Book Reviews

Few authors master their craft as well as Julia Donaldson has perfected hers. In a world with thousands of children’s books and limitless publishing options, Donaldson stands above the rest. Why is that? For starters, children can be notoriously tough graders. If they don’t like a book, it sits. If they do, it’s read over and […]

When the Smithsonian opened the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016, Justice Clarence Thomas was conspicuously omitted. Later, the museum added an exhibit, which according to many falls short of honoring Justice Thomas. Even today, it’s impossible to find him on the National Museum of African American History and Culture website.  How is it

It ends with the same feeling with which it begins: Yearning. At first, it was a yearning to know what happens next and at last a yearning for it not to end. Page after page, Alexandria Andrews guides the story along. The stitching holding the pages together is a yearning to know why the dual protagonist

A friend confided recently that she can’t read The Giving Tree anymore because she cries too much. “Why does it make you cry” I queried. “Because the tree gives all she has” and then my friend paused, “I would do the same for my kids.” “Hopefully,” I replied, “you’ll raise sons who can take care of themselves

There was a comedy years ago titled City Slickers in which three men from the city go out on a cattle drive. At the request of their wives, the three friends are forced to get out into the wild and figure out how to be men again. During their time away, they are challenged and humiliated by

“I don’t know what happened,” a client confessed recently. He seemed bewildered by how quickly his marriage unraveled. This man’s wife, kids, house, and savings were all walking away from him and he seemed perplexed as to why.  Men and women often call our law firm full of venom towards their spouse or demanding a

H.W. Brands selects the easiest subject imaginable – Ronald Reagan. What’s not to like about our 41st President? Few people inspire continued admiration long after they are gone. Even fewer can use their enormous popularity to do heroic things. Ronald Reagan did.  H. W. Brands’ book, Reagan: The Life, captures the full gamut. From his humble beginnings

The easy path to happiness is getting what you want, but it’s also fleeting. Likewise, eliminating a list of annoyances can improve life – commutes, shame, bad relationships, loss of control – but these too will not deliver lasting results. According to psychologist and professor, Jonathan Haidt, the place to start is with ancient wisdom. 

The breakdown of marriage and the American family has troubled our nation for many decades.  Marriage is challenging, especially when so few people have the tools to make it work. Studies show, few couples receive pre-marital counseling. Massive numbers of people don’t have positive examples of healthy family life, too. Accordingly, divorce rates remain high and