REVIEW: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (4-Stars)

 

I’m not a romantasy reader — I’m a sci‑fi reader who noticed this book when it was on NetGalley because the premise had promise. And it turns out the book isn’t romantasy at all. It’s a competence fantasy wrapped in ancient technology and identity reconstruction.

- or - 

A story about competence, arrested development, and the long road back to choosing yourself.

I didn’t expect This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me to be a book about identity reconstruction, but that’s exactly what it is. Maggie isn’t a chosen one; she’s a woman whose life stalled at sixteen after a catastrophic breakup, who spent the next nine years drifting through the gig economy, undervaluing herself, and quietly shrinking from her own potential. When she’s dropped into Rellas, she doesn’t suddenly become magical — she becomes competent, and the world responds to that competence like it’s a superpower.

That’s the real magic of Book 1.

Maggie negotiates with mercenaries, frees enslaved children, recruits one of the deadliest knights in the kingdom, and disposes of bodies in what might be a river monster or might be a piece of ancient biological waste‑processing tech. She thwarts a serial killer. She dies — repeatedly — and is resurrected by whatever ancient system is still running under the skin of this world, a “magic” that feels more like automated repair protocols than divine intervention. She builds a household from nothing. She makes allies. She makes enemies. She survives. And she does all of this while still thinking of herself as “average,” “plain,” “middling.” She hasn’t caught up to the fact that she’s the protagonist of her own life.

And in the middle of all this, the book keeps dropping in these fabulous square pastries — flaky, sweet, portable — and Maggie, being from Austin, immediately recognizes the vibe. They’re kolaches by another name. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s doing real work: it grounds her, reminds her (and us) that she had a life before Rellas, and that she’s carrying pieces of that life with her even as she’s forced to reinvent herself. It’s one of the few sensory bridges between the world she left and the world she’s trying to survive.

The book knows this. The world knows this. Maggie doesn’t — not yet.

And that’s where the men come in.

Because yes, the men are absurdly good‑looking. Comically good‑looking. Ramond, Reynald, Solentine, Severin — every one of them is described with the kind of detail usually reserved for the cover model of a romantasy paperback. Meanwhile, the women are framed entirely differently — not as objects of desire, but as fully realized adults with mastery. Clover is tall and “average,” sure, but she’s also an elite lady’s maid, costurier, hair and makeup artist, etiquette encyclopedia, and household COO rolled into one. Shana is a former knight who can swing a mace, command a kitchen, and produce pastries that could probably start a small religion. These women aren’t decorative; they’re the backbone of the world. They’re what competence looks like when it’s lived, not fantasized.

This isn’t male gaze. It’s a narrative trick.

The men aren’t romantic prizes. They’re archetypes — masks, roles, life paths. They’re the versions of adulthood Maggie never chose for herself. Each one represents a different future she could have had if she’d ever believed she deserved one. The fact that they’re beautiful is almost beside the point; it’s shorthand for “this is a fantasy of possibility,” not “this is a fantasy of romance.”

And the masks matter. Book 1 ends with a cascade of unmaskings: Ramond revealing his intentions, Reynald revealing his emotional investment, Solentine revealing his lineage and long game, Severin revealing his leverage and ruthlessness. Everyone has been pretending to be someone else. Everyone except Maggie, who still hasn’t learned how to pretend — or how to choose.

Her kidnapping at the end isn’t a romantic twist; it’s the culmination of her reactive nature. She still sacrifices herself for others. She still doesn’t see her own value. She still hasn’t claimed her agency. Book 2 is going to force that reckoning.

And then there’s the magic — or rather, the “magic.”

Rellas is a four‑millennia‑old society sitting on top of ancient systems it no longer understands. The Eight Families’ powers behave like genetic access keys. The Strelka behaves like a biotech guardian. The river creature that eats bodies behaves like a maintenance system. The mage blasting a meteorite with a laser is not fantasy; it’s physics. The world is running on decayed infrastructure, and the people inside it have mythologized the user interface.

Book 1 only shows us six of the Eight Great Families. We get the warrior families — Arvel’s Enduring Flame, Everard’s Fatefire, Bors’ Rageglow, Savaric’s Exultant Call — and two non‑warrior families, Hreban’s Mirror Heart and Yolenta’s Gold Glean. The other two Great Families are conspicuously absent, and that absence is not an oversight. It’s a promise. Their magic is either subtle, dangerous, or plot‑critical, and the authors are saving them for when Maggie is ready to understand them.

Which brings me back to Maggie.

Book 1 isn’t about romance, or magic, or even politics. It’s about a woman who has been emotionally frozen for nearly a decade suddenly being forced into motion. It’s about competence rediscovered. It’s about the world responding to her as if she matters long before she believes she does. It’s about the slow, painful, necessary process of reimagining a self you abandoned years ago.

The men are beautiful. The magic is ancient tech. The pastries taste like home. The women are competence incarnate. The society is old and brittle. But the heart of the book is Maggie learning, step by step, that she is allowed to choose her own life.

Book 1 is survival. Book 2 will be agency.

And I’m here for that journey. REVIEW: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

RATING: 4-Stars

REVIEW: My Dumpling, Your Dumpling by KE Bartlet (4-stars)

  A Distinctive Debut: Competence, Youth, and a New Lens on Military Fiction

I picked up My Dumpling, Your Dumpling because I wanted a challenge. I think it’s important to read outside my usual genre preferences — not for escapism, but because good fiction offers a particular worldview. When an author succeeds, you’re not just reading a story; you’re trying on a different cognitive framework. That’s the part I find interesting.

My academic background is in Spanish and Sociology, and most of my undergraduate literary training was in the Boom period — Cortázar, García Márquez, Borges, Vargas Llosa. Those writers taught me to treat fiction as a tool for exploring how minds work. Rayuela forces you to construct the narrative yourself. Cien años de soledad operates on cyclical time and mythic logic. Borges turns stories into philosophical puzzles. That training shaped how I read: I look for the worldview behind the text.

Later, when I finally read Jane Austen and Edith Wharton, I was struck by their observational precision — the way they capture interior life, social nuance, and micro‑interactions with almost anthropological clarity. I spent years catching up on 19th‑ and early‑20th‑century English literature because it represented a completely different cognitive tradition. None of this is my entire reading history, of course, but it illustrates the pattern: I read fiction to understand how people think.

K.E. Bartlet’s debut fits into that pattern in a surprising way. My Dumpling, Your Dumpling presents a worldview shaped by military and intelligence environments: procedural, compartmentalized, time‑stamped, emotionally masked, and mission‑driven. Each chapter opens with a location/time/character header — essentially a SITREP. The action is often procedural and easy to miss if you don’t have that background. Operators will fill in the blanks; civilian readers may need a film adaptation to visualize certain sequences. That’s not a flaw — it’s a structural choice that protects both the reader and the author. It keeps the violence non‑graphic and keeps the operational details appropriately abstract.

What I appreciated most is how confidently Bartlet writes smart, competent young people, especially young women. There’s no gendered commentary, no harassment, no “woman in a man’s world” framing. It’s a parallel universe where women can operate at full capacity without misogyny as background radiation. That alone makes the book refreshing.

The interpersonal dynamics are subtle, especially the slow‑burn trust arc between Eliza and Melody. Bartlet writes emotional connection the way it forms in high‑risk environments: quietly, professionally, and under layers of structure. It’s not a romance that interrupts the plot; it’s a bond that grows inside it. Eliza’s pep talks and her ability to read her team under pressure show a level of empathy and leadership that makes her a compelling protagonist.

As a debut from a 28‑year‑old author, this is impressive work. The voice is distinctive, the worldbuilding is grounded in real strategic thinking, and the characters feel like people who could exist in the modern intelligence community. I’m curious to see how Bartlet’s craft evolves — and how these characters develop — in the rest of the series.

REVIEW: All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley (4-stars)

 <B>A quiet, contemplative memoir that lingers like a painting after you've left the gallery.</B>

I really appreciated All the Beauty in the World—not just for its premise, but for Patrick Bringley's intentionality. After the loss of his brother, he chose to leave behind 40 empty hours a week in an office and instead take a job as a guard at the Met—a role many would dismiss as idle, but which he embraced as a way to grieve, observe, and heal.

Bringley’s reflections are gentle and observant. He doesn’t dramatize his pain, but lets it echo through his descriptions of art, routine, and human connection. Some reviewers have wished for more vulnerability, but I found his restraint to be part of the book’s quiet power. He listens, watches, and learns—not just about the art, but about the people around him and the eras that shaped the works he guards.

The book occasionally rambles, and I did find myself wishing for accompanying photos to match the artwork he describes. I listened to the audiobook at 2x speed—its pacing felt slow, though that may be more a production issue than a fault of the writing.

Still, there’s so much to admire. Bringley stayed in this role for ten years. He grew older than his brother had been, started a family, and built a circle of friends in what sounds like a surprisingly wholesome and supportive environment. His observations about artists—like Michelangelo’s early missteps or the practical struggles of funding art—add texture and humility to the grandeur of the Met.

The final chapter, on the quilts of Gee’s Bend, was especially moving. One quilter, born in 1942, told Bringley she didn’t even like sewing—she made quilts because no one else could supply enough to keep her family warm. That honesty, that necessity, reminded me that art isn’t always about inspiration. Sometimes it’s about survival.

I’m currently procrastinating on assembling blocks into a quilt top myself—and somehow, this book made me feel okay about that. It reminded me that beauty lives in the quiet moments, in the routines, and in the spaces we choose to inhabit with care.

REVIEW: All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: A Door Into Ocean (Elysium Cycle, #1) by Joan Slonczewski (4-stars)

 A Door Into Ocean is a dense but thought-provoking exploration of nonviolent resistance, ecological ethics, and the politics of identity. The Sharers of Shora represent a kind of “best case scenario” for a society built on consent, cooperation, and harmony with nature. Their refusal to engage in violence isn’t passive—it’s strategic, deeply philosophical, and rooted in a radically different understanding of life and death.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the subtle role of propaganda and bidirectional “othering.” The Valans arrive on Shora with rigid beliefs shaped by The Patriarch’s rule—beliefs about gender, reproduction, and social hierarchy (like the “stone sign” system). They question whether the Sharers are even human, while the Sharers grapple with the same question about the Valans. This mutual alienation underscores how deeply political systems shape perceptions of humanity.

Slonczewski also introduces fascinating technological metaphors: the Sharers’ gene-editing capabilities challenge conventional ideas of scientific authority, and the “Click Flies” and “webs” eerily anticipate modern social media and peer-to-peer activism—reminding me of movements like the Arab Spring.

While the themes are rich, the prose can be overwhelming. I often felt the book could have benefited from tighter editing. Still, the glimpses into the larger galactic strategy—like The Patriarch’s manipulation of planetary conflicts and his threat to destroy any planet that initiates genocide—add a layer of tension and scale that’s both chilling and intriguing.

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions (4-stars)

 I received copies of all three books in this series directly from the author (a friend of my second cousin), and I devoured them all in one weekend. They’re fast-paced, emotionally intense, and packed with drama—definitely not light reading, but deeply engaging.

Like Sapphire Blue kicks off the series with a bang. The structure—alternating between past and present—initially threw me off, but I came to appreciate how it mirrors the protagonist Emma’s fractured and evolving understanding of her own life. The payoff is chilling and powerful: Emma, shaped by a lifetime of trauma, ends up mirroring the very violence that shaped her childhood.

Emma’s journey is harrowing. Raised in a trailer by her father and uncle after her mother’s mysterious disappearance, she endures relentless bullying, sexual harassment, and later, sexual assault. Despite it all, she excels academically and athletically, eventually becoming a lawyer. Her romantic relationship with another girl—who is dating Emma’s bully—adds another layer of tension, especially when that girlfriend is sent to conversion therapy. The emotional weight of these experiences is heavy, but the characters’ inner lives are well-developed and the dialogue feels authentic.

One thing that did pull me out of the story at times was the extensive description of interiors and furniture. I later learned from the author that this was intentional—she wants readers to see what she sees—but for me, it occasionally slowed the momentum.

Still, the sheer volume of adversity faced by Emma and nearly every other character is staggering. It borders on overwhelming, but it also underscores the resilience and complexity of these characters. Emma’s eventual imprisonment and her work helping fellow inmates with literacy and legal matters adds a redemptive arc that I found compelling.

If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t shy away from dark themes and moral ambiguity, this one’s for you. Just be prepared for a wild emotional ride.

REVIEW: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines (4-stars)

Slayers of Old is a fast-paced, character-driven fantasy that blends classic good-vs-evil tropes with thoughtful explorations of legacy, identity, and the complexities of family. Jim C. Hines delivers a stand-alone novel that’s both fun and emotionally resonant, with just enough world-building to ground the story without overwhelming it.

Told through alternating perspectives—Jenny, a retired hunter of evil with a connection to the goddess Artemis, is a healer with a strict code of ethics related to power and violence; Annette, a half-succubus mother and monster-slayer; and Temple, a 99-year-old magician grappling with love, loss, and transformation—the novel weaves together action, humor, and heart. The pacing is strong, and while some background elements are repeated, they never bog down the story.

One of the standout arcs is Ronnie, a 17-year-old “last of his kind” defender against magical evil. Orphaned young and raised by the ghost of his mother Margaret (who inhabits the family van—yes, like "Christine"), Ronnie finds a new sense of belonging and purpose under the mentorship of Jenny, Annette and Temple. His growth from isolated teen on a mission to valued member of a found family is one of the book’s most rewarding emotional threads.

Margaret’s story also takes a beautiful turn as she connects with Temple, whose own arc culminates in his transition to a ghostly form. Their bond offers a touching “happily ever after-life” that feels both earned and heartwarming.

The intergenerational dynamics shine: Annette’s strained relationship with her son Blake, and his own struggles as a father, add emotional weight. Meanwhile, Blake’s son Morgan is pulled into a high-stakes plot to unleash an eldritch god, raising the tension and testing the family’s strength.

Hines also thoughtfully incorporates themes of consent and mutual responsibility—particularly through Jenny’s magical contracts and Annette’s internal conflict between duty and motherhood. These elements elevate the story beyond a typical monster-hunting romp.

A particularly compelling thread throughout the novel is the presence of legacy organizations dedicated to fighting evil. Whether it’s Jenny’s initiation into the “Hunters of Artemis,” Ronnie and Margaret’s family line of defenders, or the magical and demonic heritage of Annette and Temple’s families, these parallel traditions underscore a central theme: the fight for good is a shared, generational effort. Each group brings its own strengths, histories, and burdens, but together they form a rich tapestry of resistance against darkness. 

While I had some initial reservations about a male author writing two of the three main protagonists as women, the portrayals felt respectful and nuanced. The book doesn’t center on sexuality, despite the succubus lineage, which I appreciated.  Some of the questions raised for me are related to the burden and evolution of legacy and purpose, as well as the value of collaboration.  

Let's not forget the part-shoggoth cat with multiple eyes and tentacles who has decided to remain in that form as a mascot, nor the "Stuart Little" -like mouse community, which add a fun and whimsical touch to the story.

Overall, Slayers of Old is a satisfying, self-contained fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and just enough darkness. Recommended for fans of found family, magical legacies, and stories where the emotional stakes are just as important as the magical ones.

REVIEW: Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws and Kitties of Yore by Catherine Nappington (4-stars)

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this ARC for me to enjoy on a cold rainy caturday. 

Really enjoyable, light read with plenty of interesting tidbits.  I wonder if the final book will include an appendix or go through a fact checker.  The claim that Pope Gregory's call to kill cats resulted in the Black Plague is a myth.  I also am curious why the Clan Chattan wildcat and motto "Touch not the cat" are not included as it is of medieval origin.  

Many of the cats have human looking faces - which is weird - and a lot of pictures of cats licking their butts.  Fun compendium and would make a nice gift book. 

REVIEW: Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws and Kitties of Yore by Catherine Nappington 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: The Future by Naomi Alderman (4-stars)

 In my quest to distance myself from the surplus of dark, dystopian fiction portraying grim futures, I've sought narratives with a more positive outlook. I chose to read this book to explore the author's vision of the future following the redistribution of power through the abduction of several influential figures.

Similar to Alderman's previous work, "The Power," this new novel delves into a critical examination of societal structures, power imbalances, and the impact of technology and greed on human behavior and the planet. The characters grapple with ethical dilemmas as they find themselves uniquely positioned to instigate substantial positive change.

In contrast to Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar," the conspirators in this tale successfully counter tyranny, avert environmental destruction, and catalyze numerous positive transformations in the world.

A mixed chronology is employed by the author to establish multiple narrative hooks. If you're accustomed to a sequential chronology in your media consumption, this book may pose a challenge to your expectations.

Readers who enjoy the interactive nature of "Choose Your Own Adventure" or appreciate works like “Rayuela,” along with language enthusiasts treating books as tools, might relish the mental challenge of assembling the narrative pieces. For those who, like me, explore books as tools, skipping around and investigating, a rewarding discovery awaits at the end:

“Zhen, I found it. I know you loved up in secret fuck cave or whatever, love is great. When you want to know the truth, email me. mariuszugravescu@gmail.com"

An email to that address is rewarded with an auto response that is very gratifying in an old-school “multimedia” sort of way that fills in a partial “who dunnit” for those of us who don’t believe the concept of “spoilers” exists (see the end of my review).

Since I’m currently enrolled in a product development and marketing class, and I’m thinking in terms of score cards – here are some of the things that came to mind when reading this book over the weekend.  Here are some of the archetypes that I ticked off my list for this reading:

Archetypes Explored:

• The Hero's Journey: The inner circle orchestrating the disappearance of powerful figures embodies the hero's journey archetype, ushering in positive change.
• The Trickster: Both conspirators and billionaires pursue specific outcomes, with differing goals—individualistic for the billionaires and pro-social for the conspirators.
• The Rebellion Against Tyranny: The classic archetype of rebelling against tyranny is explored, but the conversion of conspirators against billionaires raises skepticism about their altruistic motivations.

Character Development:

• The Sacrifice: Characters compromise integrity for the greater good, exemplified by sending loved ones to a well-provisioned island for indefinite entrapment.
• The Fall from Grace: Instead of proving the wrongdoing of billionaires, a scenario is staged for their disappearance, allowing societal and environmental changes in their names.

Narrative Elements:

• Cultural Details: Attention to detail varies, with vivid scenes like the Singapore shopping mall contrasting with less engaging aspects such as the Enochite cult and message board descriptions.
• Technology and Environment: Technology and environmental descriptions are mainly conveyed through "telling," with the notable exception of the engaging "happymeal" implementation.
• Character Dynamics: Martha's character, portrayed as somewhat villainous, could benefit from more development. The challenge lies in the narrative primarily unfolding from Zhen's perspective, limiting insight into other conspirators.
• Symbolism and Themes: The Fox vs. Rabbit concept is richly woven into the story, but the tale of Martha and the bear is symbolic, representing her "coming of age" rather than a literal event.

The Shortcomings:

• Character Development:  Overall development of the four primary conspirators was thin – and the billionaires were very thin.  The majority of the character development was spent on Martha, followed by Zhen.  As primary actors in the conspiracy – Selah, Badger and Arthur fell flat – while Zhen’s friend Marius had more sparkle and interesting development. 
• Forced Diversity: The author includes non-heteronormative characters, but the relevance of their queerness is not relevant to the plot.  Aside from mentioning that Selah is straight, heterosexuality and gender binary are still the assumed default in this story.  Although lip service is paid to non-heteronormative characters (they gay billionaire ousted tech CEO, the enby antifa child of a tech CEO, lesbian survivalist and lesbian child of a survivalist cult leader “gal Friday” of tech CEO) – I’m not getting a strong sense of how Arthur’s homosexuality really matters in this story.  I can’t imagine that the near future is still so accepting of gay billionaires, lesbian survivalists and enby Antifa activists that we have to mention their orientation or gender identity – without doing the same for heterosexual characters. 
• Cultural Details:Attention to detail was really fantastic in some areas – like the highly detailed scene in the Singapore shopping mall, but the Enochite cult and the message board details were so much “tell” and not show.  The retelling of the Bible stories was entertaining but also felt a lot like filler.
• Character Dynamics: I wanted to see more of Martha as a primary character so that I can cheer for her – but she’s still played off as a bit of a villain (even at the end, Zhen sees a “heavyset figure” – when her physical shape wasn’t mentioned earlier).  Arthur “tells” us the tension for Martha (i.e., father figure issues).  Zhen’s security / safety and mother issues are also narrated for us throughout.  

One of the challenges of this book is that it’s told primarily from the perspective of a very interesting but non-primary character, Zhen.  Yes, she’s an important part of the plot as she was used as a guinea pig to create a potentially fatal proof-of-concept demonstration for technology that was used to persuade the billionaires of its efficacy (and a critical part of the means of duping them).  

Overall development of the four primary conspirators is thin – with Martha (the lover of Zhen) having considerably more character development, followed by Badger, Selah and Arthur.  Their stories are often told in third person, not through Zhen’s perspective.  Selah and Badger feel pretty “flat”. 

Symbolism and Themes: In addition to the whole Fox (hunter gatherer) vs Rabbit (farmer) concepts spread thickly across the story – the story about Martha and the bear was not actually about a bear.  Think about it:  the “bear” didn’t exist.  It was her “coming of age” and the bear with the rotten jaw represented her father.   

Just a little bit of research (or talking to anyone who goes hiking in the Western US) would tell you:  black bears are typically the least aggressive and smallest bears found in the US, any survivalist (or child in California) would know you don’t climb a tree to get away from a bear. Bears don’t typically suffer from dental disease.  If the bear wasn’t scared by the arrival of two people in a pickup truck – and was really starving – why not attack those people?  

The whole fantasy of climbing up a tree to evade and fatally wounding a skinny, young black bear before hibernation is just a weird detail that didn’t work for me unless you just look at it as symbolism.

The Strengths:

• Unique Narrative Structure: The the mixed chronology and the use of multiple narrative hooks,  was a lot of fun.  I liked the inclusion of the chatboard content but maybe a bit less of that would have allowed for more character development.  This narrative structure might challenge readers accustomed to a more sequential chronology.
• Interactive Element: The inclusion of private messages added an intriguing layer to the narrative, revealing character motivations and potential conflicts.
• Thematic Exploration: The book successfully explored themes of societal structures, power imbalances, and the impact of technology and greed on human behavior and the planet.
• Engaging Scenes: Scenes like the one in the Singapore shopping mall had a ton of details and played really well as an action film scene (leave it to a Doctor Who fan!).  As a great example of “showing” rather than “telling” -- the implementation of the "happymeal" worm in various social media platforms was well executed. 

Here's the text from the email bounceback; sharing it here because one never knows how long the email will continue to function: 

<spoiler>

Private message log from ntd/enoch

> ArturoMegadog

Look, I can't say this publicly on the forum but I am actually very sympathetic to your point of view here. Lai Zhen never should have said what she said. Someone needs to teach her a lesson. 

> SavedByEnoch

I just want to meet her. I want to tell her what I think face to face. She ought to be afraid. 

> ArturoMegadog

Right, I think that's all we're talking about isn't it? Just scaring her. So she won't go near any of this ever again. 

> SavedByEnoch

Enoch's teachings helped me believe there was a future for me again. She's a worthless piece of shit. 

> ArturoMegadog

Yeah no I get that. We all need to believe in a future. So listen, I do have a way you can track her. I mean it's not hard to get in touch with her, she has all her speaking engagements listed on her website. But if you need to track her down to have a more private conversation... just to scare her, right? I can help you with that. 

> SavedByEnoch

I'll know what to do when I see her. 

>ArturoMegadog

OK, looking at the schedule... how do you feel about a trip to Singapore? 

</spoiler>

REVIEW: The Future by Naomi Alderman 

RATING: 4-stars 

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Real Flow: Break the Burnout Cycle and Unlock High Performance in the New World of Work by Brandi Olson (4-stars)

This book covers three important topics critical for the health of an organization and, ultimately, its success. The integral, systems approach is a mainstay of digital transformation - but that topic can be difficult to tackle. Brandi Olson approaches the topic in accessible language, with excellent illustrations -- both graphics and metaphorical.

Much of what she describes is not new: Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, among others, wrote about these kinds of issues over 100 years ago.

Olson issues a challenge: "you (and everyone else) will need to stop settling for the appearance of productivity and performance rather than the real thing."

The author describes the challenges faced in organizations and low-key leads up to a discussion of the roots of corporate culture in a white supremacist, colonialist mindset which not only results in overworked, burned out employees but which also perpetuates the same dysfunctional system, reinforcing the lack of diversity of cultures, people and ideas.

"Burnout is energy-consuming and self-perpetuating. It fosters a monoculture: if everyone is operating on a burned-out and overworked level, no one has the brain capacity to think that perhaps things could and should be different."

Most organizations respond to symptoms -- burned out employees are compelled to use up their vacation time before the year-end, company potlucks or online "coffee/happy hour" chats (or worse: Yammer) substitute for connection and culture. More is seen as "better" and forcing employees to jump between many different projects always leads to no clear successes or improvements.

What organizations fail to realize is that “peak performance means making the greatest possible impact over the longest period of time.” That means addressing root causes -- finding the smallest changes you can make that will have the biggest impact (Pareto principal), implementing changes incrementally and iteratively to have time to reflect on the impact throughout the ecosystem (ie "butterfly effect"), and avoiding toxic perfectionism ("better > best").

"Flow is the experience of energy, creativity, and value moving from ideas to results throughout your entire organization." This is achieved by making your work visible throughout the organization -- put it on KanBan boards, for example (or open up access in Confluence to all enterprise users).

In John Doerr's "Measure What Matters," he similarly advocates for cross-functional sharing of goals so that individuals, teams, departments and divisions can work together to ensure they all help each other meet their goals (and thus all the company/enterprise level goals).

When an organization is "flooding" -- they are taking a shotgun approach which may inevitably result in some losses: limiting growth opportunities, trapping people in a "wash, rinse, repeat" or dooming teams to failure like Lucy's chocolate factory speed-up.

Olson offers a lot of practical tips to get people thinking differently about how to identify the challenges and keep track of the work: switch from small screens & spreadsheets to big whiteboards or walls, establish "work in progress" (WIP) limits. Olson's analogy on how a WIP functions:

"Have you ever been to one of those gigantic waterslides where you first spend 25 minutes climbing up six stories, only to whoosh down the slide in approximately 93 seconds? Have you ever noticed that, in order to keep everyone safe, they have a one person on the slide limit?"

Work that has been started but not finished is a big liability - it represents unrealized value (and may end up as waste). This is why prioritization is critical -- but rather than prioritize, many organizations would prefer to continue piling up the work and ignore the costs in turnover as people burn out from constantly being spread too thin or having to switch projects too frequently.

"Productivity without outcomes is not real productivity." Building a bridge is an output while people safely crossing that bridge is an outcome. Migrating a website to a new content management system is an output while enabling marketing team members to update their own pages quickly is an outcome. "Outputs answer the question, How will we do it? Outcomes answer the question, Why does this matter?" -- or "When can we open the champagne?"

Olson also talks about the importance of focus and the damage of "multi-tasking" -- an organization that is flooding is multitasking across the enterprise, busy without achieving meaningful outcomes.

Let's jump ahead to characteristics of white supremacy work culture outlined in “White Supremacy Culture” --

1. Perfectionism - focusing on what doesn't work, punishing people for mistakes, not leaving room for learning and continuous improvement.
2. Sense of Urgency - everything is a "high priority" where I work, probably where you work, too. "There is little time for thoughtful decision-making, short-term fixes come with long-term costs."
3. Quantity over Quality - conflict avoidant environments with a focus on productivity and output over EQ and the underlying mechanics that enable the establishment of teams with high levels of trust where creativity can flourish.
4. Document-Driven Communication - leaves little time for conversations and exploration.

A key takeaway:

"By making work visible, limiting work in progress, and being clear on prioritization, you can create time, focus, and energy for teams to have difficult conversations, get to know each other personally, build trust, and identify significant opportunities for learning how to do and be better."

As the author states: the future of work is PEOPLE - who need to be in environments designed to for cross-functional collaborative teams where they can develop trust and work toward shared outcomes:

• The team must have all the cross-functional skills and expertise to do the work from start to finish
• The team must work together long term
• The work must be transparent so the team can be in flow

There is no such thing as "best practices" -- start by identifying what you do now, create a map of your ecosystem. Make improvements - better not best., and don't obsess with a "big bang" of fixing "all the things."

"If everything changes at once, you’ll overwhelm the system and slow down learning."

"...empower people to do their best work, solve problems, and be better leaders—no matter where they are in the organization."

"better is always better than best."

REVIEW: Real Flow: Break the Burnout Cycle and Unlock High Performance in the New World of Work by Brandi Olson 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal by Marie Kacouchia (4-stars)

This book is beautiful:  the photos, layout and fonts are all a pleasure to the eye.  There are several really strong recipes that are very eye catching, such as "Cauliflower Tabbouleh with Pistachio and Lemon Confit" -- which I cannot wait to put into action. Some of the simplest recipes sound the most appealing - like sauteed spinach, mushrooms & ripe plantains.  Plantain beignets sound really amazing as do the "Sweet Pepper and Corn Cakes" and I will be planning a meal from this book very soon.

The recipes are very accessible -- some much more than others, making me wonder about the target audience for this book.  Some of the recipes remind me of recipes in a book about ancient Roman dining -- particularly the "Cauliflower Yassa with Olives" and "Cumin Spiced Orange and Chickpea Salad" -- making me wonder about the cultural exchange between Africa and the ancient Romans.  

The main drawback of this book is that  there are a lot of filler recipes in the book such:  sprinkling the spice blend ras al hanout on popcorn, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea and avocado-based chocolate mousse.  

Some recipes assume access to items that might not be normally found in most grocery stores such as the "vegan brioche" called for in the Coconut-Lime French Toast -- Where?  Hook me up!   At least 3 recipes call for harissa.   There's no recipe for harissa in the book, which feels like a loss. Likewise leaving out instructions for creating your own "ras al hanout."

Overall - this is a good starter book for someone who is not an experienced cook and there are enough novel recipes for people who are not lucky enough to have grown up with this kind of food to keep experienced cooks interested. 

REVIEW: Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal by Marie Kacouchia 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Around the Roman Table by Patrick Faas (4-stars)

 This is a history book disguised as a cookbook.  The first 2/3 are mostly ancient Roman history: culture, customs, sociology & anthropology. Great stuff!  The recipes are presented in latin and translated to English, and most are interpreted to modern cooking measurements.  I bought this in paperback at the Legion of Honor Museum when they had an exhibition of food and culinary items from Pompei -- and I"ll never part with it.  There are many recipes that I want to try.  I'm so curious to try Roman recipes that are heavily cumin & coriander (leaf and seed) dependent -- modern Italian  cuisine doesn't use those as much.

While the author described carousals and dining arrangements for festivities, I thought it was interesting that normal day to day dining wasn't much addressed. It seems that the society was largely centered around men  based on this history.  I want to know more about the women's lives and culinary habits.

REVIEW: Around the Roman Table by Patrick Faas 

RATING: 4-stars

REVIEW: The Nature Instinct: Relearning Our Lost Intuition for the Inner Workings of the Natural World (Natural Navigation) by Tristan Gooley (4-stars)

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” – W.B. Yeats

I remember the first time I went mushroom hunting, nearly 15 years ago, and the moment when it was like a light switched “on” and, all of a sudden, I could see the chanterelles everywhere, peeping out from under the duff.  More than an “instinct” – it’s having a patient teacher to explain what to look for and spending time looking and absorbing one’s surroundings until it feels like an instinct.

Tristan Gooley is a gifted writer -- sharing his stories of his observations of signs of plants and animals and diving into details of scientific findings.  His writing is so detailed – I wonder if he just spends time writing after he gets back home or if he jots down notes while he is afield. 

While his writing is not as wild and captivating as some of John Muir’s stories – Gooley is providing a level of detail and making connections in a way that weave a story of the cloth of existence and how all creatures are connected.  I never knew, for example, that robins could hear earthworms popping up out of the ground.  While I have always known that cats, dogs and other animals have mood and character – I enjoyed the story about how dogs “play” humans with the head tilt and science confirming that many animals possess an awareness of mind and think about what other animals may be thinking/doing in the future.

I enjoyed reading about the differences in the way animals (prey/predator) see things – and have long ago learned the value of sidelong glances toward shy feral cats and other wild things.  I love the term “jink” and have noticed this behavior in animals when hiking on trails but didn’t know it had a name.  The story about raptors hunting away from their nests – and songbirds nesting near raptor nests – was brilliant.

My favorite story was about how the author went hiking in a new area, drumlins covered with zones of bracken and heather – and found himself compelled to walk in one area and return via the other, realizing later that he’d instinctively chosen the routes based on maintaining comfortable body temperature (without a jacket, on the return, the higher bracken provided a break from the wind).  I also learned a lot about hedges – which we don’t have here in the US.

Gooley is a huge fan of the slow/fast thinking and references Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow” several times (it’s on my pile to read, right after this one!).

It’s interesting that many people consider knowledge of the plants, animals and environment around the to be inaccessible.  I remember asking a Spanish friend who lives on a small island called Mallorca, in a quaint small town of Palma, about some flowers.  She insists that she is a “city girl” and really doesn’t know much about farming and plants.  Even identifying the orchards on the side of the road as we whizzed by was outside her realm of knowledge.  When showing a friend who lives in a gated-community in Colorado my 6 different types of basil, he commented “You’re the only botanist I know” (though I imagine as a fly fishing aficionado, he could tell me much about fish behavior).  Another friend recently revealed to me that he hates the outdoors and avoids nature as much as possible. 

There is much to see an analyze in modern urban, “civilized” life – as demonstrated from the breadth of effort expended on mindfulness, meditation, understanding human motivation and behavior (even the Kahneman book) – that one might make the argument that most humans have had to make the choice of paying attention to select things in their immediate environment that yield the most reward or benefit for the lifestyle to which they aspire.

Perhaps, what Gooley is implying, is that we need to step outside of our own minds and away from human society to pay attention to the greater web of plants, animals and environment around us to preserve those things we most value.  There’s so much to learn  -- and humans so easily get trapped into thinking they are the most important and interesting thing around.  Maybe cats do, too. 

I would have liked to have seen the author dive into more parallels between the human thought and observation process of the natural environment with the human and human-constructed environment, and perhaps a greater focus on the potential impact of our disconnect with the rest of the non-human world around us. Or, at least, the richness and reward of greater connection.  Overall – quite an enjoyable book – my takeaways include a renewed commitment to memorizing constellations, “vegetalistas” of the Amazon, the “gokotta” – Swedish practice of rising early to experience people-free environments,  “ikus” and “allelomimesis.”  Zig-zagging off to read my next book… 

REVIEW: The Nature Instinct: Relearning Our Lost Intuition for the Inner Workings of the Natural World (Natural Navigation) by Tristan Gooley 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr (4-stars)

 Enjoyable and provocative book that covers the social history of new communication technologies and their impacts on human culture.  Before he even gets too deeply into the Internet -- Carr explores oral tradition, the advent of writing, the use of books and then cultural changes that happened with the invention of the printing press.  Carr also explores neuroplasticity and the way memories are formed and retained -- but, interestingly, he doesn't talk much about David Wegner's theories of transactive memory.

While I do agree that reading books is important to developing critical thought and independent ideas -- there are many bits of trivia that I don't have to remember (like the name of the actress who played the maid in Gaslight). In fact - there are many things that I "stored" in other people, books or notebooks before the internet.  Instead of having almanacs, encyclopedias and reference books at hand in my home, I can simply use the internet.

Finally, while Carr raises some critical issues about how people trying to think like machines affects culture -- he leaves out the basic fact that all the machines and web pages are designed by humans.  There's a simple fix:  change the way that websites and web pages are designed.  If reading prose with hyperlinks creates a certain amount of cognitive overhead for users and makes them less successful in recall and formation of original ideas and connections -- then adjust the design to meet the goal. Provide versions of prose stripped of hyperlinks, and perhaps offer annotated versions for more in-depth research. 

I find an interesting parallel in the risk of fragmented, distracted cognitive functions especially in the work place with the rise of leadership literature that exhorts leaders to establish personal connections, establish meaningfulness of work and to "tap into the collective unconscious."  There's a cultural shift since the 80s publication of "Servant Leader" and so many books on mindfulness that this direction seems a natural out growth but what if it is just a response to the decreased ability of most people to focus and concentrate on complex issues?  That would support Carr's claim that we're moving toward a division where book reading is a specialized task for a certain intellectual elite, while the masses move toward the highly rewarding, stimulating pursuit of tidbits of information that they can't quite weave together into a coherent whole.  

Enjoyable read - I recommend it!

As an aside -- an additional data point for contextualization of information between the author's group of students who read and synthesized the facts in their reports vs the students who used online resources and just relayed them without interpretation.  Humans have always used methods for externally storing information – including other people (see Wegner’s theory of “Transactive Memory”). 

The same people who would have just transcribed information from an encyclopedia for their papers are the same people who would copy and paste from online sources.  The people who read and understand and are able to provide a narrative with arguments and value are also the same people but who make different choices.

There are, indeed, analogs to “Facebook” weak-link friends in the real world:  think of any bartender, barista, corner store owner or other people in similar public facing roles.  Long before the internet, they fostered connection with hundreds or thousands of people who they could recognize by name, remember a favorite ice cream or drink and leave an impression of “friend” on such a person.  The internet just allows more people to have this experience but not as a requirement of vocation but a choice of community of opinions and information.

REVIEW: The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains  by Nicholas Carr 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell (4-stars)

 John Maxwell's tone is always very "can do" -- in the first chapter, he's clear that leaders are not "born", your title, seniority and experience won't make you a leader automatically.  He's very clear that to become a leader requires a lot of work, but if you choose a path of self-awareness, selflessness and dedication to growth -- you can become a leader.  It's a process, not a destination -- and leaders must always be open to learning and listening.  

Maxwell's style is a bit different from other leadership books -- he's very practical about the process and provides very clear guidelines for self-inquiry, gaining input from others, and loads of comparison lists that provide both food for thought and a strong sense of where he's coming from in his thinking.

In the first chapter, for example, he offers a list of the differences between a "boss" and a "leader" in his discussion of positional leaders -- who have authority but who are not "leaders."

For example:

"Bosses drive workers; leaders coach them.

Bosses depend on authority; leaders depend on goodwill.

Bosses inspire fear; leaders inspire enthusiasm.

Bosses say, "I"; leaders say, "We."

Bosses fix the blame for any breakdown; leaders fix the breakdown.

Bosses know how it is done; leaders show how.

Bosses say, "Go"; leaders say "Let's go." (p16)

His levels of leadership are similar to many others: Position, Permission, Production, People Development, Pinnacle.  However, it is possible to occupy different levels of leadership with different people or in different situations in your life at the same time. 

Additionally - leadership is not like PacMan:  you have to keep working to maintain the other levels that you've achieved, you can't just coast on reputation, for example.  

Maxwell repeatedly stresses the importance of focus and clarity of vision -- Chapter 2 is dedicated to Priorities.  Everyone who works in a corporate environment knows how hard it is to get work done when everything is a "high priority" - or when your boss keeps changing your priorities and then holds you accountable for dropped projects that s/he deprioritized weeks ago.

Maxwell's key principles here are of the common sense variety, but folks who are operating out of fear or ego lose sight of them:   "smarter not harder" for higher returns or greater productivity; you really can't that you can't have it all; good is the enemy of best.  Prioritizing is critical to progress toward a vision or goal.  

"Proactive means choosing. Reactive means losing" -- another great comparison chart follows here:

• Initiators:  prepare, plan ahead, put priorities in their calendars, pick up the phone, etc
• Reactors: repair, live in the moment, put other's requests in their calendars, wait for the phone to ring, etc

Another way to better prioritize work is to ask:  what is required of me that nobody else can do? what will have the highest return/impact? what is most rewarding?   The implication being that leaders need to learn to better delegate -- and a theme throughout the book is to work to your strengths, and to develop others around you.  Being clear in your priorities, delegating allows a leader to offer opportunities to develop strengths of others.

But, at the big picture level:  "Your long-term career goal should be to align the tasks that answer your requirement, return, and reward questions."

Another great recommendation is to build in time for transition between appointments -- this is something that is hard to enforce in some environments but critical, according to Maxwell, for improving self0-awareness, EQ and renewing your energy level.  

Throughout this chapter he's very keen on the "80/20" principle -- and uses it as a general rule for exercises to increase focus and reduce clutter -- "What are 20 percent of people/possessions/activities that I get the most value out of?" and so on.  It's simplistic but for those who haven't sat down to think in this way, it could be very useful.

Chapter 3 focuses on character and includes a great story about Pope Francis which surprised me.  there are a ton of great questions about "Am I a healthy leader..."  to help increase one's awareness of character.  For example:  "To what extent do I feel superior to those who work for me?"  and so on.  

If you aren't happy with your character, or things you've done in the past - you can start anew each day -- though he doesn't talk about neuroplasticity, he does have a strong belief in people being able to change their character through self-awareness, self-discipline and good decisions that support the development of others.  Character is critical because it builds trustworthiness and you can't lead if people don't trust you.

Trust is something that is the leader's responsibility to develop -- and leaders take risks in both directions; every interaction is an opportunity to build trust.  

To build character, Maxwell focuses on these four dimensions:  authenticity, self-management, humility, and courage.  "Character is not about intelligence - it's about making the right choices."

"You cannot manage others if you don't learn to manage yourself" is a concept that Maxwell reiterates throughout the book -- including a full chapter on Self-Discipline.  From self-discipline, you can establish consistency, live according to your values and demonstrate that you are trustworthy to others -- and this increases your ability to lead others.

Courage is necessary to back up self-discipline -- so that you can make the right decisions in the face of fear, doubt or fatigue, or even pressure from those around you.  Maxwell repeats throughout that developing character requires learning from and accepting your failures and drawing strength from your weaknesses (or "shadow self"). 

Maxwell repeatedly stresses utility -- it's no good learning about things if you don't put them to use and actually learn from them.  This is the only way you can learn and get on the path of continual personal growth.  People always feel awkward doing things differently -- he's got a great story about Wilt Chamberlin experimenting (successfully) with a different way to shoot baskets from the free throw line but giving up on it because he felt it looked silly!

Without calling it "change management" - he talks a bit about the subject, and stresses that people may feel alone when there are changes required of them, and it's best to look at it as a process rather than event and to allow time for people to adapt and accept the need for the change:  Slow down, make the communication clear & simple, build in time for people to process & accept, then head into action to implement the change.

He recommends the "PLAN AHEAD" acronym which goes as follows:

Predetermine the change

Lay out steps

Adjust priorities

Notify your team

Allow time for acceptance

Head into action

Expect problems

Always point to successes

Daily review of progress

That's a really concise change management plan!

Problem solving is another key skill for leaders -- it's important to always believe there is a solution, and to self-manage so that you don't increase the magnitude of problems that need to be fixed (see also self-discipline/awareness and prioritization).  Ask lots of questions to solve problems and learn to identify potential problems in advance ("Stitch in time, saves nine!").  He recommends creating a framework for solving problems and emphasizes the value of shared problem solving -- asking other others to gain their perspective (ie, "the Socratic method").

Always socialize the ideas to get feedback from the team -- and come up with more than one solution to any problem.  Problem solving is often an evolutionary process that requires iterations and input to see incremental change.  Finally, always look for lessons in problems -- leaders can learn about themselves and their teams from the way they handle problems.

The chapter on "Attitude" continues to reiterate concepts presented earlier about being proactive, engaged and having a plan.  There's a bit of sermonizing about "kids these days" but it's a minor kvetch about nanny government that the author compensates for with a great anecdote about beating procrastination that aligns with much modern neuroplasticity research.  Maxwell saw W. Clement Stone speak in 1967, who advised the audience to follow this regimen:  for 30 days, repeat "Do it" before going to sleep and when waking up.  

This kind of positive affirmation works for many people seeking to change some habit -- I love the idea of fixing procrastination like this.  Other self-help fixes for attitude include expressing gratitude on a regular basis, especially in the face of adversity; quit whining - be proactive; learn from your mistakes and always seek to improve.  

The "Serving Others" chapter encapsulates information shared earlier in the book -- essentially, don't rely on your position or title.  Leaders have to work to connect with people, and serve them by taking an interest and developing them -- and they will reciprocate by following the leader's vision.  Always be asking questions and try to see things from others' perspective -- especially how they see you, or your vision.  Create a safe environment -- and measure your success not by "production" but by how you develop others.

As a leader, it's important to develop your vision -- share it with others and constantly refine that vision.  Equally important is spending time with people who inspire you - and always be paying attention to opportunities and lessons from what you have tried:  "Test -> Fail -> Learn -> Improve -> Reenter".

The final chapter on "Self-Discipline" repeats a lot of content from "Character" - but it's a pretty good pep talk that could stand on its own as an article with lots of positive, self-loving encouragement to focus on doing the right thing over and over for continued success.  The author connects again with self-awareness and focusing on one's strengths to see the best results.   Self-discipline allows you to build new habits based on decisions rather than convenience or emotion -- and it's the first step to being able to help others change their habits and thinking as well.

Maxwell again brings up environment as a critical factor for self-discipline -- surround yourself with people and situations that reinforce your decisions.  If you want to get into shape - you hang out with people at the gym or hiking trail, not smokers who just want to "Netflix and chill" - same goes for leadership.  Spend time with people who have positive attitudes and who are engaged in finding solutions instead of excuses.

He also encourages the reader to prioritize and focus -- and to rethink things so to spend more time on activities that are aligned with personal strengths and passions:

"Quit something you don't do well to do something you do well

Quit something you're not passionate about to do something that fills you with passion.

Quite something that doesn't make a difference to do something that does, and

Quit something that's not your dream to do something that is."

Life is short -- you can always reframe what you're doing to see it as fitting into your passion or life's purpose but really -- don't hit your head against the wall.  If you can identify something that you are good at and love to do -- that's going to make you happier and offer more opportunities to serve others as a leader.

You have to start somewhere -- and create a plan for incremental change and growth.  Maxwell emphasizes the need to focus on personal growth daily -- so much of what he advocates is contrary to the goals of modern society which wants to capture your "eyeballs" and empty your pocketbook.  

Maxwell practices what he preaches -- he's consistent -- and his message is strong and he reiterates key principles throughout the book.   You could pick a single chapter and read it as a stand-alone and because of the thorough reiteration of principles, you would still find some inspiration and value in the chapter.

The book has a little bit of fluff -- there are a lot of repeats of stories of his youthful experiences as a leader and what happened to his first big congregation when he left (it collapsed), and a few other bits of random like a list of light bulb jokes that doesn't really add much.  The book would be shorter but stronger if it focused specifically on the topics and exercises (some of which are really great!).

Quotes:

• "Character makes you bigger on the inside than the outside" 
• "How far you can travel isn't the point; it's how far you are able to take your people. That's the purpose of leadership."
• "Priorities never stay put."
• "Self-discipline moves you from good intentions to good actions. That is what separates words and ideas from actual results."
• "Self-discipline always needs fuel. The strongest fuel comes from inspiration and motivation, which are usually connected with your strengths. What you do well usually inspires you and others. And motivation is a by-product of your passion. If you love to do something, you're almost always motivated to do it." (p199)

Exercises include:

- Pick two people you want to influence, figure out which level of leadership you are currently at with that person and focus on using the guidelines at the end of Chapter 1 to begin earning the level above  your current one and to strengthen your influencer at lower levels.

- Develop the prioritizer within you by answering the 5 key questions, and then think about the people on your team in a very analytical way (there's a spreadsheet) with their names and impact to the team, and a second worksheet on how you can develop those people.  The "three Rs worksheet" also looks promising.

REVIEW: Developing the Leader Within You 2.0  by John C. Maxwell 

RATING: 4-stars

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner (4 stars)

 This is a short story - not at all a "book" - and I found a version online. Quick read and creepy! It's interesting how people will look the other way when they know something is wrong or someone is up to no good, as a show of "respect." It's also interesting to me how Emily clings to tradition - the structure she has always known - instead of breaking free, into the unknown. She holds onto her father's corpse as a way of resisting changes to her life. She becomes a recluse. She even kills the man she loves to keep him around. In the end - she transforms into her father - controlling, secretive, manipulative. The larger, darker silhouette in the tableau. Analyses of this story are a great rabbit hole.

REVIEW: A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner 
RATING: 4 stars
© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

REVIEW: Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages by Phyllis Rose (4-stars)

 What a great social history of personal relationships - whether they were larger-than-life literary figures or not, these well documented couples present variations on a theme of women's role in Victorian England.  Fantastic read - well written, very enjoyable.

Sadly, I loaned my copy to someone and it hasn't returned.  It seems like a re-read is in order with all the celebratory fluff around Charles Dickens.  The section on Charles Dickens relationship with his wife in this book merits more attention.  Yes, he was a talented writer and overcame much but he was also an incredible dick!  He philandered, he was controlling and abusive with his family, and more.

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.