What Pets Do While You're At Work, by Bergund & West

An "unauthorized album of caught-in-the-act pet photos," What Pets Do While You're At Work, is a brand new photo album-style book that may make you doubt that your pet merely sleeps all day in your absence. The photographs of obese cat, Bubble, who "tries to get motivated to do her crunches" while lying flat on her back with her 4 paws in the air and Speedy the turtle with a shark fin strapped to his back alone make this book worthwhile. Especially enjoyable for 40-somethings (oblique references to the Doublemint twins, the Jefferson Airplane, Ronnie and Nancy, etc.), this collection of riotous pet photos and silly captions really does, as Bergund & West say in their dedication, "remind us every day how to live each moment to the fullest, especially when no one's looking."

Naomi, by Junichiro Tanizaki

"I'm going to try to relate the facts of our relationship as man and wife just as they happened, as honestly and frankly as I can. It's probably a relationship without precedent." With this alluring first line begins Junichiro Tanizaki's novel, Naomi. Set in Japan in the 1920s, this novel speaks to the freeing of Japanese women to adopt elements of a Western lifestyle such as living independently, working, and choosing their own partners. It is the story of Joji, a man in his late 20s with a solid job, who meets a 15-year-old girl who works in a cafe. Intrigued by her Western name and features, Joji indulges her every whim and eventually marries her. Although the story has been compared to Pygmalion, Naomi is unlike Eliza Doolittle in that she becomes a study in self-absorption.

The "parenting" style of Joji that results in a spoiled and defiant Naomi is an interesting counterpoint to 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child, by Jeffrey Bernstein. In this book (review to appear soon), parenting strategies are used to lessen defiance in children. Reading Naomi through the lens of this book is like watching a canoe approach the rapids.

Unfortunately, Joji's fascination with Naomi overrides his common sense and self esteem so in the end, she becomes a monster and he her willing enabler. Naomi is studied in college East Asian Civilization college classes as "a novel of Taisho Era decadence" and as a microcosm of the modernization of the Japanese woman. It is also possible to read Naomi as a love story gone horribly wrong. (In the latter sense, I feel both sorry for and indignant with Joji for not influencing a different outcome!) The first several pages of Naomi are available at a Johns Hopkins University site.

The Ultimate Tea Diet, by Mark Ukra

Who, after reading the words, “any tea… can help [people] lose weight,” could stop reading? I admit that I read the book partly while sipping a cup of coffee, but was nevertheless intrigued. Tea can help me lose weight? Give me more energy? The magic of tea, explains author Mark Ukra, is that its components counter the potentially harmful effects of caffeine, suppress appetite, and stimulate metabolism. Like other diet books, this one holds out the promise of a lifestyle change that promotes weight loss and overall health through balanced diet and yes, the e-word (exercise). The difference here is tea. The book describes the different types of “true” tea, i.e., those originating from the Camellia sinensis plant; how to buy and brew the perfect pot of tea; and tea’s myriad health benefits. “Teammate profiles” – or personal testimonials to the life-changing power of tea – are sprinkled throughout. The back portion of the book is devoted to recipes in which teas both dry and brewed are incorporated into recipes (such as finely ground Lapsang Souchong mixed with herbs and spices and used as a rub for salmon). Ukra’s main message is that tea can be used as an agent for taking positive charge of your life. His style is conversational, believable, and engaging. The Ultimate Tea Diet is far more than a diet book; it is a window into a lifestyle of health and tea drinking! (This book review was submitted to Harper Collins as part of their First Look program.)

The Turnaround Kid, by Steve Miller

Those of us who are old enough to remember the Chrysler layoffs will appreciate hearing the other side of the story, as told by Steve Miller, then CFO, who was an architect of the restructuring that enabled Chrysler to stay in business. Mr. Miller’s voice is that of an ethical and skilled executive, whose talents have saved several major companies from ruin. Because he interweaves his personal story with that of his corporate saves, the book is an interesting read even for those with no interest in business. In The Turnaround Kid, Steve Miller paints the portrait of a man who discovers that he was “blessed with some personal traits” (ability to work hard, not take things personally, and compartmentalize his personal and professional lives) that enabled him to rise to the challenges put before him. He also gives a glimpse into the indomitable spirit of his wife Maggie, his “mentor and tormentor”, who was his soulmate for 40 years. The Turnaround Kid is a well-written chronicle of an extraordinary person who accomplished extraordinary things, yet kept his moral character and love of family in the forefront. (This book review was submitted to Harper Collins as part of their First Look program.)