If you don't read this entire review, know this - I loved it and would recommend this book to almost anyone. I can't be sure that everyone will love it as much as I did, but the writing is so good that it is hard to think of anyone who should not read it. This is a character-driven novel, not plot-driven. Yes, many things happen and there is plenty of action, love, travel, fights, and much more, but this is all about the characters and the world they live in - not about the plot.

This book came up in an article or another book I read (though I can’t seem to find or remember which one), and it sounded interesting enough to add to my want-to-read list. I was curious about how different cultures raise children, hoping it might shed some light on the anxiety and behavioral challenges we see so often in the U.S.—problems that don’t seem nearly as common in other parts of the world

We live in a time where wealth disparity has reached staggering levels, with billionaires wielding more power than many nations. We call our system a democracy, but is it really? When those with immense wealth control the levers of power—politics, media, and public discourse—can we still claim that the people rule? To understand this troubling trend, let’s compare one of the wealthiest figures in history, King Solomon, and one of the richest individuals today, Elon Musk.

It is up to us to see it. We are not required or forced to see it; it is always a choice. Beauty comes and goes quickly. You have to look AND see it. What is there now may not return in that exact form ever again. We are blessed with a world that is ever-changing and ever-wonderful.

Percival Everett reimagines Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck on his journey. In Everett's retelling, Jim, who prefers to be called James later in the novel, is portrayed as literate and resourceful, further exploring his character and experiences. "By giving Twain’s secondary character much-deserved agency, Everett allows him to be something he couldn’t be before: the hero.”

In short - I thought this was a wonderful read. 5 star read for me. It was not a light read because of the topics and trauma in the lives of its characters, but it was those characters who pulled me in. I cared about them before I knew how it would all tie together. As the history, secrets, trauma, and wonderful parts of their past unfolded, it brought more light to who they were. The book made me think, feel, and learn, all while being highly entertaining to read.

“A kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” Fred, from “A Christmas Carrol”.

“Tales from the Hudson,” released in 1996, stands out in Michael Brecker’s discography. The album showcases Brecker’s virtuosic saxophone work and gathers some of the most influential jazz musicians of the time. This star-studded lineup, filled with my all-time favorite musicians, is one of the album’s features that sets it apart.

I was talking with some family the other day on a long drive about how being a millionaire was the mark of the easy life when we grew up. Having a few million made you ultra-rich. It was the dream of all monetary dreams. The difference in our world today is the growing number of billionaires.

Simplifying means doing or experiencing less in the moment. It also removes things from your life to make that more manageable, but it does not need to mean having less in total.

My wife and I went to see Marcin Wasilewski Trio last Saturday night. It was a small place - Paderewski Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music. We had never heard of the place; it seemed like a small private school affiliated with the Orchestra. Everyone there - everyone - spoke Polish. The entire audience seemed to know each other, and we did not hear a word of English from the crowd. We both loved the show, and I could not have asked more of a group I had wished to see live for a long time.

I was told something once, or maybe I read it—it doesn't matter, but it has always stuck with me. It is both simple and very complicated. It is easy to understand, yet it can take a lifetime to figure out. I was told, "You are not your feelings."

If we saw preparing as practice, this might help us maintain the daily effort. Practice is usually seen as a way to be ready to play in a sports match or to perform in an artistic or musical performance. If we don't practice and prepare, we will either lose or not perform to our ability.

Reflecting on my time spent in theaters during the 1980s, it’s a surprise when I stumble upon a film that I didn't catch at the time. 'Midnight Run' is one such film. I’m a big fan of Charles Grodin. His deadpan straight way of delivering comedy I’ve always loved. And the chemistry between him and Robert De Niro is really fun in this movie.

Generally, I wouldn't say I like business books. When I say “generally,” I mean I hate them all the time. I try to be open-minded. Maybe there are a few out there that I would enjoy, but I haven’t run into them yet. I’m also not a huge fan of self-improvement books either. Business books are like the worst of the self-improvement ideas written with big corporate words to make them sound impressive. I now only want to read book abstracts to help me through this process. If an abstract hits a chord with me, I might download the book. I’m not holding my breath for that, but who knows??

“This is the Way” . . .

On step at a time, over and over again. One sacrament at a time. Repenting over and over again. Praying to the Father and learning to be more like Jesus day after day. Returning to the temple to serve and learn over and over again. Enduring is not waiting, it is growing, learning, and serving.

Whether you know it or not, your life was changed drastically by John Warnock. All of our lives were. He passed way recently, but we all owe him more than you may know.

Malcolm Gladwell pretty much branded the concept of "10,000 hours of practice" rule in his book "Outliers." He is a respected author and can be very influential. In no way will I dispute his writing or his expertise. I have gained much from his work over the years. But the more I have thought about the 10,000 hour rule the more I have been depressed by it.

I have argued for a long time that 1978 was the greatest year in popular music. There are so many reasons way.

All of us are in this together and all have the same issues. We are all human. We all get colds, we all cry, we all feel love and pain, we all stink if we don't shower or wash up, we all poop, we all stub our toes, we all get old and get pain in our joints, we all have family that we struggle to get along with . . . no matter who you are.