Magnificent Marjorie Post, Russell M. Nelson, and Radical Inclusion - Book Reviews - Ep 49

This week I'll be reviewing three books on totally different topics, so you might just find one that resonates with you.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

Heart of the Matter by Russell M. Nelson

Radical Inclusion: Seven Steps to Help You Create a More Just Workplace, Home, and World by By David Moinina Sengeh

Let me know if you have any must-read recommendations for me by sending me a text using the link at the top of the show notes.

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Transcript

Kristin: 0:07

Hello and welcome to another book review episode of Solidarity Sister with Kristin Wilson. If you're newer here or if you just haven't kind of gotten the lay of the land, I'll let you know that on Mondays I do book review episodes. On Wednesdays are when the longer interview episodes come out and on Friday I put out Mini sodes that really just have to do with whatever lessons life is teaching me that you might also benefit from. So on today's book review episode, I have three great books to review. First, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Alison Pataki was an interesting read for me. From the Amazon description, Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules. Always think for yourself. Never take success for granted and work hard, even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar's treasures, to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression, to entertaining Roosevelt's, Kennedy's, and Hollywood's biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine. Marjorie's journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father's barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post's cereal company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning 30, she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life force, advocacy, passion and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy. And yet, Marjorie's story, though full of beauty and grandeur set in palatial homes she built, such as Mar a Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily ever after with the blue blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love. Best selling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger than life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process. I had never heard of Marjorie Post before, but I did really enjoy learning about her fascinating life. Her father, C. W. Post, was the inventor of Grapenuts and Postum, with Post cereals and then into General Foods, of course. Marjorie can take credit for acquiring Birdseye and investing into frozen foods. For whatever reason, it was just so fascinating to me to even think about that we would have had a time in America where people didn't have frozen foods like that. Like, Birdseye vegetables have been around for a long time. And I just have taken those things for granted. So I think kind of the stepping back in time, just that, that one piece alone was really interesting for me. This book is more about Marjorie's personal life than about the business, but as her life was really fascinating, I definitely enjoyed it. This would be a good read for someone who likes learning about historical figures who lived interesting lives. My second review of the week is Heart of the Matter by Russell M. Nelson. The description of this book reads as follows. Quote, the laws or truths I will share in this book are not merely ideas I have studied and examined. They are the very essence of my life's experiences, President Russell M. Nelson. It is a rare opportunity to learn from the wisdom of one who has witnessed a century of life, including all of its joys, sorrows, changes, and unchanging truths. It is even rarer to have such a witness from a prophet of God. Having been first called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984, President Russell M. Nelson has viewed much of the world's modern history, through the lens of a special witness of Christ. Living through technological innovation, from radio to rocket ships, wars and resolutions, cultural shifts and progress, President Nelson has seen the workings of the Almighty in all aspects of life. In Heart of the Matter, he reflects back on his 100 years of living and the lessons he's learned over the past century, including the core truths he has come to know matter most for this life and the next. President Nelson proclaims,"Through the ups and downs, the joys and heartaches of a century of living, there is nothing of which I am more certain than that Heavenly Father is our father, that his only begotten son, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that the Holy Ghost can be your constant companion, whispering truths to your soul. I am certain that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness and is filled with the Savior's power to bless you in ways no one else and nothing else can." The testimony of a beloved prophet in a hundred years of experience and insight come together to assure us that because Jesus Christ overcame this world, we too can overcome all things and find peace and rest in him. For those who might not know, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is set up as Christ's church when he was on the earth. So we have a prophet and apostles. Russell M. Nelson was a world renowned heart surgeon who pioneered new techniques and performed surgeries across the globe before being called as an apostle and eventually becoming the president of the church. This book did include some biographical information about President Nelson, but it was also heavy on his testimony, what he believes and why he believes as he does. I loved it and I also felt challenged by it in that a few areas of personal growth were revealed to me as I listened to it. President Nelson is a person who super fascinates me. He has an incredible energy for someone of any age, let alone how old he is. And he just has spent a life learning and loving and serving. He's been a great father and been connected to his kids. He's never stopped learning, like picking up, more languages to connect with people. So listening to him and reading his thoughts is really meaningful to me. This book would be good for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, or for anyone interested in learning more about what members of the church I belong to believe. And my final pick of the week is Radical Inclusion, Seven Steps to Help You Create a More Just Workplace, Home, and World by David Moinina Sengahh. Here's the description for that book. As the newly appointed Minister of Education in Sierra Leone, David Moinina Sengahh assumed that the administration he served, not to mention his family and friends shared his conviction that all girls belong in the classroom. He was shocked to learn that many of those closest to him, including a member of his own family, were against lifting a long standing policy banning pregnant girls from school. Radical Inclusion is the dramatic narrative of Sengah's drive to guarantee pregnant girls right to an education. His story functions as a parable that can help us all advocate for change. By reimagining the systems that perpetuate exclusion. The specifics of his efforts in Sierra Leone are captivating, and the lessons Sengah shares are universal. In addition to the candid account of his quest for reform, he offers stories and perspective from other parts of his life, drawing on his experiences encountering racial profiling as a Harvard student, Developing cutting edge prosthetic limbs at MIT and working to combat algorithmic bias as a data scientist. Sengah offers listeners a roadmap for pursuing radical inclusion in their own lives and work from identifying exclusions to building coalitions and adapting to a new normal. His audio book is essential listening for modern leaders or anyone who hopes to help unleash the power of a world that is truly radically inclusive. This book was super thought provoking for me. It caused me to consider ways that people are excluded that I had not considered before, and to also think deeply about how I might be more inclusive in my own sphere. I admire Sengah's intelligence and diligence, and also love learning about how he connects and prioritizes his family, while also working hard to better the lives of the people of Sierra Leone. This is an excellent read for anyone interested in becoming more aware of who to watch out for and how to better include them. I can hardly believe we only have four weeks left to discuss Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. This week in the Solidarity Sister Book Club, we'll be discussing Guidepost 8, Cultivating Calm and Stillness, Letting Go of Anxiety as a Lifestyle. If you have kids in school or extracurriculars, you know that May is not a month full of calm and stillness. In fact, this morning I told my 11 year old that I could not think about next week's ortho appointment today because I was too overwhelmed by this week to think that far ahead. I'm super excited for this discussion and hope you'll join us. You can find the Zoom link in our Facebook group. Find info in the show notes about how to join the Facebook group. And if you haven't heard before, we meet from 7 to 7 30 p. m. Mountain Standard Time on Thursdays. Thank you for being part of the Solidarity Sister community. We needed you.