Home Cooked Books

Narrated with Henrietta Meire.

Available now from Blackstone Audio.

From the Publisher:

“The secret to raising the happiest kids in the world? Whatever it is, it’s somewhere in the Netherlands.

Would parents rather their children be successful or happy? Kids in the US face lots of pressure to excel – often at the expense of happiness. But does it have to be this way? Not in the Netherlands! In The Happiest Kids in the World, expats Rina Mae Acosta and Michele Hutchison – both married to Dutchmen and bringing up their kids in the Netherlands – examine the unique environment that enables the Dutch to turn out such well-adjusted, independent children. With heaps of good humor, and no shortage of amazement, the authors are delighted to find that babies get an average of 15 hours of sleep per day, children learn bike safety and proficiency in school, teenagers are less likely to get pregnant than their counterparts in almost every other nation, and parents really do serve chocolate sprinkles for breakfast!

Along the way, they discover that the most commonly strived-for grade is just passing (6 points out of 10), how to achieve the perfect work-life balance, and that being normal is crazy enough.”

My recording experience:

First, THIS VIDEO:

But all hagelslag aside, I found this book to be wonderfully thought provoking, on subjects from work-life balance to helping my teen approach her college applications. Whether you’re a new parent or you’ve been doing it a few years, I recommend this book! Also, many thanks to my good friend Cisca Brouwer, who talked me through all the Dutch pronunciations. All errors are on me!

Listen to a sample here:

And, the Giveaway:

Thanks to the folks at Blackstone Audio, I have one copy of the CD version of this book to give away.  To be entered into this random drawing, just make a comment below.  Entrants must be 18+ years of age, and residents of the continental US only please.  Entries will be taken up until 5pm EST on Friday, June 30.  The randomly selected winner will be contacted by email and then I’ll need your mailing address to get the CDs to you, but I don’t keep or share any contact info.  Good luck and thanks for listening!

Available now from Tantor Audio.

From the Publisher:

“Conventional wisdom says that “it takes two” to turn a troubled marriage around and that both partners must have a shared commitment to change. So when couples can’t agree on how—or whether—to make their marriage better, many give up or settle for a less-than-satisfying marriage (or think the only way out is divorce).

Fortunately, there is an alternative.

It Takes One to Tango is a groundbreaking guide that shows how one determined partner—acting alone—can spark lasting, significant change in a marriage, often accomplishing change that cannot be made any other way. It doesn’t matter how short-fused, argumentative, or seemingly impossible your partner can be—or how long you’ve been stuck.

Marriage and family therapist Winifred Reilly has this message for struggling partners: Take the lead. Doing so is effective—and powerful.”

My recording experience: I find that I can take something of use from most self-help books, and this one was no exception. Reilly draws on her own experience as well as that of her patients and the often self-deprecating tone of her writing makes the work seem do-able and practical. Highly recommended if you’re feeling stuck in a relationship!

Listen to a sample here:

If you’d like to buy a copy, using this link, I’ll receive a small percentage from Amazon through their Associates program. Narrators don’t earn royalties, so this is a way I can be compensated for marketing the book.