Non-Fiction – Page 3 – Readers Alley

This Can’t Be Happening Collection – True stories, from bad to worse

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Two Henry’s
By Kevin Allison

Coming out can be awkward enough—let alone coming out in the 1970s, in Ohio, as a Catholic schoolboy. In this fearless and funny true story, the host and founder of the hit podcast RISK! shares all.

From first grade through junior high, twelve-year-old Kevin and his best friend, Ben, were inseparable. But when Kevin divulged his biggest secret, Ben froze him out. The pint-size cold war lasted two years—until they went head-to-head for student council president. Team Ben’s smear campaign began. The school took sides. And Kevin decided to run with it.

Kevin Allison’s Two Henrys is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting.

Identity Thief
By Rachel Rosenthal

Who would want to steal the identity of a minimum-wage employee at a children’s museum? In this harrowing real-life detective story, a woman searches for the truth, clue after startling clue.

Rachel hit the jackpot with her doting fiancé, Zach, who was starting a promising new political career at the Massachusetts State House. Then came money problems—Rachel’s was mysteriously disappearing, bank account by new bank account. She and Zach, her only lifeline, decided to play amateur sleuths. And they had to act fast. Because Rachel’s crippling paranoia was growing. She was losing more than money. She was starting to lose herself.

Rachel Rosenthal’s Identity Thief is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting.

The Third Man
By Mani Sheriar

What would happen if your baby’s birth father represented everything you despised and feared? In this profound and heartrending story, an adoptive mother is forced to discover the answer.

After years of infertility, Mani and her husband, David, decided to adopt. When they matched with a teen mother, they were overjoyed, until the likely birth father contested. Frank was a violent white supremacist who had no intention of relinquishing parental rights. With tenuous hope and consuming dread, Mani now had to go head-to-head with a hateful stranger. And she was totally unprepared for where it would lead.

Mani Sheriar’s The Third Man is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting.

Black Sheep
By Rory Scholl

An irresponsible twentysomething comic and his equally shameless grandmother join forces as proud pariahs in this dark and rowdy story of dicey family ties, kindred spirits, bad behavior, and bribery.

When Rory’s judgmental mother told him that he took after his grandma Evelyn, he took it as a compliment. The ninety-two-year-old cocktail-toting, offtrack-betting party girl was every bit the troublemaker he was. When she landed at a dead-end nursing home, Rory jumped at the chance to liven things up for bored Evelyn—with vodka, scratch-offs, bingo, and gaming. But even in this modest assisted-living casino, the risk of betrayal was a gamble.

Rory Scholl’s Black Sheep is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting.

Read The Entire Collection

Handbooks for Humans, Volume 1: Learn to Manage Your Attitudes in All Your Relationships

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In the traditions of Life’s Little Instruction Book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, and the Messiah’s Handbook, Handbooks for Humans will provide you guidelines to help make you a better person, and learn to manage our attitudes in our relationships with ourselves and others.You probably wish you were given instructions for living at birth. Because, the truth is, being human isn’t easy. Now, by putting in the effort, working with the guidelines in the Handbook for Humans, Volume 1, there is a path forward that makes it easier. You could probably read this book in a matter of minutes, glean some helpful insights, and toss it aside…or pay attention to each guideline, reflect, go more deeply inside, and do some work. As a reward, you can learn to articulate your feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and experiences which in turn create your attitudes. Your attitudes affect every interaction you have in this world. As one of the guidelines teaches us,Never stop learning.It’s never too late to be a better human.Handbooks for Humans, Volume 1 provides a platform for personal work and sharing, making it perfect for individuals, couples, and families.

Reader Reviews

“These days, most of us rush through our lives, consumed by work, school, family, and social obligations — and by technology. We rarely take the time to reflect on how we feel, who we are now, who we want to be, and how to get there. Many people feel a mild (or major) vague dissatisfaction or a longing or greater meaning, or would if they took time to reflect. This book is perfect because it is so versatile. Readers can scan all the guidelines quickly and feel a sense of promise. Go through each guideline in sequence, one at a time, savoring the thoughts and feelings and paths forward that emerge. Focus on one or a few guidelines that particularly speak to where they are now, work on those, and then return to others later. Do a lot of work all at once, or spread it out. There are so many ways to use this book, depending on the reader’s personality, lifestyle, and purpose. No matter who you are, this book provides value.” – Valerie Overton, Reviewer

“Handbook for Humans is a treasure trove of pearls of wisdom and I look forward to coming back to each of them over and over. I was first introduced to Grace when she spoke at the Internal Family Systems Annual Conference in Fall 2017. In her speech, Grace spoke about the fact that when faced with something or someone that is “different,” we often default to the belief that because we do not understand what makes others “different,” we cannot accept those that we consider “different.” She encouraged us to lead with acceptance and assured us that understanding will follow, and her message was powerful. Her speech and this particular nugget of wisdom prompted lots of healthy self reflection within me and caused me to become a lifelong fan of Grace and her work. I highly recommend this Handbook and encourage all readers to spend time reflecting on the page which reads, “Acceptance must precede understanding. Understanding may lead to knowing. Knowing is never complete.” In these divisive times, I find it important to keep coming back to acceptance, with faith that understanding and knowing will follow. I, in turn, commit to spending time with this Handbook over the course of the next year mining for more pearls of wisdom that I know will spur more self reflection and growth. Thank you for your work, Grace. PS: I agree with another reviewer who recommended the print version of the book. I am an avid ebook reader, but for this book, I highly recommend the paper copy so that you can use it as a workbook or journal.” – C. Gillen, Reviewer

“Handbooks for Humans is a wonderful book! It is a self-help, self-improvement workbook or journal. It is full of inspirational sayings and provide you guidelines. As you read these guidelines, you can see, feel and think of it as a new beginning. This book can involve personal work, reflecting, growth and sharing with others your experience. It makes you think about yourself, your life, and maybe understand other humans as well. This book empowers me and what I’m thinking. Thank you Grace for your amazing work. A must read for everyone. I highly recommend the paperback so that you can use it as a workbook or journal.” – Greg Robinson, Reviewer

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About the Author:

Grace Anne Stevens is a writer and speaker on living authentically.

After over forty years as an engineer and manager in the tech world, she returned to school and received her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the age of 62. She has participated in and seen life from many sides.

Each day she looks forward to what the future may bring on her own journey learning how to be a better human.

In 2016 Grace was selected by Amtrak as one of their Writer’s in Residence and named as Person of the Year by New England Pride TV.

Grace lives in Lexington Massachusetts and enjoys biking on her new e-bike, beaching and babysitting for her grandchildren, as she learns something new each day.

Find Grace Online: