There was no way I was waking up every morning to face myself.

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.

Talk less, get more. This book is about learning how to engage with the world in ways that give us an advantage.

The commonsense rules of the “real world” are a fragile collection of socially reinforced illusions.

“Nothing,” he wrote, “vexes the mind so much as feeling one’s self injured in a way that cannot be prevented or avenged.”

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.

And when we make mistakes—when we fail to lead—our identity; our sense of self; our self-esteem; our deeply held beliefs about what it will take to feel loved and safe and that we belong, as well as that most the basic ability to provide for ourselves and our loved ones, seems to implode.

Oaks support more forms of life and more fascinating interactions than any other tree genus in North America.

Being different conditions you toward cautiousness, even as it demands that you be bold.

Discipline isn’t just endurance and strength. It’s also finding the best, most economical way of doing something. It’s the commitment to evolving and improving so that the tasks get more efficient as you go.

“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.

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.

A great book about mindset, attitude, and why money is power for women.

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!