The Chris Voss Show

Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten by Jen Thompson

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPDB2LPY

For fans of Educated and You Could Make This Place Beautiful, a memoir of powerful vignettes about a rock-star Republican strategist who gives up a life in politics after a near-death accident spurs her into a search for deeper meaning.

Jen Thompson rose to the heights of politics in her early thirties as a celebrated Republican strategist—a rarity for a young woman. For years, success and power were her only ambitions, despite the drumbeat of her inner voice warning that her life was wildly off course.

It was only when a car accident nearly killed her on the campaign trail of a nationally watched Senate campaign that Jen finally decided to walk away. Her sudden alienation from the life she had always known set into motion cascading events that carried her across the world and deep into a reckoning with her own soul.

A memoir in vignettes, Wild Pivot explores how blind loyalty develops and shapes a woman with the craving to fit in and feel celebrated. With a piercing ability to explore just how jarring change and evolution can be, Thompson moves with unflinching honesty and razor-sharp wit between snapshots of her life as she grapples with the demons of her past and commits herself to doing what is required to live a life of truth and freedom—no matter the cost.

About the author

Jen Thompson is a former political campaign manager and counsel in the U.S. House and Senate. She successfully made up for a massive campaign deficit by orchestrating five events with the President of the United States and dozens of other key political figures. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune, and served for eight years as a political commentator for NBC and ABC affiliates in Virginia.

After managing a nationally watched Senate campaign in 2002, Jen left politics and moved to Australia, an experience that transformed her politically and personally. Born in Chicago, she has lived in twelve cities, seven states, and three countries. Jen currently lives in Redlands, California.

Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten is her first book.

YOU’RE NOT GOD: That Job Is Taken by SCOTT H. SILVERMAN

https://www.amazon.com/YOURE-NOT-GOD-That-Taken/dp/B0FNKG3TPW

Yourcrisiscoach.com

We all want to help. We want to protect the people we love, solve their problems, and keep life running smoothly. But in trying to “fix” everything, we sometimes make things harder—for them and for ourselves. That’s where You’re Not God (That Job Is Taken) steps in.

In this heartfelt, relatable, and often gently humorous guide, Scott H. Silverman—addiction recovery expert, crisis coach, and CNN Hero—shows why letting go of control can be one of the most loving choices we make. Drawing from his own journey from addiction and rock bottom to over three decades of sobriety, Scott offers a refreshing truth: you are not the answer to everyone’s problems, but you can be part of the healing.

Through inspiring stories, practical insights, and simple tools, You’re Not God (That Job Is Taken) teaches you how to:

Support without controlling

Lead with empathy instead of perfectionism

Listen more deeply to those who need you

Release the pressure of trying to “do it all”

Whether you’re a worried parent, a burnt-out leader, or someone feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life, this book will give you hope, perspective, and a clear path forward. It’s not about saving everyone—it’s about showing up, making space for growth, and choosing progress over perfection.

Real love listens. Real change happens when we stop trying to be God—and start being fully present.

About the author

Scott H. Silverman is the author of “tell Me No, I Dare You!” and is an in demand leadership speaker. Scott is both locally and nationally recognized as a leader in the field of workforce development. He has received numerous awards and honors including recently being named “CNN Hero of the Week” and the City of San Diego honored him by selecting February 19th as ” Scott Silverman Day” for his contributions to the community. He is the Executive Director and Founder of Second Chance, a human services agency that is committed to breaking the cycle of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness by offering job readiness training, employment placement assistance, mental health counseling, case management, and affordable housing referrals to people who desire to change their lives. Over the past 15 years Second Chance has assisted more than 24,000 economically disadvantaged and homeless persons in San Diego gain employment and leave poverty, gang affiliations, and crime.

Crypto Queen: You are a Mark by Pati Tierney

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9NHRPFS

“Crypto Queen: You are a Mark” is a true crime inspired non-fiction based in contemporary Melbourne, Australia. The book tells a story of Pati, emphatic social worker, who engages in an on-line conversation with a stranger. Little does she know that what starts like a frivolous playful banter turns her world upside down as she becomes entrapped by the insidious syndicate. This event changes her life forever, leaving long lasting consequences. The book touches on the contemporary topic of scamming affecting our communities globally, aiming to break the stigma attached to the topic through telling the real-life story and the impact it creates.

The Spanish Swan Ballet: Faith’s Wish by Lorena Gomez-Maese

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D24X2PYS

The Spanish Swan Ballet is a short inspirational story about a young girl with a disability who dreams to become crowned “The Spanish Swan.” La Maestra takes Faith under her wing and tells her that anyone can dance, no matter the disability. She guides her to becoming crowned “The Spanish Swan”.

Thumbs Out! Hitchhiking Around the World in 1970 by Sally & Peter Blommer

https://www.amazon.com/Thumbs-Hitchhiking-Around-World-1970

Newlyweds Sally and Peter Blommer undertake a one-year adventure hitchhiking around the world in 1970. They travel by any available means, always cheap, and usually by the seat of their pants. The journey was a test of a new relationship, learning how to live out of a 3-foot-long duffel bag, exploring different cultures, relishing the invaluable learning experiences, and experiencing some adrenaline-inducing events, all for a total of $4,200 for the two travelers.