Non-Fiction

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlinby Erik Larson.“Tells the story of the unlikely American Ambassador to Germany in 1933.William Dodd is a political outsider when Roosevelt chooses him for the post and it haunts him throughout his tenure in Berlin.We see the rise of Hitler and the spread of the Nazi mindset through the eyes of Dodd and his daughter Martha.Martha is very taken with the Nazis at first, enjoying many relationships with Nazis and communists in positions of power.I enjoyed the sense of being in Germany at this pivotal time.Larson immerses you in the setting, the atmosphere, the tension of prewar Germany."

Garlic and Sapphires: : The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise By Ruth Reichl. This is the autobiography of a New York Times food critic. “It's humorous and light and not too long. The book also includes some of her reviews and recipes. An engaging and easy read.”

The Geography of Loss by Patti Digh. “If you have suffered any loss which still feels large, heavy and burdensome, this book of essays and beautiful art will give you a way toward peace. NPR recently ran this story.”

Getting More:  How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life by Stuart Diamond.  “So there I was at a conference and to get the breakfast was to sit in the room and listen to Stuart Diamond talk about negotiation strategies.  Usually the kind of session I avoid, but, thankfully, this morning I was really hungry.  I generally avoid any book that smacks of self-help but this is one I consumed (after breakfast) and refer back to time and again.  Why?  Because it works!  Diamond has all kinds of examples of what he has successfully negotiated, from getting his son to practice piano to solving crises on the world stage, along with countless examples from the students he has taught.  Getting More concludes that finding and valuing the other party’s emotions and perceptions creates far more value than the conventional wisdom of power and logic. It is intended to provide better agreements for everyone no matter what they negotiate – from jobs to kids to billion dollar deals to shopping.  And, as he points out, it’s not about getting everything because that sets up winners and losers, but getting more because that is what you need.  I have applied his principles and won my own little battles too!  It’s practical, easy to read, an important book, especially for women, to have read.  You won’t regret it.”

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Areand I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Powerby Brene Brown. “What can I say? I love a good ‘self help’ book. A dear friend emailed me notes from a seminar on shame by Brene she attended. My first reaction was, ‘what a boring subject.’ However, I was blown away by my friend's seminar notes. So much so, in fact, that I bought both books by Brene. I loved both books so much that I am now enrolled in her on line course on Shame. I am ass deep in what triggers shame and how to become resilient to both the triggers and the shame they produce. This book is invaluable to every woman and particularly those who are parents. After reading Brene's highly interesting and relatable books, I am learning to speak Shame. As unsexy as it sounds, both books are so good I could not put them down. The lessons I have learned and will impart on my family and friends are invaluable. Trust me.” …. (the next comments refer to Gifts of Imperfection): “Brown has made her life's work about studying shame. Shame! What a topic. And in this book, she brings shame into the light, helps the reader understand shame, and overcome the limiting power of feeling imperfect. Brown also writes about her research in a way that makes statistics come alive, and very accessible.”

Goddesses Never Age by Christine Northrup. “Come on, don't we all need a little dose of this?  " Explaining that the state of our health is dictated far more by our beliefs than by our biology, she works to shift our perceptions about getting older and show us what we are entitled to expect from our later years—no matter what our culture tries to teach us to the contrary"

The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother's Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik. “A sad, sad non-fiction story of a woman's life in 20th century Iran. Would have loved to see more exploration of the emotional conflict of the decision to leave her daughter and the lack of relationship thereafter, but a really interesting read as a woman, mother, and world citizen where cultures come together and are in conflict all the time.”

The Grace of Silence: A Memoir by Michele Norris. “Michele Norris is the host of All Things Considered at NPR. This book is her memoir about her family and growing up as an African American. While it is thought provoking, it is a quick and easy read. She tells a great story, and it may leave the reader wishing to explore their own family histories.”

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. "While I would argue it’s not McCullough’s best book (that would be his Teddy Roosevelt biography ‘Mornings on Hoseback’), it is McCullough so it has to be good.  These are the new American doctors, artists, authors, cultural enthusiasts of the 19th century in Paris.  A must read for history lovers.  Tons of memorable tidbits of America’s favorites wrapped up in war and world diplomacy of the time."