Book #142 of 2025: This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew The Jewish High Holy Days are approaching, which means my library’s circulation figures for this self-help title are seeing their usual annual bump. This year I remembered to place my …
Tag Archives: self-help
Book Review: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
Book #68 of 2024: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama As a follow-up to her acclaimed 2018 title Becoming, this 2022 release from former First Lady Michelle Obama isn’t nearly so noteworthy. Whereas that debut work was a powerful but straightforward memoir, this one blends the autobiographical genre with self-help, …
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Book Review: How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis, LPC
Book #76 of 2023: How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis, LPC Probably the best self-help book I’ve ever read, and all the more so for its short length, with author KC Davis evincing none of that genre’s usual need to belabor her points ad nauseum …
Book Review: How to Raise an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Book #126 of 2022: How to Raise an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi A thoughtful guide on modeling conversations about race and racism for young kids, in recognition of the fact that they will be exposed to a lot of prejudiced situations and ideas that can be internalized if not actively confronted. This book definitely …
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Book Review: How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur
Book #39 of 2022: How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur A fun and educational read from TV writer-showrunner Michael Schur, sharing some of what he learned about different schools of moral philosophy for his hit series The Good Place, which grappled with thorny ethical dilemmas to a …
Book Review: Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE
Book #370 of 2021: Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE Like many self-help books, this 2019 title feels as though it probably could have been stripped of repetitive examples and published at magazine-article length, if not for the fact …
Book Review: The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years by Emily Oster
Book #255 of 2021: The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years by Emily Oster So far Cribsheet is still my favorite data-driven parenting title by economist Emily Oster, but this latest one is a solid self-help book for household organizing and thorny decision-making about raising kids particularly …
Book Review: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
Book #244 of 2021: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig I’m not entirely sure how to rate this title, which is basically a loose collection of the pep talks, life lessons, and gentle reminders that author Matt Haig has found helpful in dealing with his anxiety and depression. It’s a self-help book, sort of, and …
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Book Review: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
Book #74 of 2020: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz As a self-help book, this text seems difficult — albeit worthwhile — to implement in day-to-day life for salary discussions, vehicle purchases, and so on. Anyone interested in using its tips to improve …
Book Review: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Book #52 of 2020: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink This is an engagingly written pop science book, and it’s short enough that I do recommend it for anyone interested in learning some surprising patterns behind hourly mood swings, peak performance times, and the like. It’s cleverly positioned as a …
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