it out; happiness comes not from longing for things that we do not possess but from making the best of what we do have.

212 pages

"The Power of Sensitivity: Success Stories by Highly Sensitive People Thriving in a Non-sensitive World" by Ted Zeff, Ph.D.

This book is an accumulation of short essays written by highly sensitive people.  High sensitivity is an innate trait with the tendency to process information more deeply, be easily overstimulated, have increased emotional reactivity and empathy, and have an increased perception of subtleties.  Although research shows that about 20% of the population are highly sensitive people (HSPs), we are not very valued in our society.  We are usually told "you're too sensitive" or "just get over it" or "be more sociable" and are made to feel like there is something wrong with us.  This book shows HSPs having success in many aspects of life by using their high sensitivity to enhance the world around them.  Quite a few suggestions are given for improving the quality of life, including self-care, somatic healing, releasing guilt, risk-taking, and more.  It was inspiring to read how so many HSPs have come to accept and value their high sensitivity.  I highly recommend first reading the most authoritative book on HSPs, "The Highly Sensitive Person: How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You" by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., before reading this one.  186 pages.

"The Upward Spiral" by Alex Korb

This book about treating depression has the subtitle "Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time".  Korb is a neuroscientist and explains the various parts of the brain involved in depression and anxiety.  As someone with a degree in psychology, nearly all of the terms he used were familiar to me; however, it's easy to see how a reader who has never studied the parts of the brain and its processes would be overwhelmed or even tune out much of this book.  The author offered suggestions on changing brain activity to lessen depression as well as anxiety, most of which I had already heard.  Still, I liked the chapter on anxiety the best.  I listened to this book on CD with David deVries performing.  He had a nice, moderate voice which was easy to hear while driving.

Audio:  5 hours, 39 minutes
Print:  240 pages

The 30-Day Heart Tune-Up: A Breakthrough Medical Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Steven Masley

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

I believed this book could help me understand arterial plaque more and what we can do.

Audio:  9 hrs. 10 min.
Print:  400 pages

"10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story" by Dan Harris

Dan Harris is one of the co-anchors of the weekend edition of "Good Morning America" and a contributor to other ABC news programs.  After being in international war zones for years, he tries to find the same excitement with recreational drugs.  This leads to a panic attack on live television while reading the news on GMA in 2004.  After kicking the drugs, he still finds that the constant, critical voice in his head as well as his high stress job is getting the best of him.  At the same time, he's assigned to produce a series of news pieces on religion and ends up meeting Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama, and Ted Haggard, among others.  Several Jewish Buddhists suggest that Harris try meditation, which he does reluctantly.  He finds that it takes a lot of practice but it works to calm and focus him.  Harris is a good writer and narrates his story, which is not flattering to Tolle, Chopra, and Harris' own mentor, Peter Jennings.  Recommended for readers who want to know more about Buddhism, meditation, and ABC news. 

Audio:  7 hrs. 45 min.
Print:  256 pages

"Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell

This bestseller discusses the way we make snap judgments and the consequences of doing so when they are wrong.  The most interesting parts were examples of these, both good and bad.  The author uses the term "thin-slicing" to describe the process of filtering out the variables that don't matter and depending on the ones that do when making a quick decision.  Overall, it was a pretty interesting book although some of it felt like padding.  The author read the CD version that I listened to, which was good because he had a pleasant, mid-range speaking voice.

Audio:  7 hrs. 43 minutes
Print:  296 pages

You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap) by Tammy Strobel

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Simple life living blogger shares tips on how to simplify your life with less material possessions and more effective use of your time. Love life not stuff, a life lived simpler. 

Audio:  6 hrs.

Print:   224 pages.

"Life's Little Instruction Book" by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I received this as a gift from a friend when I graduated from college in the early 1990s.  It was written in 1991, so some of the advice is dated.  It is also geared a bit towards men since a man wrote this for his college-bound son.  It is full of tips that we've all heard over the years and some with which I disagree.  I also found some that contradict each other but not often.  There were several that I really liked, but my two favorite were:

#82 - Steer clear of restaurants with strolling musicians.
#290 - Find some other way of proving your manhood than by shooting defenseless animals and birds.

154 pages.