The best books and book-themed gifts for the holidays!

No dark fate determines the future. We do. Each day and each moment, we are able to create and re-create our lives and the very quality of human life on our planet. This is the power we wield.

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Margaret Willson compiled a fascinating retelling of Captain Thuridur’s life in Woman, Captain, Rebel. Thuridur defied many conventions of the time for how women were to act, what they were to wear, and how they are viewed within the Icelandic society.

The best books and book-themed gifts for the holidays!

“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits. That’s it in a nutshell.” - Twyla Tharp

Bleeding Green recounts the story of the Hartford Whalers NHL franchise. This book recounts the people, trivia, and stats that made the Whalers a storybook franchise.

Despite the mind-numbingly stupid things Glover and the Jackass crew get up to, Steve-O is a smart guy. Now, he’s healthy and sober, and this book is an exercise in learning from your mistakes, self-improvement, and growth. Throughout the book, Steve-O talks about his addictions (several), his career (varied), and how he’s had a roller coaster of a life.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Vikings. Price discusses everything from gender-fluid Vikings, how they raised their children and managed a household, their burials, their raids, and their explorations around the world.

My bookish friends, Noah and Leslie, decided to compete for "Best Book" each month. This month, Noah and Leslie submitted “Non-fiction by BIPOC author” for July.

Mistakes Were Made looks at crucial moments in both past and present to understand the cognitive dissonance that plays a part in our inability to admit when we’ve made a mistake and why we double-down on being wrong.

Using her years as a researcher on shame and vulnerability, Brené Brown and her team provide the appropriate language we need to describe common feelings we experience.

An interesting look into how humanity’s view of women has resulted in data bias around the world.

“Cults are not usually filled with people who can take a joke.” and “The first rule in a cult is that you don’t criticize the cult.” are just two of the fantastic quotes you’ll find in this book about what it’s like working at a tech start-up. In the six years since publication, I can say, not much has changed.

Witchcraft is becoming more and more mainstream and shows up frequently in fantasy books. What’s made up, what’s based in history, and how many types of witchcraft are there? Dive into this fascinating non-fiction read to learn more!

As the saying goes, Spring has sprung in the northern hemisphere. It’s time to grow, adapt, and step into the next part of our journey. To do this, we often need to let items go that hold us back. Don’t worry, there’s a book for that.

Only increasing my book count by 7 this month, I am behind schedule with my reading. EEK!

18/130

This book is about leadership but also winning. Winning implies a zero-sum game, which I strongly disagree with as our world changes.

What struck me in reading this book is the argument Desmond makes for the home being central to breaking negative generational trauma cycles. These systems and cycles disproportionately affect people of color, highlighting racial inequalities in other systems. I hope Evicted shines a light on the need for stable housing for all and shapes the political debate.

After starting a new job at a company with fewer than thirty employees, I’ve been reading more and more about building great companies and cultures. Principles fits the bill.