Early Reader Review: They Work: Honey Bees, Nature's Pollinators

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

They Work: Honey Bees, Nature's Pollinators by June Smalls  
Publisher:  Familius
Publication Date:  March 11, 2025 

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

The newest addition to June Smalls’s nature series, They Work is a gorgeous nonfiction picture book about life for a hive of honeybees, complete with factoids

She is the queen. She fought for that position from the moment she broke out of her cell. Her job is important, but she is not the leader. A hive is only successful if many, many bees are working. But only the females are hard at work. Experience the life cycle of the honeybee up close and personal with this striking picture book from June Smalls (author of She Leads, He Leads, and They Lead) and illustrator Yukari Mishima. Told in a poetic style along with fun facts on each page for older readers wanting a deeper dive, They Work is a beautiful exploration of life inside a beehive, as well as the dangers and predators bees face out in the world—including humans.

Review: 

They Work is a fantastic non-fiction children’s book that offers an insightful look into the fascinating world of honey bees. The illustrations are a standout feature—beautifully realistic and incredibly detailed, they capture the intricate life of a bee colony in a way that will engage young readers and adults alike. The text pairs seamlessly with these images, providing clear explanations that align perfectly with the visuals, making complex concepts about bees accessible and understandable.

While the text might come across as somewhat direct and clinical, this approach suits its purpose as an educational tool. It’s straightforward enough to be easily understood yet informative enough to provide a comprehensive introduction to the topic. This book would be a wonderful choice for children to explore with their parents, sparking curiosity and conversation about nature and the vital role bees play in our world. Whether you’re a budding entomologist or just love learning about the natural world, this book is a sweet addition to any young reader’s bookshelf.

Recent Reads: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 

Publisher: Crown

Publication Date:  October 20, 2020

 

Format: Audioboon
Source: Bought/Own from Audible

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.

I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.

Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges - how to get relative with the inevitable - you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”

So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.

Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.

It’s a love letter. To life.

It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights - and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.

Good luck.

Review: 

This was Matthew McConaughey's book about his life so far. I listened to it with my partner on the way to work. It is read by the author, which made it more enjoyable. 

He seems so human from this book, it was refreshing but he is also well-off now so some of his 'bumper-sticker' moments and 'proclamations' were a bit meh for those of us in the non-well off categories. 

Overall, this was a fun listen though. Matthew talks about his life, growing up, what he learned along the way and his adventure to becoming who he is as an actor. I found him funny and relatable at times, and you can really sense that he loves life and lives it to the fullest at every opportunity. He is an interesting man, a pro bull-shitter, and so passionate.  "Greenlights" were his move forward moments in life, leading him and guiding him along. I loved that this was the view point he had. 

I loved that he told his story. I appreciate that some of his best lines were improved and that he tried to be the characters wholeheartedly, even to his detriment at times. He found his dream in more ways that one and that was a fun journey to go on him with.

All that said, I would have liked less proclamation and bumper sticker moments. 1. because he often yelled them in the audio and it was a lot and 2. because sometimes they were just not obtainable things for 'normal' non-famous people. If you already like Matthew in movies and his weird vibe, I think you will enjoy this one and I do recommend the audio version.

Early Reader Review: Country Bird by Angela Harrison Vinet

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Country Bird by Angela Harrison Vinet

Publisher: Epic Ink
Publication Date:  February 20, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Get an informed yet cheeky perspective on the fascinating language of birds in rural areas with this witty twist on a traditional field guide.

City Bird gives birdwatching new meaning by pairing scientific insight on the sounds and songs unique to birds inhabiting rural areas of North America with a light-hearted narrative that reflects the personality and characteristics associated with country life.

As you explore, discover fun facts and jot down your thoughts and observations in the note-taking section for each bird . Vibrant illustrations help you identify the birds you see.

Learn about birding in a whole new, whimsical way. Give birding a go, learn, and listen to the beautiful sound of birds!

The Birds illustrated collection delivers a playful yet informative insight on the sounds and songs unique to birds inhabiting different geographical regions. From rural farmlands to bustling city streets or the salty air of the shore, each book features beautiful portraits and a lighthearted narrative that reflects the personality and characteristics of birds native to each location. Also available from this City Bird . 

Review: 

Such an interesting take on a bird book. This book showcases birds (I didn't count, but I think it is around 50 or so) thought to be "country" birds, from across the U.S. Each bird has an illustration, a quirky southern saying or description, and then the actual description. If you want to learn how to differentiate them from other birds or spot them, this is probably not the best book option - but if you are looking for a creative description this was cute. 

The writing style can be very off-putting and slightly cringey at times but it was creative so I have to give the author credit for that. Each bird had a saying associated with them, akin to "bless her heart" or "a bit much" that have other meanings than stated. There is even a section for defining these at the end of the book. This was entertianing, but could also be too much for those actually looking for information about birds. At times it was even a little frustrating.

I liked learning about the birds, some descriptions were really good along those lines, some were more for enterainment than teaching though.  

Since I was reading an early, ebook copy,  some of the illustrations didn't live up to expectation and were a bit pixelated but I think that in the final copy they will be better - so try to take a look before buying. 

Overall, this was quirky and cute, but more entertainment than educational. 

Recent Reads: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date:  October 24, 2023

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Bought

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

Review: 

I bought this book because I kept hearing that she mentions her relationship with Justin, and I grew up with them in the forefront of music and that relationship was everywhere. I heard that what she was saying would cast a new light over Justin and his success and wanted to read it for myself rather than all the news coverage. 

This poor womean. She has been through so much, as a teen and as an adult. Her family were horrible to her all out of greed for money and power. Following the trial, you would have seen that too. 

Britney writes like this is a diary of sorts, in a way it was probably pushed out for publishing pretty quick after she was freed from under her father's thumb. The writing ...well it isn't great, but that said it was still impactful in some ways. There are some attempts at deeper thought and purpose, but really it is very surface level. It adds an element of realness to it though, like it wasn't overthought, just flowing onto a page like thoughts and feelings. 

All that said, it was a good read, insightful. But we don't read books like this for fun, warm fuzzies. It was hard to read about her experiences, it was all shitty, and her family was gross, and Justin ..well, he is officially an ass in my mind. He started teh downward spiral that would allow her parents to really dig in, and if he didn't see that, or ignored it, shame on him. 

There was a lot of talk about mental health and the understanding of it in the 90s-2000s and how the lack of information out there also hurt her for a while. 

Overall, I am glad that I read this book. I think some of the timeline seemed a bit skewed but overall it was a hard but worthwhile read if you are interested in learning more about what she has been doing, or hasn't for that matter.

Recent Reads: The Unstoppable Startup: Mastering Israel's Secret Rules of Chutzpah by Uri Adoni

The Unstoppable Startup: Mastering Israel's Secret Rules of Chutzpah  by Uri Adoni

Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership
Publication Date:  September 7, 2020

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Bought for work

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Discover the bold secrets to Israel’s incredible track record of success in this new guide that will help make any startup unstoppable. More than half of all startups fail - often during the crucial early stages of development when they need to prove their viability on a limited budget. However, when it comes to startup success, one country stands out: Israel. Even though it is a relatively small country, Israel has one of the highest concentrations of startups in the world, has the highest venture capital per capita, is one of the top countries in terms of number of companies listed on NASDAQ, and is well-recognized as a global leader in research and development. In  The Unstoppable Startup , veteran venture capitalist Uri Adoni goes behind the scenes to explain the principles and practices that can make any startup, anywhere in the world, become an unstoppable one. Packed with insider accounts from leaders who have realized bold visions,  The Unstoppable Startup  distills Israeli chutzpah into six operational rules that will help you to: Adoni implemented these practices throughout his more than 12 years as a venture capitalist for one of Israel's most successful venture funds, and he continues to utilize these same proven startup strategies today in metropolitan areas in the US. The Unstoppable Startup  provides readers with insights and operational advice on how to run a startup, and how to overcome challenges?that almost every startup faces.

Review: 

I was asked to read this book for a work trip and it was very interesting. We are headed to Israel for a Global MBA requirement and so we will experience start-ups in Israel first-hand when we arrive with company visits. This was a great lead up to that. The author did a great job talking about all different types of tech start-ups and how Israel is positioned so well to help build them. He overviews the people and the qualities that make good start-up leaders and then shows through examples. 

The beginning of the book is all about Israeli chutzpah and how the people can be a bit different than those in other parts of the world and how it works in their advantage. He then talks about start ups the rules to help you and then gives lots of detail about how to go about certain aspects. Even if you aren't in Israel I think this would be a great book for those interested in learning how to build a start-up and what it might entail, both the good and bad. 

Early Reader Review: Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt

Source: From Netgalley and Storey Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt

Series: Backpack Explorer 
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Publication Date:  Febuary 28, 2023

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

The latest addition to the best-selling Backpack Explorer series (455,000 copies in print) invites kids ages 4 and up to head outside and find, collect, and learn about rocks with this take-along activity book!  Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt is packed with prompts and activities, including: 12 interactive field guide pages introducing rock classifications (color, shape, size, texture); sensory scavenger hunts; hands-on outdoor creative activities; rock experiments; and discovery zone pages with facts about geology, landforms, igneous and metamorphic rocks, gems, fossils, and more. The book includes a real magnifying glass, stickers, and a log for recording rock finds, making it the perfect explorer guide for budding geologists, whether in a backyard, a city park, or a nature preserve.

Review: 

I really enjoy collecting cool and interesting looking rocks when my husband and I go on walks and hikes, so this book seemed like a fun read, and it didn't disappoint. If you have a young one that loves the outdoors and/or rocks, this could be a great addition to your library. That being said though, this book does require some adult supervision for a number of the activities and some of the tips and facts might want to be elaborated on for safety reasons. (For example: 'certain rocks can scratch glass', please make sure your readers do not try to scratch all your windows with rocks).

So what is this book, well, it is a lot of great things. First and foremost it is a non-fiction book all about types of rocks, where you might find them, their differences, and often interesting facts about them. It is also a sticker book of sorts, as you locate the types of rocks, the book boasts stickers in the back that you can use to track your progress (since I had a digital copy, I did not have the pleasure of stickering, nor where there examples of the sticker pages). It is also an activity book. In between the sections about rocks, there are fun things to do and try with them, pet rocks, scavenger hunts, boats with rock pirates, and collections

This book was very well put together with thing to bring on your hunt, images of actual rocks, illustrations, and diagrams. It is easy to follow along with and has some pronunciation guides in the text to help out. 

It is important to also remind your readers that not all rocks are found in all areas, it is possible that they will be able to complete their sticker journey, but maybe not. Overall, I found this book pretty fun to read through and I think young rock hounds will enjoy it as well. But be prepared to find rocks all over your house. 

Galley note: I received this early e-copy from the publisher, and at the time of reading there were many images with watermarks on them from stock images. Completely fine and the images were great, I just hope that for publication the watermarks are removed accordingly.

Recent Reads: Raising Ducks: Beginners Guide to Raising Healthy and Happy Ducks by Irene Mills

Raising Ducks: Beginners Guide to Raising Healthy and Happy Ducks 
by Irene Mills

Publication Date:  June 15, 2021

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Synopsis: 

Check Out This Comprehensive Guide on Raising Happy and Healthy Ducks in Your Own Backyard!

Have you ever wanted to cuddle a duckling? Were you scared that they would run away, or that you could not do it? Do you want to raise ducks, but do not know how?

Read all about raising happy ducks in this comprehensive guide on duck parenting and how to make the most of the experience. This book will guide you through all the phases of a duck’s life, and how you can actively participate in nurturing and development of these gentle animals.

Prepare your own backyard and live with fuzzy, gentle domestic animal that is a duck. Cuddling, snuggling and positive emotions guaranteed! This guide is here to show you the easiest way to properly raise them!

Do you wonder about how to feed your future coop?

Would you like to learn where to buy the right breed?

Do you want do make your own backyard petting zoo?

If so, everything you need can be found inside of this book. You'll learn how to find the right food supplier, and choose the right breed. You’ll learn how to approach duck hatching and prepare the little ones for incubation. All of the answers you’re looking for are here!

Here is what this guide can offer you:

Step-by-step guide of daily life needs of ducks,

Easy-to-understand guide to shopping for your ducks,

How to prepare the duck coop,

How to make their habitat sustainable,

And much more.

If you want to engage in a hassle-free process of raising ducks in the comfort of your own backyard, all you need to do is follow this easy guide and advice found inside – your future best friend will be forever grateful. What are you waiting for?

Review: 

This is a super random review, but I figured ...why not? So for Christmas my mom sent me a Coop. I have been talking about chickens or ducks for years now and so she helped. Before choosing between the two I wanted to learn more and found this book an Amazon. Is is on the shorter side with about 100 pages, there are minimal images, and most of the information it contains is from someone who has backyard ducks and wanted you to learn from her mistakes. 

The beginning of the book is super daunting if you are excited about ducks, because there is a lot of focus on the mess, the poo, the cleaning... but then soon after talks a lot about the actual ducks and the fun you can have with them. There is a bunch of info on the types/ breeds of ducks that I found super helpful, and I learned a lot about what has worked and what hasnt for this owner and I think it will really help me as I plan to place the Coop in the spring.   I now have a wonderful to do, to research list as well, and it provides great links too.

Overall, if you are looking for more info on duck raising, and need some convincing or unconvinving... this  is a great read. 

Recent Reads: The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Library Book by Susan Orlean 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date:  October 16, 2018 

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, “Once that first stack got going, it was ‘Goodbye, Charlie.’” The fire was disastrous: it reached 2000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more. Investigators descended on the scene, but more than thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who?

Weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of the fire, award-winning New Yorker reporter and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean delivers a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before.

In The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.

Along the way, Orlean introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters from libraries past and present—from Mary Foy, who in 1880 at eighteen years old was named the head of the Los Angeles Public Library at a time when men still dominated the role, to Dr. C.J.K. Jones, a pastor, citrus farmer, and polymath known as “The Human Encyclopedia” who roamed the library dispensing information; from Charles Lummis, a wildly eccentric journalist and adventurer who was determined to make the L.A. library one of the best in the world, to the current staff, who do heroic work every day to ensure that their institution remains a vital part of the city it serves.

Brimming with her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, The Library Book is Susan Orlean’s thrilling journey through the stacks that reveals how these beloved institutions provide much more than just books—and why they remain an essential part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country. It is also a master journalist’s reminder that, perhaps especially in the digital era, they are more necessary than ever.

Review: 

Complete honesty here - I picked up this book because the fire happened on the day I was born (probably dating myself) I was very intrigued! I also have an Audible subscription so I am constantly looking for interesting things to listen to and this one called to me. I am a lover of books, of libraries, and the date called to me.

Orlean weaves a wonderful tale of the 1986 fire, the present day library and its keepers, as well as the overall history of the library. Each chapter is begun with a list of book titles, authors, and call number that are central to the theme of the upcoming chapter. It is strange but a clever way to show how we references things. This might be lost on those that do not know call numbering or use libraries extensively which is a bit saddening. 

I was most intrigued by the fire and the case, it allowed for me to become more interested in the history and future of the library and was a good way to put it all out there. Orlean does a wonderful job researching everything about this - the library itself, interviewing the people working there, working with them, and explaining why she herself was so invested in this topic. 

Overall this was very well done. I really enjoyed learning all about the library and made me want to find my local library sooner rather than later - which I now have. 

Recent Reads: 168 Hours: You Have More Time Thank You Think by Laura Vanderkam

168 Hours: You Have More Time Thank You Think by Laura Vanderkam 
Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC 
Publication Date:  June 16, 2010

 

Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

There are 168 hours in a week. This is your guide to getting the most out of them.

It's an unquestioned truth of modern life: we are starved for time. We tell ourselves we'd like to read more, get to the gym regularly, try new hobbies, and accomplish all kinds of goals. But then we give up because there just aren't enough hours to do it all. Or if we don't make excuses, we make sacrifices- taking time out from other things in order to fit it all in.

There has to be a better way...and Laura Vanderkam has found one. After interviewing dozens of successful, happy people, she realized that they allocate their time differently than most of us. Instead of letting the daily grind crowd out the important stuff, they start by making sure there's time for the important stuff. When plans go wrong and they run out of time, only their lesser priorities suffer.

Vanderkam shows that with a little examination and prioritizing, you'll find it is possible to sleep eight hours a night, exercise five days a week, take piano lessons, and write a novel without giving up quality time for work, family, and other things that really matter.

Review: 

A few years ago, I was at a conference for work and Laura Vanderkam was the guest speaker. Since that time I have wanted to read her book in its entirety versus just knowing the pared-down presentation part. This year it came up in a BOGO from Audible and so I grabbed it with a few other professional development titles I was interested in.

168 Hours is about just that ... you have 168 hours in a week. How are you using them? I know that I am wasting about 40 of my hours after having read this book. In the first chapter of the book Laura recommends keeping a log of what you do throughout your day and then accounting for your hours though the week. Although I didn't keep the actual log (I intend to eventually), I know I am wasting a pretty good chunk just by rounding out some numbers. 

Anyhow, this book makes it very clear that you have more time than you realize. The focus on that time log continues through the book and Laura recounts stories of logs she has asked people to keep and how they achieve so much in their weeks. It was very interesting. I liked that she found a way to really track things and I also really enjoyed the stories... so why the three stars? Well some of this book just did not apply to me. I do not have kids, so that was a chapter that I did not resonate with, although I understand why it is there. I also found the book to be not for me in the sense that I am not in a job where I can really make the changes to gain more time for other things... 

Laura's premise is that you can delegate, create your own work hours, etc. She admits that she is privileged  in the first chapter but she really does not address that for the rest of the book and that is problematic. I don't have all sorts of money to just drop everything and chase my dream job, nor can I just set my own schedule and delegate, I work on a team and we are essentially in a 9-5 business. A lot of her suggestions just do not fit with an normal persons trajectory. 

All that said, I will use this for the logging of time planning when I think I need more time. I won't be utilizing much else as far as her suggestions, they are bit impractical for me. 

Recent Reads: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date:  April 9, 2019

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Bought on Amazon. 

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis:

Five devastating human stories and a dark and moving portrait of Victorian London—the untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper.

Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhampton, Sweden, and Wales. They wrote ballads, ran coffee houses, lived on country estates, they breathed ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers.

What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888. The person responsible was never identified, but the character created by the press to fill that gap has become far more famous than any of these five women.
For more than a century, newspapers have been keen to tell us that "the Ripper" preyed on prostitutes. Not only is this untrue, as historian Hallie Rubenhold has discovered, it has prevented the real stories of these fascinating women from being told. Now, in this devastating narrative of five lives, Rubenhold finally sets the record straight, revealing a world not just of Dickens and Queen Victoria, but of poverty, homelessness and rampant misogyny. They died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time—but their greatest misfortune was to be born a woman.

Review: 

I heard about this book online and added it to our options for book club, it seems that everyone was just as intrigued as I had been about it because it is the book that was chosen. The Five is a non-fiction book about the five women murdered by Jack the Ripper, however if you are looking for the gruesome details, crime logs etc, you will not find that here.

The author highlights each girl covering the backstories that are available in history as best she can and paints the picture of Victorian London as dark and devastating for them even before their deaths. Each one has her own section, which looks at her life from sometimes birth to her untimely death, chronicling how they were part of the English society at the time. Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane all led very different lives up to a point, but all succumbed to addiction in the form of alcoholism. 

This book was very factual and the first few chapters are a bit of a slog as the author portrays the working class of London through their types of jobs and their pay ranges, but it sets the scene although it was hard to get through. One thing that I had trouble with was that all the salaries and money were in GBP and did not include conversions, I know that is not the biggest deal, but I didn't want to stop reading or listening every time she mentioned pay to look up the conversion rate, and today's rate would not be the same; so it would have been nice to have at least one quick US rate.

I really liked how we got information about their lives without going into any detail about the murders, it was interesting to see them in this light, not as victims but as humans. It was hard reading about alcoholism affecting them, but it made me realize that maybe Jack the Ripper had an issues with drunks, or experienced abuse from a drunk somewhere along the line. Or maybe like prostitutes and women of the night, drunks were just easy targets. 


Most intriguing of the whole book was after all the tales, it was the list of the items found on each of the women at the murder site, one was wearing and carrying just about everything she probably owned, it was both eye-opening and sad, but very surprising. 

Recent Reads: Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall

Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall
How Storytelling can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences and Transform your Business.
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date:  September 24, 2019

 

Format:  Audible Audiobook
Source: Bought with Audible account credits.

Rating:







Goodreads Synopsis: 

The moment you take control of your stories, you take control of your business and your life.

You keep hearing how story is the latest-and-greatest business tool, and that storytelling can do everything—from helping leaders better communicate to motivating sales teams and winning customers away from competitors.

But what stories do you need to tell? And how do you tell them?
In Stories That Stick, Kindra Hall, professional storyteller and nationally-known speaker, reveals the four unique stories you can use to differentiate, captivate, and elevate:

• the Value Story, to convince customers they need what you provide;
• the Founder Story, to persuade investors and customers your organization is worth the investment;
• the Purpose Story, to align and inspire your employees and internal customers; and
• the Customer Story, to allow those who use your product or service to share their authentic experiences with others.

Telling these stories well is a simple, accessible skill anyone can develop. With case studies, company profiles, and anecdotes backed with original research, Hall presents storytelling as the underutilized talent that separates the good from the best in business. She offers specific, actionable steps readers can take to find, craft, and leverage the stories they already have and simply aren’t telling.

Every person, every organization has at least four stories at their disposal. Will you tell yours?

Review: 
I forget where i heard about Kindra Hall, but I knew I had heard great things about her and this book so I picked it up to see what all the hype was about. Kindra puts together a book all about telling your story and how it can help you in business and to captivate audiences. 

I really enjoyed this book, and it was mostly because of the stories within it about how companies and people are using those stories to build rapport and inspire. The book is divided into sections based on the types of stories one can use to sell and build their business, while I am not really building a business at this time, it was all still very interesting. Each section includes examples and how-tos.

As a reader, I am captivated by stories of all kinds, not just fiction. I am also empathetic so a good story really hits me in the feels. It is so interesting to understand how some companies put those stories together to get them to pull at your heartstrings and provoke action. 

If you are looking to build a business, and the idea of using stories appeals to you... or you have a great story to tell, this is a great book to read or listen to. I really enjoyed the Audible version and think that others will too regardless of if it is something you will use or not.