Non-Fiction

Book Review: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 2 Tools & Rules): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind by R Luciani 

Categories Christian Fiction, Non-Fiction, R Luciani1 Comment on Book Review: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 2 Tools & Rules): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind by R Luciani 

Book Details:

Author: R Luciani
Release Date: 4th October 2021
Series: Star Personality Styles (Vol #2)
Genre: Christian Non Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 270 pages
Publisher: KoHoE Publishing
Blurb:
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss “until death do us part”. At the time of writing this book, several sources reported that 60% to 85% of marriages are unhappy, and the Divorce Rate (in Canada) is around 38%; this means that 22% to 47% of married couples remain in unhappy marriages until death do they part.
Only 7% of conflicts are due to the words of the message; 93% of conflicts are due to the delivery of the message (quality of voice and body language); it is my intent to help people comprehend and resolve conflicts that are due to a simple misunderstanding of different personality styles – before conflict escalation. With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss “until death do us part” is possible for every marriage.
“STAR Personality Styles” is based on principles from the Holy Bible, but don’t let the source of information turn you away. Almost everyone (Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other religions, and even atheists) with whom I have shared the information directly (one-on-one, couples, or small groups) has reported to me that they have benefited from the information contained in this book.

STAR Personality Styles uses principles from the Holy Bible to explain: (1) the Negative, as well as the Positive, Personality Styles; (2) how to deal with people who have Negative Personality Styles; (3) how to overcome Negative Personality Styles within ourselves; (4) Safe, Effective, and Calm Conflict Resolution; (5) a comprehensive set of rules to promote the most satisfying relationship for all Interpersonal Relationships.
STAR Personality Styles Complete (Volumes 1 & 2) contains both Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) and Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) in a single book. If you (the reader) are interested in both Personality Styles and Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, the Complete version (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-0-1 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.
STAR Personality Styles Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) explains the different Personality Styles: Positive (STAR) and Negative (RATS) and answers how and why the differences can cause unhappy relationships. If you (the reader) are only interested in Personality Styles, Volume 1 (ISBN-13 978-1-7778566-1-8 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.
STAR Personality Styles Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) explains how to establish and nourish Love, Joy, Peace, and Harmony in your relationships with different personality styles – of course, success depends on your commitment to the relationship. If you (the reader) are only interested in Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, Volume 2 (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-2-5 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

STAR Personality Styles (Vol.2: TOOLS & RULES) RATS: Grow Up Or Be Left Behind by R. Luciani is the second volume to STAR Personality Styles (Vol.1: STARS & RATS) RATS: Grow Up Or Be Left Behind. This book goes further in exploring the relationship dynamics between two people and explains ways to effectively resolve conflicts.

Author R. Luciani again draws largely from the Holy Bible to explain and describe ways in which relationship conflicts can be easily resolved with a little patience and understanding. I found the concepts explained in his book very helpful and feel positive that they would help others greatly too.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is going through a difficult time in their relationship and needs help, advice or is seeking direction in general.

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Book Review: The Playful Mind: How to Restore the Happiness We Experienced as Children by Paul Daniel

Categories Non-Fiction, Paul Daniel, Self-HelpLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Playful Mind: How to Restore the Happiness We Experienced as Children by Paul Daniel

Book Details:

Author: Paul Daniel
Release Date: 14th July 2022
Series:
Genre: Self-Help, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 269 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
As children, we were often so happy because it was easy for us to enter the playful mind. The “playful mind” is the mentality of being receptive to engagement with the present moment. As we got older, this playful mind became interfered with, making it more difficult for us to enter this mental state. If we are not mentally receptive to the present moment, it becomes harder for us to engage with it and produce feelings of happiness.

In this book, Paul Daniel identifies what is interfering with the playful mind and how to remove them. Primarily, there are mental frameworks we’ve adopted growing up that inhibit our satisfaction and cause us suffering. Such mental frameworks today preoccupy our thoughts and keep us from engaging with what is happening right in front of us. By dismantling these mental frameworks and removing other sources of interference, we can more easily enter the playful mind again – even as adults. With easier access to the playful mind, you will be able to experience more happiness in each moment.

Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Playful Mind: How to Restore the Happiness We Experienced as Children by Paul Daniel is a very informative book about understanding how the mind works and how we can choose to be more present in the present moment (something like mindfulness but not exactly like it) and be more happy and assertive as a result.

I liked reading this book because it had a lot of information on self-growth and self-development and I found most of it easily understandable and applicable in daily life which I really appreciate. The book is written well and has a good flow. I was able to finish the book pretty quickly so for me it fit in well with my schedule and busy work life.

I’d recommend this book to everyone who likes reading self-development books, especially the ones focused on how the mind works and the various practices that help one achieve better and stress-free living.

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Book Review: 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer

Categories Humor, memoir, Non-Fiction, Poppy MortimerLeave a Comment on Book Review: 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer

Book Details:

Author: Poppy Mortimer
Release Date: 10th May 2022
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 276 pages
Publisher: Poppy Mortimer
Blurb:
Poppy Mortimer is hungry for love. Will she find The One, or lose her appetite for men, forever?
Smart, attractive, and fueled by wide-eyed optimism, Poppy Mortimer leaves rainy England to start a new life-and find the perfect man-in exotic Australia. Surely somewhere out there, a Chris Hemsworth impersonator is just waiting to whisk her off her feet and show her the real charms of ‘Down Under’.
But as Poppy launches into 28 dates, ranging from the outright hysterical to borderline traumatic, it becomes clear she’s going to have to kiss a few frogs-assuming she doesn’t croak first. From the seven-foot giant with a disturbing workout practice, to the exclusive party that turns out to be a lot more than just cocktails and canapes, Poppy starts to wonder if she should sue Disney for giving her false hope.

With gusto, humour, and a lot of heart, Poppy digs deep into her past as a child of divorce, and her ongoing journey as a modern woman and devoted romantic. Through laughter, tears, and characters that are truly stranger than fiction, Poppy won’t stop until she finds true love-or something even greater.
Fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Sex and the City (or any person who wants to feel better about their own dating life) will love this book.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer is a funny account of the author’s troubled yet exciting and often amusing love life. In this book, the author pens down her disastrous dates, the things she learned from each of them, and how she went on to the next, thinking she won’t be making the same mistakes but ending up somehow on another disastrous first date.

I liked how the author used her sense of humour to keep the tone of the book light and made it funny and thus more relatable as well as easily palatable for the readers. The author’s writing style is good and the writing had a good flow which made this book a really easy and fast read.

I’d recommend this book to all readers of humorous non-fiction as I’m sure this book has a lot to offer to all its readers whether they are men or women.

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Book Review: Some Mistakes of Darwin and a Programmer’s Theory of Life by Daniel G. Vintner

Categories Daniel G. Vintner, Non-Fiction, PhilosophyLeave a Comment on Book Review: Some Mistakes of Darwin and a Programmer’s Theory of Life by Daniel G. Vintner

Book Details:

Author: Daniel G. Vintner
Release Date: 24th May 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Philosophy
Format: E-book 
Pages: 263 pages
Publisher: Boros Dániel
Blurb:
Darwin’s theory of evolution has been widely regarded as one of the greatest accomplishments of science. Except for a few individuals, most scientists have dismissed the issues that have crept up in the last century related to and in opposition to the theory of evolution. However, developments in molecular biology and genetics have failed to address some of the original concerns with the theory and also exposed even more significant flaws that should not be overlooked.
The evolution debate has been raging on the outskirts of academia for two centuries, and the sides have never been further apart than they are now. “Science versus religion” and “evolution versus creationism” was what the audience heard for a long time. In the twentieth century, God was brought down into the fighting pits of scientific society to duke it out with Charles Darwin, and for the longest time, it seemed he had lost the match for good. In recent times, though, God has put his gloves back on and seems to have managed to insert himself back into the debate.

Or has he? Has anything really changed in this debate, which is as old as debates themselves? Did evolution change, or science, or God himself? What is true from the grandiose claims of those who claim to have resurrected God by virtue of their arguments? And what truth is there in the words of the scientists who claim to have buried him?

Some Mistakes of Darwin goes back to the beginning of evolutionary thought and verifies every claim made by Darwin and his successors. Everything is put to the test, and nothing is off limits. No claim is accepted without verification and no argument is beyond questioning. Travel from the birth of genetics and molecular biology, through the advances in software engineering, to the far ends of space and time and beyond. By the last chapter, the book goes full circle and reaches the same conclusion as the philosophers of old have, from the same facts but a different perspective, arguing from science, not from scripture, for a new theory of life.

Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Some Mistakes of Darwin and a Programmer’s Theory of Life by Daniel G. Vintner is a very interesting book to read that will leave you thinking really hard about the age-old debate of ‘science vs religion.’

This book had a very unique premise and to say that I was intrigued by this book would be a huge understatement. After reading the book I was really impressed by the author’s arguments presented in the book and believed them to be true, finding myself leaning toward his explanations and thus, his side, more than I thought was possible. Without giving away any spoilers, I would just like to say that be prepared to be swayed from your one-sided stand after reading this book because the author might just be able to convince you to agree with his arguments.

I would strongly recommend this book to everyone who likes to explore and read about Darwin’s Theory of evolution.

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Book Review: No Ghosts in the Graveyard: The Lifetime Adventures of a Small-Town Oregon Boy by Bob Crites

Categories Bob Crites, memoir, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: No Ghosts in the Graveyard: The Lifetime Adventures of a Small-Town Oregon Boy by Bob Crites

Book Details:

Author: Bob Crites
Release Date: 29th August 2021
Series:
Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir
Format: E-book 
Pages: 429 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
“I had the good fortune of being born with a high biological set point for happiness.”
Walking alone at night, at age nine, selling newspapers on the streets of Eugene, Oregon, Bob Crites was among the last of the American paperboys. In the early 1950s, Bob and his triplet siblings didn’t know the word “homeless”; he thought they were living an adventure camping in the woods with their young mother.As an adult setting out to make a difference in the world, Bob finds his passion: Helping others help themselves.
Follow the funny, sometimes sad, always interesting adventures of “The Incredible Crites” as he saves lives, almost gets killed, and makes a world of difference.

Bob Crites has earned numerous recognition and awards for his service and altruism. In 1964 he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Brazilian hinterlands of Mato Grosso, Brazil, when the country was taken in a military coup. And in the late 70s, he was an Associate Peace Corps Director in Guatemala during a civil war. In the 1990s, he partnered with the “Second Mother Teresa”, one of the 20th century’s most enlightened women, to enrich the education of impoverished students. In 1991 Bob was thrust into the role of agent for an African teen who went on to become an Olympic gold medalist, world record-holding track star voted along with cyclist Lance Armstrong as the two top sports competitors in the world. In 1998 Dr. Jane Goodall personally requested Bob to partner with the Jane Goodall Institute in awarding academic scholarships in Tanzania.
Now retired from a career as an educator and counselor, Bob is an avid backgammon player living with his Brazilian-born wife Dalva in Eugene, Oregon. They love to travel and winter at their beachside condo in Recife, Brazil

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

No Ghosts in the Graveyard: The Lifetime Adventures of a Small-Town Oregon Boy by Bob Crites is a beautifully written memoir that will make you forget everything else as you read this book.

I quite enjoyed reading this book mostly because of two reasons; firstly it was a very well-written book and secondly because the story that the author had to share with the readers was a very interesting one. This book had a lot of aspects to it as the author had shared his long and interesting life through small captivating anecdotes. The book managed to grip my attention from the first page to the very last one and I was left wanting for more.

The pacing of the book felt right and the narrative style was very gripping. I would highly recommend this book to all readers of non-fiction and personal memoirs.

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Book Review: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 1 STAR and RATS): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind by R Luciani 

Categories Christian Fiction, Non-Fiction, R Luciani1 Comment on Book Review: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 1 STAR and RATS): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind by R Luciani 

Book Details:

Author: R Luciani
Release Date: 4th October 2021
Series: Star Personality Styles (Vol #1)
Genre: Christian Non Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 302 pages
Publisher: KoHoE Publishing
Blurb:
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss “until death do us part”. At the time of writing this book, several sources reported that 60% to 85% of marriages are unhappy, and the Divorce Rate (in Canada) is around 38%; this means that 22% to 47% of married couples remain in unhappy marriages until death do they part.
Only 7% of conflicts are due to the words of the message; 93% of conflicts are due to the delivery of the message (quality of voice and body language); it is my intent to help people comprehend and resolve conflicts that are due to a simple misunderstanding of different personality styles – before conflict escalation. With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss “until death do us part” is possible for every marriage.
“STAR Personality Styles” is based on principles from the Holy Bible, but don’t let the source of information turn you away. Almost everyone (Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other religions, and even atheists) with whom I have shared the information directly (one-on-one, couples, or small groups) has reported to me that they have benefited from the information contained in this book.

STAR Personality Styles uses principles from the Holy Bible to explain: (1) the Negative, as well as the Positive, Personality Styles; (2) how to deal with people who have Negative Personality Styles; (3) how to overcome Negative Personality Styles within ourselves; (4) Safe, Effective, and Calm Conflict Resolution; (5) a comprehensive set of rules to promote the most satisfying relationship for all Interpersonal Relationships.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

STAR Personality Styles (Vol.1: STARS And RATS) RATS: Grow Up Or Be Left Behind by R. Luciani is a brilliant and insightful book about the workings of people’s personalities and their relationships. Pastor Ross Luciani has highlighted the types of personalities and the ways to deal with such personalities in his latest 2-volume book series, STAR Personality Styles using his knowledge of the Bible to draw parallels and to define personalities and the ways to handle the negative ones.

I am a firm believer that religious texts are mostly written keeping in mind a common man and how this common man can overcome obstacles in their daily life and live happily. Cementing on this belief, I had the privilege to get the opportunity to read and review books by author R. Luciani who draws heavily from the Holy Bible to explain and describe different kinds of people around us and how their personalities bare an influence on their relationships, especially marriage – the most sacred of all relationships.

I think this book would be helpful to anyone in general, Christian or not (which means it is okay if you have or have not read Bible previously) as this book has a lot of useful information about how people think in general and behave according to how they are and the way they see this world. Reading this book would give a really insightful look into the workings of certain relationships and I am sure you’ll be glad after reading this book and, like me, would want to jump on to the next one to know more about conflict resolution too.

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Book Review: Sidelined: How Women Manage and Mismanage Their Health by Susan Salenger 

Categories Health, Non-Fiction, Susan Salenger3 Comments on Book Review: Sidelined: How Women Manage and Mismanage Their Health by Susan Salenger 

Book Details:

Author: Susan Salenger 
Release Date: 10th April 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction > Health
Format: E-book 
Pages: 224 pages
Publisher: She Writes Press
Blurb:
DON’T MAKE ANOTHER HEALTHCARE DECISION WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK 
“If men had cramps, they’d have cured this by now…”
“I told my doctor about my pain for years, but he told me it was all in my head…”
“My doctor removed my IUD without anesthesia because ‘there aren’t any nerve endings in there.’ Boy, was he wrong!”
These and countless other comments from women who’ve suffered at the hands of the healthcare industry are frighteningly common… but they don’t have to be. 

Sidelined: How Women Manage & Mismanage Their Health discloses how women have been marginalized and hesitate to take control over their own healthcare. But what’s behind this nationwide medical crisis? 
Too often, women:
· Ignore their symptoms to avoid being “difficult.”
· Downplay their suffering out of fear of being branded “hysterical.” 
· Are reluctant to question their doctors’ assessments, even if they don’t seem right.
The end result could be inferior care, which can lead to serious consequences.
In Sidelined, writer and researcher Susan Salenger explains why women are misdiagnosed more often than men, and why their symptoms often go unrecognized or even disputed. 
This book teaches readers how to:
· Take charge of their health.
· Communicate their medical needs with their doctor.
· Make informed decisions about their own healthcare.
· Leave their appointments with answers instead of just questions.

Knowing how to advocate for your own healthcare can mean the difference between healthy outcomes and years of needless agony or even death.
This important women’s health book equips readers with the knowledge, language, and skill sets they need to overcome the gender bias that is present in the medical industry and get the best healthcare possible.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Sidelined: How Women Manage and Mismanage Their Health by Susan Salenger is a keenly essential and extremely well-researched book on women’s health that should be read by all women and even men so that they can know the challenges and help out and, when required, take better care of their partners, mothers, sisters and friends.

This book simply BLEW my mind as it had so much relevant and essential information that I had not been expecting at all. I mean, of course, I was expecting some information and advice, but this book turned out to be a whole treasure trove of valuable insights, practical examples and experiences, advice on what to do, how to do and what not to do and if to do something then how exactly to do it. This book even covered the misconceptions harboured by doctors themselves and how these could be way more harmful to patients that the disease itself. So ladies, start by choosing the right doctors and gynacs for yourself. No more going for the douche doctors who think period pains are “just in your head.”

To summarise in one sentence, this book is a must-read for all women and even men, who have women in their life whom they really love. I would strongly suggest this book to EVERYONE on this planet! GO, get this book and read it!

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Book Review: Building Resilience And Finding Meaning in Life by June Rousso

Categories June Rousso, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Young AdultLeave a Comment on Book Review: Building Resilience And Finding Meaning in Life by June Rousso

Book Details:

Author: June Rousso 
Release Date: 17th February 2022
Series:
Genre: Young-Adult, Non-Fiction, Inspirational
Format: E-book 
Pages: 83 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life: A Guide for Teens is an interactive book meant to engage readers in learning how to face adversities in life and to find meaning in these experiences. It gives the message that we have a treasure chest of inner resources that can be called upon in the face of adversity. These resources must be discovered and, in some instances, developed to build resilience and find what holds personal meaning. Along with discovering meaning in adversity readers are encouraged to look for meaningful moments in their lives rather than engaging in activities that often lead them to feel empty inside.

The guide also can be read by counselors and educators to help teens cope and live a more meaningful life. The guide was inspired by the teachings of Dr. Viktor Frankl, noted author of Man’s Search for Meaning, and by the research findings on character strengths presented by the VIA Institute on Character.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Building Resilience And Finding Meaning In Life by June Rousso is a very inspirational young-adult book on practical and easy-to-follow strategies and instructions for facing everyday adversities for teens. The main thing that I loved about this book is that it is tailor-made for teenagers, which is pretty rare and also abundantly helpful because the author has especially highlighted problems and solutions faced by teenagers regularly.

The author’s writing is simple, succinct and very undeviating, which I found to be most appropriate, as the author delved directly into the strategies she has to offer without the jargon that spoils most books in this particular genre. So I really appreciate the author’s directness.

This book has a lot of meaningful and practical life lessons for teenagers (and even for adults if you want to read this book being a non-teenage or an adult.) If you have a teenager in your family then you should definitely gift them this book as it will help them tremendously

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ARC Review: Pay Me To Do Nothing! How a Lazy, Broke and Tired Boy Found His Calling by Otto Bocktopus 

Categories Comedy, Humor, Non-Fiction, Self-HelpLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Pay Me To Do Nothing! How a Lazy, Broke and Tired Boy Found His Calling by Otto Bocktopus 

Book Details:

Author: Otto Bocktopus 
Release Date: 1st June 2022
Series:
Genre: Humor, Fictional Memoir, Corporate Comedy, Self-Help
Format: E-book 
Pages: 142 pages
Publisher: Purple Piggybank Press
Blurb:
You probably never met anyone who thinks like Otto – laugh your way to a new life perspective!
People always told Otto that working hard would lead to being more successful and that being more successful would lead to being happy. But that wasn’t true.
Shake your head at his antics, giggle at his tales, and come away with a whole new perspective on companies and work and laziness and happiness.
At his first job, Otto Bocktopus busted ass and made $3.35/hour. Last year, like most years, he was paid about $700K and he did nothing. He does only what he wants, yet he is always getting paid. How did he get from there to here? And, can you?

If you believe that working hard will lead to being more successful and that being more successful will lead to being happy, and you find yourself planning to work hard your whole life until around the time your body starts to fail, then this book can teach you the fallacy of your thinking and help you find true happiness.
Told through the lens of his outrageous work experiences, Otto will make you laugh and make you think. You may shake your head at his antics but you will come away with a whole different way of thinking about companies and business leaders and work and laziness and happiness.
Don’t miss out on the hilarious online quizzes at the end of each chapter! Test your understanding of Otto’s perspective and laugh! Check out the quiz on Otto’s website.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pay Me To Do Nothing! How a Lazy, Broke and Tired Boy Found His Calling by Otto Bocktopus is a funny fictional corporate memoir that has tons of life lessons for its readers.

I loved reading this book, admittedly more than I had been expecting because it had so much to offer. First of all, I loved the way the story (the fictional memoir) was told through the POV of Otto, a character, almost everyone can relate to in some way or another. Secondly, the sheer value of the lessons covered in this book is simply outstanding. In spite of it being a corporate comedy, the lessons from this book can be applied to any area with a little tweaking. And lastly, I loved the humorous undercurrent that ran through the book. I appreciated the author’s clever and subtle sense of humour and it made reading this book feel like a very smooth ride.

I liked the writing style of the author. The characterisation was good and felt apt for the purpose this book was written. I loved the situations that were covered in this book and overall I think this book has a lot to offer to everyone. Therefore, I’d highly recommend it to all readers who’d like to read about a quirky character and learn tons of life lessons in doing so!

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Book Review: Essential Life Skills For Teens: 13 Different Ways To Use Your Critical Thinking, Manage Your Time Better, Set Your Smart Goals, And Navigate Social Media Safely by David Skiddy

Categories David Skiddy, Non-Fiction, ProductivityLeave a Comment on Book Review: Essential Life Skills For Teens: 13 Different Ways To Use Your Critical Thinking, Manage Your Time Better, Set Your Smart Goals, And Navigate Social Media Safely by David Skiddy

Book Details:

Author: David Skiddy
Release Date: 15th February 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Productivity
Format: E-book 
Pages: 136 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Beyond Classwork – How to prepare for a successful adult life to achieve your dreams and live life how you want to
How prepared are you to leave the nest and start living on your own – away from your parents’ shadows?
Are you about to be of age but feel inadequate to move out and run a household on your own?
Would you like to understand the 8th wonder of the world – adulthood and everything in between?
Adulthood comes with its share of joys and challenges, and age doesn’t always mean that you are ready to live independently.
Known as the advent of adulthood, teenage years mark a period where you need to make crucial decisions that will set the pace for your future.
It’s the best time to gather all the bricks and building materials you need to transition into adulthood.

Life skills form the foundation of the future you’ve always dreamed of and admired.
While learning and developing these skills is a continuous process that never ends, the bulk of it occurs during your teen years.
This guide is designed to help equip teenagers with the tools they need to maximize their potential and enjoy a fulfilling life.
In Essential Life Skills For Teens, you’ll discover:

  • Life hacks to help you think more critically and reason your way out of difficult situations
  • How to become financially savvy by learning how to manage, budget, save, and spend money wisely 
  • Goal-setting strategies that ensure you set practical goals and steps to achieve them 
  • The bittersweet side of social media – how to leverage technology for your own good, stay safe, and avoid losing yourself in the likes and dislikes
  • How to solve problems like a pro and avoid getting stuck on a challenge for longer than you should 
  • Executive functioning skills you need to make every minute of your day count towards your life’s dreams 
  • 20+ innovative ways to make money as a teen using readily available resources no matter where you live

And so much more!
There are many essential survival skills you need for successful adulting that aren’t included in the syllabus at school – yet you’ll find them right inside.
As you get older and take on more responsibilities, you’ll be equipped to do many of the adult tasks your parents seem to breeze through daily.
Filled with practical insights, easy-to-follow tips, and thoughtful guidance, this handbook will empower you to make good choices – both now and in the future.
If you want to experience the future you envision and prepare for adult life, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Essential Life Skills For Teens by David Skiddy is an informative and important book that will not only teach teens (and even adults) how to navigate through the tricky waters of today’s digital and stressful world but also excel with remarkable results.

This book is written in a simple writing that has a great flow and is easily understandable. The structuring of the book is done well and helps navigate the pages and the advice of the author in a clear way. I took down a lot of notes while reading this book and I feel so glad that I read it because no matter what your age is, it is always great to stumble upon texts of information that have the power to simplify your life.

I would strongly recommend this book to all non-fiction readers and to those who have teens in their homes or families.

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ARC Review: Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street by C.J. Hudson

Categories C.J. Hudson, memoir, Non-Fiction, RomanceLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street by C.J. Hudson

Book Details:

Author: C.J. Hudson
Release Date: NA
Series: The Fairhaven Series (Book #1)
Genre: Romantic Memoir
Format: E-book 
Pages: 242 pages
Publisher: NA
Blurb:
Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street is the story of one man’s eight-year journey to get back to the girl next door.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street by C.J. Hudson is a touching memoir about how author found love.

I liked this book because it feels like a very honest book as the author as not shied away from pouring out his heart. The writing is simply yet the flow of it makes reading this book effortless. The concept of this book is beautiful and the emotions are raw and sincere.

This book is an exceptional emotional read and I would definitely recommend it to all the readers of memoirs and romance genre.

Book Review: To the Survivors: One Man’s Journey as a Rape Crisis Counselor with True Stories of Sexual Violence by Robert Uttaro 

Categories memoir, Mental Health, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Robert UttaroLeave a Comment on Book Review: To the Survivors: One Man’s Journey as a Rape Crisis Counselor with True Stories of Sexual Violence by Robert Uttaro 

Book Details:

Author: Robert Uttaro 
Release Date: 20th December 2021
Genre: Memoir, Mental Health, Psychology, Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 251 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
To the Survivors is about one man’s journey as a rape crisis counselor with true stories of sexual violence shared by survivors in their own words. Gently and beautifully constructed, To the Survivors is moving, tender, sharp, and piercingly true all at once. Readers will encounter uncensored written stories, poems, and interviews from women and men who have experienced rape and sexual assault, plus the advocate-author voice that weaves their experiences together. The survivors are diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, yet each gives a similarity raw and heartfelt account of his or her victimization and recovery. The authenticity and vulnerability with which survivors speak resonates profoundly. But this book is not just for survivors of sexual violence. Robert Uttaro believes anyone can benefit from the words in these pages, rape survivor or not.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

To The Survivors by Robert Uttaro is a heartfelt memoir about rape survivors. Each and every chapter in this book is a different survivor story written by the author, lending it a voice that could be heard by everyone. It wasn’t always easy to read these stories, but I felt that it was important, in some way, to read them all, and to spread awareness about this book because the more the people read this book, the more the victims and survivors will feel heard.

I would recommend this book to every reader, though I would also like to caution them about a plethora of triggers that this book has. So read the blurb carefully before starting this book. If you are okay with the triggers then this book is a beautiful one that will open your eyes to the many things women are subjected to in the world and will help you broaden your perspective when it comes to feminism and why it is needed in the first place among many such misunderstood concepts.

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Book Review: The E.Q. Revolution – Mastering Your Emotional Heart-Print by Michael Vincent Moore

Categories Michael Vincent Moore, Non-Fiction, Self-HelpLeave a Comment on Book Review: The E.Q. Revolution – Mastering Your Emotional Heart-Print by Michael Vincent Moore

Book Details:

Author: Michael Vincent Moore
Release Date: 10th October 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Series: The E.Q. Revolution (Book #2)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 333 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
“Wake yourself up, get to know who you truly are, and follow a path to become part of a new revolution, the greatest one!”
Reclaim your authentic self, increase love to a life of meaning and purpose, and stop endless cycles that prevent you from being happier and fulfilled… In his second book in The E.Q. Revolution series, Michael blends age old spiritual wisdom with modern knowledge and timely advice to create a renewed understanding of what it is like to be human in today’s world.
Start dreaming again, things can get better!


Learn how, and why, that it all starts from within… And only when enough people take on the most heroic challenge that ever was, to truly and irrevocably become the masters of their own fate, can we see a future beyond all wars and overcome much of human suffering.
Life isn’t just about choosing a career and making money anymore, or finding a special someone, there is so much more to it than that. Humanity needs to grow beyond the limits our societies have dictated to us, beyond our self-imposed boundaries and programming, to our ultimate nature.
We have not become successful as a species yet, not where success counts most; of who we are and what we stand for, and how much we care about one another and ourselves.
And the best part of sharing such a journey: Your whole life becomes better in the process, better relationships, more fulfilled, greater opportunities, and more loving, for yourself, and others.
So, Mastering our Emotional Heart-Print is about understanding our impact from the inside out, similar to the effect of our carbon footprint, but in love and kindness, and how that relates to the whole world becoming what it is…
We are all in this together, and only together can we make this place of ours great! So, will you be one of the people who will take part in the New Era of Social Responsibility towards the best future we can ever dream of?
Read the book, and find out for yourself!

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The E.Q. Revolution – Mastering Your Emotional Heart-Print by Michael Vincent Moore is the second book in The E.Q. Revolution series and the sequel to The E.Q. Revolution – From Emotional Intelligence to Emotional Maturity: Transform your life through Emotional Growth and Maturity! This book focuses on the Universal or the one-mind theory – one is all and all is one. I found this book very insightful and interesting because the author has explained how, as humans, our energies (the one-ness) can be collectively put to good use for saving our planet and possibly having a better future. The author also talks about being able to see beyond the daily necessities and wants of one’s life and draws the reader’s attention to the core values of kindness and compassion towards, not only others but our own selves too.

The author has a very unique way of explaining how by working on ourselves and focusing on our energy we can in turn change this world, bit by bit. And that is what really impresses me. I personally believe in this way of life too and would definitely be implementing the exercises and ideas suggested by the author in this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a book on self-development and reading interesting ideas and thoughts about how we can do our bit to make this world a better place to live in.

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ARC Review: Making Money For Teenagers by Phoenix Read

Categories Non-Fiction, Phoenix ReadLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Making Money For Teenagers by Phoenix Read

Book Details:

Author: Phoenix Read
Release Date: November 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Finance
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 144 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
The Teens’ Guide to Personal Finance:
How to Save, Invest, Build Your Wealth, and Become Richer than Your Parents


Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Making Money For Teenagers by Phoenix Read is a book on managing finances for teenagers.

I liked this book because it has some really good advice for teenagers on how to not only make and save that money but also on how to invest it diligently. I personally think that kids should be taught the investment side of finances from an early age, and this book is exactly that. A lot of people don’t even think about investment until they are well into their 30s and then they end up taking wrong or unyielding decisions. This happens because of a lack of education and experience in investing money from an early age. I loved this book because it focuses on building investment mentality early on in a person’s life which will prove very effective and healthy in the long run.

The writing in this book is simple and can be easily understood by teens. The author has gone to lengths to explain complicated terminologies as well as concepts in very simple way that would definitely help the teen readers to understand them and be able to execute the strategies explained in this book in their lives.

I would highly recommend this book to all teen readers, as well the parents of pre-teen readers so that they can help them understand the concepts of this book better.

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Book Review: The Oncoming Revolution by Sam Mansourou

Categories Non-Fiction, Political, Sam MansourouLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Oncoming Revolution by Sam Mansourou

Book Details:

Author: Sam Mansourou
Release Date: 20th October 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Socio-Political
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 50 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Author Mansourou ignores the left-right discourse and targets the ruling class as he calls for united civic action against the current paradigm maintained by the elite’s media, politicians and academia.


Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Oncoming Revolution: Overcoming The Current Paradigm by Sam Mansourou is an essay-esque book about the current socio-political conditions in the world around us. The subject matter and the topics covered in this book by the author are not just confined to a particular country or continent, but is applicable and is relevant to each and every place I can possibly think of in this world.

The author’s writing style is very refined and the ideas presented did not, in the least, sound preachy which seems to be the go-to style for most political writers these days; on the contrary, the author’s views came across in a very graceful and elegant way as he first puts across his thoughts in a neutral form and then goes on to explain why he thinks what he thinks.

I’d recommend this book to readers interested in socio-political conversations and who enjoy reading non-fiction on politics and finding reasonable solutions to the problems faced by the world around us, especially the oligarchy countries.

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Book Review: The E.Q. Revolution – From Emotional Intelligence to Emotional Maturity: Transform your life through Emotional Growth and Maturity! by Michael Vincent Moore

Categories Michael Vincent Moore, Non-Fiction, Self-Help1 Comment on Book Review: The E.Q. Revolution – From Emotional Intelligence to Emotional Maturity: Transform your life through Emotional Growth and Maturity! by Michael Vincent Moore

Book Details:

Author: Michael Vincent Moore
Release Date: 6th December 2020
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Series: The E.Q. Revolution (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 273 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
“Don’t let your negative emotions and thoughts diminish your quality of life and success, take charge, get motivated, and make your life AWESOME!”

Learn why emotional maturity will become the new social responsibility era, how emotional intelligence is not enough, and why healing, love, and connectedness are the main driving forces behind this next phase in our evolution, and how it all relates to your own personal better life…

Everyone’s best life has something to do not only with how they help themselves, but how they help others at the same time. Emotional Intelligence is an important skill, it helps to make more money, have a better lifestyle, improve relationships and have better social skills… But learning how to develop Emotional Maturity, is to add love and kindness to the emotional intelligence you develop, which is key to increasing self-love, and also crucial to make your dreams come true. Emotional Intelligence, or E.Q., is a skill, and Emotional Maturity is emotional growth, a maturing process to becoming the best version of ourselves.


Part of knowing what your dream life can even look like, is related to knowing yourself at a deeper level, which is related to loving yourself fully and unconditionally. And part of that is seeing and feeling yourself, and all of your life, for what it is, and being in full acceptance of it. Healing, overcoming your struggles, defeating your fears, all contribute to growing in self-love, not an easy process, but well worth the effort!

Make your life great, and everything else will follow!

It is part of the message that all great leaders and wise people of our history have shared with us, and is the only true path to loving ourselves more, towards mastery of one’s life! And since we can only love others to the same extent as we love ourselves, it is all related to developing not only the best relationship with ourselves, but with others as well.

Don’t wait for anyone to make your desires come to life, find out how to do it yourself, and make it happen!

“That is The E.Q. Revolution, mastering ourselves from the inside out and making us, and the world, change with every step each one of us takes on that journey…”

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The E.Q. Revolution – From Emotional Intelligence to Emotional Maturity: Transform your life through Emotional Growth and Maturity! by Michael Vincent Moore is a new self-help book that focuses on the acceptance of one’s self the way it is and going and thinking beyond emotional intelligence and transcending into emotional maturity.

I liked this book a lot because it had a lot to offer on how acceptance, love and kindness to your own-self will ultimately lead to a happy life instead of only focusing on the materialistic aspect of one’s life. This book will, in a way, teach you to retrain your mind and understand that emotional maturity is as important (if not more) as emotional intelligence. Unless a person is emotionally matured, the happiness we seek on the surface will remain exactly that without being able to fulfil one’s deep sense of self.

I’d recommend this book to all readers who like to read non-fiction works that focus on improving one’s understanding and thus by extension their quality of life. This is a really good book!

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Book Review: 50 States: A Collection Of Short Short Stories by Richard R. Becker

Categories Literary Fiction, Non-Fiction, Richard R. Becker, Short-Stories, slice of lifeLeave a Comment on Book Review: 50 States: A Collection Of Short Short Stories by Richard R. Becker

Book Details:

Author: Richard R. Becker
Release Date: 21st June 2021
Genre: Short Story Collection, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 358 pages
Publisher: Copywrite, Ink.
Blurb:
50 States is a debut collection of short stories that reflect on the human condition. The book spans several literary genres, moods, and situations across the American states between 1955 and 2020.
Two runaways cross paths in a Tennessee bus station with only one ticket between them. A middle-aged man in Illinois eyes the daily grind of a young basketball player who never boards the school bus. A family sees looters racing toward their home as they escape an Oregon wildfire. 
These and 47 more stories make up the collection. Together, they provide a sampling of the American experience over the last 60 years, similar to the Spoon River Anthology by Edger Less Masters or The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer with more diversity. 

You can find 50 States here:
Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Nobel | Books-A-Million | Apple (with graphics) | Apple (with aoutflow) | Google | Google (with aoutflow) | Target | Blurb | Kobo | Odilo | E-Sentral | Ciando

Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

50 States: A Collection Of Short Short Stories by Richard R. Becker is an impressive short story collection that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

In this short story collection, author Becker has written about stories set in 50 different states in the US. But that is not the best part, the best part is that he has totally broken all the stereotypes related to every state and has written about rich and meaningful experiences of a variety of diverse characters and that is what makes this book so special.

I would like to congratulate the author for writing such good characters that were relatable and felt very real. All the stories are great and I would definitely recommend this collection to all short story readers as well as lovers of the slice-of-life genre.

Video Review

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Book Review: Tiny Yellow Hat by J. Michael Chamberlain

Categories Humor, J. Michael Chamberlain, memoir, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Tiny Yellow Hat by J. Michael Chamberlain

Book Details:

Author: J. Michael Chamberlain
Release Date: 13th April 2019
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Humor
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 202 pages
Publisher: Quinn-Hill Publisher
Blurb:
This wildly entertaining book is laced with wicked concepts, cheap shots and a few bright ideas; a feast of funny words and clever notions without once mentioning vampires or zombies. J. M. Chamberlain created the perfect blend of madcap rants and true life experiences guaranteed to put a never-ending smile on your face. Actually, a never-ending smile might be cause for alarm; if your smile lasts longer than four hours, please call a doctor. In a nutshell, this extraordinary slice of life is almost too good to read, but I suggest reading it anyway. I also suggest telling forty or fifty of your closest friends to read it, because www.peopleneedtolaugh.com (less)

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tiny Yellow Hat by J. Michael Chamberlain is a witty, heartfelt memoir that is as entertaining to read as it is relatable.

I enjoyed reading this book because, unlike most memoirs, the author uses his amazing sense of humour to lace even the simplest aspects of life and presents them with so much passion that one can’t help but relate to them while at the same time laughing their butts off. The fact that the author covered topics from his life and career that most people can relate to only adds to the appeal of this surprisingly quick read.

For me, the best part is that the author presented some important life lessons and anecdotes in such a light way that the readers can take away a lot from this book without actually feeling burdened by their weight.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading memoirs and enjoys a good dash of humour.

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ARC Review: What Lurks In The Woods – Struggle and Hope in the Midst of Chronic Illness by Nicole Bell

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Book Details:

Author: Nicole Bell 
Release Date: 23rd October 2021
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 250 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Russ and Nicole Bell were an upwardly mobile happy couple: two kids, big house, fun hobbies, marvelous life. But something wasn’t quite right—with Russ. He started forgetting things, he got lost, he became enraged, he was harsh with the kids. And he could no longer be trusted with minor responsibilities.
They visited doctor after doctor after doctor to try to determine what was wrong, to no avail. “Alzheimer’s,” they were told, but that didn’t make sense. Russ was too young for that. As the formerly brilliant engineer literally lost his mind and his self, the answer finally became clear—but was it in time?
In this beautifully written but tragic memoir, Nicole Bell documents their journey through the medical minefield as they searched for answers and treatments. This book will inspire people who are suffering from chronic, symptom-based illnesses to dig deeper, so they can find and treat the root causes of their disease before it’s too late.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

What Lurks In The Woods by Nicole Bell is a heart-wrenching and emotional memoir that is hard to read but even harder to put down.

This book is a very realistic and harsh reminder for the reader about how tragic chronic illness is and how it affects everyone including the patient and the caregiver. The author has bravely shared a deeply personal as well as emotionally taxing and psychologically jarring experience of her husband’s descent into dementia and how they struggled with finding answers that were crucial to their lives, especially to her husband’s health.

This book is very well-written and I would definitely recommend it to everyone because it is a treasure trove of lessons for each and every single reader, no matter what you do, where you are from or who you are.

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Book Review: Oh, Lords! Who We Date, Why We Date Them, and What We’ve Learned by Jes Averhart and Terresa Zimmerman

Categories Coming Of Age Drama, Jes Averhart, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Terresa Zimmerman1 Comment on Book Review: Oh, Lords! Who We Date, Why We Date Them, and What We’ve Learned by Jes Averhart and Terresa Zimmerman

Book Details:

Author: Jes Averhart,  Terresa Zimmerman
Release Date: 1st October 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Dating, Self-Help
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 188 pages
Publisher: Stonebrook Publishing
Blurb:
Oh, Lords! is about two women sharing their dating stories, dating glories, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Oh, Lords! Who We Date, Why We Date Them, and What We’ve Learned is the only book of its kind to discuss dating in the context of archetypes, “Lords”, through the eyes and experience of the authors.
You will meet the Lords: Lord Journeyman, Lord Contradiction, Lord FOMO, Lord Layaway, Lord Self-Absorbed, Lord At Your Peril, Lord Good Guy Not My Guy, and Lord My Guy. These are the men, the archetypes, that litter the landscape of the dating world, and when you see them for who they are, you might start making different choices about who you spend your time with.
You don’t have to be dating to find the humor, insight, community, and reminders of your own triumphs and turning points.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Oh, Lords! Who We Date, Why We Date Them & What We’ve Learned by Jes Averhart & Terresa Zimmerman is a uniquely fresh and refreshingly witty book about the dating experiences of the authors.

In this book, the authors, Jes and Terresa, talk about their dating history – breaking down men into categorical archetypes called Lords, the lessons they have learned and sharing the wisdom of someone who’d ‘been there, done that.’ The book is full of funny stories, humorous yet relatable comparisons and honest confessions that provide a keen insight into the process (including pre as well as post) dating scenario and situations.

I enjoyed reading his book a lot even though I’ve been out of the dating sphere for over a decade because this book is so shockingly relatable. We all have been there and dating some of the men mentioned in this book (or maybe more than some 😉 ) I’d definitely recommend this book to all women readers because I am sure you will find the content outrageously relatable and will definitely have a good couple of hearty laughs at the least! The single women, though, will definitely find this book very informative and helpful.

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Book Review: Raising Chickens for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens With Joy and Excitement by O. Banks

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Author:  O. Banks
Release Date: 30th June 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 
Publisher: 
Blurb:
How to raise chickens like a pro — even if you have zero experience with animals!
Have you been toying with the idea of becoming more self-sustainable?
Are you exploring the option of raising chickens?
Do you have absolutely no idea where to start?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
Doing anything for the first time can be intimidating — and the stakes are even higher when your new hobby involves being responsible for something that’s, well, alive.
What’s more, the increasing popularity of self-sustainability practices has led to a plethora of information being available online, much of it completely unreliable and sometimes straight out dangerous.
But with decades of poultry growing experience under his belt, and a strong dedication to helping newbies master the techniques, knowledge, and tools they need to become pros in no time, Otis Banks is here to help.
Under his guidance, raising chickens will not only become uncomplicated, but also a complete joy.
And it’s not just about the delicious eggs you’ll be able to enjoy each morning.
You’ll soon find yourself developing a rapport with these delightful birds, and you’ll be amazed at how raising them will transform your life.
Spending time with them after work will help you immediately relax and refocus on what truly matters in life.
And if you have young kids, you’ll marvel at the beautiful relationships they’ll develop with their feathered friends — and at how much they will learn from them.

In Raising Chickens for Beginners, here’s just a fraction of what you’ll discover:

  • 5+ scenarios you absolutely need to prepare yourself for — and how
  • A list of all the precautions you need to take before you embark on your exciting adventure, including the laws you need to consider
  • How to prepare for your flock’s arrival, and which breeds are best for beginners
  • How to choose the perfect feed for your flock, and how to tell how much you need to feed them and when
  • Common chicken health problems you need to be aware of, including signs, causes, home-made treatments, and advice on when to seek veterinary help
  • Why eggs sometimes… disappear — and what you can do about it
  • Everything you need to know to stay on top of litter management, including how to maintain a coop that’s nasty-smell free
  • How timing your egg collection can literally make or break your eggs
  • Tips to keep your chickens warm in the winter and cool in the summer
  • 6 reasons why hens may not lay eggs — and what you can do to help them

And much more!
Written with a complete beginner in mind, this easy-to-understand guide will give you the confidence you need to expertly navigate this amazing and unimaginably rewarding world.
Accompanying you every step of the way, Otis Banks will help you discover the joys of raising chickens and help you go from an anxious beginner to a seasoned pro, before you even realize it.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Raising Chickens For Beginners by O. Banks is a very insightful and comprehensive book on, as the title clearly mentions, raising chicken for beginners. Right from where to begin, what you’ll need, how much you’ll need of everything to how to develop a rapport with the chickens and not just having them for the sake of it, this book covers everything!

I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is planning to get more insights into raising chickens, especially those who don’t have any idea of what they are dealing with.

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Book Review: Retirement Planning for Couples : The Ultimate Financial Guide to a Stress-Free and Happy Aging by Phoenix Read

Categories Non-Fiction, Phoenix ReadLeave a Comment on Book Review: Retirement Planning for Couples : The Ultimate Financial Guide to a Stress-Free and Happy Aging by Phoenix Read

Book Details:

Author:  Phoenix Read
Release Date: 21st April 2021
Genre: Non Fiction, Finance
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 234 pages
Publisher: Blackstone Pub.
Blurb:
How to plan for your financial retirement with your partner – even if you are starting late?
Have you been worried about your finances when you and your partner eventually retire?
Maybe you have been thinking about how you would cope when you finally retire?
Do you absolutely have no clue how to start, or perhaps you gave up at some point?
Planning your finances can be sometimes daunting – it becomes even more challenging if it’s your retirement you need to plan for, and you have to do it as a couple.
This book aims to intentionally cover the gap in the market for materials that cover financial planning for couples as against what we have that basically talks about individuals. It further bolsters how couples can minimize costs and maximize their wealth if they work together. With many years of research and unraveling secrets of lifetime income maximization and a passion for family wealth management, Phoenix Read bears his mind and offered loads of helpful support, tools, and information on how couples can overcome these obstacles.
In this book, Phoenix lets it all out. You will learn how to get started on your financial retirement plans.
His understanding of the challenges couples face when talking about money will help you and your partner overcome several years of not planning together.

Here’s a snapshot of what you will get.

  • You will learn the best approach for couples and the best time to start talking about financial planning as couples. You will understand if one partner should keep working while the other retires or if both of you should retire at the same time.
  • You will know more about what you are entitled to, and it is worth retiring early or late.
  • It answered common questions on the mind of most couples as they approach retirement. Questions like where to live, what to do with your time, if you should retire at the same time, how much you need for retirement, and many more.
  • You will be exposed to several investment vehicles where you can invest and grow your money without the risk of losing them to government policies or drastic market changes. The author discussed the pros and cons of all the investment opportunities in the book.
  • How compounding interest works in your favor if you know how to take advantage of the opportunity. It also contains how to diversify your investment successfully.
  • 3 Phases of Retirement. You will learn how to prepare and what to do at each phase.
  • It also delves into the various component of your planning and everything you need to know, like life expectancy, social security, and the best time to claim them.
  • Several studies show that the elderly are more likely to lose their money to fraudsters. So, there’s a whole chapter that talks about how to avoid losing your hard-earned money to dubious characters.
  • There’s a comprehensive guide on how to manage your health in retirement. It contains topics like health insurance, medical cost, and a lot more.

And a whole lot more!
Phoenix wrote this book with you in mind, and that is not just a cliche!
Whatever level you and your partner find yourself in, you will find the right guide to start and get your retirement plans up and running.

Warning!!! This is not one of those financial books littered with jargon! 
Every term used in this book was carefully simplified. The book is easy to understand with all the complex financial terms broken into simple languages for your understanding. Additionally, there are loads of relatable examples available for your understanding.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Retirement Planning for Couples: The Ultimate Financial Guide to a Stress-Free and Happy Aging is a very straightforward book on financial advice for retiring couples and people in the same age group. This book has a lot of good suggestions for anyone looking for guidance on planning their finances, especially for retirement.

Apart from investments and financial planning, this book also gives some key insights into how to approach retirement as a couple as well as the right time to start thinking about it. This is something that I really liked because most of the books simply focus on the mechanics of core techniques but not the initial approach to those techniques.

I’d recommend this book to everyone looking for financial guidance or some new strategies for effective retirement savings.

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ARC Review: When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney

Categories Danielle Dayney, memoir, Non-Fiction1 Comment on ARC Review: When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney

Book Details:

Author:  Danielle Dayney 
Release Date: 15th November 2021
Genre: Memoir
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 156 pages
Publisher: Belle Isle Books
Blurb:
Hand-me-down pants that don’t quite fit, twilight bike rides down sleepy neighborhood streets, sweaty family camping trips, the things that almost break you, and the things you barely notice-it’s hard to see the shape of your life until you’re looking back on it.
In this collection of short essays, Danielle Dayney recounts her experiences as an awkward child in the piecemeal family that raised her. From her biological father’s absence to her mother’s battle with cancer to the birth of her daughter, Dayney’s stories venture beyond anecdote to nest safely among the tangled experiences that shape the people we become. With a keen eye for the pebbles of humor and glimmers of beauty along the rough roads of her life, Dayney has crafted a book that feels as familiar as a home-cooked meal and as exciting as the first night in a new city.
When Love Sticks Around is a memoir of love, loss, humor, identity, and above all, family-the one you’re born into and the one you gather along the way.
Those are the things worth sticking around for.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“…it’s hard to see the shape of your life until you’re looking back on it.”

Danielle Dayney

When Love Sticks Around by Danielle Dayney is a beautiful memoir that is an ode to her past life and her beautiful family. This book is in the form of essays that will not only tell you about the author’s life and her experiences but will also make you relieve your own past because her writing is very relatable.

I am so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book because When Love Sticks Around is one of those books that feel less like a story (stories in this case) and more like an experience that is whole in itself. The author’s nostalgic reminiscence of her life, which was so filled with love and sometimes heartbreak, made me deeply connect to her on a level that is hard to explain. And these kind of feelings can only be evoked in a reader when the book is written from the heart and with a lot of love – not to mention with exceptional writing skills.

I would like to congratulate the author on penning down such an emotional journey in such an elegant and relatable way. I would definitely recommend this beautiful memoir to every reader as I am sure this book will speak to each and every one of its readers on some level or another. This is not a book to be missed.

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ARC Review: Finding Happiness In The Dark by Kenneth Liddane

Categories Kenneth Liddane, Non-Fiction, Self-HelpLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Finding Happiness In The Dark by Kenneth Liddane

Book Details:

Author: Kenneth Liddane
Release Date: 19th September 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Development, Self-Help
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 190 pages
Publisher: A Helping Mind
Blurb:
Have you ever said “I WILL BE HAPPY IF…”?
Did you ever achieve that? And if so, what happened next? Are you living happily ever after, or did you set new goals and update your “I will be happy if…” statement? Why does your happiness have to be conditional?
By searching for happiness, we are basically telling ourselves “I am not happy now”, and happiness itself becomes a temporary solution to distract ourselves from how we are actually feeling.
By re-introducing ourselves to our core instincts and drives, we can start to see how we developed unhelpful thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviours. With this insight, these negative aspects of ourselves are no longer “bad”, instead they are logical and justified.
By considering the knowledge, skills and possible supports highlighted in this book, you will see that you no longer need to avoid, suppress or endure any part of your true self. 
By using your full potential, you are better able to face any challenge and life experience, and in doing so, experience, welcome and acknowledge all of the associated feelings and emotions naturally. 
What are you waiting for?

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Finding Happiness In The Dark by Kenneth Liddane is a very well-written and well-executed book on helping oneself in times of need when the mind goes into the dark seat and we start to feel alone and unhappy.

This is a book by a very experienced person who is not only equipped with dealing with his own patients for consultations but also has the education and the drive for it. This book had some really great concepts, understandable and relatable answers to some common questions and some brilliant techniques and tricks that can help a person come out of the recesses of depression, anxiety and the com orbit conditions. At least on the surface level. In order to get treated or to know more, you can always consult with the author.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is either going through a dark phase or knows someone who is suffering because of it.

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Book Review: SimplyMutual : The 1% Formula To Gain Financial Freedom by Deepak Mullick

Categories Deepak Mullick, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: SimplyMutual : The 1% Formula To Gain Financial Freedom by Deepak Mullick

Book Details:

Author: Deepak Mullick
Release Date: 19th August 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction, Finance
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 191 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Everyone wants to be rich, but not everyone is. There is a method and meaning to it that’s more than just numbers.  
In this book, investment veteran Deepak Mullick takes you on a journey to financial freedom. SimplyMutual isn’t just a guide to make more money, it is about building wealth to live the life of your dreams.  

If you’ve ever thought of retiring in your 40s to do what you love, this is THE book for you!

You can find this book on:
Amazon | Goodreads

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

SimplyMutual : The 1% Formula To Gain Financial Freedom by Deepak Mullick is a new release in the Indian Finance genre.

I generally don’t read finance-related or investing advice books, but the title of this one was very catchy and intriguing therefore I was more than happy to give it a read. And I am very happy that I did as this book had a lot of wisdom to impart and a lot of good suggestions for people of all ages to learn about investing. The best part, for me, about this book is that it is written in a very easy-to-understand-by-a-layman language and the author has simplified concepts, which I am sure, are not that easy to grasp otherwise.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who’d like to know about investing and the author’s 1% formula.

You can also read this review on:

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Amazon

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Book Review: Pies To Die For – How to Live a Vibrant Life Despite a Fatal Diagnosis by Dr. Carole Weaver

Categories Dr. Carole Weaver, memoir, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Pies To Die For – How to Live a Vibrant Life Despite a Fatal Diagnosis by Dr. Carole Weaver

Author: Dr. Carole Weaver
Release Date: 28th April 2021
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 141 pages
Publisher: Carole Weaver-Linsner
Blurb:
Pies to Die for is a how-to against the bad stuff of living with metastatic cancer or other lethal diagnosis–the monsters that attack your frame of mind, so you can’t enjoy the time you have left. It is also a romp through art appraising: specifically, through the author’s husband and his clients who have lost art through death, debt, divorce, and disaster.

These stories offer hints about how to cope with something beautiful being gone, or they entertain you with the strangeness of human nature–even without stage four anything. This book is meant to give you tools for your journey, however long or short, so that you live vibrantly, gratefully, and with gusto till the end.

Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Pies To Die For: How to Live a Vibrant Life Despite a Fatal Diagnosis by Dr. Carole Weaver is a beautiful book full of gems such as some really good advice, hearty anecdotes, relatable moments of grief and laughter and, most importantly, a lesson on how we tend to ignore to live once we know about how we may die.

This book is written by a terminally ill author, and I would like to salute her for her courage to pen such a beautiful book under her circumstances. You can read between the lines about how passionate the author is about the things that she writes about and it is this particular thing that made me enjoy this book the most.

I would recommend this book to all readers of fiction and non-fiction alike.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Dear Me: Letters to Myself, For All of My Emotions by Donna Tetreault

Categories Children's Fiction, Donna Tetreault, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Dear Me: Letters to Myself, For All of My Emotions by Donna Tetreault

Author: Donna Tetreault, Elisena Bonadio (Illustrations)
Release Date: 15th March 2021
Genre: Children’s Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 36 pages
Publisher: Donna Tetreault
Blurb:
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions teaches young children how to recognize and manage the emotions they feel throughout the day. Through a series of letters that begin with, Dear Me, a young child writes down his feelings. These letters allow him to recognize that he can change how he feels while practicing self-kindness and compassion.

Dear Me serves as a guide to help kids learn about expressing feelings, understanding those feelings, and then deciding what to do about them in ways that are healthy, helpful, and kind. The book models several approaches for parents, but, more directly, models how children can develop the social-emotional skill of managing emotions by naming emotions, journaling, and mindful breathing.

Beautiful illustrations support this empowering message designed to help children understand and appreciate all of their emotions.

Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions teaches children:
– Self-love
– Self-regulation
– Self-advocacy
– Managing emotions
– Empathy
– Journaling
– Mindful breathing

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A beautiful children’s book I would highly suggest to all parents for their little ones. It teaches the kids about self-love, which I think, is very unique and one of the biggest plus points about this unique and amazing book!

You can also read this review on Goodreads.

ARC Review: Winning Streak – Tales and Trivia of the 40 Most Popular Board Games by John-Michael Gariepy

Categories Humor, John-Michael Gariepy, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Winning Streak – Tales and Trivia of the 40 Most Popular Board Games by John-Michael Gariepy

Author: John-Michael Gariepy
Release Date: 13th January 2021
Genre: Humour, Non-Fiction, Games
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 196 pages
Publisher: Popcorn Roulette
Blurb:
Did you ever wonder:
♞ What makes Clue the best movie based on a game franchise?
♝ What does the doubling cube in backgammon do?
♜ How trains are even supposed to operate in Ticket to Ride: Antarctica?
♛ How the designer of the board game Pandemic feels now that he’s lived through an actual global pandemic?
♚ Whatever happened to the Monopoly game show from the 90s?

Based on Ranker’s poll of almost 400,000 votes, these games define us. From multiple-award winning masterpieces of the past decade, to indestructible classics still going strong after 5,000 years of play, these are the games you must play before you die. Well, except for Sorry!. That game is a blight upon this list and mankind as a whole. 

Excuse me. What I’m trying to say is that I wrote this book about games, and I thought you might like it.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Winning Streak: Tales and Trivia of the 40 Most Popular Board Games by John-Michael Gariepy is a fun, informative and entertaining read about the most iconic and loved games int he history of games!

This book was deliciously entertaining and I enjoyed reading ever scrap of information this book had to offer. I loved the writing style of the author because it made the book a quick and easy affair and the straightforwardness only made it all the more engaging.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone because this book contains trivia and fun bits about games we all have played or heard of at some point or another. So do go for it as it an a delightful and quick read!

You can also read this review on Goodreads.

Book Review: Reflections of an Anxious African American Dad by Eric L. Heard

Categories Eric L. Heard, memoir, Non-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Reflections of an Anxious African American Dad by Eric L. Heard

Author: Eric L. Heard
Release Date: 13th January 2021
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 73 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
The purpose of this book is an awkward discussion of Eric Heard’s life to his son. He talks about his life in a candid way that tries to explain his anxiety as an African American dad. It is an open and honest account of his life through the life of a child that has been through a lot in his life. It is a reflection on his life that has been shaped by his childhood experiences.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Reflections of an Anxious African American Dad by Eric L. Heard is a heart touching memoir about the author, his son and the stories they have as well as their experiences.

I found this book very emotional, honest and interesting as it was quite a unique experience for me to understand and know the story from the perspective of an African American person. Though at the same time, this book has a lot of things that I was able to relate to, so I’d say that it has a lot to offer to its readers.

I found the narration very simple, elegant as well as introspective and found myself drawn and submerged in the stories and experiences shared by the author in an elegant way. I’d recommend this book to everyone who reads memoirs. It is a quick read and that too an interesting one with unique insights.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: An Inkling, A Backpack And All The Time In The World – Travelling On A Whim by Tamara K. Bryant

Categories memoir, Non-Fiction, Tamara K. Bryant, Travel, TravelogueLeave a Comment on Book Review: An Inkling, A Backpack And All The Time In The World – Travelling On A Whim by Tamara K. Bryant

Author: Tamara K. Bryant 
Release Date: 20th October 2020
Genre: Travelogue, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 465 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
After a great stay in Thailand, Tam and her friends, Casey, Valerie, faced with the sad reality that they only had two more days left before the fun ended and they had to board a plane for home.

It was too soon. She’d only tasted a teeny bit of Southeast Asia and didn’t want to leave go back to her “real” life. But she knew she had to go home. Her flight was booked. She had a job and family to go back to. She couldn’t just stay. Or, could she? What if Tam didn’t go home yet? What if she explored the vast and exotic land of Southeast Asia…by herself…solo? 

But was she ready to be on her own? The thought of traveling alone without her friends, terrified her. “On the other hand,” she thought, “would I ever get another chance to really experience Southeast Asia?”

Terrified and excited at the same time, Tamara K. Bryant followed her heart and bravely stepped onto the road that led her to the most exciting and amazing year of her life!

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

An Inkling, A Backpack And All The Time In The World – Travelling On A Whim by Tamara K. Bryant is an exciting tale about solo travel and adventures (as well as hazardous yet funny misadventures) experienced by the author.

This book was a very quick read because it was very engaging as well as interesting and fun! I enjoyed reading this book because it had so many different elects in the story that it was hard to put this book down. A simple yet thoroughly entertaining read that I’d recommend to anyone who likes travelling and dreams about travelling solo (which I am sure everyone does, at some point or the other in their life.)

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.