Harpo Marx quit school at 7 years old and never looked back. He started work, yes work, doing a series of odd jobs, some legal and some not, before reluctantly joining the family act, The Marx Brothers.

Harpo Speaks is a remarkably well-written memoir. The reader learns about the brother, whose voice we never heard, and gets a front-row seat to a fascinating time in history. Born in 1888, Harpo describes the filth of living in a tenement in New York City, with dirt roads and horses dotting the streets with the remnants of their organic waste. 

The story weaves through the introduction of automobiles and life on the road for a vaudeville act (sleeping in maggot-filled beds, eating moldy food when the innkeeper provided it), dodging criminal activity, creating means of making a living when there seemed to be none, and a family home filled with love and laughter.

Areas where we may only have an academic perspective are brought to life in full technicolor: the Roaring 20s, Hollywood's golden age, The Great Depression, and WWII. Through Harpo's unlikely high-society connections, he was the first American performer to entertain in the Soviet Union. 

A devout bachelor in his 40s, Harpo finally reluctantly married a starlet, Susan Fleming. While Harpo was afraid of marriage, he loved a big family; he and his wife adopted three boys and a girl, creating a houseful of playmates for the creative couple. 

The book flows easily through many stories and experiences. I enjoyed every minute.

Sometimes.

​A Photographic History of Snakebite treatments, is a visual expedition of serpent bite cures. Ever wonder what the difference is between a venomous snake and a poisonous snake is? After reading Snakebite Treatments, now I know. Join me on the adventure of snake curiosities by reading this book. You’ll find a photographic museum between the pages. Papyrus dated between 330 and 660 BCE contained treatments and spells to cure venomous snake bites and scorpion stings. Modern science has debunked the spells – but if I were bitten by a venomous snake I’d try every treatment available – including magic! This delightful book informs us just how lethal snakes are and what a menace they’ve been to society throughout civilizations. I highly recommend getting a copy for yourself, or the curious person in your life that would appreciate the history of medicine, experiments, and treatments throughout history. 

A History of the United States for Newcomers is a great way for new U.S. residents to acclimate themselves. U.S. born citizens should consider reading this book too. Sobering statistics help frame the conversation. One example is that the U.S. has 50 million people born in another country, which is greater than the entire population of Canada. There are many others intriguing facts and tidbits.

A History of the United States for Newcomers provides an eagle eye view from an outsider's perspective. This very readable book handily summarizes the U.S.'s complex and may times painful history. 

While there is clearly need for healing, readers may come away in awe of those who transcended the trauma, creating a legacy helping every U.S. citizen realize the dream of freedom for all. Hopefully this book will help every citizen of the U.S. understand it is their destiny to do so as they learn about many who sacrificed so much for all. 

​Grow embraces the complexity of humanity in business. Readers will find tangible solutions to daily work struggles. Leaders will learn to advance business and become competitive in ways never thought possible. Michael even addresses the need for love in the workplace and brazenly uses the word. He defines measuring love as a lumens score to assess the level of love (or light) in working relationships. While the best teams are bound by trust and respect, I've never heard the word love used, but it's appropriate. I appreciate Michael's bravery in pointing it out. 

The author addresses the need to continually learn and accept fluidity. Negativity is a poison and optimism is a choice. McFall advocates the need for sabbaticals - especially a the top. Everyone needs to know systems will work without their daily oversight. The ability to come back refreshed and renewed benefits all. It's great for mental health too. He shares how much the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Worldwide helped take Biggby Coffee from Grind to Grow.

I'm a big advocate of the health benefits of sleep. Health care was a significant concern for me when I started my first business in the 2000. I decided to meet with doctors I respected and ask what I could do to maintain the best health possible. The doctor I visited was board certified and also trained in ayurvedic medicine. She spent time in India learning and treating patients. She gave me mountains of excellent advice. Regarding sleep, she suggested I get up every morning at the same time and go to sleep at the same time.

I then became vigilant about my sleep. After nearly two decades working in corporate America under someone else's demands, I was shocked to learn I am a morning person. I think there is something extraordinary about working with the rhythms of the day versus battling them. I used to drink some pretty strong coffee when I was pulling all-nighters. When I worked in an office, my co-workers would warn others when I made the coffee. After receiving fair warning, they'd begin to back away from the carafe to find a beverage with less jolt.

Now I go to bed early and wake up with the sun rising over Lake Michigan every day. I do not use an alarm clock. The doctor was right - I feel great. 

Because of my personal experience with the benefits of sleep, I was eager to learn what can be done to help children with sleep disorders. I always felt that children were run ragged, traveling to school, going to play dates, attending after-school activities, and perhaps going to the home of the parent they don't live with. From the outside looking in, it appears to be exhausting.

Dr. Dassani reviews all the physical and environmental issues in her book, The Tired Child, that may be impacting a child's ability to sleep. She offers suggestions to help parents understand medical diagnoses in plain language. She also discusses process steps with worksheets to help parents track and identify issues. The book further details how medical professionals with different specialties can aid in treatment and diagnosis. My favorite advice was "talk to other Moms."  Any parent who reads this book will be more informed and able to assist their child in obtaining optimal health -- and probably a good night's sleep for all! 

We should ALL treat ourselves as solo agers because we may be regardless of our family situation. This essential guide provides so much information with creative solutions, it encourages the reader to embrace and look forward to retirement decisions vs. fear them.

This very thoughtful guide includes many important aspects of aging -- remaining healthy, having strong social networks, coming to terms with spirituality, and exploring creative living solutions.
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I enjoyed the idea that it's wise to keep working and create a portfolio of work options. As people age, they've acquired many skills. Income alone is not likely the retirees' main driver at this stage in life. I thought the idea of re-exploring your first dreams at this stage in life was tremendously insightful. If not now, when?
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This book was thoughtful and well done; after reading it, I'm sure many people will embrace this critical stage in life versus dread it.

I'm pretty well-versed with the mechanics of money; however, The 10% solution by Marc Allen showed me the heart of money. Prior to reading this insightful book, I was following an analytical plan which left me feeling empty.

Publisher Marc Allen is a self-proclaimed "lazy" millionaire. He published Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now among several other notable titles. He made a commitment to himself that he would be successful doing exactly what he wanted to do in his own relaxed way. Until then, he spent his time drifting from one activity to the next, avoiding debt collectors and scrambling to pay bills. The 10% Solution shifted my perspective on of giving. Any philanthropist or person who wants to create a better world will enjoy The 10% solution. 

I've been a book reviewer for the Nonfiction Author's Association (NFAA) for over a year now. So when I agreed to review nonfiction books for their reward program, I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. I'm so grateful to Stephanie Chandler for starting the organization ten years ago. She found, as I have that many associations and development of the craft of writing are devoted to fiction writing; leaving nonfiction authors to attempt to garner what we can from the fiction world. 

The most recent book I reviewed for NFAA was Battle Carried: Imperial Japanese Tiger Flags of World War Two by Michael A. Bortner. Wow, did I learn a lot. The book is well-researched and insightful on a very specific topic. Not only is the book well-written, the graphic design is thoughtfully laid out, organizing the illustrations of tigers by their position and stance. This was enjoyable to read and to view as there is so much to learn. This experience felt like being immersed in a wonderful museum exhibit. 

When I'm asked to select a book to review for NFAA, I choose a topic to learn something new. This one certainly helped me to meet that objective. If this book didn't find me through NFAA, it may have found me at a used book store or on a table of unfiled books at a library. Fortuitously, the right books seem to find the people who are meant to read them.