Being shy is one thing, but being taught not to speak is another. Imagine the differences between characters who feel a need to communicate something, but have either timidity or cultural mores stopping them. How might each of them respond differently? What must happen for each to overcome his or her past? Which would be harder to overcome?

Learning to Speak Up When You’re from a Culture of Deference – Andy Molinsky – Harvard Business Review

http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/07/learning-to-speak-up-when-youre-from-a-culture-of-deference/

“Just for fun” is the caveat with this index. But it made me think of the books I’ve read — and not read — recently. I just didn’t have time to finish a few I was reading for book clubs. Others didn’t compel me to turn pages. (And I read all of A Brief History of Time.)
Three rules I think we can draw from this unscientific study are:
1. Write every page as if it were the first page.
2. Good stories get read.
3. Genre isn’t everything.

The Summer’s Most Unread Book Is… – WSJ

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/the-summers-most-unread-book-is-1404417569?mobile=y

Good writers are readers. Here a list of American fiction worth working through.

The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1894 – 1994 | BOOK RIOT

http://bookriot.com/2014/07/04/100-greatest-american-novels-1894-1994/

All five things in this list would make good character traits. I can see the office worker who jumps up from her desk every hour to do five jumping jacks. I can hear the conversations among her co-workers.
One person’s happy trait is another person’s pet peeve.

5 Things You Can Do in the Next 5 Minutes to Be Happier in the Next 5 Days | Going on the Ride of Your Life

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/ride-life/2014/07/5-things-you-can-do-in-the-next-5-minutes-to-be-happier-in-the-next-5-days/

I’ve always liked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but I hadn’t realized he was writing until I found this article about young adult books. His post-basketball career isn’t what I expected. He’s got some interesting picks.

5 contemporary young adult novels adults should read LosAngelesRegister.com

http://m.losangelesregister.com/articles/adult-601508-novels-novel.html