Lisa notes

6 Books I Recommend – December 2024

By LisaNotes December 3, 2024 Books I Recommend 18 Comments

“I woke up thinking a very pleasant thought. There is lots left in the world to read.”
– Nicholson Baker

Here are 4 nonfiction books and 2 novels I recommend from my recent reads. 

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. Fat Talk
Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture
by Virginia Sole-Smith

This is an important read for all of us who have grown up in a fat phobia culture. It will make you rethink the way you talk about bodies, not just to kids, but to other adults and most importantly, even to yourself.

2. The Small and the Mighty
Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
by Sharon McMahon

The Small and the Mighty

“Sharon Says So” writes about several untold stories of heroes in American history. It will inspire you to do your own small “ordinary” things with a new perspective on how important they really are.

3. Ghosts Over the Boiler
Voices from Alabama’s Death Row
by Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty

Ghosts Over the Boiler

I was caught off guard by how much this book moved me! It is a powerful collection of writings from the men on Alabama’s death row. It’s quite eye-opening to see their humanity and resilience in such a vulnerable way as they fight to shut down the death penalty.

4. The Art of Forgiving
by Lewis B. Smedes

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As I continue to work on forgiving some deep pains in my life, Lewis Smedes’ words bring direction and hope for my healing. He writes very clearly and directly about both the why and the how of forgiveness.

5. Seek
How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World
by Scott Shigeoka 

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I’ve been reading this book all year as part of my One Word journey with Curiosity. It gives lots of ideas about how to practice curiosity in my everyday life. I already want to read it again.

FICTION

6. The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods

This is my first Liz Moore mystery, but it won’t be my last. This is a gripping story about two young siblings who disappear in the woods near a summer camp, but years apart. It’s long but I never grew tired of reading it and wanting to know what would happen next.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

  • Nineteen Minutes
    by Jodi Picoult
  • Star-Spangled Jesus
    Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
    by April Ajoy
  • The Road to Wisdom
    On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust
    by Francis S. Collins
  • The Violent Take It by Force
    The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy
    by Matthew D. Taylor
  • Do You Still Talk to Grandma?
    When the Problematic People in Our Lives Are the Ones We Love
    by Brit Barron
  • Hope for Cynics
    The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
    by Jamil Zaki
  • Aging as a Spiritual Practice
    A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser
    by Lewis Richmond

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What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.

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On the Blog – November 2024

By LisaNotes November 30, 2024 Archives No Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to posts on the blog, Lisa notes, from November 2024.

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See previous months’ archives here

Share 4 Somethings – November 2024

By LisaNotes November 29, 2024 Life updates 33 Comments

This month has been a whirlwind of emotions—of doing, grieving, reflecting, and enduring. In these moments, I’ve been reminded of the beauty and fragility of life, the weight of our choices, and the quiet importance of showing up.

For the 2024 edition of “Share 4 Somethings,” Jennifer asks us to share each month:

  1. Something loved and/or disliked
  2. Something accomplished
  3. Something improved upon and/or that needs improvement
  4. Something noticed

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Loved

  • ELECTION DAY FROM THE INSIDE 

Last month I shared here that my husband Jeff and I had been asked to be local poll workers for the general election on November 5. I was honored—and a little nervous—to step into such the role.

Now I’m back to report: it went great!

It was gratifying to facilitate democracy at its most local level. Jeff and I were tasked with handing out the ballots after voters checked in. It kept us busy the entire day, but we loved seeing the hope and eagerness on the voters’ faces.

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We also got a behind-the-scenes look at the many layers of security in our precinct to make sure every vote was counted. At the end of the night I felt more connected to my community and deeply grateful for the experience. I hope we’ll be asked to help again in future elections.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Accomplished

  • CELEBRATING UNCLE BOBBY

Last month, I also wrote about celebrating my Uncle Bobby’s 86th birthday with a family meal and singing. It was a beautiful day, where time felt sacred, and one I hope we’ll remember for a long time to come.

And now, that day is seared in my memory as even more sacred because, sadly, Uncle Bobby passed away last week.

He lived a long, meaningful life, and I’m so grateful to have shared this past year even closer beside him as our family journeyed with him through his cancer diagnosis. He remained gentle and kind even in his final days.

Death is a strange companion to life—it reminds us of what we’ve lost while amplifying the love that remains. Here are 5 of Bobby’s 7 nieces and nephews that were able to attend his funeral in Arkansas last Saturday.

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~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something that Needs Improvement

  • WRESTLING WITH JUSTICE

Ironically, after spending days in the hospital with my incredible uncle, I would come home to read Ghosts Over the Boiler, a striking and powerful collection of essays written by men sentenced to die on Alabama’s death row (I highly recommend the book!).

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One of the co-authors was actually put to death by nitrogen hypoxia the day after my uncle died, the third person in Alabama to die this way in 2024. The man was guilty of a horrendous crime. No doubt. He deserved to face consequences.

But is killing the proper consequence for killing?

I don’t have all the answers, but as more and more states and nations abolish the death penalty, recognizing its flaws as it grows in disfavor with the general public and those in the legal system and with humans all over the world, I wish Alabama would abolish it too. But it hasn’t. Yet.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Noticed

  • A LIFESAVING INCONVENIENCE

And then, life reminded me of its fragility again, but in a more mundane way.

This week, I made it through another routine colonoscopy—the day before Thanksgiving. I’ve had several colonoscopies over the years, and while of course I never like the process, it’s not all that bad. And, as I often say, I’d rather have a colonoscopy than colon cancer.

The doctor advised me to have another colonoscopy in one to two years; I’m not happy about having one again so soon, but I’ll do it. If you’re due for one, I encourage you to schedule it soon and get it over with. A day or two of discomfort could very well save your life.

What is something you are loving, accomplishing, improving, or noticing this month?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m linking at these blog parties

Thanks to You, 6 Books I’m Adding to My TBR List
{Nonfiction November Week 5}

By LisaNotes November 26, 2024 Books I Recommend 12 Comments

This is the final week of Nonfiction November 2024 when we share at Deb’s what we’re adding to our to-read list after seeing the books that others have recommended all month at the weekly linkups. I’ve accumulated a long list of books I want to read.

Books I Haven’t Read (Have you?)

Here are 6 (of the many) books I’m adding to my list and what each blogger said that convinced me. A few of these I’ve been meaning to read anyway, so this will hopefully be the push I need to move these titles higher on my list for 2025 reading.

1. Tell Me a Story
The Life Shaping Power of Our Stories
by Daniel Taylor

Tell Me a Story

From Mary Daniels Brown @ Notes in the Margin: “This book dramatically changed my life by introducing me to the concept of life stories and their effect on how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in the world. . . . And, probably most importantly, Taylor’s book taught me how broken or unhealthy stories can be rewritten and healed.”

2. Survivor
Auschwitz, the Death March and my Fight for Freedom
by Sam Pivnik

Survivor

From The Intrepid Angeleno: “This memoir is very well written and I could not put it down. I read it in one day. It’s a good refresher on the steps that Hitler took to put his plan into action so that we can be aware of similar steps being launched in today’s world.”

3. Thinking in Bets
Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts
by Annie Duke

Thinking in Bets

From Harry @ Unsolicited Feedback: “I won’t be presumptuous and say that everyone should read Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets, or that it’ll make the world a better place. But if you do read it, you’ll improve your ability to make decisions and that’ll probably lead to improvements in your life.”

4. Disability Visibility
First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Edited by Alice Wong

Disability Visibility

From Rebekah @ She Seeks Nonfiction: “[This book] has stuck with me all year. Her opening paragraph will grab you and not let you go till somehow you’ve just finished the entire book. For how much this book impacted me, it was relatively easy to get through. . . . Changing the title of this post [from “Eye Openers”] to “Mind Openers” isn’t a huge thing, but it shows you how books like these can help more folks adjust the way they think about some of the most marginalized people.”

5. That Librarian
The Fight Against Book Banning in America
by Amanda Jones

That Librarian

From Heather @ Based on a True Story: “The past few years have been eye opening for her. She was a person who was very much in a white conservative Christian bubble except for LGBTQ issues. She’s not an outsider to the people who are attacking her. She’s one of them and they turned on her. . . .The book goes over the emotional and physical toll being on the receiving end of this type of cyberbullying takes on a person.”

6. Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult
A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
by Maria Bamford

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

From Silver Button Books: “After my cult obsession in 2023, I obviously had to read this one. I didn’t even know it was a memoir which is how I know the title got me. Don’t listen to this audiobook while driving, it is dangerously funny.”

If these books turn out to be as good as I hope, I’ll be sharing more about them with you in 2025!

Have you read any of these 6 books? What book would you recommend? Share in the comments.

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Give Thanks to Your One Word of the Year
{One Word 2024 November Linkup}

By LisaNotes November 24, 2024 Curiosity: One Word 2024, One Word Community 14 Comments

As you pause to give thanks in November, if you’ve had a One Word of the Year, can you also thank your word for the gifts it has brought into your life, in both expected and unexpected ways?

Here’s a simple gratitude exercise to try:

Take a few quiet moments to think about 5 or 6 things you’re thankful for as a result of your word. Write down each one as if you’re speaking directly to your word. Start with, “Thank you for…”

Need some ideas?

– “Thank you for this lesson you taught me…”
– “Thank you for helping me meet these people…”
– “Thank you for improving this attitude…”
– “Thank you for motivating this change…”
– “Thank you for deepening this spiritual practice…”

If you’d like, write these reflections on a real thank-you card. Keep it somewhere you’ll see in the next few weeks to remind you of the gift your One Word has been in 2024.

Here’s my thank-you note to my word CURIOSITY:

Dear Curiosity,

♥ Thank you for teaching me the power of curious uncertainty—that staying open, even when it’s uncomfortable, is often more valuable than the false safety of already knowing.

♥ Thank you for leading me to new friends: the climate advocates I’ve met in person this year, the seekers I’ve connected with online, the volunteers in my community doing good things, and even me—I’ve learned more about myself as I’ve opened up to people curious to know me (curiosity flows in both directions).

♥ Thank you for showing me how curiosity can foster compassion rather than judgment, inviting understanding instead of arguments or judgments.

♥ Thank you for inspiring me to ask more often, “Can you tell me more?”—a small question but one that’s allowed me to hear some amazing life stories.

♥ And thank you for deepening a spiritual practice I’ve always loved: memorizing meaningful truths to embed in my heart, such as this gem from Joseph Campbell: “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”

With my gratitude,
Lisa

We would love to see your list, too! Share in the comments below, link up a blog post here, or snap a quick photo of your list to post in our Facebook group.

This linkup will stay live for two weeks from Sunday, November 24, through Sunday, December 8. Next month’s linkup will open on Monday, December 23 (one day early) through Tuesday, January 7.

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What are you grateful for this year thanks to your One Word?  Please leave a comment here.

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

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A Wake-Up Call We Better Not Ignore
{Nonfiction November Week 4}

By LisaNotes November 18, 2024 Books I Recommend, Reading 24 Comments

We’ve all felt it—the mental clutter from living in an age of dinging notifications, scrolling, and digital distractions. Information overload is a real thing.

Maybe we don’t need another book—with even more information—to identify the problem.

But what if that book offered a blueprint for the way out? Sometimes a single book is enough to challenge our assumptions and shift our behavior.

This might be that book: Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. It is a wake-up call to any of us living in the smartphone era.

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Haidt tackles a question that gnaws at us as we notice the difference between our childhoods and the one that many of today’s kids are experiencing. How dangerous is the shift from the “play-based childhood” many of us grew up with—filled with tree climbing and hide-and-seek—to today’s “phone-based childhood,” dominated by selfies, TikTok, and endless texting?

The answer is chilling: it’s not just a change; it’s a crisis.

The data Haidt presents is staggering. The rise of smartphones and social media isn’t just altering how kids spend their time; it’s causing a mental health epidemic. Rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm have soared, especially for girls, as screens rewire their brains in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

Reading this book made me pause and reconsider my own relationship with screens. No, I’m not tossing my phone in the nearest river (my neighbor accidentally did that; it was painful to even hear about the experience).

But Haidt’s book is pushing me to think about the opportunities we might be missing for real connection because of our split attention between the in-person world and the virtual one.

Herein lies the beauty of reading good nonfiction. It not only highlights a problem, but it also shares research on practical solutions. Books like Haidt’s are meant to move us into action. Whether it’s advocating for tech reforms, setting boundaries around screen time in our homes, or simply having conversations about these issues, Haidt offers four rules in his book that can help us find a better balance.

So if you’re ready to rethink your relationship with technology—and to help the next generation do the same—I recommend you also read The Anxious Generation. (Full disclosure: ironically, I read this book on a screen.)

And then maybe set aside your phone for an hour. Or two. Or a day. Talk to a friend, have a meal together, or just enjoy the quiet. See how good it can feel to live untethered.

For Week 4 of Nonfiction November, we’re sharing mind-opening books at Rebekah’s.

What book has opened your mind? Share in the comments here.

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