Adult

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.

Want to get away? Oh, how I miss travel. The next best thing is armchair travel! Mayle has always made me want to live in France, and in this book he pays tribute to the most endearing and enduring aspects of his life there. He celebrates the café and lists some of his favorites; identifies his favorite villages, restaurants, and open-air markets; and recounts his most memorable meals. A celebration of twenty-five years of Provençal living marked by his signature warmth, wit, and humor.

How is it that we come to consider our parents as people with rich and intense lives that include but also exclude us? For Ford, the questions of what his parents dreamed of, how they loved each other and loved him become a striking portrait of American life in the mid-century.

Jamison's essays draw from her own experiences of illness and bodily injury to engage in an exploration of empathy and if it can be taught in today’s selfish world.

When first published in 1899, readers were taken aback by Chopin's daring portrayal of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage, who seeks and finds passionate physical love outside the straightened confines of her domestic situation. Now – it seems – this storyline is as common as a headcold!

Moore is always dependable, and these eight short stories do not disappoint. Beautiful prose! Intelligent, ingenious turns of phrase. Funny. Thoughtful.

ANY leader should read this book, and since – at a minimum – you are leading yourself, that means YOU. Capt. Abrashoff shares so many insightful leadership strategies, but his genius is how he LISTENS to his people and empowers them to take responsibility. So refreshing in today’s toxic political climate.