Encountering Truth Review

Encountering Truth is an insightful and wonderful collection of homilies from Pope Francis at masses in an entire year. I chose to read this around the Year of Mercy so I could find ways to become a better, well-rounded Christian. Many of the homilies are about seeking peace and humility, and thanks to this book I am sure to lead a more humble life following the example of Jesus. I will do my part to feed and advocate for the hungry, heal the sick, and care for the homeless near my community.  Mentions a little bit about unfaithful priests and bishops involved in scandals. A reminder to not idolize money and power and to focus on growing as a person who follows up their faith with good works. As the pope notes, faith without works is just words. 5/5 stars and a must-read for religious and non-religious to understand and admire this incredible man of God uniting the world in a time of injustice, persecution, and hatred.

Stress Test Review

I recently read Timothy F. Geithner's riveting account of the financial crisis in the United States. Geithner has been deemed softspoken, however he has shown through the writing exactly what role he played on the crisis team. The book is a clear cut tool that any government leader should read, as it is sort of a how-to get out of crises & a roadmap for avoiding future crises. Geithner is not a partisan hack, so his brutal attacks on the Bush administration tactics (Iraq War, unaffordable tax cuts for the wealthiest) make a lot of sense. Contrary to how many view him, he is a pragmatic leader who managed to find a way to save Wall Street and Main Street from a dumpsterfire. This is a phenomenal read for any American who wants to know what happened during the crisis when hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost and how we responded through the Recovery when private sector jobs such as the recovery of the auto industry in Detroit, Michigan were added. 5/5 stars! A must read for politicians and aspiring public servants.

Book Review-The Career Playbook: Essential Advice for Today's Aspiring Young Professional

As an avid reader of young professional books, I was not sure what to expect when picking this book up. This book, while targeted to young professionals, is a great read for all ages and can be easily read by business leaders. Saddled with college loan debt, the millennial generation does not have a lot going for us, but if we turn to advice from leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and the author James Citrin, we will be in good hands. This book is packed with information such as the different phases of career exploration and refining skills later in career to stay relevant. It also contains prompt advice such as how to (or not) negotiate a salary. As the author notes, it is possible to have a great career with a liberal arts major. We need to frame our resumes to our volunteer experiences and show how flexible we are by showing how an interest in philosophy can shape us as well-rounded decision makers in the real world. Best advice: play to your strengths and seek multiple mentors from various sectors and workplaces to help you achieve workplace success. 5/5 stars.

Thrive-How to Redifine the Meaning of Success

This book is a true testament to the things that we should really hold more value of in life, such as the little things (moments of joy). Knowing that if I sleep more, meditate more, and challenging myself to embrace the Third Metric of well-being, wisdom, wonder, and our capacity to give more gives me full hope in becoming a better person. I realize I have challenges and a lot to work on, but by starting to recognize the small moments live I will see more importance in self-care than any title, corner office, or six-figure salary I may ever have. The more time we devote to ourselves, without looking at or enhancing our resumes, we are that much closer to becoming at peace with ourselves. It is so important to be ourselves in a world that dares us to be more of the same, so this book really serves as a wake-up call as I hope to continue my plight to fight poverty with the right balance of self-care, including relaxation and stress relief. As a national service advocate who loved the Franklin Project and service references, I give this book 5 starts for providing opportunities to serve, unplug from our devices, and go out in the world to make a difference over a dollar!