The Longest Run

Inspired by The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread and by Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking , I've been on a bread-baking tear. Pictured above is my first sourdough loaf, which was made completely from scratch (including making my own sourdough starter from rye flour and pineapple juice!). As is often the case, I've jumped in all the way and have become a regular customer at the King Arthur Flour shop online. Last weekend I also made pizza from scratch according to a recipe from Bread Baker's Apprentice with fantastic results. If you are interested in learning bread-making or just love reading beautiful cookbooks, check out Bread Baker's Apprentice.

A friend at work recently asked me to recommend my favorite articles or readings on leadership; after assembling the list I figured I would share it with you. If there are other pieces you'd recommend, let me know via the comments! Leadership Favorites Books Primal Leadership - Daniel Goleman (also here and here ) Five Dysfunctions of A Team – Patrick Lencioni (also here and here ) The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive – Patrick Lencioni (also here and here ) Personal Development/Leadership/Role of an Executive What Makes An Effective Executive – Drucker Managing Oneself – Drucker Managing For Business Effectiveness - Drucker Leading Change – Why Transformation Efforts Fail – Kotter What Makes A Leader? – Goleman Leadership That Gets Results – Goleman What Leaders Really Do – Kotter Discovering Your Authentic Leadership – George Five Minds Of A Manager - Mintzberg Reaching Your Potential – Kaplan What To Ask The Person In The Mirror - Kaplan Ways CEOs L...

I've had the chance to read a lot while on vacation and have already finished two mysteries. I've read some really good ones this year so I thought I'd share a list with you. Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Envy The Night are at the top of the list. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo , Stieg Larsson Big City, Bad Blood , Sean Chercover Trigger City , Sean Chercover Envy The Night , Michael Koryta Tonight I Said Goodbye , Michael Koryta Sorrow's Anthem , Michael Kroyta The Brass Verdict , Michael Connelly Chasing Darkness , Robert Crais Moscow Rules , Daniel Silva The James Deans , Reed Farrel Coleman The Dawn Patrol , Don Winslow (author of one of my all-time favorites - The Power Of The Dog - very good but very intense and very graphic) Related articles by Zemanta Stephen King Talks Best Books of 2008

Amazon.com Widgets Favorite songs: Way Down Here, Boats, I'm Alive (with Dave Matthews), That Lucky Old Sun (with Willie Nelson).