Are you looking for some great books to read?

Well, you’re in luck.

Hooked To Books has curated a list of the 101 best books of all time.

I know that’s quite a long list. So I suggest starting with just one book (they recommend starting with 10!), and seeing how things go.

Some of my all-time favourites are on the list:

• Emma by Jane Austen
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
• Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

So, grab a book and a comfy chair—and get ready to lose yourself in the greatest stories ever told.

Which book are you starting with?

We’ve all been there—it’s noon, you’re hungry, and you have a Zoom call coming up.

So why not kill two birds with one stone and have lunch during the meeting?

While it might seem like a convenient way to get more done, eating during a video call can be more of a distraction than a productivity hack if you’re not careful.

So what can you do?

1. Mute yourself: Before taking a bite, make sure to mute your microphone to avoid making any noise. Unmute to talk.
2. Use headphones: Headsets reduce background noise and ensure that you’re heard clearly.
3. Be mindful of your surroundings: Choose a quiet spot if you’re eating in a public place. Check your background for business suitability.
4. Choose your food wisely: Crisps and crunchy vegetables might be distracting. Try sandwiches or soups for peaceful eating.
5. Be respectful of others:Remember that others can still see you on camera even if you’re muted.

Next time you’re tempted to have a bite to eat during a Zoom call, remember these tips to make sure it’s a peaceful and productive experience for everyone involved.

Happy Zooming! 

PS This post was inspired by Center for Meeting Effectiveness.

Using inclusive language fosters respect—and creates an environment where everyone feels included and valued.

So how can we talk about Migration and Refugee Rights?

Here are some recommendations:

I should say that happiness is being where one is and not wanting to be anywhere else.
Michael Frayn

How confident are you in your knowledge of English idioms?

Test your skills with this quiz!

Fill in the blanks to complete ten well-known British idioms.

Once you’ve filled in the blanks, check your answers below to see how well you did.

1. All that glitters is not _____.
2. Barking up the wrong ____.
3. Cry over spilled _____.
4. Every cloud has a silver _____.
5. Haste makes _____.
6. Ignorance is ____.
7. The proof of the pudding is in the ____.
8. Bite off more than you can ____.
9. Give someone the benefit of the ____.
10. Hit the ____ on the head.

Good luck!

And here are the answers:
1: gold, 2: tree, 3: milk, 4: lining, 5: waste, 6: bliss, 7: eating, 8: chew, 9: doubt, 10: nail.

Get ready to put on your capes and your masks because Keenan Scott II is here to show us all how to unleash our inner superhero through the power of words!

As a celebrated playwright, producer, director and actor, Keenan knows a thing or two about how language can illuminate the hero within us all.

So, sit back, relax and get ready to listen to Keenan’s amazing, but not always easy-to-understand TED Talk, as he shares his talent and shows us how to overcome the obstacles that stand in our way.

With three spoken word pieces that weave together literary devices like simile, assonance, and slant rhyme, Keenan is sure to leave you feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.

PS A slant rhyme is a rhyme between two words whose vowel sounds are similar, but not identical.

PPS I asked ChatGPT to re-write my text above using slant rhyme.

And here it is:

Get set to don your capes and your masks,
As Keenan Scott Il shows us how words unmask
Our inner superheroes, mighty and true,
With language that empowers and imbues.

As a playwright, director, and actor renowned,
Keenan knows how to make language astound.
So sit back, relax, and prepare to be wowed,
As Keenan’s spoken word pieces inspire the crowd.

With slant rhymes that weave and dance with ease,
Similes and assonance that make language breeze,
Keenan shows us how to conquer our kryptonite,
And become heroes ready to take flight.

So join us now in this poetic quest,
Where words unlock our powers best.
Let’s journey together, fearless and bold,
As Keenan’s language transforms and unfolds.