Adult

Let’s get this straight: I’m an avid Dodger fan. But I cannot resist great baseball stories, and Horwitz knows how to spin a good yarn. The longtime PR director for the New York Mets shares his reflections throughout four dynamic and unpredictable decades in baseball. I breezed through this book and hopes he writes four more!  

A collection of 75 recipes from Grandmothers in eight eastern African countries. Delight as they welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue, a great start to the new year.

Here, the FUBU founder and star of ABC’s Shark Tank shows that, far from being a liability, broke can actually be your greatest competitive advantage as an entrepreneur. Why? Because starting a business from broke forces you to think more creatively. It forces you to use your resources more efficiently. It forces you to connect with your customers more authentically, and market your ideas more imaginatively. It forces you to be true to yourself, stay laser focused on your goals, and come up with those innovative solutions required to make a meaningful mark. Inspiring read.

. On holiday in the northern Italian countryside, Sophie meets Tancredi, an older man separated from his family. The two fall in love to the backdrop of sun-drenched countryside strolls and local-festival merriment. Short and sweet, but perfect for those of us locked-up during a global pandemic. If we could go outside, this would make for perfect beach reading!

Clement Moore's Christmas classic meets Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice when Mr. Darcy gets his own visit from St. Nicholas. In this parody of the beloved original poem, Santa teaches Darcy the true meaning of the holiday and helps him get what he's always wanted – a wife!

Speaker Zig Ziglar used to say that you can get anything you want in life by helping others getting what they want in life. Pontefract is one of those individuals dedicated to helping others, and I pray that his infectious enthusiasm and positivity sparks a pandemic of kindness throughout the planet. Terrific book that all leaders will appreciate because it is easy to read, and – I hope – easier to implement among all organizations.

Did anyone ever tell you that you have greatness inside? So many people go through life unaware or unwilling to accept the realization that they can and will be great. Let author Tracey Jones give you the blueprint to unfolding and perfecting the highest version of yourself.

A couple of years ago, a number of lazyreaders.com subscribers asked me to feature more cookbooks, which set me off on a cookbook reading bonanza that introduced me to a lot of talented writers. One of them was “The Barefoot Contessa” Ina Garten, and I have been a fan ever since. Her recipes are delicious, and her writing is salacious.

In over 15 years of running this website, I’ve never placed one of my books on this list. But if there is one thing that 2020 has shown us, it is that everything is unpredictable. I wrote this book as an homage to Paul Harvey, as I grew up glued to the radio every day at 12:15 to hear his inspirational stories. This book is for anyone in desperate need for a smile. Tell me what you think!

Some of my favorite speakers and writers are current or former Navy Seals, and Willink has a way of pushing me to get off my butt and doing more than I thought capable. I encourage you to check out any of his books, but this is a quick read to wet your lips.

I grabbed this book based on a review in the New Yorker which simply said: “A novel that feels like a surreal meditation on life in quarantine.” That’s all I needed to hear during these crazy times!

I don’t normally recommend “teaching” books because (a) they’re usually boring and (b) see “a.” But I see so many parents flustered by the pandemic that I thought this would be a great place to direct a lot of lost souls. A teacher in British Columbia (interesting fact: I recently learned Canadians speak English), Mayer dissects core competencies that can help any parent or teacher assist elementary and middle-school aged students while they are learning remotely.

Anyone who reads this book will reconsider their problems and count their blessings, as Ehlert and his wife went through so many trials and tribulations as a result of his heart problems. As heart disease is the second-leading cause of death (typically) in America (cancer is number one), I’d say this is a good investment for anyone looking to treat or prevent heart problems for themselves or loved ones. Incredible patient journey!

I love the big heart of Eva Steortz, and this thoroughly enjoyable, quick read details her journey from a small child dreaming big in West Virginia to a confident, fearless woman who has her own flourishing company in California. After college, she moved across the country on a whim to seek better opportunities, called a job ad for Disney in a leap of faith, and progressed from Assistant Manager to Vice President in a true “Cinderella story.” Let her show you the mistakes she made along the way, the struggles, and the hardships, but also the wins, what she did right, and the path to your own success. Truly inspiring!

The comedian and star of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt shares tales of her childhood in St. Louis, whether directing and also starring in her family holiday pageant to becoming a “sports monster” who ends up warming the bench of her Division 1 field hockey team in college. Much-needed light-hearted reading during dark days.