Brenda Kline Reynolds is the President of BKR Consulting. With 30 years of experience, Brenda helps executives find clarity in challenging times. I’m happy to say that I’m one of those executives. Over the past month or so, I’ve had the opportunity to work with her, and I think she’s exceptional. I recently read her book, To Be Determined: Leading with Clarity and Confidence in Uncertain Times, and it’s brimming with useful advice and strategies for executives of all ages and levels within an organization. Read on for my full thoughts on this book.
I read a lot in 2021, more than I’ve ever read in a single year. To be exact, I read 63 books, shattering my goal of reading 30 books by 210%! I read physical books, ebooks, and, my favorite, audiobooks. Whether it was tales of truth or fiction, I dove into a diverse array of genres, covering 12,151 pages along the way. So, what books did I curl up with in 2021? Keep reading to find out.
It’s rare that you meet a thriller writer with a PhD, but that’s David Morrell. He perfectly mixes fact with fiction, and has an immense appreciation for and understanding of the thriller genre. Morrell is a co-founder of International Thriller Writers, and he’s the father of John J. Rambo. Without his novel First Blood, the iconic film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone wouldn’t exist.
I first met David at ThrillerFest in 2013 and have enjoyed getting to know him better over the past couple years. Below is an interview I conducted with David. We cover everything from what inspired him to become a writer to what it was like working on a novel while his son was struggling with a rare disease. After you’ve read it, please make sure to pick up a copy of David’s latest novel, Inspector of the Dead. It’s receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
This morning Amazon accidentally leaked information about its new Kindle Paperwhite. This resulted in a flurry of media coverage. A few hours later, Amazon officially announced the device on its homepage with a letter from Jeff Bezos (see below). I own the original Kindle Paperwhite and think it’s a wonderful device, so I’m looking forward to checking out the new model. Once I do, I’ll let you know whether or not it’s worth upgrading.
Dear Customers,
We believe in the power and importance of reading. We are passionate about books. Books convey knowledge, spread ideas, and can transport you into alternate lives and worlds. It’s why we’re working so hard to help people read more and get more out of reading.
Today we’re excited to announce another milestone in our journey—the all-new Kindle Paperwhite.
The new Paperwhite is our best ever, with a new higher contrast display, the next generation of our built-in light, a powerful new processor, and the latest touchscreen technology.
We’ve also added new reading features like Page Flip—skim books page-by-page, or skip through chapters without losing your place. We’ve integrated Goodreads—the world’s largest community of book lovers—so you can connect with like-minded readers, share recommendations and decide what to read next, straight from your book. Our new Vocabulary Builder automatically compiles words you look up in the dictionary into easy-to-use flashcards. And for parents, Kindle FreeTime offers a simple, engaging new way to encourage and reward kids’ reading.
Kindle is the best-selling e-reader in the world for six years running. No one is investing on behalf of readers or pushing the boundaries of hardware, software, and content for readers like the Kindle team. We continue to invest not only in new hardware like the new Kindle Paperwhite, but also in new features and benefits that make Kindle a superior service: Kindle MatchBook, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, over 400,000 books that are exclusive to the Kindle Store, Kindle Singles, Kindle Worlds, and many more.
I’ve had the Kindle Fire HD for a little over a week, so I thought I’d create a video review – my first ever – so you can learn more about this device and its capabilities. Below, you’ll also find a video further explaining “Whispersync for Voice,” a new feature I love. Enjoy!
Michael Cavacini 