From Bob McKinnon comes this modern retelling of the beloved classic, Little Engine that Could, that asks young readers, “How does your journey differ from others?” It also serves as a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from their track.
Available in your favorite bookstores.
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Or wondered why your life turned differently than you expected or from others you know. On this site, you’ll find tools, writing and podcast episodes that explores this question and others. Watch Bob’s TEDx talk to learn about his journey and the science behind how we see our lives and those of others.
Children’s Books
I think I can, I think I can, I think I… can’t? What’s an Engine to do when even believing in yourself won’t get you to the top of the mountain? In this modern retelling of the beloved The Little Engine That Could, The Little Blue Engine and her friends attempt to reach the town on the other side of the mountain, but they quickly realize that not every engine is on the same track, and they all face different obstacles in their journey. In Three Little Engines author Bob McKinnon asks young readers: How does your journey differ from others?
While paying homage to the beloved classic, author Bob McKinnon acknowledges that although positive thinking and confidence are important, they are not always enough to help you succeed. In many instances, success requires a helping hand. This book is a gentle introduction to the idea of socioeconomic mobility and inequality in America. Heavily inspired by his own experiences, McKinnon teaches the youngest of readers how to recognize opportunity and inequality in the American Dream, and, most importantly, how to extend a helping hand to those on different tracks of life. At its heart, Three Little Engines is a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from your track.
Three Little Engines is now a New York Times best seller! Order your copy today from your favorite online bookseller or your local bookstore:
What is Your American Dream Score
Newsletter
Tools
What do a broken washing machine, two Ikea loft beds, and Jane Goodall have in common?
Each required using common tools to solve a stressful problem.
Let’s start first with the washing machine. I was peacefully chilling in my living room after a very, very long day, only to be disrupted by a menacing beeping sound emanating from our laundry room. The dreaded E18 Error on the display greeted me – signaling that the machine was not draining properly. Previous culprits for the issue involved a bobby pin and a penny. Those were easily addressed. This time, however, the cause was a mass of twisted hair stuck behind the filter – unreachable with my fat fingers or makeshift tools. To bring our repair man out would have easily approached $200. Fortunately, I had seen him fix this issue previously and called him to ask what tool he used. The solution – large needle nose pliers. I was able to borrow a pair and within minutes the problem was fixed.
Assembling anything from Ikea is supposed to be simple. Their instructions don’t even have words, only images. Just an allen wrench and a hundred or so screws and three hours later you’re all set. But what happens when you have to take the loft bed apart? Oh, I’m sorry, I mean two beds apart. And you don’t have instructions? And some of those allen screws are stripped? Initially, I thought borrowing a drill with a hex adapter would speed things up – but the tight spaces and angles meant that it was not quite as useful as hoped. Resigned to using the rudimentary allen wrench I was able to remove most of the pieces. For those stripped screws, I resorted to the hammer. The first bed took three hours to disassemble. The second 45 minutes. The reduced time is the by-product of learning from my mistakes.
In between these two handyman adventures, I watched this documentary on Jane Goodall. If you’re thinking that the connection was her first discovering that chimpanzees used tools, you would be mistaken. While that is true, I am instead referring to her own use of a common – but underutilized – tool in her advocacy work. Listening and working with those you disagree with.
I didn’t realize that Goodall often faced criticism for working with people whose practices she and other animal rights advocates adamantly disagreed with. This included people doing medical research on her beloved chimpanzees. Instead of protesting outside their building with signs, she worked inside those buildings trying to understand their objectives and processes, earning their trust and respect. Then when the time was right she shared with them footage from her own research comparing the living conditions and well-being of her chimpanzees in their natural habitat to those in their labs. This dialogue eventually contributed to NIH and other organizations deciding to stop all research involving chimpanzees. Commenting on the criticism she received, she was incredulous that people would NOT work to understand the motivations of people they disagreed with and build trust with them.
We have so many tools at our disposal. Some rest at the top of our tool box, others buried in the bottom. Even more can be borrowed from friends and neighbors. The challenge rests in not being so overwhelmed by the problems that face us that we can’t figure out which tool to use when.
This Week’s Recommendation: Looking for a little hope, watch Jane Goodall: The Hope. If you’re an animal lover and looking for a little joy – check out Pets, a wonderful and wholesome documentary on Disney about the animals we share our homes with. At the very least take two minutes to watch the trailer. Guaranteed it will put a smile on your face.
Consider sending this email to someone in need of a different tool to get their week going.
Monday Morning Notes
Delivered to your mailbox each Monday morning, these short notes offer an opportunity each week to reflect on who and what contributes to where we end up in life. Readers tell us it’s a great way to start their week on a positive note. See the latest note below:
Tools
What do a broken washing machine, two Ikea loft beds, and Jane Goodall have in common? Each required using common tools to solve a stressful problem. Let’s start first with the washing machine. I was peacefully chilling in my living room after a very, very long day, only to be disrupted by a menacing beeping …
Attribution with Bob McKinnon
Attribution is a podcast, where people from all walks of life, reflect on who and what has contributed to where they ended up. Our hope is after each episode, you feel a little more inspired, grateful, or supported, then when you first hit play. Check out the latest episode below:
Episode 29: Random w/ Mark Rank
Mark R. Rank is recognized as a foremost expert on issues of poverty, inequality and social justice. To date he has written 10 books on a range of subjects, including an exploration of the American Dream and a new understanding of poverty and inequality. In this episode, I talk to Mark about his latest book, The Random Factor which looks at the role of luck and chance in shaping the course of our lives. It was a fascinating discussion, one I was lucky to have. I hope you enjoy.
Show Links: