Adult

Had to pick this one up, as it intrigued me. Harvard’s top astronomer lays out his controversial theory that our solar system was recently visited by advanced alien technology from a distant star.

With millions unemployed because of the pandemic, it seems a lot of us could use a bit of comic relief. Oshry is one of these “social media influencers” that my kids seem to talk about, and what I enjoyed most about this book was its honesty. Oshry is always husting, and she has learned a lot of hard lessons. Through it all, her humility stands out.

On DACA when she decided to write about being undocumented for the first time using her own name, Cornejo Villavicencio embarked on a trip across the country to tell the stories of her fellow undocumented immigrants – and to find the hidden key to her own. A well-deserved National Book Award finalist.

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.