Search Results

Filled with sometimes playful, often weighty questions, scenarios, and ideas, How to Be Perfect makes considering ethics and morality fun, and Michael Schur's tone is self-deprecating and thoughtful. The best thing about Aristotle’s “constant learning, constant trying, constant searching” is what results from it: a mature yet still pliable person, brimming with experiences both old and new, who doesn’t rely solely on familiar routines or dated information about how the world works. In How to Be Perfect, Michael Schur, the creator of Parks and Recreation and The Good Place, relies upon takeaways from morality and ethics writings and lessons to craft this guide to how to behave in the world. What does being a "good" person mean? What do we owe to each other? What is our duty to our fellow humans in different situations? Schur begins the book, which is largely made up of distilled concepts and highlights of 2,500 years of writing about ethics, with a simple question to consider: "Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?" He builds to more complex scenarios, touching on the popular trolley problem and its variations, morality and intersections with money, friendship, and knowledge, and, in the words of Samuel Beckett, how we might continue to "Try again. Fail again. Fail better." “Virtue comes about...not by a process of nature, but by habituation.… We become just by doing just actions, temperate by doing temperate actions, brave by doing brave actions.” He explores various schools of thought about ethics and morality to consider more complex issues, including how much one should give to charity; whether rigidity to rules such as "no lying" will win a person friends; and when and why to help others or to do the "right" thing--even if you don't receive any credit for doing so. Schur comes across as intelligent and kind, thoughtful, and self-deprecating. I'm watching The Good Place for the third time, this time with my youngest, and I love hearing his references to the inspiration for the show and hearing his references to specific scenes, currently fresh in my mind. With sections read by stars of The Good Place, Schur's How to Be Perfect is funny, interesting--and a heartwarming reminder that there are thoughtful, kind, well-meaning people out there spending time reflecting on how best to be a human in today's world. That in and of itself is a comfort. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Michael Schur is the creator of the television shows The Good Place and Parks and Recreation. The acknowledgments section of this book is so funny, generous, specific, thanks-filled, and lovely, these pages alone are enough to make me feel confident that Michael Schur is a gem of a human being.

The Cormoran Strike-Robin Ellacott Saga I've been listening to the fifth installment in this series, I've had time to reflect upon the fact that I haven't yet posted reviews of the other books in the series This isn't a fast-paced series, yet I've consistently felt hooked on how the cases build--and on the strengthening; her fiance is insufferable; his ex-girlfriend is emotionally unbalanced; and it's all very I'm currently listening to the fifth book in this series, Troubled Blood.

I tore through the first three books in this series with glee and am saving the other two that are already #robots, #fantasyscifi, #series, #fourstarbookreview

detail and thrills and chills of Viking-era Norway held so much promise, I'll give the next book in the series I gave this first book in the series three stars, which for me meant it had promise but didn't knock chills of the story held so much promise, and the next two books show positive reader reviews, this series #nordic, #Vikings, #series, #fantasyscifi

In this fourth installment of her Murderbot series, Wells provides another short (176 pages) book in little lighter on delightful Murderbot introspection than the previous books, but I'm all in on this series Have you read this or others in the Murderbot series? Are you as taken with this series as I am? #robots, #series, #fantasyscifi, #fourstarbookreview

But bringing back their surprising findings might very well mean the wholesale rounding up and destruction #postapocalyptic, #dystopian, #fantasyscifi, #series, #fourstarbookreview

The Queen of Nothing is the final book in Black's Folk of the Air trilogy (I mentioned the series in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). I loved having more time with my favorite character, the plain-speaking, tough, brutal but fair Grima twisted humor, various satisfying endings (including regarding Jude and Cardan) that did justice to the series

spent showing the tasks of daily life (and almost-claustrophobic interconnectedness) within a tiny, very very much want to read. #nordic, #heartwarming, #series, #fourstarbookreview 05 We, the Drowned ​ I own this book. Therefore I have not read it, despite wanting to, because I am a very greedy person who has too many #nordic, #series, #historicalfiction What are your favorite Nordic-set or -focused books?

Cookbook Book Gift Ideas Here are the 2023 cookbooks (with the exception of The National Parks Cookbook Another 2023 cookbook I was tempted to include here was Dan Pelosi's Let's Eat. Don't forget to check my past Bossy idea lists for quirky books, perennial classics, modern favorites Bossy Nonfiction Book Gift Ideas 2023 Bossy Book Gift Guides Shhh! ice-cream pie to the Grand Teton's Huckleberry Margaritas, these recipes will transport you back to favorite

The first in the series sets up a strong young Black heroine who bucks tradition as she explores her Bree's mother dies in an accident, she escapes the painful memories of her childhood home and town in favor was reading Legendborn, with its Arthurian references, during the same period I was reading another (very Legendborn is the first in Tracy Deonn's young adult Legendborn Cycle series. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, Bloodmarked.

This book was a little darker than the previous two in the series. I felt like this book was a little darker than the previous two in the series. Have you read this series? Maureen Johnson also wrote the young adults Shades of London series, which is based on Jack the Ripper's #series, #youngadult, #mysterysuspense, #threestarbookreview

considerable talent for bringing history to life by tackling the McCarthy era--in what feels like a very This historical fiction novel from Quinn is a departure from much of my favorite Quinn fiction--brave Nora thought of the Bill of Rights, which she saw in its case every day. And Quinn's inspiration for the Grace March storyline is a personal favorite; The Americans  is one of my all-time favorite shows.

This second book in Raybourn's historical fiction mystery series, set in Victorian London, hooked me loved listening to A Curious Beginning, the first book in Deanna Raybourn's sassy Veronica Speedwell series I'm already listening to the audiobook of the next in this series, A Treacherous Curse. Deanna Raybourn is the author of A Curious Beginning and the rest of the Veronica Speedwell series, as

frenemies; and the gloriously dramatic young adult debut from Shelby Mahurin (with a second in the series 01 A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik A Deadly Education is the first in Novik's Scholomance series, which Deadly danger and darkness lurk around every corner. in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). This is all very angsty and dramatic so far, and I love it!

in this duology, Ink & Sigil, so much so that it made it onto the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series The playful tone of this series often reminded me of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C.

Six More Bossy Favorite Reads I've been posting lists of some of my favorite reads of last year by genre ; for my all-around favorites, check out My Very Favorite Bossy 2023 Reads. I'd also love to hear: what are some of your favorite reads, whether you loved them last year or more This was absolutely my favorite part of the book. Through the very different but interconnected storylines and the varied, complicated set of characters

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, the first science fiction title in Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series includes The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; A Closed and Common Orbit; Record of a Spaceborn Few; The Galaxy, and the Ground Within; and a series prequel, A Good Heretic She's also the author of a A Psalm for the Wild-Built (the first in the Monk & Robot series) and its

This second book in Naomi Novik's Scholomance series builds on book one's dark humor, dangerous forces Novik's Scholomance series is set at a magical school with two routes out for its students: a grueling Danger and darkness lurk around every corner. slow down and savor Novik's irresistible Scholomance world while reading The Last Graduate, and I'm so very glad there will be a third book in this series.

She's also the author of The Blood of Stars series and multiple Twisted Tales books. the second and final book in the Six Crimson Cranes duology, is expected to be published in August 2022

I loved Pike's first novel in this series, The Lost Queen, and this book reminded me of The Mists of I was at the beginning of the second book in a different series (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and was Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book--or any historical fiction/fantasy series you love? The Lost Queen is currently in development for a television series, which is great news, unless it delays

Soon I'll be posting about my favorite December reads--and my favorite reads of 2024!

In the first book in Alex White's Starmetal Symphony space opera series, Gus is a jazz pianist whose My obsession with the irresistible dry humor, grudging and undying loyalty, and love for the series The I really enjoyed Alex White's Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe, the first in the Salvagers series That first book in that space opera series offers diverse characters, strong women, a heist setup, and

The beautifully complementary, mismatched partnership between Devlin and Falco was my favorite aspect And a very minor issue: the "Hey, pretty girl" greeting from the recently met grown-man male detective The beautifully complementary, mismatched partnership between Devlin and Falco was my favorite aspect

The second book in Marske's series is an irresistible queer magical mystery thriller with Edwardian England The third book in the Last Binding series will be titled A Power Unbound.

In Marie Lu's young adult dystopian series starter Legend, the Republic and Colonies war with each other In Marie Lu's young adult Legend, the first in the dystopian series of the same name, the west of the I anticipate that book two in the series, Prodigy--which picks up seven days after the finish of Legend Lu is the author of multiple young adult series (Legend, Warcross, The Young Elites, and Skyhunter) as Check out my review of her book Skyhunter, and look for my upcoming review of the second in that series

(I mentioned the author's Shadow and Bone series in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series, and I adored her Six of Crows duology even more.) and the King of Crows duology discussed here, which is expected to be the end of the interconnected series The Shadow and Bone Netflix series offers intermingled Grishaverse characters and storylines, and a second

The first book in Marske's duology is full of Edwardian England detail, gay love, mystery, magic, wonderful dialogue and banter, and plenty of heart. I adored it. A Marvellous Light, the first in Freya Marske's Last Binding duology, starts with a devastating ending (the demise of a character, caused by nefarious magicians) and a less-than-promising beginning (Robin Blyth's first day in his civil service job, for which he doesn't feel remotely qualified nor interested). Robin is trying to keep the household afloat after the deaths of his parents, to support his bright, ambitious younger sister, and to date some handsome men along the way. He soon realizes that (a) magic exists (!), (b) he's mistakenly been assigned the job of liaison to a secret magical society, (c) his office has been ransacked and a curse has been placed on him, (d) his curmudgeonly, book-smart coworker Edwin may be the key to saving them all, and (e) maybe he's falling for Edwin just the tiniest bit, despite himself. Marske offers immersive Edwardian England detail in this adorable, captivating, magical, queer book. Robin and Edwin's love is romantic and sweet and heartbreaking and sexy; the mystery at the heart of the book seems only to be solvable by the biggest book nerd in existence; and the story's magical details are fascinating and odd. I was completely hooked by A Marvellous Light, and I tried to slow down my reading to make it last. The amount of heart in this book was exquisite. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? I didn't see a mention anywhere in the book of a sequel, and some aspects felt tantalizingly unresolved, so I was relieved to find out that another book is coming. The second and final book in Marske's duology, A Restless Truth, is scheduled for publication in November.

life-and-death repercussions for a young author; the final book in Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner The Return of the Thief is the sixth and final book in Turner's Queen's Thief series (which I listed in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). The series was published over a period of almost twenty-five years, and the story trail traces the charismatic

editorialization about class and race, and futuristic advancements in this first book in the Skyhunter series mesmerizing cover for Marie Lu's latest young adult science fiction/fantasy book, the first in the Skyhunter series Then I remembered that this was the first in a series and that the story would continue past the final Lu, a former artist in the video game industry, has written the Legends, Young Elites, and Warcross series

When characters are on the verge of revealing a key point, expect an inconvenient interruption that prevents The second in Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series is Blood & Honey, with the third book, Gods & Monsters,

In this first book of Kevin Hearne's new (published last week) Ink & Sigil series, patterns and inks This title was recently listed in the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series I Just Started and Love #mystery, #fantasyscifi, #series, #LGBTQ, #fourstarbookreview

A Deadly Education is the first in Novik's Scholomance series, which is set at a magical school with Danger and darkness lurk around every corner. El is grumbly and abrupt, not looking for friends-nor making very many--as she speaks plainly and bristles However, I am ALL IN on the series: El, Orion, the burgeoning alliances, and the twisty turns Novik has The Last Graduate, the second book in this series, is slated for publication in June 2021.

#fantasyscifi, #series, #youngadult, #russia, #fourstarbookreview

This book follows the other books in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower I highly recommend this series. #russia, #fantasyscifi, #youngadult, #series, #fourstarbookreview

and warring kingdoms; Fugitive Telemetry, the newest book in Martha Wells's science fiction Murderbot series Was it when I reviewed books 1 through 3 of the series? decision-making and astute threat assessment; and retreats from overwhelming interactions to watch its favorite Sanctuary Moon. 03 Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall My book club heard Alice Randall speak last year at Verse

oddly unresolved at the end--even keeping in mind that there's a second book in Donati's Waverly Place series Donati has also written a series of four books in her Wilderness series, which sounds like an epic romantic

The second installment in Nora Roberts's Dragon Heart Legacy series is satisfying and comfortable, as In The Awakening, the first book in Nora Roberts's Dragon Heart Legacy series, she set up a romantic In book two of the series, Breen Siobhan Kelly is coming into her own. , which I'm in favor of in real life, so I understand the obsession here. I posted that I was reading this, a fellow reader reminded me that the third and final book in the series

I recently posted about some of my very favorite young adult books, and I just mentally added In the I hold every memory of him like a match I let burn down to the end, singeing my fingers until it hurts This ticked all of my boxes for a favorite young adult read. Stand-Alone Young Adult Books , The Serpent King , and he has two books scheduled for publication in 2026

I'll definitely read the next in this series. realizations--as well as the resolutions and the fantastic setup for the next middle-grade book in the series Story Thieves is the first in a five-book series by James Riley. Riley is also the author of the Half Upon a Time and Revenge of Magic series.

Namesake was fantastic, and I wish more books were coming in this series. I adored the first book in the series, Fable, in which the title character relied heavily on her survival I love Young's tone and the characters she's created in this series. I wish there were a third book in this series coming from Young.

This is the first in Muir's Locked Tomb series, and I'm excited to the second, Harrow the Ninth. #fantasyscifi, #series, #postapocalyptic, #dystopian, #fourstarbookreview

This fantastic book is the first in Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. Five books in the series have been published, and a sixth is scheduled for 2021. I love when I find a new-to-me series with multiple books already available for me to binge read. I can’t wait to read the others in this series. #mysterysuspense, #series, #historicalfiction, #london, #fourstarbookreview

I really liked Roth's Divergent, but the second book in that series fell off for me and I didn't read #fantasyscifi, #timetravel, #series, #dystopian, #fourstarbookreview

Here are six varied books about witches, some I might call modern witchy classics (Wicked and Circe) I didn't include some obvious options like the Harry Potter series or Roald Dahl's The Witches, nor did are two other Bossy Bookworm Greedy Reading Lists you might enjoy: Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series What are the witchy books you would include as favorites? There is a lot more sexy yoga here than I could have dreamed of, plenty of romance, so very much wine

really enjoyed Hearne's Ink & Sigil last year, and it made it onto the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series which made it onto my Greedy Reading Lists Six Historical Fiction Books I Loved This Year and My Twelve Favorite 2020 Books. 03 Jack by Marilynne Robinson Jack, a quiet, gorgeous book from Marilynne Robinson, focuses

I love a Favorites list, and I've made a Bossy spreadsheet (ahem!) of my favorite reads of the past year by genre, so the hits are going to keep coming! If you want more favorite-mystery lists, stay tuned for round 2 of last year's Bossy favorites, coming You can also check out My Very Favorite Bossy 2023 Reads for my overall favorite reads from last year What are some of your favorite mystery reads?

Scene: 1989-1999 by Tom Maxwell George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle by Philip Norman (published fall 2023 to check my past Bossy gift idea lists (linked below) for quirky books, perennial classics, modern favorites Ideas: Sports and Recreation Nonfiction 2023 Bossy Book Gift Guides Shhh! Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music How Women Made Music is pulled from the NPR series year. 06 Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music by Rob Sheffield "Every

I read half but didn't finish this second in the Monsters of Verity series. This is the second in Schwab's Monsters of Verity series; the first is This Savage Song, which I gave #fantasyscifi, #youngadult, #series, #didnotfinish

one was slow going in the middle, but Wells provides a fantastically unique point of view, and this series This fifth book in Martha Wells's Murderbot series (this is the first full-length book in the set) starts performing medical techniques by watching it), although The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon remains its favorite Later in the book, the gems that make this series so unexpectedly poignant and funny and delightful shine #robots, #fantasyscifi, #series, #offbeat, #uniquePOV, #LGBTQ, #threestarbookreview

the audiobook version of this book--the first I've read in Castillo's thirteen-book Kate Burkholder series I wondered if it was fair of me to first dive into the story so late in the series, but in an illuminating