During this season of thanks, Elizabeth Cleary, head of The Miami Valley School in Washington Township, recommends a few of the transformative books she’s grateful to have read. Elizabeth is a graduate of Smith College and Middlebury College and has trained at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the National Business Officers Association. She is a published poet, and her book with collaborator Nancy McTague-Stock, Landspeak, was purchased in 2015 by Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Elizabeth is the mother of two adult children and has a keen interest in the arts, writing, international travel, music and nature photography.
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Brown astutely discusses the importance of courage in leadership and compassion. She speaks very openly about the importance of vulnerability, and her direct, humorous and disarming style sends a powerful message about finding bravery within and the power of gratitude.
What Do We Know by Mary Oliver
Oliver’s poems in this collection almost always begin with a natural image and takes us—in just a few lines—to the deepest part of the soul. Each poem is a celebration of humanity and the natural world.
Reading the Mountains of Home by John Elder
A professor of English and environmental literature, Elder frequently taught his classes outside. In this book, he hikes through the Vermont woods using Robert Frost's poem Directive as his guide and speaks about “getting lost enough to find yourself.”
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant by The Moosewood Collective
My first entry into the creativity of vegetarian cooking from around the world. Every recipe is preceded by a description of each country’s culture and cuisine, and they are all delicious. It provides a different way to travel the world!