What I’m reading

JOANNE FEDLER is the author of eight books, including the international bestsellers Secret Mothers’

Business and When Hungry, Eat, that have sold more than 600 000 copies worldwide. An inspirational speaker and writing mentor who takes women on writing retreats and adventures, she is also the daughter of Cape Times cartoonist Dov Fedler. Married to Zed, she has two teenagers and two cats. Her latest book is Love in the Time of Contempt: Consolations for Parents of

Teenagers (Jacana).

I’VE just finished reading The Answer to How is Yes, by Peter Block, which questions our modern obsession with “howto” pragmatism.

A close friend suggested I read it after I completed a business course and was all atwitter with answers about “howto” do things. Block brings us back to “things that truly matter, like idealism, intimacy, depth and engagement” (which I’m often ashamed to admit I care about because it makes me seem so naive). It’s a rare book that makes us question everything we’ve learned (damn!) and reframe our thinking.

I’m also currently working my way through all of Anne Lamott’s backlist. Since Bird by Bird: some instructions on writing and life I’ve been a huge fan of her hilarious, selfdeprecating storytelling. I

adored her books Travelling Mercies, Stitches and Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, though reading them all in a row makes me realise why authors should only bring out a new book every year or two and why we should mix authors and genres in our reading.

I rushed to get her latest book Small Victories, and was p***ed as hell when I realised that it was a lot of her old rewriting repackaged.

Now I’m halfway through Lamott’s Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, and I have Peter Block’s book Community: The Structure of Belonging on my bedside table, which I hope will help me roll out A Million Connected Parents, my campaign to connect parents with their teenagers.