//August

Review: And Then You’re Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling over Niagara

One movie terrified me like no other in the 1990’s*: Alive. It was the initial flight scene that haunted me—the one where the passengers were sucked from the rear of the plane mid-air when it collided with a mountain peak. The visual of bodies violently suctioned from their seats like dust bunnies from the carpet by the force of a Dyson was disturbing enough to keep me awake that evening.

2017-08-26T22:28:14+00:00 August 26th, 2017|Anatomy, Book Review, Physiology, Science|Comments Off on Review: And Then You’re Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling over Niagara
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Review: Hoot and Peep

Owls are magnificent—the real ones. But storybook owls? I am vaguely familiar with several children’s books that feature owls but, honestly, I can’t name the title of one rapid-fast. And I know there’s no fictional owl that made an impact on me as a child like Charlotte the spider, Misty the horse, Ping the duck, Sounder the dog or the dozens of other farm and wild animal stories that captured

2017-08-26T20:42:32+00:00 August 26th, 2017|Animals, Book Review, Children-s, Picture Book|Comments Off on Review: Hoot and Peep
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Review: Nothing Stays Buried

Although the eighth book in the Monkeewrench series, Nothing Stays Buried, was my introduction to the collection. And I loved it! The opening chapter was captivating and heart-wrenching and among the most high-impact openers I’ve encountered in a long time. My empathy for the character, Marla, haunted me even after putting the book down. From there, the book splinters into two story lines which eventually converge at the end of

2017-08-17T12:42:03+00:00 August 17th, 2017|Book Review, Crime, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense|Comments Off on Review: Nothing Stays Buried
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Review: Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

If you buy one book on decision making make it this one, read the first half, and then tuck it away in a handy spot. Forever. Decisive opens by outlining and explaining the four “villains” that prevent us from making optimal decisions in work and life. The decision process and the errors we make are: * You encounter a choice. But NARROW FRAMING makes you miss options. * You analyze

2017-08-13T18:36:07+00:00 August 13th, 2017|Book Review, Business, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Personal Development|Comments Off on Review: Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work
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Review: The 10X Rule

An idea conceptualized in the book, “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by Phil Collins and Jerry Porras, captivated, invigorated and permeated corporate America when it was released in 2009. And that idea was the BHAG or Big Hairy Audacious Goal. A BHAG is a long-term goal that changes the very nature of a business’ existence. BHAGs are big, bold, exciting and tangible. They are more powerful than

2017-08-13T12:47:43+00:00 August 13th, 2017|Book Review, Business, Career, Leadership, Personal Development|Comments Off on Review: The 10X Rule
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Review: Where Are All The Minnesotans?

Rarely does a book cause an immediate physical response. But that’s exactly what Where Are All the Minnesotans did to me. I’m a Minnesotan, and this book captures the psyche (and stupidity) of Minnesotans. I smiled, I laughed and I reflected on my life and stories growing up in this ridiculously wonderful state. Yes, we drive to work after a four-foot snowfall. We create activities to busy ourselves on frozen

2017-08-11T12:03:50+00:00 August 11th, 2017|Book Review, Children-s, Picture Book|Comments Off on Review: Where Are All The Minnesotans?
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Review: Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel Volume One

I grew up in the Bronze Age of Comic Books. An early love for Casper, Richie Rich, and Archie comics read late night with a flashlight in my sleeping bag in the loft of the Boyce’s Northwoods cabin led to a fervor for Spider-Man then MAD Magazine in my tween years. But my love for graphic reading ended when the ‘70s did. And although I’ve tried desperately (with a cute

2017-08-10T13:06:27+00:00 August 10th, 2017|Book Review, Fantasy, Graphic Novel|Comments Off on Review: Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel Volume One
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