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Celebrity Biographies That Actually Deliver
Trivia: Which African country has the longest coastline?
RetireHub
December 17, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Wednesday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing fun tips on Celebrity Biographies That Actually Deliver, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
Happy Holidays from RetireHub!
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What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Kathleen McKee Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it… Widowed and heartbroken, Jodie starts a new chapter by moving into a consignment shop and taking a travel blogging job. But when her helpful neighbor, Brad, becomes more than just a friend, can she open her heart again? A heartwarming story of second chances and new beginnings. |
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Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
This year, I am sad to say, I am one of those late Christmas shoppers. So, my thought was to create a Shopper’s Survival Guide for those of you out there who find themselves in a similar situation. But basically, it is a guide for me.
DENIAL. That is my tradition. Every year I tell myself “I am going to start shopping early”. And every year I find myself looking at a calendar and realizing I have two weeks and no idea what I am going to get anyone! I hastily send texts to everyone I need to buy for, asking them for a list of what they want. Most responses are vague or non-responsive.
GIFT CARDS! I hate the thought of giving gift cards because I think it makes me look like it was a last-minute gift. Oh, the truth of it all. But I tell myself that it really is very thoughtful. That way, the recipient can buy exactly what they want, and they will always be grateful to me for that perfect gift. NOT! The recipient never calls me afterwards to tell me what they purchased. Did they even use the gift card? Did they lose it? Did they regift it? Whoever knows…
MALLS. I hate going to the mall. Most of all, I hate trying to find a parking space. I hate being bundled up in a coat, hat and mittens, only to be sweating while fervently shopping in the crowds. And then the lines! What ever happened to quick checkouts? I am hyperventilating just thinking about it.
HANDMADE GIFTS. I love when people make me something – cookies, scarfs, ornaments, etc. But what I cannot do is make anything myself to give in return. No talent in this set of hands. I cannot cook or bake, cannot knit and certainly have no artistic ability.
WRAPPING. Some people wrap beautifully. It certainly is a talent. No matter how hard I try, I cannot achieve the perfectly wrapped box. Maybe if I didn’t wait until the last minute, it would be better, but here I am, usually wrapping just hours before the entire family is set to arrive. You would think I would learn. My Mom, God love her, always had such beautifully wrapped presents. Then she would come over and see my trying to rush through my wrapping projects. I can still picture her rolling her eyes and shaking her head at me. Oh, what memories!
THE GRANDKIDS. Thank goodness for technology. My grandkids actually sent me the links to what they would like. Click, click, send… and that shopping was done. They get exactly what they want, and I never had to get out of my pajamas!
But all in all, I always preach to my family about the true meaning of Christmas. We may not remember what we received or what we gave in previous years, but we always remember the laughs and time spent together. And THAT is what the holidays are all about.
From the bottom of my heart and soul, I wish all of my readers a blessed upcoming holiday. No matter what your beliefs or who you celebrate with, I wish you the happiest of days. All of you will be in my thoughts as I jot down funny memories that I can spoof for future columns.
Please email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Joanne
Your thoughts on this week's column? |
On this day in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made history near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, by achieving the world’s first successful powered, controlled airplane flight—lasting just 12 seconds, but launching the age of aviation.
Celebrity Biographies That Actually Deliver
Celebrity biographies can be hit or miss. Some feel carefully polished, skim over hard truths, or read more like press releases than real life stories. But every so often, a memoir comes along that genuinely delivers—offering honesty, insight, and a sense that the author is truly letting readers behind the curtain. These are the celebrity biographies that stay with you long after the final page.
What sets the best celebrity biographies apart is vulnerability. When famous figures are willing to discuss failures, doubts, family struggles, or moments of reinvention, their stories become relatable rather than remote. Readers aren’t just learning about red carpets or awards—they’re learning how someone navigated grief, addiction, career setbacks, or major life transitions. That kind of openness creates connection, especially for readers who have lived a few chapters of life themselves.
Strong celebrity biographies also provide cultural context. They don’t exist in a vacuum; they reflect the era, industry, and expectations that shaped the person’s journey. Whether it’s the pressures of Hollywood, the evolution of music or sports, or changing attitudes toward fame and identity, these books often double as time capsules. For many readers, that blend of personal memory and shared history is part of the appeal.
Another hallmark of a great celebrity biography is a clear, authentic voice. The best ones sound like the person talking to you over coffee—thoughtful, self-aware, and sometimes even humorous about their own missteps. Some celebrities collaborate closely with skilled writers, resulting in memoirs that feel both polished and deeply personal, striking a balance between storytelling and truth.
Finally, biographies that truly deliver offer something beyond gossip: perspective. They show growth, lessons learned, and how success didn’t eliminate fear or uncertainty. For older readers especially, these stories can be affirming—proof that reinvention, reflection, and meaningful change don’t have an expiration date.
In the end, the most satisfying celebrity biographies remind us that behind every famous face is a human story filled with complexity. When done well, these books aren’t about fame at all—they’re about resilience, creativity, and the universal desire to be understood.
What makes a celebrity biography worth reading for you? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: How Organized Do You Feel Your Digital Life Is?
These results show that most readers are managing their digital lives reasonably well—but almost everyone sees room for improvement. A strong majority describe themselves as “somewhat organized,” while a significant group admits their digital spaces are cluttered or even overwhelming. Only a small portion feel truly on top of everything, and very few avoid the issue altogether. Overall, it’s clear that digital organization is a shared challenge, and many people are open to simple, practical ways to bring a little more order to their devices.
TOP COMMENTS
“I delete some emails as I go through them, daily. About once a week I go through all of them and delete older emails that I missed or kept to look at later. I have very few apps on my phone and have deleted all of the ones I will not use.”
“It’s also important to close FB pages of deceased relatives/ spouses. I neglected to do this after my husband passed away. As a result, his account got hacked.”
“When my grandson visits he helps us with any problems we have with our electronics. He’s a big help.”
“We just purchased a new desktop. I spent a full day purging documents and pictures, doing a backup of what I wanted to keep, sending many things that were not already saved "in the cloud" to the Cloud. The other thing to include when you are purging is to make sure that important information is password protected.”
A Journey Through Vietnam That Lingers Long After You Leave
Traveling through Vietnam offers far more than beautiful scenery—it’s an experience that gently reshapes how you see the world. From bustling cities filled with motorbikes and street vendors to peaceful countryside landscapes and quiet temples, the country balances energy and calm in unforgettable ways. The food alone tells a story, with fresh herbs, bold flavors, and shared meals creating instant connections between strangers. Perhaps most striking is the warmth of the people, whose resilience, generosity, and pride in their culture leave a lasting impression. A trip to Vietnam isn’t just a vacation; it’s a reminder of how curiosity, openness, and human connection can turn travel into something deeply meaningful.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Cool cat
Meaning: A cool cat is someone who is relaxed, confident, and effortlessly stylish or likable. The term dates back to the jazz era and was often used to describe people who stayed calm under pressure and had a smooth, easygoing charm.
In a sentence: “George may not follow every trend, but he’s a real cool cat—always calm, kind, and smiling like he knows something the rest of us don’t.”
Good News of the Day
From Empty Lots to Blooming Hope: How One Chicago Hero Is Growing Change
A Chicago community leader has been named CNN’s 2025 Hero of the Year for transforming neglected vacant lots on the city’s South Side into vibrant flower farms that bring beauty, opportunity, and healing to the neighborhood. What began as a simple effort to clean up blighted spaces has grown into a powerful movement that creates jobs, teaches agricultural skills, and gives residents a renewed sense of pride in their surroundings. The flower farms provide fresh blooms to local florists and events, while also serving as outdoor classrooms where young people learn responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the value of caring for the land. By turning overlooked spaces into places of growth and possibility, this project shows how small, thoughtful actions can take root and blossom into lasting community change.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Which planet is known as the “Red Planet”? |
Who played the character Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939)? |
Which African country has the longest coastline? |
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