Hi everyone.

Here’s a must-read for the weekend:

“My Mother’s Lover,” by David Dobbs. It’s the true story of a World War II love affair that Dobbs’ mother kept secret, until she left her kids a puzzle on her deathbed.

This is a short e-book/long story, and you have to buy it via Kindle or Ibooks. Normally I like to recommend free links, but this one is only $2-3, and it was an instant #1 hit on Kindle the day it was published.

If you recognize David Dobbs’ name, that’s because he’s the science writer who published another must-read essay that I recommended a while ago: “The Science of Success,” published in the Atlantic magazine last year. This article revealed a groundbreaking new theory of genetics, positing that most people are born to be as hardy as dandelions, while others are more like orchids: fragile and sensitive, but “capable of blooming spectacularly if given greenhouse care.”  Many shy or introverted children fall into the latter category. It’s fascinating stuff, and Dobbs is expanding it into a book, to be published in another year or two.

I’d love to know whether you enjoy these pieces. If there’s enough interest, perhaps we could invite David to join us for an interview or blog chat.  If that appeals to you, please comment below or send me a note.

Have a terrific weekend!

Related posts:

1. What Amy Chua (and David Brooks) Didn’t Tell You: The Real Reason “Chinese Mothers are Superior”
2. What To Read This Weekend: Steal Like an Artist, Test Your Empathy Quotient, and Raise an Orchid Child
3. What To Read This Weekend: The School of Life (Ideas to Live By)