Tightwads and Spendthrifts by Scott Rick

Title: Tightwads and Spendthrifts; Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships

Author: Scott Rick

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 9, 2024

Length: 230 Pages

About the Author
Scott Rick is a marketing professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioral Decision Research from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. Before joining Michigan Ross, he spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Rick routinely teaches courses on consumer behavior, judgment and decision-making, and marketing management.

Relationships and Money
Dr. Rick defines a tightwad as a person who has difficulty spending money. A spendthrift is a person who has difficulty controlling spending. Research shows that conflict revolving around money is the second leading cause of divorce in the United States, with infidelity being the leading cause.  

This book explains why money should be considered when choosing a partner, how money should be handled within the relationship, and how money should be used in raising children. The ultimate goal is finding a balance between financial and psychological well-being.

My Thoughts
I chose this book because I tend to enjoy spending money and my husband tends to have difficulty spending. I am not an extreme spendthrift and he is not an extreme tightwad, but we definitely have different spending/saving styles.

The author did an excellent job blending the psychological and financial concepts in this book. Financial beliefs are deeply engrained and have often been in place since childhood. Communication and compromise are required to work out a financial plan that is satisfactory to both partners in a marriage. 

I read Chapter 7, "The Secret Language of Gifts", about three weeks before Christmas. It is always hard for me to purchase a gift for my husband. Dr. Rick believes that gift-giving occasions are important opportunities to make our partners feel seen and appreciated. He recommends giving gifts that require some kind of sacrifice. It should be clear to your partner that your gift was not easy to select or obtain. This advice really touched me and helped me choose appropriate Christmas gifts for my husband.

You might be surprised to learn that the author does not believe that complete financial transparency is necessary among financially mismatched partners. He suggests that financial translucency (partial financial transparency) is likely to strike the right balance between financial and relationship well-being.

This is an amazing book that should be required reading for everyone in a relationship that requires the blending of finances. Highly recommended!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

Thank you to NetGalley for this excellent reading opportunity.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell - Book Review

 

Title: Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know

Author: Malcolm Gladwell

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Length: 401 Pages

About The Author
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers and the cofounder of Pushkin Industries, an audiobook and podcast production company. 

Stranger Danger
Malcolm Gladwell presents case studies that illustrate how we can make mistakes when communicating with strangers. We tend to think that everyone we meet has the same mindset as we do. 

"We think we can transform the stranger, without cost or sacrifice, into the familiar and the known, And we can't."

My Thoughts
This book convinced me to rethink how I communicate with strangers. First impressions are not always accurate and it takes time and experience to really know how a person thinks. You can't automatically give strangers the benefit of the doubt. You have to be in investigative mode and collect information over time. Mr. Gladwell is not encouraging the reader to be paranoid, just be smart. 

The author was especially interested in the case of Sandra Bland. This is a heartbreaking story where a young black woman had an unfortunate encounter with a Texas state trooper. This situation shows how fast things can spiral out of control and have dire consequences.

This book presents important lessons that everyone should consider and think about. I know that I have made mistakes in the past about the character and personality of new acquaintances. After reading this book, I will talk less and listen more carefully...and proceed slowly. My future depends on it.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

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Children's Book - Sonia's Digital World

Title: Sonia's Digital World

Author: Shannon McClintock Miller

Illustrator: Clara Reschke

Publisher: Picture Window Books

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Pages: 32 pages

Interest Level: Grades K - 2

Reading Level: Ages 5 - 7

About the Author
Shannon McClintock Miller, an international speaker and author, is the K-12 district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School District in Iowa. She earned the Making it Happen Award by the International Society for Technology in Education in 2016 and was named the American Association of School Librarians Social Media Superstar Leadership Luminary in 2018. 

Sonia Uses Technology for Communication, Collaboration, and Learning
Sonia is a very tech-savvy young lady.

She uses technology (cell phone and camera) to stay in touch with friends and family. Her grandparents are far away but watch a school play on their laptop computer.

Sonia learns how to share new things she is learning by collaborating with other students on her tablet.

Sonia's teacher connects with classrooms across the world with technology. 

Sonia can look up information on the Internet and find answers to millions of questions.

Sonia learns how to use technology to help others in her community and the world.

The book ends with five questions that focus on the main ideas presented in the story.

My Thoughts
Most school-age children have an abundance of experience using technology for entertainment. They have watched videos and played games for many years.

This book emphasizes the use of technology for bringing people together and increasing knowledge. The author defines collaboration in a kid-friendly way...."We can put our minds together." 

The book contains very diverse characters. There are children of different races and nationalities. There is a boy in a wheelchair and several children wearing glasses. There is also generational diversity with children, parents, and grandparents participating in the story.

The story takes place in many different settings where technology is used. The color illustrations are excellent and add value to the story. If you take a close look at the pictures you will see examples of technology that are not mentioned in the text...cell phone tower, a drone, and an Internet dish on a building.

The questions at the end of the story are excellent for discussion. There is also a chart that displays the ISTE Standards.

I think this book provides a wonderful learning experience for young children. It combines learning and fun...a great combination!

RATING: 5 Stars Out of 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Power of Positive Words

The Power of Positive Words: What You Say Makes a Difference

Author: Stan Toler

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Length: 192 Pages








About the Author
For many years, Stan Toler served as vice president and instructor for INJOY, John C. Maxwell’s Institute for training leaders to make a difference in the world.

Words Play a Role in Our Success or Failure
Our words are more than just what we speak. Rather, our words play a significant role in our outcomes toward success or failure.

Mr. Toler has written a fascinating book about the importance of words and how they have shaped our past and can affect our lives in both positive and negative ways.

The author tells about many famous speakers who have used positive words to communicate with people and make a difference in the world. He also explains the importance of silence and listening. Even though this is a book about positive words, Mr. Toler warns readers about the destructiveness of negative words.

This is not a strongly Christian book, but the author uses the final pages of the book to teach the reader how to have a conversation with Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father.

My Thoughts
I found this book inspiring and informative. Mr. Toler is an excellent and experienced writer and expresses his thoughts in an organized and insightful manner.

I really enjoyed reading one story after another about how the power of words can change situations in a positive or a negative way. I also found the chapter about the importance of silence and listening very interesting. 

We can all benefit from thinking about the words we use. Knowledge and words are powerful. This book will give you a practical background and guide for the use of positive words and how they make a difference.


MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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Book Review: Family; The Good F Word by Troy Dunn

Family: The Good "F" Word: The Life-Changing Action Plan for Building Your Best Family

Author: Troy Dunn and Dr. Phil McGraw

Publisher: Bird Street Books

Publication Date: April 21, 2014

Length: 321 Pages



About The Author
Troy Dunn is the creator and executive producer of the #1 rated show on WE Network, “The Locator” and host of the TNT series “APB with Troy Dunn.” As a husband and father, Dunn truly is an expert on family — he and his wife have been married for more than 25 years and have 8 children.

The LCA Plan (Life-Changing Action Plan)
Troy Dunn is a dedicated family man and owner of a business that reunites separated and distressed families. He shares his love, enthusiasm and passion for family life in this book.

Mr. Dunn has created the "LCA Plan" to help restore families to full strength. This plan contains the following four steps;

• Determine what is wrong with your marriage/family relationship. This involves taking a personal inventory and taking responsibility for your actions in the relationship.
• CHANGE. The author puts this word in capital letters because without it you will not be able to fix your family
• Repairing damage and rebuilding your marriage or relationship.
• Empowerment and attempting to permanently stabilize your family. This includes embracing forgiveness and moving forward without clinging to destructive behaviors.

The author admits it will not be easy to implement the LCA Plan, but the benefits can be tremendous if you desire a better marriage and family life.

My Thoughts
I read this book from cover to cover and found it to be an outstanding guide for marriage and family improvement and growth.

The author includes quizzes to help evaluate areas of your marriage that need improvement. He emphasizes the importance of communication and states that silence is a silent killer in a relationship.

My very favorite part of the book is where Mr. Dunn recalls his own childhood and his father's problem with alcoholism. He states that his mother tried to make the marriage work, but she eventually packed up her three children and separated from his father. Several months later, a young Troy came home from school and found his father sitting on the front porch of the house where his mother had moved the family. His father had gone to AA and was willing to take responsibility for all the bad behavior that he exhibited during his drinking days. His family was reunited and his father's example was a strong positive influence on the author.

I highly recommend this book to readers who are ready for positive change in their family and their life. This book is the real deal and will be well worth the time it takes to read it.

RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.

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Movie Review: Hope Springs

Kay: "It feels like Arnold and I aren't going towards anything anymore. I want a real marriage again."
Eileen: "I think for that to happen you would have to risk everything just to shake things up."

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couple's specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, she attempts to persuade her skeptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy. Just convincing the stubborn Arnold to go on the retreat is hard enough - the real challenge for both of them comes as they shed their bedroom hang-ups and try to re-ignite the spark that caused them to fall for each other in the first place.

My Thoughts
We tend to fall into daily routines that are predictable and difficult to change. This is the story of a 50ish couple who have been married for 31 years. They seldom talk to each other and they sleep in separate rooms. They have not had sex for over five years.

Kay wants to find out if REAL change is possible. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Kay is determined to find out.

The scenes with Dr. Feld, the marriage counselor, are hilarious. Arnold does not think there is anything wrong with his marriage. He does not think he needs to change. My very favorite quotation in the movie is when the marriage counselor asks Arnold the following question;

Arnold: "You come up here for one week and you're supposed to have a new marriage?"
Dr. Feld: "Arnold, your wife is very unhappy and you have to ask yourself, 'have I done all I could?'"

Kay and Arnold renew the physical and emotional intimacy in their marriage. It is a slow process, but it is worth the effort. This is a wonderful "date night" movie for couples who are not afraid to dream of new ways of connecting and loving.

This is not an action-packed show that will have you sitting on the edge of your seats. There are times when the movie is not really entertaining. The purpose of this movie is to explore the complicated interactions between a man and a woman who live in the same house but are no longer connected.

Dear Readers, are you willing to risk everything just to shake things up? Are YOU doing all you can to make your marriage the best it can be?

My Rating:  4 Stars Out Of 5

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Book Review: What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us

What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us

By Guy Kawasaki

Amazon Digital Services

March 4, 2012

About the Author

Guy Kawasaki is the author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. He is also the co-founder of Alltop.com, an "online magazine rack" of popular topics on the web, and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures.

Why Should You Use Google+?

Google+ is still fairly new but Guy Kawasaki predicts that it will exceed Facebook and Twitter in popularity and use! The author states that his goal is to help you derive as much joy and value from Google+ as he does.

Mr. Kawasaki begins the book with an interesting comparison between Twitter, Facebook and Google+. He states that Twitter is best for real-time perspectives. Facebook is for people. It is great for keeping up with people you already know (friends, relatives and colleagues). Google+ is for passions. It enables you to pursue your passions with people you don't know.

Mr. Kawasaki provides a very helpful tutorial on how to get started on Google+. He explains exactly how to set-up your account and find people to include in your circles. The author believes that your Google+ profile is very important and offers an entire chapter on "how to make an enchanting profile". He provides detailed instructions for designing a photo scrapbook for your profile page.

This book provides helpful hints for leaving comments, responding to comments and sharing posts. There is a chapter on how to "hang out" using the feature that allows you to conduct a live video conference with up to ten people. Hangouts can reach more people if you "broadcast and record" them. This enables people to watch and listen to hangouts but not participate.

Peg Fitzpatrick wrote a guest chapter entitled "Fish in a Big Pond." She provides tips for "ordinary" people to use when getting started on Google+. Lynette Young wrote a guest chapter entitled "How to Thrive in the All-Boys' Club". This chapter explains how women on Google+ can survive and thrive.

My Thoughts

I purchased this book to help me get started on Google+. I am active on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Pinterest....I just had not taken the time to set up a profile on Google+.

I found this book to be everything I needed to get started on Google+. This book is precise, understandable and complete. I will go back and re-read different portions of this book as I become more familiar with Google+. This is an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced Google+ uses. Highly recommended!

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I purchased a digital copy of this book from Amazon.Com with my own funds.

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Book Review: Save Your Marriage - Get Rid Of Your Resentment

Do you tend to give your spouse the "silent treatment" when you are upset? Do you mull the same old issue over a lot, building a tighter case against your partner as time goes by?

Marriage counselor Claire Hatch, author of "Save Your Marriage; Get Rid Of Your Resentment", believes that resentment could be undermining the closeness you want from your relationship. She explains how most resentments develop in a predictable cycle in this ebook.


About the Author
Claire Hatch first showed an interest in counseling at age 14, when she volunteered on a crisis hotline for teenagers. Now a licensed social worker, she maintains a private practice near Seattle, WA. She specializes in marriage counseling and works to bridge the engineer/woman divide.

The Cycle of Resentment
The author defines "resentment" as anger that snowballs in your mind because you can't express your feelings and be understood. Either you try and get stuck in the blame game, or you've given up. This ebook is mostly for women who are afraid that resentment is sapping the life out of their marriage.

Ms. Hatch has identified a "resentment cycle" that explains how resentment really works. The following elements are included in the cycle of resentment;

• Trigger event
• Burning unmet desires
• Negative conclusions
• Painful feelings
• Reactions
• New desires

The author encourages the reader to print out a worksheet from her web site to work through each part of the cycle. This makes the woman aware of what is going on with her feelings before she talks to her spouse.

Ms. Hatch offers some very helpful communication tools to help the husband/wife learn to discuss their feelings in a successful manner. Many husbands will not be eager to talk about their feelings because they have been caught in the trap of not talking. The author gives many suggestions for healthy and productive communication between a husband and wife.

My Thoughts
This book begins with a case study based on two couples that Ms. Hatch has counseled in her private practice. She does a very good job explaining exactly how resentment can drive a wedge between a couple and damage their marriage.

After explaining the problem, the author goes into a detailed explanation of the cycle of resentment and how to overcome it. She offers women many suggestions for communicating with their husbands in a way that will improve the relationship and make the couple feel close again.

Ms. Hatch provides practical, do-able advice in an easy-to-understand method. The strategies in this relatively short ebook can really make a difference in your marriage and your life. The price of this Kindle ebook is $0.99 ~ This is an incredible resource for the money. Highly recommended!

FYI ~ Thank you to Ms. Hatch for sending me a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review.

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Book Review: Fast Media; Media Fast

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5
Are you on the computer ALL the time? Are you losing nourishing connections to other people by looking at a screen all day? Have you become a consumer instead of a creator?
Fast Media; Media Fast: How To Clear your Mind and invigorate You Life in an Age of Media Overload, by Dr. Thomas W. Cooper, will help you make choices about your relationship to mass media.

About The Author
Thomas Cooper, Ph. D., is Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College and the founder of the Association for Responsible Communication which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is his seventh book.

A Practical Guide To Reclaiming Your Life From Media Over Saturation
Dr. Cooper has done extensive research on the role of media in our lives. The author explains how he went on a month long "media fast" in 1989 and how it changed his life. He stopped watching television and movies, listening to radio and CDs, and reading books, magazines and newspapers. Web sites and the flurry of new media were not yet in the picture.

In the two decades which have followed, Dr. Cooper has guided and assisted thousands of students, groups and colleagues with their own media blackouts (no media), practical fasts (as little media as is practical), and media diets (selective media intake).

Dr. Cooper has studied media addiction in children and adults. The cravings for the mass media stimulus may be traced to it's instant numbing of real-life problems and the provision of emotional "highs," a sense of security, surrogate companionship, heightened sensuality and a variety of other sensations.

An entire chapter in this book is devoted to group fasting. Dr. Cooper shares his experiences in leading groups, families and classes on mass media fasts. There are specific guidelines for group leaders and some tips on how to measure the results of the fast.

My Thoughts
Most people think of food when they hear the word "fast".  Dr. Cooper has taken fasting to a new level. He shares his academic research with his readers but it is written in a manner that a layman can understand.

What would you do with your time if you had NO computer, NO television, NO movies, NO radio, NO cds or dvds, NO books, NO magazines and NO newspapers. Can you even imagine what your life would be like?

I believe the purpose of this book is to encourage you to THINK about how mass media is changing your choices and lifestyle. It is not practical for most people to eliminate all media from their lives, but perhaps it is time to take a look at our priorities.
I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking the truth in a world of "fast media".

"We adults consume more than five hours of TV and video per day while consuming four hours of Internet, not to mention music, hand-held devices, faxes, radio, movies and much more".
Dr. Thomas W. Cooper

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Book Review: Social Media For The CEO

I recently read Social Media for the CEO: The Why and ROI of Social Media for the CEO of Today and Tomorrow by Eve Mayer Orsburn.  I read this book in digital format on my Kindle.  I borrowed the book from a fellow member of the Kindle Lending Club. 
Ms. Orsburn is the founder and CEO of Social Media Delivered in Dallas, Texas.  This book provides an abundance of information for the CEO who is interested in promoting his/her business.  You are not a CEO?  The good news is that this book will benefit anyone who wants to learn more about social media marketing. 
Ms. Orsburn emphasizes that social media is about communication and building relationships.  Social media delivers (1) customer service, (2) marketing and (3) communication.  It is as simple as that. 
The author provides 14 case studies of companies that use social media to build their client base and grow their businesses.  Some of these companies are the Mayo Clinic, Anheuser-Busch, Texas State Optical and General Motors.  Ms. Orsburn explains how she built her reputation as a social media consultant on Linked-In. 
I found the author's "Social Media Equation" the highlight of this book.  She breaks down the amount of time that you should spend in providing information, entertaining and interacting with people that you connect with on social media sites.  If you follow this formula, you will reap the rewards of new friendships, professional contacts and clients.  I am going to write this formula on a piece of paper and tape it to my desk. 
This book is a quick read and is very easy to understand.  The concepts that are presented in this book are very doable.  I have read quite a few books on this subject and I honestly believe that I learned more practical information from this book than from any other. 
PS: The last pages of this book lists hundreds (thousands?) of Twitter names that the author follows.  I found this list fascinating and I am using it to find many new people to follow.

Book Review: 33 Million People In The Room

I read the Kindle version of 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking by Juliette Powell.  I am an avid Twitter and Facebook user, so I am always looking for books that will increase my skill and knowledge in social media marketing and promotion.
This is a slender book that can be read in a couple of hours, but it is packed full of useful information that will teach you how to use social media to make your business grow and thrive. 
Ms. Powell highlights the importance of social networking.  A social network is a Web platform where people can connect with one another.  It is the online counterpart of the rolodex and card catalog wrapped into one, and it's becoming just as widely used.  Social media offers new and exciting ways to communicate.  Social networks aren't just about catching up, they are about staying in touch.
The author uses "Reed's Law" to illustrate the effectiveness of large social networks. Reed's Law suggests that every new person on a network doubles it's value. If you have a network of 25 business contacts, the amount of possible connections and subgroups within your group is an amazing 33 million.
The author provides numourous examples of how entrepreneurs have used social media platforms to build and grow their buisiness empires.  There is plenty of practical information in this book to educate a  newbie and enough details to sharpen the skills of a social media guru.
I really enjoyed the inspiration that this book presents by providing true stories of people who have worked hard and used social media networks to achieve success that truly blows my mind.  I read this book and then I made a list of things that I want to implement to expand my social media networking efforts. 
I recommend that you read this book and then use it as a reference tool in the future.

Twitter Avatars; Is A Picture Worth A Thousand Words?

An avatar is a graphical image that represents a person on the Internet. You have an opportunity to choose a personal avatar when you register on Twitter. This avatar becomes your personal branding with other people in the Twitterverse.

If you want to make a good impression on Twitter, you should give your avatar careful consideration. Here are some of the avatars that I have observed on Twitter;

• Current photograph. This can be a formal picture or a very casual picture. The majority of people using Twitter use a personal photo as their avatar.
• Twitter generic avatar. If you don't upload a picture, your avatar will be the default Twitter logo.
• Business logo. Some Tweeple use their company logo as an avatar. This is good for the business but not so good for personal interaction. Most people like to have a mental image of the person they are communicating with.
• Animal pictures. Some Tweeps post a picture of their pet for an avatar. I am the biggest animal lover in the world, but I do not want people to identify with me by thinking about a picture of my dog.
• Clip art. These graphics are cute but they do not have the personal touch that a photograph has.
• Baby and children pictures. Proud parents have every right to display pictures of their kids but I would much rather see a picture of Mom or Dad so I could relate as an adult.
• Body Parts. Can you expect Tweeple to value your intellectual comments when your avatar is X-rated?