Oprah has a Book Club and now Chris has one, too.

Just wanted to thank you for your book recommendations.  I really loved both Maisie Dobbs and The Kite Runner.  The latter, especially, I would never have picked up without your recommendation!  Keep them coming!
Peggy Clippert
We Energies

Participants in Chris' programs often ask her for suggestions on books to read. It doesn't take a ton of bricks to fall on her head before she figures out that there's an idea in there. Why not start a book club, she asked herself. Good idea, she replies (don't ask, there are lots of these internal conversations in Chris' office) and so, ta-da, Reading for a Change was born!

If you are a subscriber to Chris' e-letter, Thinking for a Change, you'll receive a link to this page during the first e-letter of every month. (Not a subscriber to Thinking for a Change? You're kidding. Click HERE to sign up right now!)

Each month or so there will be two reading selections: one non-fiction/business title and one - people do not learn by non-fiction alone - fiction title. When the books are posted there will be a short commentary about why Chris picked these particular books and why you might want to read them.

Many organizations have discovered that Workplace Reading Groups are an effective way to increase their collective knowledge base. If you are interested in starting your own workplace reading group you may want to read this article. The non fiction books Chris selects for Reading for a Change are always chosen with Workplace Reading Groups in mind. If you use the non-fiction book for a Workplace Reading Group, please email Chris and she'll be happy to provide a few questions to get the discussion started.

If you read a book and want to send Chris a comment, please do. We'll post your remarks here, also.

Check out the Book Club archive for past suggestions.

Books for Summer 2005

Non-Fiction/Business Title

The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life: How to get more books in your life and more life from your books by Steve Leveen
Published by Levenger Press, ISBN 1-929154-17-8, $17.50

I was a weird child. I loved hanging out in the office supply section of a store in downtown Mt. Prospect and as an adult I have reveled in each edition of the Levenger catalog. If you like pens, notebooks, and cool office stuff, you need to visit www.Levenger.com. Steve Leveen is the CEO and co-founder of Levenger and now he's written a clever book that is filled with practical ideas to increase your ability to get more books into your life.

Myra Hart, Professor, Harvard Business School is quoted on the back cover. "Perfect for all of us who can never get enough time with good books. It not only urges us to indulge deeply and often, it shows us how." The time you spend with this highly readable book will be well worth it. Who am I to argue with Harvard.

Fiction Title
Summer is perfect for reading a series - especially if it's a mystery series. Here are three authors and the first titles in each of their terrific series. I always suggest reading series in order so you have the opportunity to grow with the characters.

Tony Hillerman is the award winning mystery novelist whose books are set among the Navaho in the Four Corners of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. His main characters, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee represent the two extremes in the world of the Native American - adherence to the traditional  ways and wholesale adoption of the white culture. Hillerman infuses his books with his extensive knowledge of the Southwest so you'll learn as you read. As the mysteries unfold, you'll The first several books feature one of the two men until their paths cross with exciting consequences. The first book is The Blessing Way. You'll love these stories, I promise.

Nevada Barr, a working Ranger, has written a series set in National Parks. You'll come to know and admire her main character, Anna Pigeon as she solves the mysteries she encounters as a Park Ranger. Since her job moves her from one Park to another, each book features a different part of the country - perfect for a summer read! The first book in the series is Track of the Cat set in Guadaloupe Mountains National Park. If your schedule doesn't allow you to travel this summer, this series will help you have several terrific adventures.

J. A. Jance has two series and I enjoy them both. The series featuring J.P. Beaumont is set in Seattle. It starts with Until Proven Guilty. Beaumont's life is turned around in this opening book and continues its fascinating course in all the subsequent books. Seattle becomes a main character and it's a wonderful place to visit. Her other series set in Bisbee, Arizona features Sheriff Joanna Brady. You'll learn to care about her life, her family, and her community. (If you have a difficult relationship with your mother - this series is for you.) The first book that sets up all the characters is Desert Heat.

I could list more. There's the series set in a yarn shop near Minneapolis, one in a small tea shop in Charleston. Sue Grafton's alphabet series sits next to the Stephanie Plum mysteries by Janet Evonovich that will make you laugh out loud. As you can tell I like mysteries a lot! Let me know if you need more suggestions.

Happy Reading!