To keep sane during Covid I have taken to daily walks – rain, snow or shine. My yellow lab Zoe and I are on the move. Since Zoe is not a big talker I use Audible to keep me company and have discovered some amazing books…and a lot of fascinating history. This has the double benefit of exercising the mind and body at the same time!

This month I am reading and listening to The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. As we all honor Black History Month, it has been eye-opening to hear Isabel Wilkerson’s powerful and moving narrative about the Black experience in America during the migration from South to North in the 20th century.

Books always make great gifts! Whether it’s a coffee table book, Pete Sousa’s Obama book; a history book, Lincoln by David Herbert Donald; a poetry book, The One for Whom Food is Not Enough by Amanda Gorman; a travel/photo book Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval, a book of essays, Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin; a cookbook, Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi - there is always a perfect book for someone in your life.

You can open the heart and the mind with a wonderful book! Happy reading and happy gifting!