February 2019 – Liza Achilles

Book Previews

Horses

February 27, 2019 by Liza Achilles 2 Comments

There was some kind of trouble with the horses. I knew this because part one of the novel is called “Trouble with the Horses.” Indeed, by the time I had finished reading the first two pages, I had learned quite a lot—considering the limited number of words there—about certain troubles involving certain horses. And then, to underscore what I had...

Reading time: 2 min

Tales

The Inquisitive One Loses a Chunk of Thumb

February 25, 2019 by Liza Achilles 6 Comments

The inquisitive one dug some sunchokes out of the ground, washed the dirt off, and placed them on a cutting board. Well, you can guess the rest of the story.

Reading time: 1 min

Incidental Musings

A “Friendly Debate”

February 22, 2019 by Liza Achilles 11 Comments

A few weeks ago, a reader of this blog sent me the following message: Hello Liza, I have a longstanding inner dialogue going on about the usefulness of academic humanities like literature, philosophy, and history. I love the humanities and I think they are and will always be extremely important but there are some people who seem to think they...

Reading time: 6 min

sending an email for the purpose of business communications can result in if vs whether grammar pitfalls

Incidental Musings

If vs Whether: Grammar at Work

February 20, 2019 by Liza Achilles 6 Comments

The following is a true story about if vs whether grammar pitfalls that can happen in business communications. The First Email A few weeks ago, one of the leaders of the company I work for sent all employees an email announcing an upcoming company event and listing possible dates on which it might be held. The leader also wrote this:...

Reading time: 4 min

cave entrance with light streaming through

Book Previews

One or Two Values

February 18, 2019 by Liza Achilles 7 Comments

It has happened every time. While each of Brené Brown’s books builds upon her earlier ones, and much information is repeated, each successive volume has brought me a great new gift. Each has brought me old gifts: reminders of the secrets I learned previously and perhaps lost sight of, or left unintegrated into my current life. And they bring me...

Reading time: 3 min

woman sitting hunched over on a jetty by water

Book Previews

You Shouldn’t Be Ashamed

February 15, 2019 by Liza Achilles 4 Comments

“You should be ashamed!” It’s common to hear outraged people say or type these words. The underlying postulate of the expression is as follows: someone who has wronged someone else should feel bad about him- or herself, and this bad self-feeling will spur them into acting more altruistically next time. According to Brené Brown, research shows that this postulate is...

Reading time: 2 min

Book Previews

What Research Says About Courage

February 13, 2019 by Liza Achilles 8 Comments

I am not sure how to write this blog post. The topic is too big and mind-blowing to easily encapsulate in such a short form. But I’ll try. Plus, I’m afraid my language is going to get too corny and New Agey to be taken seriously. But please try to understand. In all honesty, this blog itself might not have...

Reading time: 6 min

Book Previews

One and Only

February 11, 2019 by Liza Achilles 2 Comments

In 1987, Michael Jackson’s album Bad was released. Shortly thereafter, I acquired the vinyl record and listened to it over and over, with rapture, watching the record spin on the player in my bedroom and gaping at the sounds coming out of it. Even as a girl who hadn’t yet graduated from elementary school, I had strong opinions about that...

Reading time: 2 min

Book Previews

Sleep

February 8, 2019 by Liza Achilles 2 Comments

Sleep. That place to which we all disappear for hours at a time. Drifting off. The mysterious and intangible loss of consciousness. The strangeness of dreams. Waking refreshed . . . or not so much. As a kid, I was scared of the loss of consciousness that is implicit and inevitable in falling sleep. As an adult, I have, at...

Reading time: 2 min

looking up at a tall bookshelf with old books

Book Previews

Let’s Take the Easy Route

February 6, 2019 by Liza Achilles 1 Comment

I recently discovered a very cool chain of restaurants that are also bookstores in Washington, D.C. While in the city for another reason, I popped into one of the locations to check it out. As promised, the entrance of the restaurant was a little bookshop! Delighted, I began to scan the book titles, pick out a few of them, and...

Reading time: 2 min

Tales

The Inquisitive One Calls Me

February 4, 2019 by Liza Achilles 6 Comments

My phone rang, and “The Inquisitive One” appeared on the screen. “Hey you!” I said, upon answering. “Hey Liza!” said the inquisitive one. “I’m calling because I’m concerned about something, and I want to discuss it with you. Do you know?—people keep saying you and I are the same person!” “Oh, well, it happens,” I said. “Honestly, I’m flattered when...

Reading time: 2 min

Book Previews

Imperfection

February 1, 2019 by Liza Achilles 3 Comments

It’s always interesting when you read something that corresponds so germanely to something that is happening in real life. I was recently talking to a wise friend of mine, who pointed out that every family has issues—even, or especially, the ones that seem perfect. No one should feel that their family is exceptionally messed up in comparison with other families,...

Reading time: 1 min

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A blog for readers and thinkers.

Horses

The Inquisitive One Loses a Chunk of Thumb

A “Friendly Debate”

If vs Whether: Grammar at Work

One or Two Values

You Shouldn’t Be Ashamed

What Research Says About Courage

One and Only

Sleep

Let’s Take the Easy Route

The Inquisitive One Calls Me

Imperfection

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