{"title":"Irene Sardanis","description":"Irene Sardanis is a retired psychologist. She was born in New York to Greek immigrant parents. She has been published five times in Sun Literary magazine and in many anthologies, the most recent of which is The Magic of Memoir. Dr. Sardanis has attended writing conferences in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Mendocino, Pebble Beach, and Berkeley. Occasionally, she moonlights as a jazz vocalist. She resides in Oakland, California, with her wonderful husband, John.","products":[{"product_id":"out-of-the-bronx-a-memoir-paperback","title":"Out of the Bronx: A Memoir - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eIrene Sardanis was born into a Greek family in the Bronx in the 1940s in which fear and peril hovered. Her mother had come to New York for an arranged marriage. Her father drank, gambled, and enjoyed other women--and then, when Irene was eleven, abandoned her family altogether. Faced with their mother's violent outbursts in the wake of this betrayal, Irene's older siblings found a way out, but Irene was trapped, hostage to her mother's rage and despair. When she finally escaped her mother as a young adult, she married a neighbor, also Greek, who controlled and dominated her just like her mother always had. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut Irene wasn't ready to let her story end there. With therapy, she eventually found the courage to leave her husband and pursue her own dreams. \u003ci\u003eOut of the Bronx\u003c\/i\u003e is her story of coming to terms with the mother and past that terrified and paralyzed her for far too long--and of how she went on to create a new life free of those fears.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67946641424607,"sku":"9781631525391","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/e_Qk4wb12d9781631525391.webp?v=1791521528"},{"product_id":"connections-the-power-of-connecting-with-strangers-paperback","title":"Connections: The Power of Connecting with Strangers - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Moving Memoir... and Why We Should Talk to Strangers...\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn her second memoir, retired psychologist Irene Sardanis, PhD shares inspiring personal stories of her world travels and the fascinating characters she meets along the way. She captures the importance and benefits of interacting and connecting with strangers-in the most unlikely places.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs she travels through Greece, Japan, Mexico-and even New York, she discovers that connections can be forged everywhere she goes in unpredictable ways, leading to rich, vibrant relationships she never anticipated. Her essays and uplifting stories tap into the wonderful humanity that unites us all. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs you travel with Irene, you'll discover new ways to: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003col\u003eStrike up lively conversations with new peopleMake connections with others in out-of-the-way placesMove past trauma and be ready to enjoy communication with strangersHave life-affirming experiences in surprising ways with new peopleIrene even shares delicious Greek Recipes, she discovered on her travels\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a world traveler or prefer to stay close to home; an introvert or extrovert, Irene's fascinating story, and hard-won wisdom will inspire you to be more aware and adventurous in meeting new people and to appreciate the joy and warmth of human connection.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67963209351391,"sku":"9798822900035","price":21.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/gZ6OdXk3QM9798822900035.webp?v=1791701479"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/irene-sardanis.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}