6 Books I Recommend – August 2024
“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
– Jhumpa Lahiri
Here are 4 nonfiction books and 2 novels I recommend from what I finished reading last month.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. Somehow
Thoughts on Love
by Anne Lamott
Oh, I love reading Anne Lamott books. Anne is wise, provocative, spiritual, and funny. And honest. This book of essays and stories on love is as good as any of her previous works, which are also wonderful. A must read.
2. Punished by Rewards
The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes
by Alfie Kohn
Which motivates you the most: carrots or sticks? Or neither? Alfie Kohn writes that extrinsic motivators (whether good—like rewards, or bad—like punishments) don’t work in the long run. Intrinsic motivation does. I see what he’s saying, but I’m still pondering it all. Originally published in 1993.
3. American Carnage
Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence
by Fred Guttenberg, Thomas Gabor
Compared to other developed countries, America has far more deaths from gun violence. Why? This book lays out facts to debunk popular myths we believe about gun culture in America. If we want to reduce the number of deaths from homicides, domestic abuse, suicides, and accidental shootings, maybe one day we’ll stop politicizing guns and start acting on the evidence instead. Very informative (yet sad).
4. The Power of Ritual
How to Create Meaning and Connection in Everything You Do
by Casper ter Kuile
I’ve been participating in a zoom group this year on “Seeking the Sacred,” so this book was a natural fit when my group came to the week about sacred rituals. Author Casper ter Kuile gives lots of good ideas for adapting or creating rituals to fit your own life and things you want to celebrate by using intention, attention, and repetition. (He’s also a podcast cohost with Vanessa Zoltan, the author of Praying with Jane Eyre, a book I want to read next.)
FICTION
5. One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
This is the newest novel by Ruth Ware, an author I always read. Her mysteries are intense but not too scary or graphic. The plot is about ten people who are cast members on a new reality TV show, The Perfect Couple, set on an abandoned island. When an unexpected storm arises, it becomes a bit reminiscent of Lord of the Flies.
6. Zero Days
by Ruth Ware
A woman hired by a company to covertly test their security systems runs into trouble when she arrives home to find her husband has been murdered. And she is the prime suspect. This on-the-run type plot isn’t my favorite, but it worked for this novel.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
by Tim Alberta - The Anxious Generation
How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
by Jonathan Haidt - A Well-Trained Wife
My Escape from Christian Patriarchy
by Tia Levings - Good People
Stories From the Best of Humanity
by Gabriel Reilich, Lucia Knell - Children Under Fire
An American Crisis
by John Woodrow Cox - The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
How to Be Calm in a Busy World
by Haemin Sunim
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
These all sound intriguing, Lisa. I have also read some of Ware’s mysteries and she is worth reading every time.
Blessings for a great August!
We learned and read a lot about intrinsic versus extrinsic rewards in my child development/ teach/ psychology courses. It made a lot of sense to me but from a teaching standpoint felt a bit useless… it’s not very easy to figure out what motivates each student individually and quite frankly some of them are just not ever going to be motivated to learn what they need to in a classroom setting. I did, however, try to use that to fuel our homeschooling as many homeschooling books focus on letting a child learn each skill as they see the need for it so that they are intrinsically motivated. They tend to pick it up must more quickly that way too!– All that to say Punished by Rewards sounds pretty neat.
I enjoy Anne Lamott’s writing as well, so will check this one out. It’s a title I haven’t read.
Always love your reviews and recommendations and your next reading “pile.” Mother calls hers an avalanche. I call it tsundoku, because I, too, suffer from it, happily so though, I must admit. I loved Alberta’s book and read his pieces in The Atlantic. Also, I’m interested and have on order from the library The Anxious Generation, which I will scan to see if it is appropriate for my niece. I’m concerned about cell-phone use by her children. Funny story, Lisa: Once, at a family dinner we were hosting some years back, Michael (Uncle Mike) asked everyone to put away his cell phone during dinner. EVERYONE meant the nieces and nephs, because no one else was using one at the dinner table. Maybe after 15 min or so, he texted one of our nephews (who was looking down at his phone the whole time)! Mike’s text read: “XXXX, put your phone away!” HA! Caught read-handed (Pun on red, intended)! He put the phone away. 🙂
Love you and keep reading and reviewing!
xo
L
Oh and this would be an inspiring book for you: It’s called On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O’Leary. John accidentally started a garage fire (which also burned down his house) at age nine. He was burned over 97% of his body, and not expected to live through the night. Through the prayers of many people (churches all over St. Louis and the community itself uniting to plead w/ God for his survival), he not only survived but ultimately thrived. He went through horrific pain and disfigurement, grueling surgeries and skin bathing/peeling (can’t think of the medical name), but with God’s help, his family’s, the St. L community, and the encouragement of the famous late Jack Buck (who broadcast John’s accident and rallied people), he is now a husband, father, dynamic, international motivational speaker and author. He is actually thankful for the accident, arduous struggle (against all odds), and his subsequent life. His true life story will soon be released in a full-feature motion picture, starring John Corbett and William H Macy to name some well-known actors. Can’t wait to see it. It is filmed in part in St. Louis and two of our friends (hopefully, if they are not cut) will appear as extras in the movie. O’Leary’s is not a literary book, but it is jam-packed with hope and inspiration and do-able CHOICES! I think it would inspire you, too! xo L
Glad to see your comments on The Power of Ritual. I really enjoyed that one too.
I think I would enjoy the Anne Lamotte book. Thanks for linking up with us & have a great evening!
I always enjoy Anne Lamott’s books and I haven’t read anything of hers in several years. It’s about time I do!
I really like Anne LaMott too and have that book. Started it but must get back to it. Thanks for the reminder
Oh, Anne LaMott—so witty and wise!
I always love seeing you’re up to in your reading lately. I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and somehow you always manage to talk about books and authors I don’t know. I love it.
I remember reading Punished by Rewards back when I was teaching. Great ideas but hard to implement! Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I love Anne Lamott and was considering her new one! Glad you liked it. I’ve read a few of Ruth Ware’s books and they are always unputdownable!
I’ve read several of Ruth Ware’s books but haven’t read these two yet (they’re on my list!).
I tend to be my most productive when I’m following a routine—gonna check out The Power of Ritual for sure!
The Anxious Generation is so good!
Anne’s book should be arriving at the library sometime this week for me. I’m looking forward to sitting with her gems of humor and wisdom. I thought Tim Alberta’s writing was outstanding. Looking forward to your review, friend.
I will admit that American Carnage has piqued my interest, but I expect it to be a tough read too.
Will pin this post as I always am on the lookout for interesting things to read. I reviewed Somehow too. LOVED it.
Great reads and recommendations this month Lisa. There’s several here I want to check out.
I always look forward to you sharing your reviews and recommendations with Sweet Tea & Friend’s each month. I’m so happy You’re here.
xo
I’m not generally a big reader of non-fiction books, although American Carnage sounds very interesting. I do like the sound of both of those fiction books.
Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.
Hi, Lisa – Your selection, and reviews, of books are pitch-perfect. Upon reading your reviews above, I wanted to read every single one of the books that you featured here. <3
Some interesting reading here, Lisa and thank you for sharing your recommendations with us at #WOYBS? I am interested in The Power of Ritual so will check that one out. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. x
Thanks for joining us Lisa, you’ve certainly read some interesting titles this month! I must go look for some Ruth Ware books now!