Category Archives: Memoir

A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama

Posted on December 26, 2020 by OnlyGoodBooks

As I finished reading Barack Obama’s 768-page memoir, I was reminded of how I’ve always told my students that what you get from a text depends on what you bring to it.  So here’s a funny, true story of what … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Memoir | Leave a comment

THE EDUCATION OF AN IDEALIST by Samantha Power

Posted on November 29, 2019 by OnlyGoodBooks

One thing I’m thankful for this year is that many smart, hard-working people continue to write good books. The latest object of my gratitude is Samantha Power. As far as I can tell, memoirs seem to fall into two categories: … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Nonfiction | Tagged , | 1 Comment

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb

Posted on May 5, 2019 by OnlyGoodBooks

If you’ve ever been in therapy—and let’s face it, who hasn’t? (but, PS, if you haven’t, you probably should)—you know what it’s like to need someone to talk to when you’re in crisis, and you know that while therapy helps, … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Nonfiction, Relationships, Self-help | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CALYPSO by David Sedaris

Posted on January 27, 2019 by OnlyGoodBooks

If you are not already familiar with David Sedaris’s writing, then you should start with ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY, for reasons which I’ve explained here. Then, read everything else he’s written. He has a dysfunctional family (Who doesn’t?) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Humor, Memoir, Nonfiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

BECOMING by Michelle Obama

Posted on November 23, 2018 by OnlyGoodBooks

Michelle Obama’s memoir, BECOMING, is a humble, honest account of what so far has been an amazing life. “When I was a kid,” she begins, “my aspirations were simple. I wanted a dog. I wanted a house that had stairs … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, For EDUCATORS, History, Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics, Race relations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain

Posted on May 13, 2018 by OnlyGoodBooks

If you are a Paula McLain fan like me, you already know that she is brilliant at capturing the voices and lives of strong women in history. You’ve read Circling the Sun (about Beryl Clutterbuck—later Markham) and The Paris Wife … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Fiction, Historical fiction, Memoir, Travel, Writing, WWII | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UNBELIEVABLE by Katy Tur

Posted on March 8, 2018 by OnlyGoodBooks

This book got me into some trouble–well, this book and the other four I brought on vacation, which formed a solid, suspicious, sharp-edged block that caused a TSA agent to inform me that she needed to search my bag. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, Humor, Investigative journalism, Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THANKS, OBAMA by David Litt

Posted on November 3, 2017 by OnlyGoodBooks

I recognize that the title of this book might discourage some portion of the population from picking it up, but that would be a missed opportunity. David Litt’s entertaining memoir, subtitled My Hopey, Changey White House Years, is more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

RED NOTICE by Bill Browder

Posted on September 10, 2017 by OnlyGoodBooks

I admit I took my eye off the Russia ball for a while. For years, actually. Once we signed nuclear disarmament treaties with them (or first with the “Soviet Union” then “Russia”), I thought, OK, so they’re not going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Crime, For BUSINESS PEOPLE, History, Investigative journalism, Memoir, Nonfiction, Russia | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OLD FRIEND FROM FAR AWAY by Natalie Goldberg

Posted on May 2, 2017 by OnlyGoodBooks

Ten minutes. That’s all you need. So many friends say, “I would love to write, but I don’t have time.” Let me save you some time by keeping this review short. All you need is this book. Subtitled The Practice … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, For EDUCATORS, Inspirational, Memoir, Self-help, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment