Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Yeah, I love you and all that mushy stuff

Valentines for All: Esther Howland Captures America's Heart by Nancy Churni

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We see books about people sending and/or making Valentine Day cards, or books about “making someone” your valentine, but not how they became popular. And when I found Valentines for All: Esther Howland Captures America’s Heart I had two thoughts. One, it was going to be all pinks and cutesy, and two it would be about how the holiday was invented. And I was incorrect on both accounts.  You see, the holiday was already going well enough, except it was not at the level it […]

In the Spirit of Collaboration

Four Weeks to Forever by Karen Booth

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CBR15 Passport Challenge: Different (sub)genres #3 Business rivals Corryna and Colin have a one night stand, but it’s when they start working together to secure the contract for a star-studded wedding that they really start getting along. Sometimes your brain needs a break, and it’s in that state of mind that one often turns to a Harlequin contemporary romance – certainly you’re not often disappointed. This is the third in a series of intertwined books surrounding a wedding, but each stands alone as well which […]

“Where can I start?

The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore

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A couple of year ago I had a (very) full-time job, graduate classes, young kids, etc. It was a lot. And for some reason I wasn’t able to get stuff done anymore. It wasn’t that I didn’t have time; it was that I just couldn’t bring myself to do certain tasks. I think it was mainly because they weren’t clearly defined or they were too large. Someone in my grad school cohort recommended The Now Habit. It sounds hyperbolic to say that this book changed […]

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”

No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work by Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslien

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Cannonball Read Bingo: Font This year I started a new job and it was a huuuuge life shift: new industry (from non-profit higher education to for-profit tech corporation) new physical environment (hybrid to remote only) new role (administrator to enabler). (Yes, enabler is a real job title. Who knew?!). As with all things, I approached it with a thirst for resources that would equip me with the tools to be successful and help me find my way. Early on in a “getting to know you” […]

Mindy and change

Paws: Mindy Makes Some Space by Nathan Fairbairn

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Paws: Mindy Makes Some Space by Nathan Fairbairn, and illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn   This book is a cozy friendship story that includes three best friends, lots of dogs, a cat named Chonk, and (finally) new friends. There are a lot of bumps along the way (and hopefully only chocolate in the face of one girl) but still it makes for a fun read.   Now the bumps are several fold. First, there was a story plot mentioned that was confusing to me as I was thinking […]

Basic But Not Bad

Essential Managers: Managing People by Philip L. Hunsaker and Johanna Hunsaker

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Best for: Brand new managers of people In a nutshell: Basic, graphic-heavy guide to some things to keep in mind as a people manager. Worth quoting: N/A, though I did take lots of notes. Why I chose it: I’m new to managing people. Review: I have been working full time for over 20 years but have somehow managed to never really be a ‘boss.’ I’ve managed interns, and managed staff on loan from other agencies, but I’ve not hired or let people go, or really […]



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