Q. What are you reading?

A. "Tales From the Odyssey" by Mary Pope Osborne. I have a 5-year-old, and so for the last two months we've been reading this six-book series. I also have a 16-year-old, and so on the other end of the spectrum I just read "The Inside Guide to Colleges" by The Yale Daily News, and that's a really good one written by students; so instead of just facts you get a lot of qualitative stuff about the schools. Then there's "Hate Mail from Cheerleaders" by Rick Reilly, (a former) editorial writer for Sports Illustrated. Each chapter is an inspiring story. And "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, a guy at Carnegie Mellon who has a terminal disease and got assigned a last lecture — a really moving book.

Q. What do you most like about Pausch's book?

A. Pausch is a great guy and what he says makes you appreciate your life and what you do every day. It was moving to hear him at the end of his life reflecting on all the things that are important to him and in his life. Sometimes life moves so fast, you don't realize everything that's important.

Q. Does "The Last Lecture" kindle any ideas about how to invigorate and implement ASB's strategic vision?

A. A bit, yes. I'm already that way so it reinforces it. ... I'm always encouraging having fun at work and having strong working relationships, and American Savings Bank very much supports that at work and in the community. "The Last Lecture" just really hits home — you have to be thankful for every day and take every challenge and give 110 percent, so when everything's over and done with you feel good about what you did.

Read Christine Thomas' reviews at www.literarylotus.com.