You Are The Best Thing

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organizers, artists, academics, and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience. Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MARIE CLAIRE AND BOOKRIOT It started as a text between two friends. Tarana Burke, founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement, texted researcher and writer Brené Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brené assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. They had been trading home decorating inspiration boards in their last text conversation so Brené started scrolling to find her latest Pinterest pictures when the phone rang. But it was immediately clear to Brené that the conversation wasn’t going to be about wallpaper. Tarana’s hello was serious and she hesitated for a bit before saying, “Brené, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I’ve sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder.” Brené replied, “I’m so glad we’re talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armor off in a country where you’re not physically or emotionally safe?” Long pause. “That’s why I’m calling,” said Tarana. “What do you think about working together on a book about the Black experience with vulnerability and shame resilience?” There was no hesitation. Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on Black shame and healing. Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognize and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black love and Black life.

“Like the YouTube channel, this is a touching yet informative guide for those seeking fatherly advice, or even a few good dad jokes.” — Library Journal

If you loved From Lukov with Love - the sensational TikTok hit that is captivating readers all over the world - then you don't want to miss any of Mariana's unique romances! No one writes slow burn like Mariana Zapata and her millions of fans agree! 'Just so incredibly sweet that it reaches into your soul . . . Thank you, MZ, for sharing such an incredible gift' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'There is nothing Mariana will put out that I wouldn't put on a pedestal. Ahhhhh. This book was so good I don't want it to end. I swooned. I cried. I laughed. And I enjoyed every bit of it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'As always Mariana brings us a story that we can get lost in . . . we have amazing characters . . . a second chance romance . . . the slow burn as always . . . but so much banter and emotional you cant help but know you are in a Zapata book!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'Mariana Zapata, I love your words, your humour and your imaginary characters . . . A deliciously funny and heartfelt read. Definitely recommend. A 5 STAR READ' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'This is one of my all-time favourite books from Mariana Zapata' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'Man, I loved this book!!! MZ has done it again, another amazing slow-burn romance' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'This slow-burn romance burned me in the best way. It was definitely the best thing I did the day I decided to pick it up' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'A beautiful, slow burn, with characters that actually seem like human beings, in classic Zapata fashion' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'So many feels in one book: I laughed, I cried and I sobbed . . . the characters all felt so real to me I loved everything about this book. I know that this will stay with me for a long time an absolute must-read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review 'Never disappointed with a Mariana Zapata book. Special and amazing, as always' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review ......................................... Some things are easily forgiven. Other things . . . not so much. Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done. Done thinking about him. Done worrying about him. Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn't want to be found. Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo. ......................................... Want more of Mariana's delicious slow burn? Why not start with her sensational hit, From Lukov with Love! And don't miss any of her romances beloved by millions of readers! Dear Aaron Lingus Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin The Best Thing Under Locke Kulti The Wall of Winnipeg and Me Wait for It Luna and the Lie Hands Down All Rhodes Lead Here

Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.

The days are long, but the years are short. No matter if it’s your child’s first step, first day of school, or first night tucked away in a new dorm room away from home, there comes a moment when you realize just how quickly the years are flying by. Christian music artist Nichole Nordeman’s profound lyrics in her viral hit “Slow Down” struck a chord with moms everywhere, and now this beautiful four-color book will inspire you to celebrate the everyday moments of motherhood. Filled with thought-provoking writings from Nichole, as well as guest writings from friends including Shauna Niequist and Jen Hatmaker, practical tips, and journaling space for reflection, Slow Down will be a poignant gift for any mom, as well as a treasured keepsake. Take a few moments to reflect and celebrate the privilege of being a parent and getting to watch your little ones grow—and Slow Down. Nichole Nordeman has sold more than 1 million albums as a Christian music artist and has won 9 GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Nichole released a lyric video for her song “Slow Down,” and it struck a chord with parents everywhere, amassing 14 million views in its first five days. She lives in Oklahoma with her two children.

An easy-riding, ball-busting comedy of bad manners, this is one of the most surprising and entertaining literary debuts of recent years. Pablo Baloo Miralles, a fat, useless and flatulent thirty-year-old, is the black sheep of his obscenely wealthy family. While he dedicates his days to online philosophy chatrooms and his nights to whatever pleasures he can find, his brother, 'The First,' is president of his booming family business. But, when 'The First' suddenly disappears, Pablo finds himself being sucked into a hair-raising, mind-bending adventure - an adventure in which he must use all of his well-honed survival instincts to come out alive.