At a moment when college students—and their parents—are scrutinizing the "return on investment" of humanities courses, Carlo Rotella opens the door to a classroom full of wary first-year students. He follows thirty-three students through a required literature course and captures the transformation unfolding on both sides of the seminar table. Their initial doubt—"How will this get me a job?"—slowly shifts as they grapple with demanding books, exchange ideas, sharpen their thinking, and form a genuine community. Along the way, they discover how to make meaning from the world around them—an indispensable life skill. Warm, vivid, and deeply humane, this book offers a rare look at what students truly encounter in college and why it matters. Carlo Rotella is a Professor of English at Boston College, a regular contributor to the NY Times Magazine, and writes about cities, boxing, music, and literature.

It may seem fun to jump on the ChatGPT bandwagon and use it as a quick fix for mental health questions, but you shouldn't take shortcuts to heal, according to distinguished licensed marriage, family, and child psychotherapist Dr. Nicki J. Monti. While it can offer reflection and information, it cannot understand your full emotional context, detect crises, or provide personalized clinical care. Misinterpreted advice may worsen mental-health struggles or delay real treatment. She details her own journey with childhood trauma, addiction, violence, divorce, and widowhood in her memoir, The Divine Traumedy of Nicki Joy: A True Grime Tale. Dr. Monti has been featured on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Millionaire Matchmaker and more.

Forget everything you think you know about women in midlife. Angela Burk's raw, unfiltered, and fiercely passionate book shatters the glossy, sugar-coated stories we've been sold about 'aging gracefully.' This isn't a manual for doing midlife perfectly—it's a companion for doing it honestly. She dives into everything from career reinvention to the three waves of menopause—rage, wild symptoms, and all—with unapologetic candor. After divorcing at 45 and raising three young sons, she scrapped the life script she'd been following and rebuilt from the ground up. The result? A long-distance love, a blended family of seven, and a trove of hard-earned wisdom about sagging knees, vanishing eyebrows, and the unapologetic confidence that only midlife can bring. She is an award-winning marketing strategist, mother of three, bonus mom to four, and fierce advocate for women reclaiming their stories at midlife. Follow Angela on Substack or at realgirlsguide.com.

Studies consistently show that when employees feel safe to voice concerns, share ideas, and acknowledge mistakes without fear of judgment, they become more innovative, more productive, and more committed to their organizations. In Laurie Cure PhD —who has spent more than three decades helping leaders and teams cultivate healthier workplace cultures—shares practical strategies for building psychological safety, strengthening collaboration, and creating an environment where people can truly thrive, beyond financial rewards. She is a leading voice in executive coaching and serves as the CEO of Innovative Connections. Her expertise has been showcased in publications including Fast Company, Business Insider, and BuiltIn.

As communities search for more effective ways to support people returning home from prison, one unexpected solution is taking center stage — literally. Theater programs are emerging as powerful tools for restoring confidence and helping the formerly incarcerated reconnect with society. That transformative potential is the focus of Broadway, Bars, and Fortune, an award-winning 40-minute documentary from director and producer Shuvendu Sen. "Broadway has become an emotional point of rehabilitation" says Sen. "This film shows how theater both inside and outside prison walls, can serve as a powerful healing tool— one that reduces trauma, crime and recidivism" The film chronicles the work of The Fortune Society, one of the nation's most respected reentry organizations, and the life-changing impact of its theater programs, where storytelling becomes a pathway to healing, empathy and employment. Sen has been featured on CNN, PBS, CBS and many other media outlets.

Just in time for the bustling holiday season—when guests, gatherings, and gift wrap tend to take over—Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong share simple, uplifting strategies to create welcoming, clutter-free spaces. But their approach goes far beyond seasonal sprucing. They dive into how small, intentional habits can transform your home into a calm, joyful environment all year long. They are the brilliant minds behind The Tidy Home Nashville. These two sisters have seen it all and have helped countless clients tackle their living spaces and create peaceful and practical homes using a non-judgemental, empowering approach and a sense of style. Instastagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok are the main marketing vehicles used by The Tidy Home. They began their Instagram account in April 2019 and now have 26K followers, a feat they attribute to the generosity of ideas they provide their followers. Their Pinterest account has some 10K monthly viewers. The sisters want to provide ideas that all followers can do at home whether they hire them or not.

Former successful trial attorney and one of Houston's most elite sought-after professional photographers, Chris Gillett exposes how a poorly crafted headshot can silently sabotage your professional image. He explains that first impressions often hinge on subtle cues—like posture, eye contact, and micro-expressions—that convey confidence or insecurity within seconds. He discusses why AI-generated portraits, despite their polish, often fail to capture authentic human warmth and credibility. Today, he works with attorneys, executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders—helping them to project, leadership, trust and approachability in a single frame. He shows us that an effective headshot isn't about vanity—it's a vital career tool that communicates your personal brand before you ever speak.

Featured on Fox & Friends for his viral healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte dupe, Hunter Stoler—a viral TikTok and Instagram creator—has captured national attention after losing over 50 pounds and slashing $11,000 a year from his grocery bill. Now, he's sharing exactly how he did it—and how you can too. He breaks down his holistic approach that blends nutrition, fitness, and mindset to make healthy living affordable, fun, and totally doable (even during the hectic holiday season). From smart shopping strategies to easy ingredient swaps that turn cravings into crowd-pleasers, he shows that eating well doesn't mean giving up flavor or joy. As the creator of Health With Hunter, he's redefining what sustainable wellness looks like—one realistic, science-backed tip at a time.