Pails in Comparison

Cartoons from The New Yorker 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar

PIC No. 58: 
• Title: Cartoons from The New Yorker 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar 
• Authors: Conde Nast
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (June 20, 2023, 640 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket



Welcome to Issue No. 58 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

My Favorite Morning Chuckle!

This 366-LOL-cartoon-a-day calendar from The New Yorker has a prominent place on my desk every year and every day. The daily chuckle is often hilarious and I'll often share the cartoon with my grandkids. They also laugh (sometimes!). It's the bargain of the year (based on the price divided by 366 days)...and no calories! I cheated and skipped ahead to April 3 to find my favorite cartoon so far:

A businessman, with his 1700s-era briefcase, is meeting with Ben Franklin. A kite with a long tail is on Franklin’s table. The caption:
"We’ve heard about your little experiment, Mr. Franklin, and what we in the kite industry would like to know is how much is it gonna cost for this to go away.”

The cartoon for February 20 is also funny (um...convicting). Wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and no shoes, and sporting a baseball cap, the desperate man is on his knees. He's praying next to his comfy overstuffed chair. His large-screen TV is in the background. The caption:
"And please don't let me get any lazier than I am already."

Enjoy!

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Hoopla! Bucket plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[ ] Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward, by Paul Johnson (read my review)

[ ] I Wouldn't Do That If I Were Me: Modern Blunders and Modest Triumphs (but Mostly Blunders), by Jason Gay (read my review)

[ ] A Comedian’s Prayer Book, by Frank Skinner (read my review)

[ ] Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.), by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (read my review) 

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Cartoons from The New Yorker 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. 

© 2024. John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.

AI Mimics John Pearson’s Buckets Blog!

PIC No. 45B (continued):
• Title: Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action 
• Author: Atif Rafiq
• Publisher: McGraw Hill (April 25, 2023, 304 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket
 


Welcome to Issue No. 45B of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

Decision Sprint: LOL From AI!

In my last blog post here, I featured Part 1 of 2 of my review of the new book, Decision Sprint. Watch for my Part 2 of 2 full review this week at John Pearson’s Buckets Blog—but I couldn’t wait to tell you about this extraordinary book. It will revolutionize your meetings (and more).

Part 1 of 2 and now Part 2 of 2 contrasts two responses from artificial intelligence to my request. (And honest—this is the first time I've asked AI to write my book reviews!)

TWO AI BOOK REVIEWS! 
#1. AI’s traditional review (read here)
#2. AI’s “humorous” review (see below)

#2. LOL from ChatGPT!
Just for fun—and thinking about artificial intelligence per the author's last three chapters—I asked AI:

“Using the writing style and humor from 'John Pearson’s Buckets Blog,' write a book review of 'Decision Sprint' by Atif Rafiq."

In the blink of a robot, ChatGPT delivered this 545-word response below. (I loved the "Buckets" rating!)

Title: "Decision Sprint" by Atif Rafiq: A Turbo Boost for Your Decision-Making Mojo!

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Buckets)

Howdy, decision-making enthusiasts! Today, we're diving headfirst into the world of snappy decision-making with "Decision Sprint" by the one and only Atif Rafiq. Buckle up, my friends, because this book is like a shot of espresso for your brain—it's fast, furious, and will have you making better decisions before you can say "Eureka!"

Now, if you're tired of those never-ending meetings where decisions are as rare as a unicorn in a business suit, "Decision Sprint" will be your knight in shining armor. Rafiq presents a nifty framework that takes inspiration from agile methodologies and injects some much-needed oomph into your decision-making process. Say goodbye to those decision-dragging nightmares and hello to rapid-fire decision sprints that will make your head spin (in a good way, of course).

Rafiq, a seasoned executive with a knack for digital transformation, sprinkles his book with real-life examples and enough wisdom to rival a hundred guru-filled podcasts. His writing style is crisp, clear, and infused with a generous helping of humor that will keep you engaged from page one. Trust me, folks, this ain't your grandpa's dry management book—this is a decision-making extravaganza that'll leave you chuckling and nodding your head in agreement.

But let's get to the meaty stuff, shall we? The decision sprint framework is a thing of beauty. It breaks down those massive, mind-boggling problems into bite-sized chunks that even your granny's Chihuahua could tackle. By collaborating with your team (yes, teamwork makes the dream work, folks), you'll be sprinting towards decisions like Usain Bolt chasing Olympic gold.

Rafiq isn't just about theory—he delivers the goods with practical tools and templates that'll have you doing the decision-making cha-cha in no time. These bad boys will guide you through the decision sprint process, making sure you don't miss a beat. Plus, the exercises and checklists will give you that warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment, like completing a marathon in your PJs (but with way less sweat, I promise).

But wait, there's more! "Decision Sprint" isn't just about speed—it's got a heart of gold too. Rafiq reminds us that ethical decision-making is the real deal, my friends. It's not just about ticking boxes and high-fiving your colleagues. It's about making choices that align with your values and have a positive impact on the world. So put on your ethical thinking cap, my fellow decision sprinters, and let's make the world a better place—one well-thought-out decision at a time.

In conclusion, "Decision Sprint" is a decision-making extravaganza that injects energy, humor, and practicality into your decision-making game. Atif Rafiq's wit, wisdom, and real-world examples will have you flipping through the pages with gusto. If you're tired of decision-making limbo and want to go from zero to decision hero in record time, this book is your golden ticket. So grab your running shoes, hop on the decision sprint bandwagon, and get ready to conquer those decision-making mountains like a boss!

Disclaimer: Reading this book may cause an uncontrollable urge to sprint through decisions, make better choices, and develop a witty sense of humor. Embrace these side effects with caution, and remember to thank Atif Rafiq for your newfound decision-making mojo.

[LOL! To read AI’s first more traditional review of Decision Sprint, see the previous post here on the Pails in Comparison blog, “Decision Sprint: Sneak Peek (Part 1 of 2).” To read my Part 2 of 2 review coming this week, visit John Pearson's Buckets Blog.]

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action, by Atif Rafiq. Listen on Libro (available July 11, 2023). For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. And listen to the podcast, "What's Next!" Tiffani Bova interviews Atif Rafiq on his book. Listen here.

© 2023 John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.

Feherty: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf's David Feherty

PIC No. 44: 
• Title: Feherty: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf's David Feherty
• Author: John Feinstein
• Publisher: Hachette Books (May 9, 2023, 272 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket
 


Welcome to Issue No. 44 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

“It’s Earned Him a Lot of Mulligans in Life” 

Looking for a Father’s Day gift? If your dad is a golfer—this is a no-brainer. He will enjoy reading or listening to this new book, just published last month. John Feinstein, the remarkable sportswriter (45 books!), has just gifted golfing fans with Feherty: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf's David Feherty.

[x] Funny? Check!
[x] Tragic? Check! Check! (Whew.)

Ask any golfer about David Feherty—and they’ll smile and likely chuckle. We’ve all seen one, or dozens, or all 150 episodes of his memorable TV program, Feherty. He’s funny (yes), but he’s also an excellent interviewer. Example: View this clip (1 min., 19 sec.) with World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson.


Feherty, in disbelief, hears Tom Watson explain why narrowly missing his 6th Open Championship in 2009 was no big deal. “That’s the beauty and the tragedy of this game we play,” Watson smiles.

I mention Tom Watson because it was Watson, with Jack Nicklaus’ help, who gently confronted Feherty in 2006 about his alcoholism. They were adamant and Nicklaus offered his private plane to fly Watson and Feherty to an AA meeting in Kansas City. Feherty recalls, “Tom and Jack both made it clear they weren’t taking no for an answer. I realized I was being bullied by Tom Watson and kidnapped by Jack Nicklaus. I really didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

I’ve read dozens and dozens of books about friendship, accountability, and tough love. But Feinstein’s picture of what happened—well…I’ll never forget it. Watson’s example is stunning.

“The drinking started again in the summer of 2016,” writes Feinstein, and so once again, Watson jumped on a private jet to meet with Feherty and his wife. An intervention ensued, culminating in a 28-day rehab program at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Feherty endured just 10 days. “He left without checking out, went to the airport, and had four drinks while waiting for his plane. So much for getting sober.”

If you’re reading this, you likely already know about Feherty’s golfing honors (Ryder Cup and more) and his current roles. (Read this.) When his golfing days were over in 1997, he created a new career as an on-course reporter and golf analyst with CBS, NBC, and the Golf Channel. His Irish accent, his golf knowledge, and his wit immediately made him a fan favorite. Yet…his on-and-off-again addiction continued.

“Feherty’s concern wasn’t so much whether he could stay sober when working but whether he could be funny when he was sober.” (Note: When this golf book was published, it was immediately ranked #1 in “alcoholism recovery” on Amazon.)

Wondering if the book is really “remarkably funny,” as promised? It is! Hilarious. I’ve mentioned numerous one-liners and more to family and friends—especially golfing friends. (Example: Feherty’s label for Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie was “Mrs. Doubtfire.”)

But…it’s much more. In the author’s interviews with David Feherty, and his second wife, Anita, a remarkable transparency and vulnerability shines through. (Much more than many of the faith-based books I’ve reviewed over the years.) There’s this when Anita abruptly ended and walked away from their first date:

“Anita had been willing to go on that second date in July 1995 because she saw in Feherty what almost everyone in his life sees in him: ‘I guess, even though he was drunk, I saw a kindness in him, even that first night, even in just a few minutes,’ she says. ‘I think that’s something people see in him because it’s quite real. It’s earned him a lot of mulligans in life.’”

And speaking of mulligans, pair this book with Ken Blanchard’s and Wally Armstrong’s golfing book, The Mulligan—Everyone Needs a Second Chance in Golf and in Life. (Read my review. Or view the movie—see below.)

Don't skip:
• Why Feherty picked golf over being an opera singer!
• How he lost the trophy after winning the Scottish Open!
• What club to hold over your head in a lightning storm!
• Why Feherty became a U.S. citizen.
• Tiger Woods' nickname for Feherty, plus this on Tiger's skill set: "If you ask me the fifty greatest shots I've ever seen, [Tiger] probably hit forty-nine of them."
• The IOC's true slogan: "Show me the Money!"
• In the must-read Epilogue by Feinstein on Feherty losing a child: "None can truly understand that someone so funny spends at least part of every day in tears—even  with all the meds he takes."

Note: I read this book why golfing last month in Palm Desert, Calif. Notable numbers: 104, 103, 102, and 101. (Not my golf scores—the temperature each day!) And note this: sometimes, golfing on my own, I join a threesome of strangers. Their usual cussing and colorful language frequently oozes out after botched shots. Then, around the 10th hole, someone will ask me about my career history—and upon learning that I worked in and consulted with churches and nonprofit Christian organizations, there will be some embarrassed apologies for the colorful language! LOL! And this book? No apologies from the author—but there is some cussing!)

Exquisite Timing? If you can believe it, this morning as I was writing this review, the media’s breaking news was trumpeting the unbelievable merger of the PGA Tour with LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. Feherty, as you likely know, had signed on as a golf analyst with LIV Golf in July 2022. I can hardly wait to hear his commentary on this new global golf entity.

Happy Father’s Day, or Happy National Golf Day, or Happy Birthday—or happy any day. Buy this book for a golfing buddy and read it yourself. Remarkable.

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Hoopla! Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[  ] Anything for a Golf Ball: The Art of Finding Lost Golf Balls, by John Vawter (Read my review.)

[  ] Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major, by John Feinstein (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

[  ] The Mulligan—Everyone Needs a Second Chance in Golf and in Life, by Wally Armstrong and Ken Blanchard (Read my review.)

[  ] The Mulligan (View the movie on Amazon Prime.)

[  ] Angel for Higher, by Robert Hendershot with Trevor (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Feherty: The Remarkably Funny and Tragic Journey of Golf's David Feherty, by John Feinstein. Listen on Libro (7 hours, 1 minute). For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. 

© 2023 John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.

Michelangelo's Sacred Art of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling: A Coloring Book Exploration

PIC No. 39: 
• Title: Michelangelo's Sacred Art of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling: A Coloring Book Exploration
• Author: Jason Pearson
• Publisher: Pearpod Books (Jan. 5, 2020, 68 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket 
 


Welcome to Issue No. 39 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

Paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling!

This is the perfect gift for both kids and adults who enjoy coloring books! Each page includes a Sistine Chapel Ceiling graphic to color—including classics like “The Creation of Adam” and “The Fall of Man and Expulsion from Paradise.”

Across the page from each graphic is a memorable insight from Michelangelo. Some of my favorites:

• “Perfection is no small thing, but it is made up of small things.”

• “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”

• “Many believe and I believe—that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him.”

• “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

• “And still I am learning.”

My son, Jason Pearson, created this little gem—so you’ll excuse me if I add my joyful endorsement to this wonderful book. Jason’s creativity has amazed me over the years and you’ll enjoy and appreciate this special coloring book.

If you’re short of crayons or colored pencils, visit Amazon’s ready supply here. (And don’t miss the book’s challenge to find seven secrets of the Sistine Chapel in the soon-to-be colorful pages!)

ENJOY!

P.S. Pick up your coloring tools when the mood strikes you—and remember what Michelangelo also said: “No great work of art is ever finished.”

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Hoopla! Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[ ] Creators: From Chaucer and Durer to Picasso and Disney, by Paul Johnson. (Read my review.)

[ ] In the Shadow of the Moon (DVD) - Ron Howard’s documentary of the 12 American astronauts who walked on the moon between 1968 and 1972. (Read my review.)

[ ] My Ideal Bookshelf, by Thessaly La Force (editor) and Jane Mount (illustrator). (Read my review.)

[ ] Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols, by Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez. (Read my review.)

[ ] Experiential Intelligence: Harness the Power of Experience for Personal and Business Breakthroughs, by Soren Kaplan. (Read my review.)

[ ] StrategyMan vs. the Anti-Strategy Squad: Using Strategic Thinking to Defeat Bad Strategy and Save Your Plan, by Rich Horwath. (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Michelangelo's Sacred Art of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling: A Coloring Book Exploration, by Jason Pearson. For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. 

© 2023 John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.

Tributes: Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites

PIC No. 33: 
• Title: Tributes: Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites
• Author: Mary T. Henry
• Publisher: HistoryLink (Nov. 1, 2022, 72 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket



Welcome to Issue No. 33 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

Every Major City Needs a Mary Henry!

Prediction! Entrepreneurial authors from across the nation will soon be “borrowing” the brilliant concept and format of this wonderful book—and local residents, students, and families will soon be celebrating the people whose names grace their city’s unique sites and streets.

Author Mary T. Henry humbly credits her students at South Shore Middle School in Seattle, where she served as librarian in the 1970s and 1980s. She thanks them “…for alerting me to the fact that they were unaware of the people for whom the places they visited were named.” In Tributes, she explains why this inspired her to research and write her first book profiling 22 people and their landmarks.

I was born in Seattle and watched the city grow and mature for 21 years before leaving in 1968 for seminary in the Chicago area. So reading Mary Henry’s second book with 53 tributes to “Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites” was a delight—and a trip down memory lane!

A Seattle friend sent this book to my wife and I quickly borrowed it! My “Plan A” was brilliant: read-a-page-a-day and, over 53 days, slowly savor the Seattle sites, streets, and parks—while learning why these landmarks bear the names of these amazing men and women. Impossible!

The 53 one-page profiles, enriched by the illustrations of Mary Henry’s daughter-in-law, Marilyn Hasson Henry, are so interesting—you can’t read just one. Plan B: I consumed the whole book in one sitting! You will too! I couldn’t put it down.

The fascinating tributes are arranged alphabetically—so, of course, I started in the back with Lenny Wilkens (excuse me, Dr. Lenny Wilkens now!). This Seattle SuperSonics basketball star (1960s and 1970s) also coached the Sonics and guided his team to the NBA Championship in 1979. If you’re on Thomas Street, near what was then the Seattle Coliseum, you’ll travel along “Lenny Wilkens Way”—a recent honorific by the city council. (Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell wrote the foreword to this book.)

Did you know that Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970), “the internationally acclaimed guitarist and rock star,” was born in Seattle and attended Garfield High School? The author appropriately honored Hendrix with two pages to highlight four Seattle landmarks: Jimi Hendrix Park, Jimi Hendrix Viewpoint, Jimi Hendrix Music Experience (at the Museum of Pop Culture), and the Jimi Hendrix Statue. (The library at Garfield H.S. is also graced by a bust of this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend.)

The Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center at Garfield H.S. is just one of many tributes and awards (28 Grammys!) for Quincy Jones, the “record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger and film and TV producer” who also attended Garfield H.S.

Henry notes that “of the 53 individuals honored, 10 are Seattle natives.” I was pleased to read the page for Rev. Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney (1926-2018) who pastored Mount Zion Baptist Church for 40 years. In my Seattle days, I so appreciated his ministry and his unique gifting for civil rights and community leadership roles. I did not know that “he was responsible for bringing his classmate, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Seattle in 1961.”

McKinney was the first Black president of the Church Council of Greater Seattle and was the co-author of Church Administration in the Black Perspective. Henry notes three landmarks that honor Dr. McKinney.

The spouses of pastors are rarely appreciated enough, so kudos to the author for highlighting Louise Jones McKinney (1930-2012) for her educational leadership (principal of several Seattle Public Schools), philanthropy, and partnership “with a group of minority women who operated several businesses” at SeaTac. You can visit the Louise Jones McKinney Reading Room at the Douglass-Truth Branch Library.

I could go on and on about this fascinating book—but you’ll enjoy your own journey through the sites, streets, and landmarks that feature “Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites.” (I love the well-chosen word, “Grace.” See my review of Grace Ambassador.)

Read the profile of Roberta Byrd Barr, Seattle’s first Black woman who was a high school principal (Lincoln H.S.). And don’t miss the tributes to Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Medgar Evers, Walter Hundley, Thurgood Marshall, and Henrietta Mathews. The diversity of these profiles is stunning—including the sweet tribute to first grader Peppi Braxton (1963-1971) who was killed in a bicycle accident. “The students at Leschi voted to have their playground named for him”—Peppi’s Playground.

Do you agree with me? Every major city in the nation needs a Mary Henry to write 50 or more tributes to the “Black People Whose Names Grace [Our City’s] Sites.” And yes—while every major city has immense problems and challenges, Mary Henry’s book (and more books, we pray) will be epistles of grace to educate and encourage the next generation.

For more on the author, read this article and click here to enjoy her delightful Feb. 15, 2023, talk and Q&A, “History Cafe: Paying Tribute to Seattle’s Black Landmarks and Their Namesakes,” hosted by the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI).

Oh! Did I mention that Mary Henry is 99 years old? This is the second book I’ve recently reviewed by a 99-year-old author! (Check out Henry Kissinger’s latest book at 99!).

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Hoopla! Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. Why the Hoopla! Bucket? Because “we harness the power of hoopla! for celebration” and these Black people whose names grace Seattle should be celebrated!

[ ] BOOK: Leaders: Myth and Reality, by General Stanley McChrystal (US Army, Retired), Jeff Eggers, and Jason Mangone. (See the chapter, “The Heroes: Zheng He and Harriet Tubman.” Read my review.)

[ ] MOVIE: HARRIET (2019, PG-13, 2 hours, 5 minutes, Amazon Prime) - Memorable Line: “The hole in my head just made God’s voice more clear.” (Read my mini-review.)

[ ] BOOK: Before and After Jackie Robinson, A Story of the Brooklyn Dodgers Told Through the Lens of Tickets and Passes, by Dan Busby (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Tributes: Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites, by Mary T. Henry and illustrated by Marilyn Hasson Henry. For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. And thanks to our friend, Meri Nelson, for sending us this book—and for introducing us to the Marvelous Mary Henry!

© 2023 John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.

Cartoons from The New Yorker 2023 Day-to-Day Calendar

PIC No. 28: 
• Title: Cartoons from The New Yorker 2023 Day-to-Day Calendar 
• Authors: [Conde Nast]
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (June 14, 2022, 650 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket



Welcome to Issue No. 28 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.

My Favorite Daily Chuckle!

This 365-LOL-cartoon-a-day calendar from The New Yorker has a prominent place on my desk every year and every day. The daily chuckle is often hilarious and I'll often share it with my wife. She also laughs (sometimes!). It's the bargain of the year (based on the price divided by 365)...and no calories! I cheated and skipped ahead to November 1 to find my favorite cartoon so far:

A proud man, with hands on hips, is relishing in his brilliance. The caption: "Gary basks in the glow of a fifteen-minute window with no empty cardboard boxes in the house."

This one for June 2 is also laugh-out-loud:

The procrastinating king is sitting at his writing desk and the queen is admonishing him: "You can't just behead people every time you don't want to write them a thank-you note."

Enjoy!

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Hoopla! Bucket plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[ ] Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward, by Paul Johnson (read my review)

[ ] I Wouldn't Do That If I Were Me: Modern Blunders and Modest Triumphs (but Mostly Blunders), by Jason Gay (read my review)

[ ] A Comedian’s Prayer Book, by Frank Skinner (read my review)

[ ] Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.), by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (read my review) 

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Cartoons from The New Yorker 2023 Day-to-Day Calendar.  For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting. 

© 2023. John Pearson Associates. All rights reserved.
Pails in Comparison is posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Typepad.com’s privacy policy here.