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On The Thread’s Ask a Bookseller series, we talk to independent booksellers all over the country to find out what books they’re most excited about right now.

Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day, a national event celebrating reading and the booksellers at small businesses who put those books into readers’ hands. 

Across Minnesota, more than 70 independent bookstores are participating. Many are offering readings, special offers and opportunities to win prizes.  

In the greater Twin Cities metro, book lovers can pick up a free independent bookstore passport and get it stamped at any of the 38 participating businesses. Stamped pages serve as coupons for future visits, with bonus coupons and prize drawings for those with 10 or more stamps.  

Seven stores are participating in the Twin Ports and along the North Shore. 

 paused in her preparations for Saturday to talk about a book she’s currently enjoying. 

A self-professed nonfiction book nerd, she recommends reading “Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment" by Daniel Coyle. 

Having written two books about high-performing individuals and successful groups, respectively, Coyle turns his attention to what helps people not perform well — but thrive. 

The key takeaway, Taralson says, is that we flourish because of connection with others.  

She appreciated that this book makes space for the beautiful mess of life, where the outcome isn’t preordained. She liked its talk of flow state, that “I could do this for hours” zone we enter when we do something we love. 

That state has value, the book argues, and so it’s worthwhile to take part in hobbies that take us there, even if they don’t seem productive otherwise. The book contains case studies as well as practical recommendations that could work on an individual, family or group level.  

“Here’s what I love about this whole field of positive psychology,” Taralson says. “It's not about fixing something that's broken. We can all benefit from these things. It's not really directed at a particular type of person. It's just, if you want to be more joyful and really flourish and be happy with your life, these are all tools that I think would be helpful to learn.” 

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Brie Taralson of Lykke Books in New Ulm recommends “Flourish” by Daniel Coyle.

Ask a Bookseller: ‘Flourish’ by Daniel Coyle

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