Four books I finished in August: Reviews and Recommendations

I read some really great books this month, and I can’t wait to tell you about them. The first one was…

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Rating: 10/10

Review: This book is so entertaining, you won’t want to put it down. All summer, my son would ask: “Can we read another chapter?”

It’s the story of a girl and her parents who moved to the US from China. They get jobs at a motel in California. Mia, only 10 years old, runs the front desk. The book tells interesting stories about the guests who come to the motel, and gives insight into what it’s like to be an immigrant. The stories are endearing and you will fall in love with the characters!

My son said: “I wish this book would never end.” I felt the same. We were thrilled to learn there are two more books that follow Front Desk. We are currently reading book 2, called “Three Keys.”

Because Clark is such an active kid, he doesn’t usually want to sit and read. This is one of the first books where he actually loved sitting with me and reading together. It’s been one of my sweetest memories of the summer.

Parent tip: Keep trying new books until you find one your kid loves!

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Thomas Edison by Janet and Geoff Benge

Rating: 9/10

Review: This book gave a good overview of Thomas Edison’s life. He was an interesting character and reminds me a little of Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. He was an amazing creator, inventor and scientist, but not so much a people person.

Reading this book made me so grateful for the things I take for granted – like making a phone call and talking to someone on the other side of the country and flipping on the lights in my house. I loved hearing how the ‘lightbulb’ was invented and how much ‘trial and error’ Edison put into creating it. His quote that: “Genius is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration” comes to life in this book. Edison wouldn’t give up working on an idea or problem until he solved it!

What I love about Janet Benge’s “Heroes of History” books is that she writes biographies that are entertaining and don’t get overly detailed with too much information. 

Someone on amazon said: “I learned just enough about Edison’s life to be both enlightened and entertained—without having to endure the insufferable sludge of detail that weighs down most biographies.” I completely agree!

If you want another recommendation of Janet Benge’s books, read Harriet Tubman OR George Washington. I loved both of these!

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Row the Boat by PJ Fleck

Rating: 8/10

Review: The author of this book was born and raised in the same area of Illinois where Ted and I spent many years. When we were moving to Colorado, we used a bit of his “Row the Boat” philosophy (click here to read about it). PJ Fleck is now the head coach for the University of Minnesota football team.

I was excited to see he had published a book about his “Row the Boat” philosophy, which he uses in life and coaching. Coach Fleck is known for turning losing teams into winning teams with his approach.

The book was short and easy-to-read. The beginning is a quick synopsis of PJ Fleck’s life. In my opinion, the best part of the book starts in Chapter 6 when he outlines exactly what “Row the Boat” means!

Here are 10 of my favorite parts of the book:

1. You are the captain of your boat. You decide to row or not.
2. The ‘oars’ of the boat represent your energy. Your energy is contagious and the energy you invest and share with others determines the quality of your life.
3. There will be times when rowing is extremely hard and will require powerful work. Other times, efficiency will be utilized.
4. The boat represents sacrifice. The more you serve, give, and make your life about helping others, the better and more fulfilled your life will be. The more you do this, the bigger your boat gets.
5. The compass is about the vision we have for our lives, how we speak to ourselves and the people we surround ourselves with help create the dream. 
6. When rowing, your back is to the direction you are traveling – the future – which you cannot control, nor can you see. You don’t know what’s ahead of you.  You’re rowing in the present, which is the only thing that you can impact and have control of.
7. You can either choose to keep rowing or put your oars back in the boat and stop. And while rowing, you are looking in the past, which is the only thing that you can actually learn from – but can’t change.
8. The dream is the journey and the journey is the dream. You will make your biggest impact where it will be the hardest.
9. Cadets prayer “make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. “  
10. Coach PJ Fleck wants to set the standard academically, athletically, socially, and spiritually.

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Unscripted by Ernie Johnson

Rating: 9/10

Review:

Ted and I had a 6 hour drive to Chicago, and I suggested we listen to an audiobook together. He picked this one. I didn’t know who the author was before reading this, but truly enjoyed the book. The author is a sports commentator and a fabulous storyteller!

I loved what the author shares about:

• adopting four of their six kids,
• wins and fails in parenting, and
• how he came to faith and how that has impacted his life and sustained him through chemotherapy and other life challenges.

This book is easy-to-read (or listen to). It’s filled with great life lessons and it’s very entertaining.

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Thanks for reading! Click here to see the best books I read last year!