I've always had a passion for reading deep personal stories that provide me with a better understanding of the world and equip me with the tools and life lessons I need to continue growing as a person. I believe that storytelling's vulnerability is one of the most powerful instruments for self-reflection, self-healing, and ultimately, for us to evolve into better versions of ourselves through introspection.
I wrote...
I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here: Finding My Voice, Finding My People, Finding My Way
As seen on Humans of New York, Jonathan Conyers introduces us to the teachers, his debate coach, a homeless man, and a boy named Diego who changed his life.
Everybody was rooting for Jonathan Conyers after seeing his profile on Humans of New York went viral and sparked millions in donations to the Brooklyn Debate League. The kid who went from struggling to read to being a breakout star on his high school debate team, thanks to a life-changing friendship with his transgender debate coach, captured the heart of America. Jonathan’s story highlights the important role teachers play in opening up worlds of opportunity. Jonathan shares the full story of his incredible journey escaping the precarious circumstances he was born into, and those who helped him along the way.
Growing up in a household where both of my parents battled crack addiction was extremely difficult. It caused deep-seated feelings of resentment, anger, and a profound lack of trust in both my parents and society as a whole. Not being able to rely on my parents, and witnessing them consistently choose drugs over their family, was incredibly painful, especially for a child.
Reading this book brought me closer to my parents and helped me understand that their addiction was just a symptom of a much larger issue that extended beyond our home. I found a connection with characters like Elgin Swift and delving into the crack epidemic during the time my parents were growing up was truly eye-opening.
This experience allowed me to feel a deeper bond with my parents and gain a better understanding of their struggles.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has loved ones facing crack addiction and is dealing with barriers that prevent them from connecting with their community. It provides valuable insights and can be a significant part of your healing journey.
A “vivid and frank” (NPR) account of the crack cocaine era and a community’s ultimate resilience, told through a cast of characters whose lives illuminate the dramatic rise and fall of the epidemic
“A poignant and compelling re-examination of a tragic era in America history . . . insightful . . . and deeply moving.”—Bryan Stevenson, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Just Mercy
The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan’s war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey’s exacting analysis traces…
In this memoir, Stephanie Foo, in my opinion, displayed remarkable courage and vulnerability.
The idea that you don't necessarily have to "move on" from your trauma but can instead learn to live with it was truly eye-opening for me. Often, we feel the pressure to completely move on and bury the difficult experiences we've endured in life, rather than accepting them and discovering ways to better cope.
Despite all the hardships Stephanie had to endure, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her relationship with Joey and how he became an integral part of her support system and healing journey.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has C-PTSD and for anyone learning how to cope with the trauma they have faced in their life.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A searing memoir of reckoning and healing by acclaimed journalist Stephanie Foo, investigating the little-understood science behind complex PTSD and how it has shaped her life
“Achingly exquisite . . . providing real hope for those who long to heal.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, NPR, Mashable, She Reads, Publishers Weekly
By age thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: She had her dream job as an award-winning radio producer at This American Life and…
ET is a formidable force, and this book unequivocally proves it.
It underscores the importance of taking control of your life and embarking on the journey to become the best version of yourself – something we all aspire to. ET breaks down this journey and shares the secrets to waking up, taking action, and uncovering your "why."
I highly recommend this book to anyone in search of motivation and a roadmap for achieving their full potential. It serves as a vital first step that we all must take, which in return will lead us to build a support network of village members on our path towards greatness.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “You Owe You is full of insight and guidance for those seeking their inner selves.”—MICHAEL B. JORDAN
No matter your story or your struggle, Eric Thomas—celebrated motivational guru, educator, and problem-solver to many of the top athletes and business leaders—will “help you work harder, discover your real motivation, and crack the code of enduring success” (Ed Mylett, #1 bestselling author of The Power of One More)
If you feel like success is for others, that only certain people get to have their dreams fulfilled, Eric Thomas’s You Owe You is your wake-up call. His urgent…
This is a remarkable story of resilience, providing an intimate look at the immense challenges of migration and the near-impossibility of relocating from one country to another.
What struck me the most were the members of Javier's village. There were numerous powerful moments where people were willing to go the extra mile to help one another in times of need. The kindness and love among them were essential for their arduous journey from Mexico to the USA.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Unfortunately, it tells a painful yet powerful story that many people must confront daily when they have no choice but to leave their homes.
New York Times Bestseller • Read With Jenna Book Club Pick as seen on Today • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiography • Winner of the American Library Association Alex Award
A young poet tells the inspiring story of his migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this “gripping memoir” (NPR) of bravery, hope, and finding family.
Finalist for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction • One of the New York Public Library’s Ten Best Books of the Year
Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence…
This novel was extremely moving and emotionally gripping.
The major lesson that stood out to me was that even tragedy can lead to blessings. This resonated with my personal life, and how through all the chaos, the protagonist finds a sense of community and village members she can hold on to. The character was brought to life in a way I have never seen before, and every moment of this book felt so vivid and genuine.
An emotional rollercoaster but beautifully told story. I highly recommend this book.
Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at Margo's diner, she's left fending for herself in a town where she's never quite felt at home. When she "borrows" her neighbor's car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that's all hers.
A story you'll never forget about survival, forgiveness, healing, and love.
Twenty years ago. A plane crash. Three women survivors are inexorably connected by fate, destiny, and a cause.
Julie Geiger, a flight attendant, told five sets of parents to place their babies on the floor of the plane when it was going down. Now, she must live with the consequences. Will changing the emergency rules bring her healing and forgiveness? And where does love fit into her life now?
Marie Stanley lost her baby boy on that flight. And she knows exactly who to blame. Julie. The problem is that vindictiveness festers. And eats into your soul. How will Marie learn to move past her hate and save her marriage in the process?
Paige Montgomery, the lap baby who survived the flight, would love to forget it ever happened. After all, she’s happy. And she’s on the cusp of a new relationship. How will she learn to forge her own path, one that integrates all the elements of her past, including the crash, the loss of her parents, and her subsequent adoption?
Twenty years ago. A plane crash. Three women survivors inexorably connected by fate, destiny, and a cause.
Did you know that lap babies (children under the age of two) are instructed to be placed on the floor of a plane during an emergency? Sounds crazy, but it’s true.
Julie Geiger, a flight attendant, told five sets of parents to do just that. Now she must live with the consequences. Will changing the rules bring her healing and forgiveness? And where does love fit into her life now?
Marie Stanley lost her baby boy on that flight. And she knows exactly…
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