Lisa notes

From Politics to Belonging: 7 Books That Leave a Lasting Mark
—October 2025 Book Recommendations

By LisaNotes October 3, 2025 Books I Recommend 22 Comments

“A house that has a library in it has a soul.”
— Plato 

Some books are companions. Some are warnings. Some are guides. And some become classics that leave a lasting mark on us. This past month, I finished seven books that together did all these things. They ranged from political deep-dives to thought-provoking reflections on belonging, justice, money, and resilience.

Books like these continue to remind me that stories—whether true or imagined—shape the way we see ourselves and can inform how we interact with the world.

Here are the 5 nonfiction books and 2 novels that made an impact on me this month. 

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. We Can Do Hard Things
Answers to Life’s 20 Questions
by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle

We Can Do Hard Things - Answers to Life’s 20 Questions

This is a heavy book, both literally and emotionally. And also an enlightening one. It is full of answers on some of life’s hardest questions based on the words and wisdom of guests through years of conversations on the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast. I really enjoyed it. 

2. 2024
How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America
by Josh Dawsey

2024 - How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America

Unlike Original Sin (which I read last month about Biden’s campaign only in 2024), this book flips back and forth between both Biden’s and Trump’s campaigns. I can’t know how much is accurate, but assuming much of it is, it was quite a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how Trump managed to return to the presidency in 2024. It’s also a sobering reminder of how fragile democracy can be.

3. Arbitrary Death
A Prosecutor’s Perspective on the Death Penalty
by Rick Unklesbay

Arbitrary Death - A Prosecutor's Perspective on the Death Penalty

I read this for a book club Zoom with other death penalty abolitionists, and, as you might guess, it was both disturbing and informative. Unklesbay, an Arizona prosecutor, has seen firsthand how arbitrary and flawed the death penalty system can be. The murder cases are hard to read about, but Unklesbay’s perspective is an important one to listen to, an insider’s view on some flaws in our justice system.

4. Die with Zero
Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
by Bill Perkins

Die with Zero - Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life

This book surprised me by how much it made sense. While nobody wants to run out of money before they die, we also don’t want to hoard it for no good reason. Perkins encourages us to align our spending with our values—so we actually use our resources for experiences and meaning while we’re alive.

5. Belonging
Remembering Ourselves Home
by Toko-pa Turner

Belonging - Remembering Ourselves Home

Ah, this book is a deep cleansing breath among some of the heavier ones. We all like to belong, right? Turner writes beautifully about the ways we already do belong and how to nurture that sense of belonging in our communities. If you’ve ever felt out of place, her words are a reminder that belonging is not a destination but a practice. This was another online book club choice; our conversation about it was rich. 

FICTION

6. Take My Hand
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Take My Hand

Unfortunately, this novel is based on a true story—the truth behind it is heartbreaking. Set in my state of Alabama in the 1970s, it uncovers a horrific racial injustice in the healthcare system. Painful, yes, but important to read. We need to learn from the past so we can do better in the future.

7. The Color Purple
by Alice Walker

The Color Purple

How have I never read this classic? I only vaguely remember the 1985 movie (with Oprah in it), but reading the book now made a big impression on me. There’s good reason why Walker’s story of sisterhood, resilience, and transformation remains a masterpiece since it was first published in 1982.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

  • The Art of Gathering *
    How We Meet and Why It Matters
    by Priya Parker
  • Joyspan
    The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half
    by Kerry Burnight
  • Bad Therapy
    Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up
    by Abigail Shrier
  • Traffic
    Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us
    by Tom Vanderbilt
  • Facing Climate Anxiety
    Evidence-Based Skills to Cope with Fear and Overwhelm, Find Meaning, and Take Action
    by Jon Gorman, PsyD
  • Time Anxiety
    The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live
    by Chris Guillebeau
  • Not That Wheel, Jesus!
    Stories From a Faith That Went Off-Road in the Best (And Worst) Possible Ways
    by Mary Katherine Backstrom
  • Broken Country
    by Clare Leslie Hall

* Asterisked books from Daniel Pink’s Favorite Books list; you can find it here.

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What book has left a lasting mark on you? Please share in the comments.

I’m sharing at these linkups

On the Blog – September 2025

By LisaNotes September 30, 2025 Archives No Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to posts on the blog, Lisa notes, from September 2025.

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See previous months’ archives here

Gifts of Online Gatherings: Finding Community Through Zoom
{Share 4 Somethings - September 2025}

By LisaNotes September 30, 2025 Community, Life updates, Technology 32 Comments

I wish it were possible to gather all my online friends in person to sit around one big table—hearing each other’s voices and laughter, connecting in each other’s presence beyond just our written words.

But I know that’s not possible, so I’ve come to appreciate online gatherings via Zoom (or any video calling platform) as the next best thing to that dream. It’s a way we can still find connection, encouragement, and even moments of transformation together in real time.

Women connecting through an online gathering

This month’s Share 4 Somethings reflects on what I’ve loved, learned, experienced, and released—all through the lens of online community. I’m linking it all up with Jenn.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something I loved

  • AUTUMN EQUINOX REFLECTIONS  

Last Monday on the first day of autumn, I joined a circle of women online to celebrate the shift into fall. Together, we found gratitude for what has ripened in us, and shared hope for who we are still becoming.

The simple act of pausing to mark a season—with some friends I knew already and with others I was meeting for the first time from all around the United States—reminded me that gratitude grows deeper when it’s shared. We then created a group text and a Marco Polo group so we could remain connected even after the Zoom call ended.

As fall begins, maybe ask yourself, too: What is one thing I want to release? And one thing I want to carry forward?

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something I learned

  • SUPPORT FOR MOMS

On Tuesday morning, another online call connected me with a small group of mothers of adult children. We’ve begun meeting regularly to talk about expectations in this stage of life, inevitable disappointments that surface, and the hypervigilance that can creep in when life doesn’t unfold quite like we’d planned.

Being with this group of moms, hearing them speak honestly about their own experiences, is both comforting and clarifying. Parenting doesn’t end when children are grown—it just shifts. And the gift of community is learning from each other and feeling less alone as we go.

What stage of motherhood have you found the easiest so far? The most challenging? Do you have community (in person and/or online) to help you?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something that went well

  • CONVERSATIONS ON JUSTICE

Sometimes it’s easier to find your people around a certain topic when you have the whole internet to choose from.

Later in the week, I joined an online book club of death penalty abolitionists to discuss Arbitrary Death: A Prosecutor’s Perspective on the Death Penalty by Rick Unklesbay. Listening to the insights of others reminded me that growth often comes by paying attention to perspectives outside my own.

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If you’re curious to learn more, I highly recommend these books:

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something I let go of

  • EXPECTATIONS FOR CONSTANT INSIGHTS

Lastly, on Saturday morning I joined Lory and a few others from around the world (Switzerland, India, Hungary, and the United States) for a 40-minute zoom session of a sacred reading (lectio divina). After listening to a selected text and reflecting on it, everyone shared what they learned.

In my in-person world, our paths would likely never have crossed and we would have never shared this joint experience.

In this session together I was reminded that not every moment has to be one of revelation. Life isn’t an endless stream of breakthroughs—and that’s okay. Ordinary days hold their own kind of awe.

If you’d like to experience one of these sessions (they’re free!), Lory at Enter Enchanted has set October 13 and October 25 for the two zoom sessions in October. Check her blog for details (or ask me in the comments).

More information here about Sacred Readings via zoom sessions

While online gatherings will never replace sitting around a shared table, they do have their own gifts that are just as real:

  1. Global connections with no borders.
    In a single call you can interact with others from around the world, hearing different accents, having real-time conversations, and looking in the eyes of others you might never know otherwise.
  2. Accessibility and comfort.
    I love that online spaces remove barriers that might keep people from participating. Anyone can join as they are, from wherever they are, in ways that are comfortable to them in their own spaces.
  3. Intimacy through focused listening.
    Online conversations work best when we give our full attention to each speaker. It reduces the side conversations and interruptions we often have in person. But in Zoom conversations we have to listen and speak one at a time, a courtesy given to each speaker, which benefits each listener as well.

These gifts remind me that community doesn’t have to look one particular way. Sometimes square boxes on a screen tie us together in strong and meaningful ways, too.

Where have you found unexpected connection—online or otherwise—this past month?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Your One Word Challenge: Discover 2–3 New Insights This Month
{One Word 2025 September Linkup}

By LisaNotes September 25, 2025 One Word Community, Ripple: One Word 2025 12 Comments

Your One Word Still Has More to Teach You

Can you believe we’re already nine months into the year with our One Words? For many of us, our word has been a faithful companion—sometimes inspiring, sometimes challenging, and always shaping us in ways we couldn’t have predicted last January.

But here’s even better news: our words still have more to teach us in these last few months of the year. The final quarter is often where the deepest lessons emerge.

A Simple 3-Step Challenge

Here’s an easy practice you can try this month to uncover fresh meaning in your word:

1. Look up your One Word on Wikipedia or a resource of your choice.

2. Find 2–3 new facts, angles, or connections you didn’t know before.

3. Reflect on what you find:

  • What surprised you?
  • Did it shift your perspective?
  • Does it spark any new ways to practice your word in daily life?

Journal and pen inviting reflection on your One Word challenge

My Word: Ripple

Here are two products I discovered when I looked up Ripple.

1. RIPPLE FOODS

I was intrigued to discover this company: Ripple Foods. They create products using the “small but mighty yellow pea to make waves in your world.”

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The company is built on the idea that even small choices—like a glass of plant-based milk versus dairy milk—can create far-reaching effects. Their “Ripple Effect” philosophy fits perfectly with my theme that tiny actions matter, whether in business or in life. 

Because I have family members with dairy allergies, I’ll ripple this brand along to them. 

2. RIPPLE, MY LITTLE PONY

When my daughters were young, they had some My Little Pony products. But I don’t remember a character named Ripple. She is a playful baby seapony, the fastest swimmer of all the baby seaponies.

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In an episode of the TV series My Little Pony, Ripple rides her frog float into a hidden cave and gets lost. She cries for help until Magic Star comes to her rescue.

This storyline tweaked how I think about ripples. So far, my thoughts on ripples have been how we send contributions out into the world. But Ripple the seapony reminded me that ripples can also carry requests for help. When I send out ripples for help, I can trust that help will eventually find its way back, often in surprising ways.

Share Your Discoveries

When you’ve tried the challenge, I’d love to hear what you find—whether it confirms what you already know or opens up something completely new.

This September One Word linkup will remain open from Thursday, September 25, through Thursday, October 9. Share your insights in a blog post to link up below, drop a note in the comments, or join us in our One Word Facebook group.

Let’s encourage each other to finish the year strong.

What new insights has your One Word shown you recently? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Looking ahead: Our October linkup will open on opens on Saturday, October 25. Plan to join us with an update about your One Word.

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

Link Up About Your One Word

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Progress Over Perfection: Lessons from a Squeaky Floor

By LisaNotes September 22, 2025 Encouragement 4 Comments

I wanted it to be perfect.

If I was going to pay for home renovations, I wanted everything to turn out just right. No mistakes. No flaws. No “we’ll fix that later.”

But it didn’t work out that way. Of course.

After our most recent house painting and new flooring, I quickly realized that every improvement comes with its own setbacks. A screw missing from an outlet. Tiny flecks of paint on a cabinet. A bathroom hook gone.

Two squeaky spots on the bedroom floor have disappeared (yay!), but I’ve noticed a new squeak in the bathroom floor.

Things are better, yes. But not perfect.

But maybe that’s how things work?

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The Illusion of “Completely Better”

I used to hope that when you made an improvement, it meant everything about the situation got better. You fix one thing, and everything else magically aligns. That’s the story I wanted to believe.

But life isn’t like that.

Better doesn’t always mean perfect.

I’m learning to look more at the bigger picture. When I step back from the individual squeaks and flecks and scratches, I see a home that is overall much improved. Not flawless. But better.

And maybe that’s the wiser way to measure progress: not in terms of perfection, but in direction.

  • Am I heading toward better?
  • Is the whole picture brighter, even if some corners are dimmer?
  • Can I live with the imperfections if the overall effect brings peace and joy?

This shift has softened me.

A Lesson Beyond the House

Because, of course, this isn’t just about renovations.

It’s about relationships. Jobs. Spirituality. Health. Almost everything in life.

We imagine that once we make the change—once we get the new job, fix the misunderstanding, reach the milestone—everything will settle into place. No more squeaks. No more scratches. Just smooth, perfect circumstances.

But every forward step has its trade-offs. Every victory harbors its own tiny disappointments. Every new change also carries some sort of loss.

And that’s okay.

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Appreciating the Imperfect

The gift of imperfection is that it makes us pay attention. I notice the flaws now, yes, but I also notice the improvements. I don’t take the freshly painted walls for granted, even with their tiny blemishes.

The loose piece of wood by the counter is almost like a reminder: perfection isn’t the goal. Direction is.

Perfection isn’t possible. “Better overall” is still good.

Moving Forward

I don’t know if I’ll ever stop wishing for perfect. There’s a part of me that will always want my to-do list to be completely finished, my conversations to be totally flawless, my house to be spic-and-span spotless.

But I also know that I’d miss out on the joy of the moment if I spend all my energy aiming for perfection.

No, life isn’t perfect. But it is full of beauty and courage and love if I remember to look for it.

When I stand on the squeaky spot in the bathroom as I brush my teeth each day, I can remind myself of this truth: progress doesn’t always move in a straight line, but a life flowing in an overall positive direction makes a great journey.

Where in your life have you experienced “better overall” even though it wasn’t perfect? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Read more:

The Ripple Effect of Kindness: How a Wave Can Change a Day

By LisaNotes September 19, 2025 Encouragement, Ripple: One Word 2025 10 Comments

Sitting on the beach with my grandson this week, I noticed his sweet habit of waving his little hand and saying, “Hello!” to strangers strolling by. Every time, the person would turn, smile, and wave back.

A simple greeting—even to a stranger—is a small gesture. Yet it makes faces light up.

Child waving to strangers on the golden hour on the beach, spreading joy with a simple gesture

Melissa McCarthy once said:

“I love to throw a loud, aggressive compliment. I yell things at people a bunch, like “You’re doing great!” or “You look terrific!” I’ll roll down the window in my car and yell, “I’m in love with that scarf!”

…and then I bet that person, within the hour, is going to say something nice to another person, and then it’s going to keep ping-ponging. We need more of that ripple effect.”

My grandson might not understand the fullness of those ripple effects yet, but he’s living them.

His wave is like a compliment passed across a thin space—sparking a small joy that keeps traveling on.

Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just a wave.

When’s the last time a small kindness made your day? Share your thoughts in the comments.