Janet Maslin, reviewing Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book in the NY Times, shows a lack of appreciation for a writer with a special talent: an extraordinary ability to make extremely technical and complex subjects accessible and fascinating. Gladwell approaches his subjects Gladwell does, with the innocence of a child and the discipline of a scientist. He reveals how you can find the extraordinary in the ordinary and understand what previously seemed beyond understanding.

Here is what you need to know: most of what you have heard about the economy is dead wrong, or just irrelevant. Are we still in a recession? Has the recovery begun? How do I find a good job now? Is it the right time to start a business ? What’s going to happen with health care reform? How will that affect me? These are the wrong questions to ask. The big lesson from the market crash of 2008 is that we can’t rely on government or big business for hand-outs. Each one of us needs to take full responsibility for our lives, our business, our career, our health, our family. All of it- no excuses. But, we don’t need to do it alone. Amazing opportunities arise when we reach out to the communities in our lives: our family, our friends, and the places where we live. The Internet and social media make it easier than ever to build communities and connect to them.

Michael Moore is a truly passionate man, and 20 years after his first film Roger and Me, he has become a truly great filmmaker. While you may not agree with his conclusions, he puts an all-too-human face on the horror of evicted families, teenagers being locked up for minor offensives to put money in the pockets of crooked prison operators and workers who have lost both their job and their pension. I do appreciate the love/hate relationship Mr Moore has with America and its brand of capitalism, and I applaud his challenge to us.

Everyone has been inspired by a great teacher. Recently, I had a chance to record a”thank you” to a very special teacher that greatly influenced my life.