This is the fourth installment in our Book-of-the-Month column for February. We're covering the book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Dr. Gary Chapman.If you've been reading along with us this month, you've undoubtedly learned a lot about what you and your spouse both need out of your marriage. You've probably already identified your own and your spouse's primary love language. Gary Chapman, the author of this month's book, says that every person needs one of these in order to feel loved and secure in his or her marriage. The five languages are: Words of Affirmation …

This is the third installment in our Book-of-the-Month column for February. We're covering the book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Dr. Gary Chapman.Think about the last time your spouse did something that made you feel loved: gave you a compliment, took you out for dinner or just squeezed your arm when you passed each other in the kitchen. The things that are most meaningful to you say a lot about what you need in a relationship.Dr. Gary Chapman, the author of The 5 Love Languages, believes that everyone has a primary "love language" and needs certain things from their…

This is the second installment in our Book-of-the-Month column for February. We're covering the book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Dr. Gary Chapman. Have you ever traveled to a foreign country where you didn't speak the local language? Chances are, it was kind of fun at first. Soon, however, it became very apparent to you that you had to learn the language of the natives in order to survive in this new environment. Marriage, according to author Gary Chapman, is a lot like that. You and your spouse most likely had an exciting courtship. This period of bliss is usually …

Have you ever wondered why some married couples seem to thrive, even over the course of a long marriage or in the face of adversity? Or that others seem to bicker constantly, resign themselves to a lifetime of unhappiness or don't make it past the first few years? You might think that it's because the former started out happier, have a "stronger marriage" or know some mysterious secret to happiness.Dr. Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor with over thirty years of experience counseling struggling couples, doesn't think so. His book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, explains …

So you've done it. You've absorbed all of the chapters in Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us. You think you have a deep understanding of your intrinsic motivations—the things that excite you and motivate you to get out of bed in the morning. You set goals based upon those motivations and you shift your focus accordingly, BUT...You're still not getting results.Why?, you think. I've carefully examined my innermost thoughts and I did enough soul-searching to write a self-help book for others. It's still not working.Daniel H. Pink, the author of Drive, offers a host of practical …

This post refers to Chapters 5 and 6 of Drive, our January Book of the Month.Imagine that you're doing something that you truly love—such as perfecting that Shrimp Scampi recipe, planning a big conference for work, creating a watercolor painting or teaching special-needs kids—and all is right with the world. Your worries and troubles have temporarily disappeared and you're fully engaged in the task at hand—not necessarily the long-term goal that you want to achieve, but what you're doing right now. Some might say that you're "in the groove."This type of engagement or "flow" is one of the key …

This post refers to Chapters 3 and 4 of Drive, our January Book of the Month. Welcome to the 21st Century.Right now, some employees in the U.S. and elsewhere are taking a coffee break with their girlfriends at Starbuck's. Or tweeting. Or attending their son's basketball game. Or working from a beach in Fiji. Or—even better—NOT working from a beach in Fiji. The best part? They're still getting paid for their full-time job. They're happy, they're healthy, they're motivated and they're excelling at their jobs. Why? Because they work for a company that has implemented Motivation 3.0. You may know…

This post refers to Chapters 1 and 2 of Drive, our January Book of the Month. It's that time of year again...the beginning of a new year, when almost everybody makes a New Year's Resolution...and then breaks it. Have you ever wondered why you're motivated to do certain things—or NOT motivated to do anything at all?Daniel H. Pink's Drive will change the way you think about business and personal goals, behavior and society. It talks about how the new landscape in which we live– including technological advances and the increase in remote workers and global workforces–is changing the world and …

This post refers to pages 136 through 178 of Magi, which we read this week for the Algonquin Patch December Book-of-the-Month column.Ramates has had an interesting journey in his search for the Deliverer. Ransacked by thieves, abandoned by friends and mocked by others, he is ready to give up when their journey takes a miraculous twist. After fleeing Jerusalem and Herod, he and his fellow magi stumble upon the Promised One in the tiny town of Nazareth. The baby's awestruck parents watch as Ramates and his fellow priests present Him with lavish gifts of gold and myrrh.The final part of the …

This post refers to pages 91 through 135, which we are reading this week for the Algonquin Patch Book-of-the-Month. See the original post about this month's book for the reading schedule.As the story continues, Ramates and his friends have just arrived in Damascus for a much-needed break in a hotel for several days. They're looking forward to sleeping in real beds and being "out of the saddle" for a few days. However, Ramates takes it upon himself to leave the hotel and visit a nearby temple to determine what local Jews know about the Deliverer. He's surprised to learn that nobody in Damascus…

This post refers to pages 45 through 90, which we are reading this week for the Algonquin Patch Book-of-the-Month. See the original post about this month's book for the reading schedule.The second installment of Magi doesn't disappoint. Gilbert continues to provide colorful historical details and create a realistic setting. He does so while providing an entirely new interpretation of the familiar story of the three wise men—which, in this case, turns out to be nine men and 19 camels.As the story continues, Ramates and his fellow magus struggle to raise additional money for their journey. …

This post refers to pages 1 through 44, which we are reading this week for the Algonquin Patch Book of the Month. See the original post about this month's book for the reading schedule.Daniel Gilbert's Magi is about Ramates, a hunter-priest whose life is changed dramatically when he sees a new luminary in the ancient skies over Parthia, an area that is currently northeastern Iran. Ramates, like other magus in the Euphrates and Tigris River Valley at that time, understood the importance of this new star and believed that it was the culmination of an ancient prophecy that foretold of a Promised…

Starting this month, I'll be writing a Book-of-the-Month column. I'll cover both fiction and nonfiction about various topics. I'll announce a new title at the beginning of every month and I'll provide you with an easy-to-follow reading schedule so we can collectively read at the same pace. Each week, I'll post my thoughts and we can discuss that week's pages as a group.This month, we'll be reading the beautifully written Magi by Daniel Gilbert, an associate professor at Tennessee Wesleyan College. This book has received rave reviews from critics and readers alike. It is about Ramates, an …