BOOKS COLLECTION

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Heartbreak Love: Guided Poetry Journal by Ricky Liorti is an intimate exploration of love's multifaceted journey. 

Through this journal, Ricky shares his heartfelt reflections on love over the past year, capturing the essence of each phase. From the thrill of new romance to the pain of heartbreak, Ricky's words serve as a gentle reminder that love is ever-changing and complex. 

Each part is designed to resonate with your own experiences, encouraging you to write down your thoughts and emotions. As you journey through Ricky's poetic insights, you'll find space to reflect on your own love story, gaining deeper understanding and perspective. 

Ricky Liorti, a social media sensation and co-host of The Pals Podcast, brings his unique charm and relatable wisdom to this guided journal, making it a perfect companion for anyone navigating the highs and lows of love.

In a battle against time and memory loss, Don Nicholson discovers an unexpected weapon against dementia-his own life story.

My Dementia Defense is more than a memoir; it is a journey of resilience, a testament to the power of personal narrative in the face of the unthinkable. A graduate of Stanford University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nicholson was a medical school professor, eye surgeon, and ambassador of ophthalmology to Latin America, the

Caribbean, and Spain. At age 74, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, which had also affected his father.

Don had intended the book to be a legacy for his grandchildren, which he began writing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The creative exercise became a lifeline, a shield against the encroaching fog of forgetfulness.

My Dementia Defense gives the perspective of an experienced Alzheimer caregiver who falls victim to the same condition and may help prepare you when dementia appears in your spouse, parent, sibling, or yourself.

We’re All Mad Here: an (in)elegant memoir is exactly that— a collection of darkly irreverent and raucously funny sketches about the reality of life as an outlier in a family felled by mental illness and generational trauma. Throw in some chronic illness, a manipulative, psychotic spouse, roller derby, sexual misadventures, and emotional support poultry, and you’ve got yourself a roller-coaster ride of heartbreak, hilarity, and finally, forgiveness. 

Those prone to grief, loss and other hilarious inconveniences will see themselves in our hero’s mishaps and know that whatever they’ve been through, they’ve got a cheerleader and champion in Marie, who has likely had it worse. 

There is community in misfortune: a belly-laughing, toilet-clogging, no-fucks-giving community that knows they are not alone in their trials. And that there is at least one person out there whose life is way more bonkers than theirs, and that she is very much okay. 

Disclaimer: This book is intended for immature audiences only. 

You and your teen are in crisis. You don’t have to be.

You know the mental health and addiction issues your teenager is struggling with. You feel isolated. Overwhelmed. Afraid. The good news is: you are not losing your mind. You are not alone. There is hope.

Packed with practical strategies and step-by-step guidance that empowers you for real change, What’s Wrong with My Teen? demystifies the complex interplay of addiction, mental health issues, and typical teenage behavior. Learn the secrets to empathetic, judgment-free listening. Acquire priceless tools for engaging in difficult discussions, with sample letters and scripts for critical conversations. Gain comprehensive techniques for establishing and enforcing healthy boundaries. Discover the power of natural consequences and compassionate language. 

In What’s Wrong with My Teen? Susan Raphael draws on her vast experience with families like yours. Finally—a clear, actionable plan for navigating today’s greatest challenges and turning them into tomorrow’s triumphs. 

In a world too often silent about the deepest of wounds, comes a story that breaks through the darkness. I Feel Real Guilty, penned by Jane Epstein, isn't just a memoir; it's a revelation. This is the raw, unfiltered tale of a woman's fight from the grips of sibling sexual abuse into the embrace of empowerment and healing.

Meet Jane, whose childhood was stolen, whose innocence was shattered, yet whose spirit refused to break. Journey with her from the nights she stood alone on a strip club stage, lost and seeking love in all the wrong places, to the day she stood tall on an international TEDx stage, a beacon of hope and strength for those still trapped in silence.

Amidst the rallying cry of the #MeToo movement, Jane's voice rises—clear, powerful, and undeterred. She challenges us to confront the uncomfortable, to recognize the epidemic of sibling sexual abuse hiding in plain sight.

I Feel Real Guilty is more than Jane's story; it's a call to arms, an invitation to survivors to speak, to heal, to reclaim their power. 

Follow Jane Epstein on her inspiring odyssey from darkness into light, proving that even in our lowest moments, there is hope, there is a way forward, and there is a voice waiting to be heard.

In the silent corridors of a profession sworn to heal, Drugs, Lies & Docs: A Doctor’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, and More by I. Michael Kaufmann emerges as a lighthouse of truth and resilience. This memoir is not merely a recount of experiences; it's a journey of revelation, exposing the undercurrents of addiction within the medical community.

Meet I. Michael Kaufmann, whose career transition from a family physician to an advocate for physician health unveiled a hidden epidemic: the struggle of healthcare professionals with substance use disorders. Walk with him through the dual narrative of enlightening classroom teachings and deeply personal reflections, from the raw truths shared in lecture halls to the moments of vulnerability that connected more profoundly with his audience.

Drugs, Lies & Docs dives into the heart of addiction and recovery, viewed through the lens of a doctor who's both witnessed and lived it. It challenges the medical profession to confront its own vulnerabilities, shedding light on the silent battle against substance use that many doctors face, often mirrored in the lives of their patients.

This memoir is a clarion call, urging the medical community and society at large to break the chains of stigma and silence. It's an invitation to understand, to empathize, and to support those who heal yet need healing themselves. Follow Kaufmann’s transformative path from darkness to advocacy, a testament to the possibility of recovery and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Drugs, Lies & Docs is s a powerful message of hope, urging us to look after ourselves and each other, to recognize the humanity in medicine, and to rekindle the flame of recovery in the face of addiction.

Nautilus Book Award Gold Winner

A field guide for leaders who want to engage and energize their workforce with a leadership strategy that puts the well-being of people first.

Every leader has a duty to ensure their teams meet and exceed expectations and achieve strategic goals. But leaders who only focus on the bottom line risk alienating or burning out the people integral to the success of the organization.

Engaged employees are more productive, have fewer sick days, and tend to stay in their jobs longer. They go the extra mile because they want to contribute to an organization that cares about them as human beings. Put simply, a leadership approach focused on both relationships and results is good for business.

But what steps can leaders take to cultivate a workplace culture that is positive, engaged, and also productive? This is what CBC workplace columnist Pierre Battah tackles in Humanity at Work.

In this conversational, humorous, and relatable book, Battah acts as a virtual mentor, drawing on his decades-long experience as advisor to large and small organizations. Through colorful and entertaining case studies ranging from fish-packing plants to financial institutions, Battah illustrates what it means to lead with humanity.

In this book, readers will learn:

• why human connection is a crucial component of the employment relationship;
• how to delegate responsibility, set expectations, and give and receive feedback more effectively; and
• how cultivating self-awareness can create safe space in which to engage staff.

Each chapter includes reflection points and helpful tools to help readers track their progress as they move toward creating a workplace with humanity at its heart.

Amidst the vibrant cityscape of Toronto lies a beacon of warmth and dedication: Sunny View Public School. Here, the spirit of Dale Zimmerman, affectionately remembered as the "Toy Doctor," flourishes. She wasn't just an ordinary individual; Dale was a touchstone of hope, commitment, and love.

In this mesmerizing narrative, Ryan and Julie Tait pen and illustrate a tribute to Dale and the uplifting spirit of the children at Sunny View. Georange Horange's Storange transcends a mere story-it is an exploration of wonder, kindness, and determination.

Introducing Georange Horange: a joyful and impeccably organized student, shining with positivity and purpose. Georange's world is one where every child and every toy possesses extraordinary ability. As Georange teams up with Dale, they collectively embark on a whimsical quest to discover a truth: the word "impossible" is, indeed, two letters too long.

Adorned with exquisite illustrations, this narrative captures the profound interplay between life's challenges and the magic that arises when one refuses to bow down. Through the tale of Dale and Georange, readers experience the powerful legacy of a woman whose life was dedicated to Sunny View's courageous students. Their journey represents unity, compassion, and the unparalleled joy that emerges from facing and overcoming life's obstacles.

Georange Horange's Storange is destined to touch hearts across all ages, reinforcing timeless lessons of kindness, the resilience of community, and the transformative power of imagination.

Embark on a one-way Greyhound journey to authenticity with Doreen by Doreen, the unapologetically real and riotously funny odyssey of one woman's pursuit of everything from a GED to her very own Prince Charming.

In Jo Ferrone's audaciously crafted narrative, we meet Doreen—with her beat-up American Tourister, a suitcase more symbolic than practical, stuffed with tattered dreams and a loyalty card to life's hard knocks. This self-taught philosopher of the everyday embarks on an expedition that wobbles across the colorful linoleum of Wawas and Waffle Houses and stumbles through the enchanting gates of Disney World.

Doreen by Doreen isn't just a story. It's a vibrant, living testament to the grit it takes to glue together a life that's threatening to fall apart at every janky seam and piece together the fractured fairytale she deserves.

With grammar that would make an English teacher weep but a narrative voice that will have you howling with laughter, Doreen by Doreen receives a proud C- in conventional composition but an A+ in heart, humor, and unparalleled human spirit. In a literary landscape stuffed with pretension and artifice, Doreen's voice—raw, irreverent, and profoundly sincere—cuts like a hot knife through "I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter".

In Late B(l)oomer: The Life of a Jew Who Knew Too Much, Vincent Brook takes us on a captivating journey through his multi-faceted life. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1946, during the exhilarating post-World War II era, Brook's memoir is a testament to the vibrant experiences and profound encounters that have shaped his identity.

From the very start, Brook's life carries the weight of historical significance. The surrender of the Nazis, marked by a handshake at the Elbe River, mirrors the birthplace of his Jewish refugee parents in Germany. This connection to the past intertwines with his exploration of the cinematic world, symbolized by his subtitle, a clever reference to Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, The Man Who Knew Too Much.

While Hitchcock's films allude to international intrigue, espionage, and murder, Brook's appropriation delves into the horrors of the Holocaust and its far-reaching impact on his family. Through poignant storytelling, he reveals the profound effects of this genocidal tragedy on his life, illuminating the depth of personal and historical loss.

Brook's memoir not only explores the shadows of history but also celebrates his love for the movies and the multiculturalism that permeates his existence. Set against the backdrop of the evolving San Fernando Valley in the 1950s, his narrative becomes a tapestry of diverse experiences, enthralling encounters, and a deep appreciation for the arts.

A powerful and thought-provoking memoir that explores the complexities of identity, the enduring resonance of history, and the transformative power of cinema. Vincent Brook invites readers to join him on this remarkable journey of self-discovery, reminding us that our past, present, and future are intimately intertwined in unexpected and profound ways.

A large body of evidence demonstrates that strong health over an extended period of life is possible. Dr. Dwight Chapin brings this science to life in Take Good Care with a behind-the-scenes look at seven specific wellness rituals practiced by 21 influential Canadians – accomplished leaders in sport, media, entertainment, healthcare, and business.

Awe-inspiring professionals such as Jann Arden and Dragons’ Den investor, Jim Treliving open their lives, sharing their formulas for health and success. Chapin explores the fine details and common ground in their approach to self-care, commitment to stress resiliency, preparation and recovery from peak performance, and pursuit of good 

health, hope, and happiness.

Look inside the fridge of Toronto Raptor’s dietitian…at the mental fitness exercises of an Olympic sprinter… at the movement strategies of a world-renowned performance physiologist. Read about how they’ve overcome the challenges of heartbreak, injury, obesity, addiction, and self-sabotage by putting the science of the 7 Wellness Rituals to work. 

The disruption caused by the pandemic has left many realizing they want more from life and the return to the status quo holds little appeal. People want to feel, look, think, move, and be better. The techniques, rituals, stories, and science within these pages will show you how.

Did you know that there's a dirty little secret in the world of golf? And if so, what does that have to do with a Cuban immigrant family, their relationship with Fidel Castro and the rough and tumble streets of inner city New York in the 70's?

In his captivating memoir, Out of the Rough: The Cuban Revolution and its Effect on Golf, author Eurice E. Rojas exposes the insidious and audacious system of cheating that exists in golf outings and private club tournaments. 

But that's just the beginning of Rojas' remarkable journey. 

As a first-generation Cuban-American, Rojas also shares his family's experience of political persecution and escape from Cuba during the Cuban Revolution, and reveals the transformative power of sports within American corporate culture. 

If you’ve tried every diet on the market to no avail, if your eating and weight are affecting your physical health, your career, your relationships, your mental health, and your self-worth, then Never Enough is for you. 

Equal parts self-help and memoir, this moving book contains everything you need to develop healthy relationships with food, others, and, most importantly, yourself. 

Certified Food Addiction Counselor and Founder of the Food Addiction Recovery Program, Sandra Elia, delves deep into her own tenuous battle with compulsive eating and lays out a scientifically proven plan for you to achieve peace with food once and for all. 

This book isn’t just another trendy diet that delivers temporary results but ultimately leaves you feeling depleted. It’s a lifestyle guide that prioritizes your spiritual and emotional wellbeing as a means to achieving physical vitality. The proof of its success lies in Sandra’s manifold, glowing client testimonials. 

So if you’re ready, take Sandra’s hand, and allow her to lovingly guide you down the path to food serenity.

Fashion bitch turned wellness witch, Cardsy B, shares her irresistibly witty and raw account of seemingly having, then losing, it all to redirect inward to find healing and purpose in unlocking her intuition.

Before becoming Cardsy B, Rebecca Szymczak was a rebellious outcast from rural Pennsylvania, determined to live the quintessential Manhattan life, landing high-level fashion jobs, celebrity friends, and even her own lingerie line along the way. But by age thirty-one, an astrological transit-known as Saturn's Return-gate-crashed her life, stripping away her self-identity and exposing a battle with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, just beneath the glossy surface.

As she began to rebuild her life, Cardsy revisited her childhood hobby of pulling tarot cards. In doing so, she reconnected with her intuition in powerful and often unexpected ways.

The Saturn Diaries is the compelling record of that journey, involving everything, from a homemade Oprah-ator phone created to dial the universe to a solo trek through the Costa Rican Jungle to participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony.

Part memoir and part spellbook, each chapter features a spell, elixir, or ritual. The Saturn Diaries - intensely moving and often hilarious - chronicles discovery and remembrance. It reveals the magic that occurs when you acknowledge the seeker within and begin listening to your own inner guidance system.

Our Yellow Brick Road is an anthology of powerful stories by award-winning speakers who understand and believe in the impact storytelling can have.

The authors have been brought together in this book and on this path by their friend and peer, Mom on Wheels, MARJORIE AUNOS, who found her life’s true purpose after previous plans were drastically altered by a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Marjorie introduces us to the activist, the cheerleader, the dancer, the nurse, the poet, the bullied, the abused, the immigrant, the moms, and the entrepreneurs.

These inspiring humans have taken countless stages to share their own experiences and revelations with audiences whose lives have had no choice but to be changed. This anthology is vulnerable, surprising, and relatable, composed of pain and triumph, health challenges and resilience, deep depression and pure joy, bullying and heartfelt kindness.

From brutal truths to prove that what you seek has been inside you all along, Our Yellow Brick Road requires nothing more from its readers than an open heart and a full box of tissues.

Some people are plain and others pretty. Some born for greatness and others for catastrophe. 

For Julian Dickerson, it feels like his short stature may have matched his expectations for life until a kitten named Sonia leads to a comedy of errors turned riches that’s hard to dismiss. 

A cast of imperfectly perfect characters find love, revenge, and humanity in the family they chose - no matter what. Often unexpected. Always human. You’ll find yourself amongst the ordinarily extraordinary humans.

Success is tied to the ability to master emotions, communicate fearlessly, and lead with confidence. The challenge, for most women, is we are taught the exact opposite of what predicts success, both personally and professionally.  

In The Emotionally Intelligent Woman, ex-Therapist turned Relationship and Leadership Expert, Dr. Shyamala Kiru, revolutionizes the landscape of communication and leadership skills, specifically for high powered women. Using innovative training methods and a well-defined strategy, Dr. Shyamala provides the reader with a framework for overcoming her greatest challenges and achieving her deepest desires.  

If you are ready to reprogram your mind, transform the way you communicate and unlock infinite leadership potential, this book is your blueprint.

When Sara Rahimi was a teenager living in Iran’s capital, she dreamed of a life where she could do or be whatever she wanted to. She longed to become like Oprah and Ellen: free, powerful, and inspiring. Instead, she lived in an atmosphere characterized by fear and terror – one where Morality Police monitored her every move, and gendered cultural norms determined her life’s path. She once begged a male friend to jump out of her family’s second story window in order to avoid harsh punishment from the police for an unauthorized co-ed after-school hang-out.

Flash forward to today, and Sara lives in a new country and finds herself voluntarily jumping-- out of a plane rather than a building. From skydiving to a career change, Sara has finally become everything she’s ever dreamed of in her new homeland in Canada. Still, Sara can’t shake the feeling that she does not fully belong in her new world and that something is missing. 

In Little Sara of Tehran, she learns to overcome her past, and move forward by trusting her instincts, following her gut, and transforming her deepest grief into her life’s greatest purpose.

The whole world is now online. We’ve shifted. Whether it caught you by surprise and made you pivot your business or you saw it coming a mile away, The Online Shift, will help you handle your online presence like a Pro. 

With over 101 tips that are far from generic, Online Expert, Patricia Regier, helps you stand out from the crowd, make your meetings, virtual workshops, training and online events memorable and do it with ease. If you think you’ve got a lot to learn or there’s nothing left to know - this book will surprise even the most seasoned of online professionals. 

Turn your audience into participants, deliver the unexpected, learn to teach online the way your audience learns and retain best, and have fun doing it.

Want to star in a Blockbuster? Be seen on TV? Commercials? Film? Or on stage in the Theatre? If you’ve got the acting bug - and there’s no cure - it’s time to master the show and the business.  

Meet Scott & Diane Strand. He’s the show and she’s the business. Together they make Show Business, a powerful team teaching Actors just like you, the in’s and out’s of the Industry they’ve been part of for decades.  

If you’ve ever dreamed of on-stage stardom, this easy-to-navigate, must-have guidebook to all things showbusiness will have you prepared, professional and ready to get paid to Act.

Twenty years ago, when the devastating surge of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shook the world with deadly blows, everything changed for humanity and its relationship with technology. It's the year 2040. The post-pandemic world is surprisingly a better world that has curiously united humanity in the spirit of sustainable living and peace. Now, when humans depend even more on technology to live beyond survival, thirteen-year-old, atypical, Deepa finds solace in the comfortable memory foam seats of an old Tesla DVT Model III smart car—a driverless family car her family simply likes to call Car.  

Deepa likes to live in her own tiny world of electronics in a Tiny Town with her mother Su, father Elu, Cat the cat, and of course, Car. When things get mundane in arguably the most mundane smart town on the planet, Car becomes the family’s confidante who absorbs all their emotions but never reflects his feelings; consoles their heartbreaks in silence but never complains about his needs. Car tries his best to keep the family safe throughout this seven-day journey to self-discovery, trust, and hope. But what should he do if his only friend Deepa wants him to fly with her to Mars, to save him from an impending doom?  

How about Car’s feelings? How about his constantly exhausted battery? And how about his Free Speech? After all, Car isn’t just a car!

“Man, you know I got you!” is said between the lines so many times, but we want to rip it from the page and plaster it in Times Square. Man, I have got you. Seriously.  

Men’s mental health is in a crisis and being told to “man up” isn’t solving anything. Instead, we’re inspiring a new generation of men to Circle Up. To commit to one another’s mental health, growth and development. To find strength in community, righteousness of truth and courage in vulnerability.  

This book will challenge everything you think you know about mental health and get to the core of why men suffer and why they don’t have to.  

Together, we can change men’s mental health. It starts right here - Circle Up!