Book Review: Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg

Book Details:

Author: Chanchal Garg
Release Date: 2nd June 2025
Series:
Genre: Autobiography
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 282 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
In this searing memoir, Chanchal Garg reveals the spiritual and sexual abuse that shattered her sense of self and forced her to question a life defined by duty and sacrifice. Raised as a devoted Indian daughter, she was taught never to question authority-until a transformative moment during a yoga class, while pregnant with her daughter, awakened a truth she could no longer ignore.
That realization set her on a solitary journey, as she lost her faith, community, and the life she had always known. Without the support she had once relied on, she had to learn to trust herself, reclaim her bicultural identity, and redefine what it meant to be both Indian and American-on her own terms

Unearthedย is a powerful call to every woman who has ever felt silenced-an invitation to trust your inner voice, reclaim your story, and return to yourself.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Unearthed by Chanchal Garg is a book that doesn not just tell a story but bares a soul. This beautiful memoir is raw and luminous in equal measure. It traces author Gargโ€™s painful yet empowering journey through spiritual and sexual abuse, her loss of faith, and the reclamation of her identity as both Indian and American. The bookโ€™s greatest strength lies in its honesty as Garg doesnโ€™t hide behind polished prose or distance herself from the pain. Instead, she invites the reader into her unraveling and rebuilding, offering a voice that feels courageous, vulnerable, and deeply relatable.

Gargโ€™s writing is tender but unflinching. Each chapter feels like a confession whispered into the dark. She shares moments of doubt, grief, awakening, and slow healing stitched together with lyrical precision. What moved me most was her ability to explore trauma without letting it consume the narrative. Unearthed isnโ€™t a story of victimhood; itโ€™s a story of reclamation. Through her awakening during a yoga class, while carrying new life within her, Garg begins to question the doctrines and power structures that once defined her, and in doing so, she creates space for other women to do the same. The narrative feels spiritual, but not in a religious sense, itโ€™s about returning to oneself, trusting that quiet inner knowing that so many of us are taught to suppress.

The memoir also shines in how it navigates bicultural identity. Gargโ€™s experience of being both Indian and American resonates profoundly. Her journey is personal, but her insights are universal. By the end, youโ€™re not just reading about her healing; youโ€™re reminded of your own capacity to listen inwardly and rebuild. Unearthed doesnโ€™t promise easy closure but offers something rarer: authenticity, compassion, and permission to begin again.

Unearthed is a beautifully written, soul-stirring memoir about pain, awakening, and self-trust. Perfect for readers who loved Educated by Tara Westover or When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, and for anyone seeking a reminder that healing is not linear, but always possible.


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Book Review: Love Without Borders by Ni Wencai

Book Details:

Author:ย Ni Wencai
Release Date: 29 July 2025
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 229 pages
Publisher: Earnshaw Books
Blurb:
For more than three decades into the early 21st Century, China’s effort to curb population growth through the “one-child policy” created a wave of abandoned Chinese infants, most of them girls. Around 160,000 of these Chinese children found homes abroad, with more than half of them joining American families.
International adoptions should be a beautiful story of familial love transcending national boundaries. However, when the unintended fallout from the one-child policy came to light, it captured Western media attention, making Chinaโ€™s international adoption program a controversial subject.

This book offers a unique blend of Chinese and Western perspectives. The author, a Chinese civil servant who also oversaw a local orphanage, is a scholar with an international outlook. The book explores human relationships: familial bonds that transcend biological links, the continuing connection of the adoptees and their families with their homeland in China, and the special relationship that developed between the author and families who adopted daughters from his jurisdiction.
In an era of unprecedented geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, this book highlights an overwhelmingly positive aspect of the relationship between citizens of these two great nations, offering much-needed inspiration and hope.,

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Love Without Borders by Ni Wencai is a heartfelt and deeply moving story that explores the universal longing for connection across cultures, distances, and emotional boundaries. What begins as a seemingly simple narrative of two people brought together by chance gradually unfolds into something more profound; a meditation on love, identity, and the courage it takes to open oneself up to another person in an unfamiliar world. The author writes with tenderness and sincerity, allowing readers to feel the push and pull of emotion that defines cross-cultural relationships.

What I found particularly moving about this book is how grounded it is in real emotion. It doesnโ€™t romanticize difference or distance but instead portrays love as a complex, evolving force that is beautiful, frustrating, and transformative. The characters feel authentic, their flaws and hopes interwoven with the settings they inhabit. From moments of introspection to scenes of cultural discovery, every page captures the vulnerability of stepping beyond oneโ€™s comfort zone for the sake of connection.

The prose flows with warmth and restraint, striking a delicate balance between passion and reflection. The pacing allows readers to breathe, to feel the weight of each emotional beat, and to witness how love reshapes the individuals at its center. Thereโ€™s a sense of maturity in the storytelling that makes it stick with you after the story is over.

In essence, Love Without Borders is not just a story about romance; itโ€™s about empathy, transformation, and the shared emotional connection that transcends geography. Itโ€™s a reminder that while love may begin between two people, it ultimately bridges entire worlds.


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Book Review: Italian by Default by M.J. Walker

Book Details:

Author: MJ Walker
Release Date:
25 July, 2025
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Women’s Literature
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 283 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
AN ADOPTION REUNION โ€“ based on a true story โ€“
Meet Polly, her Italian husband Joe and his identical twin brother Cicero. Polly is adopted and wants to find her heritage, but the twinsโ€™ passion for Italy dominates her life. She gets more style than Gucci, more opera than Verdi and more pasta than she can eat.
If this isnโ€™t bad enough, Pollyโ€™s friends insist that she belongs where she is loved โ€“ safe and secure in her wealthy Sydney suburb.
What should Polly do?
She has met her birth mother, but not only will that lady refuse to discuss the past, she has barred Polly from ever meeting her siblings. Then one day Polly reads in the newspaper that her mother has been murdered.
Or has she?
Pollyโ€™s longed-for adoption reunion finally happens but not in the way she expects.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Every once in a while, I come across a book that feels less like a neatly packaged story and more like an intimate glimpse into someone’s life experience. Italian by Default by M.J. Walker is very much that kind of book. It reads like a heartfelt exploration of identity, belonging, and cultural duality, written with honesty and warmth. From the very first pages, the narrative establishes itself as personal and genuine, inviting readers to not just observe, but to sit with the authorโ€™s reflections and journey.

What stood out to me most was the way the prose blends simplicity with depth. Thereโ€™s an ease to the storytelling, it doesnโ€™t try to dazzle with overly ornate language, yet the sincerity behind the words makes the book resonate on a deeper level. The pacing feels unhurried, almost conversational, giving space for the cultural observations and personal insights to sink in. This style makes the book accessible while still carrying weight in its themes.

Without delving into spoilers, I can say that what I appreciated most about this book is its exploration of identity, not as a fixed, singular concept but as something fluid, shifting with environment, relationships, and perspective. For anyone who has ever lived between cultures or questioned where they truly belong, Italian by Default will feel especially relatable.

Overall, this book is a thoughtful and respectful meditation on selfhood and heritage. It doesnโ€™t seek to give easy answers, nor does it try to universalize the authorโ€™s experiences. Instead, it offers a window into one individualโ€™s journey, while leaving enough openness for readers to reflect on their own. In a world where identity is so often boxed and labeled, Italian by Default reminds us of the richness that lies in nuance, complexity, and authenticity.


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Book Review: Into the Mountains: Exploring China’s Sacred Daoist Peaks by Debra Liu

Book Details:

Author: Debra Liu
Release Date:
8 July, 2025
Series:
Genre: Nature Writing, Memoir, Philosophical
Format: E-book 
Pages: 232 pages
Publisher: Earnshaw Books Ltd
Blurb:
In a journey of discovery through China’s sacred mountains, traversing the hidden caves of Huashan, freshwater pools where alchemists once lived on Luofushan, and the opulent brilliance of the Gold Palace atop Wudangshan, Debra Liu explores the rich culture and history of the Daoist tradition.
The author was ordained as a Daoist in the Qingsong group of temples, part of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate lineage, in Brisbane, Australia. She seamlessly integrates elements of Daoist philosophy and contemporary practice in this fascinating account, where the past is inextricably entwined with the present, where each step up a mountain is punctuated with magnificent vistas, archaic legends and the chants of ancient scriptures echoing across stone stairways.
Through this book, the reader can ‘enter the mountains’ to find the heart of the Daoism, as a vibrant, modern practice with deep roots in antiquity.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

From the very first page, Into the Mountains by Debra Liu drew me in with its subtle yet powerful storytelling. Itโ€™s a narrative that carries the intimacy of lived experiences and emotions as well as the vastness of the land that shapes those experiences. Author Liu manages to capture the pull of the mountains not only as a physical space but also as a metaphor for solitude, and transformation.

What I particularly appreciated was the way the prose balances descriptive richness with emotional honesty. The mountains come alive not just through visual detail, but through atmosphere. The book is at its strongest when it weaves external journeys with internal ones, showing how isolation, challenge, and beauty leave their mark on the human psyche.

The pacing is deliberate, and I found myself savoring it rather than rushing. Author Liu doesnโ€™t force revelations but allows them to unfold organically, much like a climb itself: one step at a time, with effort and pauses to simply take in the view. By the end, I felt I had walked alongside the narrator, sharing in their solitude, their awe, and their gradual rediscovery of self.

Overall, Into the Mountains is a reflective and evocative read that will especially resonate with readers who, like me, are drawn to stories of solitude, inner transformation, and the healing power of nature. It is less about a plot and more about emotional resonance and atmosphere. And for that very reason, it lingers long after the last page is turned.


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Book Review: Job Junky by Rudy Ridolfo

Book Details:

Author: Rudy Ridolfo
Release Date:
2 May 2025
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Humour, Essay
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 131 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Job Junky is a bare-bones memoir of work, survival, and everything in between.ย Told in short, raw chapters, it reads more like a barstool confession than a polished life story.
Rudy Ridolfo worked over 50 jobs while chasing a creative dreamโ€”from managing shady bars and moving trucks to airport tarmacs, martial arts dojos, and indie film sets. Along the way, he crossed paths with unforgettable coworkers, chaotic bosses, and even icons like Al Pacino and Robert Redfordโ€”learning not from their fame, but from how they worked

Thereโ€™s no tidy arc or grand revelation here. Just true stories from the grindโ€”gritty, absurd, and unexpectedly funny.
If youโ€™ve ever clocked in, burned out, or wondered what the hell youโ€™re doing with your lifeโ€”this oneโ€™s for you.

โ€œA funny, delightful, and incisive tour of working odd jobs.โ€
โ€”Kirkus
โ€œWildโ€ฆ Reading this book is a ride.โ€
โ€”Independent Book Review
โ€œFast, matter-of-fact, and full of memorable moments.โ€
โ€”San Francisco Book Review
โ€œInsightful, humorous, and engaging.โ€
โ€”The US Review of Books

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

There are memoirs, and then there are wild, gut-punched, whiskey-soaked truth bombs like Job Junky. Rudy Ridolfoโ€™s unconventional chronicle of forty-odd jobs spanning decades reads like Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Bukowski got together to document the gig economy before it had a name.

What begins as a sardonic retort to a dismissive remark, “You were in the movie business,” spirals into a fever-dream confession about the absurdities of surviving while chasing a creative life. From sewage trucks and donut shops to nightclubs, acting gigs, and near-death moments, Ridolfo throws you headfirst into scenes that are messy, hilarious, and heartbreakingly human.

The structure is episodic, like reading journal entries dictated by someone whoโ€™s part philosopher, part hustler, and part accidental prophet of the working class. And it works. Because Ridolfo doesnโ€™t just tell us what he didโ€”he shows us how it felt to be discarded, desired, disoriented, and ultimately defiant.

Thereโ€™s something profoundly liberating about this bookโ€™s refusal to be polished. The stories are vulgar and vulnerable in equal measure, peppered with gritty humour and surprising emotional depth. As a writer, I found myself admiring how effortlessly he shifts toneโ€”from bawdy to tender, from surreal to sobering. It’s memoir meets street theatre meets a cigarette break in a film noir.

But what elevates Job Junky is that it’s not just about jobs. Itโ€™s about identity. About masculinity. About family wounds and inherited violence. About the price of pursuing art when life keeps shoving reality in your face. It’s not merely a working man’s diary, itโ€™s a manifesto of survival with grace, even in degradation.

That said, the bookโ€™s rawness may not suit everyone. Some anecdotes push boundaries, and others may come off as overly indulgent or chaotic. But in Ridolfo’s world, that’s kind of the pointโ€”there’s no tidy resolution, only a relentless will to keep moving.

Ultimately, Job Junky is a masterclass in lived experience, told by a man who has nothing left to prove and everything to confess. Itโ€™s equal parts tragic and triumphant, and if youโ€™ve ever felt like your โ€œreal jobโ€ was just a myth youโ€™re still chasing, this book is for you.


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ARC Review: Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 by Elizabeth Jaeger

Book Details:

Author: Elizabeth Jaeger
Release Date:
September 16, 2025
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 282 pages
Publisher: Unsolicited Press
Blurb:
When the world first went into lockdown, on a lark, Jaeger started a blog. Then, on Day 12, the unimaginable happened. Her dad got sick and she rushed him to the hospital. What followed was a close look at what it was like to watch a loved one suffer from COVID. After a nineteen day battle, her father died and the family was stricken with grief. But grieving during the pandemic was drastically different than in a time of normalcy. There were no funerals. No religious services. No ability to mingle with friends. Just the heavy feeling of loss, which at times was suffocating. Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 captures life in New York City – the constant sound of sirens, the new graves dug daily, the eerie silence and desolation of local playgrounds – the epicenter of the virus. In flashbacks throughout the narrative, vignettes illustrate her dad in happier times-a doting father, an adoring grandfather, a man who always put family first. It depicts encountering COVID up close and places it in a political and personal context. While the story is about one family, it is not unique. COVID touched everyone’s lives and many endured a similar experience.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 by Elizabeth Jaeger is an exceptionally intimate, unflinching memoirs Iโ€™ve read in recent years. In a world oversaturated with distant, clinical accounts of the pandemic, Elizabeth Jaeger offers something heartbreakingly rare: a deeply personal narrative of loss that is both sharply detailed and universally resonant.

The book talks about the author’s father who fell gravely ill during COVID-19 lockdowns. What follows is a searing account of not just a manโ€™s rapid decline due to COVID, but the implosion of a familyโ€™s entire emotional infrastructure in a time when even mourning was regulated and restricted. What struck me most is the clarity and honesty in author Jaeger’s voice. There is no melodrama here, just truthโ€”raw, painful, and exquisitely observed. The way she balances the clinical with the poetic, the fear with the memory, the personal with the political, is nothing short of masterful. She weaves in flashbacks that breathe life into her fatherโ€™s characterโ€”a man full of love, idiosyncrasies, and integrityโ€”making the eventual loss even more gutting.

The depiction of New York City as both a ghost town and a siren-laced epicenter adds a haunting backdrop to her narrative. I found myself stopping multiple times, just to sit with the weight of it. And yet, this is not just a story about deathโ€”itโ€™s about love. Fierce, unwavering love. Itโ€™s about remembering someone wholly and refusing to let their narrative be reduced to statistics.

Author Elizabeth Jaeger has not only chronicled her experience; sheโ€™s captured the grief of a generation. Stolen is a time capsule, a testimony, and a reminder that behind every โ€œcaseโ€ or โ€œdeath tollโ€ is a family forever changed.


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Book Review: Lifelong Fulfillment: Take Charge of Your Life! byย James Boswellย 

Book Details:

Author: James Boswellย 
Release Date:
April 26, 2024
Series:
Genre: Self-Development, Self-Help, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 195 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Everyone deserves the greatest of personal fulfillment in life and to live the life of their dreams. With exploding information, constant changes everywhere, and the economic imperatives of life, fulfillment can be a hard objective to attain.
Lifelong Fulfillmentย is a strategic approach to fulfillment with a tactical execution program that uses time tested procedures and point solutions to provide lifestyle alternatives for every individual. It teaches you how to understand who you are and what you want out of life; the necessary financial, educational, and incidental information you need; how to identify and utilize authoritative point solutions; and how to master a robust and dependable process to deliver the results that you want. It is a custom, anytime, anywhere resource for life!
Get started at http://www.lifelongfulfillment.com.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Lifelong Fulfillment: Take Charge of Your Life! by James Boswell is a well-crafted guide designed to help readers navigate the complexities of life and achieve personal fulfillment. This book is a valuable resource that combines strategic thinking with actionable steps, making it a practical manual for anyone seeking to improve their quality of life. The book’s website, www.lifelongfulfillment.com, serves as a valuable extension of the content, offering additional resources and support. This integration of online tools with the book’s material increases its utility, making it a dynamic resource for continuous growth and fulfillment.

While the book excels in providing a robust framework, some readers may find the breadth of information a bit overwhelming at times. The strategic and tactical aspects are detailed, which, although beneficial, might require a bit more time and effort to fully digest and implement. However, this thoroughness is also what makes the book a comprehensive guide.

Overall, Lifelong Fulfillment: Take Charge of Your Life! is a commendable effort by James Boswell to empower readers in their pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. It offers a balanced mix of introspection, strategy, and practical advice, making it a valuable addition to the self-help genre. Whether you are just starting on your journey to fulfillment or looking to refine your existing path, this book provides the tools and insights needed to take charge of your life and achieve your dreams.


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Book Review: Knowing by Mark Cox

Book Details:

Author: Mark Coxย 
Release Date: April 11, 2024
Series:
Genre: Poetry, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 98 pages
Publisher: Press 53
Blurb:
Mark Cox pulls no punches in these poems about loving, drinking, traveling, and screwing up his relationships and parts of his life. “Looking back for a low point marking the worst of my insobriety, it might be that signal moment I put out my cigarette in the holy water font of St. Paul’s Catholic church, right in front of the priest. . .” Sometimes sobering, often times funny, but always honest, the poems inย Knowingย aim for the heart and soul of us all.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Knowing by Mark Cox is a poignant and unapologetically honest exploration of life, love, and the complexities of life. In this collection of poems, author Cox fearlessly tackles themes of love, regret, addiction, and the inevitable pitfalls of existence with candidness and sharp wit.

The collection’s strength lies not only in the author’s narrative skill but also in his keen observational eye. Through vivid imagery and storytelling, he brings to life moments that are at once universal and intensely personal, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences with newfound empathy and understanding.

For anyone seeking poetry that is as thought-provoking as it is heartfelt, Knowing is a must-read. Author Cox’s ability to navigate the highs and lows of life with grace and authenticity makes this collection a standout in contemporary poetry, showcasing the enduring power of words to both challenge and comfort the soul.


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Book Review: Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar by Harold Phifer

Book Details:

Author: Harold Phifer
Release Date: February 18, 2021
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 318 pages
Publisher: Rise & Read Free Press
Blurb:
For more than fifty years, Harold Phifer’s childhood living conditions remained a secret, even from those who thought they knew him best. No one knew about his past growing up with a mother who suffered from mental illness; a greedy, controlling aunt; a mindless and spoiled older brother; an absent father. It wasn’t until an explosion in Afghanistan that his memory blasted back into focus. This book is the result of a long, cathartic chat with a stranger at a beach bar, where Harold finally found some peace.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar by Harold Phifer is a raw and poignant memoir that delves deep into the author’s tumultuous past and his journey towards healing and self-discovery. In this candid account, author Phifer bravely reveals the hidden scars of his childhood, marked by the challenges of growing up with a mother battling mental illness, a dysfunctional family dynamic, and the aftermath of a life-altering event in Afghanistan.

The narrative is both harrowing and inspiring, as the author navigates through the complexities of his past with honesty and vulnerability. The author’s willingness to confront painful memories and share them with readers is commendable.

Overall, Surviving Chaos: How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar is a compelling and deeply moving memoir that resonates long after the final page. The author’s journey towards healing and self-acceptance serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit, offering hope and inspiration to readers facing their own struggles.


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Book Review: The Guitar Decoder Ring

Book Details:

Author: Asher Black
Release Date: July 4, 2023
Series:
Genre: Music Composition, Music Theory, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 313 pages
Publisher: MadPipe Publishing
Blurb:
Meet SIGILโ€”the new language of guitar.ย Guitarists who want to improvise and compose, from novice to advanced, will find SIGIL works like a decoder ring for the guitar, yet itโ€™s simple enough to keep in oneโ€™s head.
Visualize the whole fretboard.ย Gain portable knowledge of modes, scales, and intervals without wall charts. This is guitar study re-engineered for every level.
Create more interesting solos.ย Break through your lull or stall. Decrypt the instrument and unleash your play. The authors are a seasoned musician with albums under his belt and a lively storyteller who walk you through the toolset with eye-opening and sometimes hilarious examples.

  • 023 NYC Big Book Award Winner in the category of Music.
  • 2023 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for a How-to Book.
  • Hollywood Book Festival honorable mention, 2023.
  • Global Book Awards finalist, 2023.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Guitar Decoder Ring by Asher Black is a game-changer for guitar enthusiasts of all levels. This book introduces SIGILโ€”the innovative language of guitarโ€”that promises to revolutionise how musicians approach improvisation and composition.

What sets this book apart is its ability to make complex guitar theory accessible and easy to understand. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced guitarist, SIGIL serves as your trusty decoder ring, unlocking the mysteries of the fretboard and providing invaluable insights into modes, scales, and intervals. Gone are the days of cumbersome wall chartsโ€”now you can visualise the entire fretboard in your mind’s eye, empowering you to create more dynamic and captivating solos.

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What truly impressed me about The Guitar Decoder Ring is the author’s engaging and humorous writing style. Despite delving into intricate musical concepts, the book remains engaging and enjoyable throughout, thanks to the lively storytelling and eye-opening examples provided by the seasoned musician behind the SIGIL method. It’s rare to find a how-to book that is both informative and entertaining, but this one certainly delivers on both fronts.

With accolades like the 023 NYC Big Book Award, the 2023 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, and recognition from the Hollywood Book Festival and Global Book Awards, it’s clear that The Guitar Decoder Ring is making waves in the music world. Whether you’re looking to break out of a creative rut or take your guitar skills to new heights, this book is an invaluable resource that deserves a spot on every guitarist’s bookshelf.

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Book Review: Thoughts: God, Science, & Human Nature byย Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi

Book Details:

Author:ย Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi
Release Date: December 15, 2023
Series:
Genre: Philosophy, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 110 pages
Publisher: Abdul Q. Kundi
Blurb:
Religion, philosophy, and science sometimes appear to contradict each other. The deeper reality is that these operate in tandem to provide a holistic appreciation of life. Natural disasters, as well as human failings, like war and border walls, create an emotional crisis individually and collectively. Humanity is going through one of these hysterical phases at the advent of the 21st century. We are experiencing terrorism, global conflict, climate change, economic meltdown, and breakdown of old liberal political order. The emergence of a COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to accelerating the crisis. Social distancing has isolated us in bubbles that seem to be on the verge of bursting. There are growing signs of the psychological, social, and emotional breakdown faced by the communities. These tough times invoke questions about the purpose of life, humanity, and our place in the universe. We need to reconnect with our soul and be comfortable with the nature of things. This book is an effort to help make sense of life and our place in it. Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi is a politician, social, and community activist. He has authored three earlier books about political science with a focus on the role of religion in politics and community development. He has been a contributing columnist for some leading newspapers, including Independent Urdu, Pakistan Today, and Pakistan Times.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi’s Thoughts: God, Science, & Human Nature offers a thought-provoking exploration of the intersections between religion, philosophy, and science. Kundi adeptly navigates these complex topics, showing how they can work together to provide a comprehensive understanding of life.

One of the book’s strengths is its timely relevance to the challenges faced by humanity in the 21st century. Kundi addresses pressing issues such as terrorism, global conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic, offering insightful perspectives on how these crises impact our collective psyche and sense of purpose.

I appreciated Kundi’s emphasis on reconnecting with our inner selves and finding comfort in the nature of existence. His reflections on the purpose of life and our place in the universe are both enlightening and reassuring, offering readers a sense of clarity in uncertain times.

Overall, Thoughts: God, Science, & Human Nature is a compelling read that encourages readers to contemplate life’s big questions while offering wisdom and guidance for navigating the complexities of the modern world. Whether you’re interested in philosophy, religion, or science, this book is sure to spark meaningful reflection and dialogue.


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Book Review: Lipstick on a Pig: A Memoir by Rebecca Butt

Book Details:

Author: Rebecca Butt
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 276 pages
Publisher: Bowker
Blurb:
Candid and poignant, humorous and heart-wrenching, in nomadic fashion, the directionless Butt Family chaotically relocated throughout the city of Laconia, New Hampshire, like a ship, adrift and lost at sea without a captain.
Encumbered by night terrors, hauntings, and scraps of memories that spoke to a cruelty beyond her mother, Becky sneakily devoured her way into young adulthood and developed a crippling, yet all too comforting, binge-eating disorder.
Morbidly obese, visited often by a seething presence, and drowning under the smothering symptoms of childhood trauma, Becky is sure sheโ€™s the defective link in her broken family-until her ghost relative provides her a life jacket of hope that may just keep her afloat.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rebecca Butt’s “Lipstick on a Pig” is one of those rare memoirs that grabbed me by the heart and refused to let go. It’s a story told with such raw honesty and sprinkles of humour that I found myself laughing one moment and reaching for tissues the next. The chaotic journey of the Butt family through Laconia, New Hampshire, is portrayed with such vividness that I felt like I was right there with them, navigating their turbulent life.

The core of this memoir is Beckyโ€™s own battle with a binge-eating disorder and the haunting shadows of her childhood. Reading about her struggles and the way she bared her soul was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Itโ€™s not just the story of her challenges but also about finding small joys and laughter in the darkest of times. Becky’s journey from a confused, troubled child to a young woman grappling with her demons resonated deeply with me.

This book isnโ€™t just a recounting of a difficult past; it’s a story of survival, of finding light in the darkness, and of the incredible strength of the human spirit. “Lipstick on a Pig” isnโ€™t just a memoir; itโ€™s a journey of pain, laughter, and, most importantly, hope.


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Book Review: Loving & Leaving by Jack Lucci

Book Details:

Author: Jack Lucci
Release Date: March 28, 2023
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 92 pages
Publisher: Koehler Books
Blurb:
The first installment of Jack Lucci’s living memoir, Loving & Leaving spans five years, touching on themes of gratefulness and regret and stories of love for people, places, narcotics, and the effort it takes to sustain that love. Far from stable and rather turbulent, Lucci chronicles his life as he oscillates between hero and anti-hero, sharing lessons learned in the Italian countryside, mistakes made in America’s Second City, the angst and constriction of southeastern Washington, and observations on the miserable Oregon coast. Whether you find yourself rooting for or against him, Loving & Leaving is the result of bleeding over the keyboard.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Jack Lucci’s “Loving & Leaving” is a raw and candid reflection on a life lived at the extremes. This first installment of Lucci’s living memoir takes readers on a tumultuous journey through love, regret, and self-discovery. Lucci’s narrative is as captivating as it is unsettling, chronicling his experiences with unflinching honesty and a profound sense of introspection.

The memoir spans five eventful years of Lucci’s life, touching on themes that resonate deeply with the human experience. His stories of love โ€“ for people, places, and even narcotics โ€“ are told with a visceral intensity that draws the reader into his world. Lucci has a unique ability to capture the essence of his experiences, whether they’re set in the rustic Italian countryside, the bustling streets of Chicago, the oppressive atmosphere of southeastern Washington, or the bleakness of the Oregon coast.

What makes “Loving & Leaving” stand out is Lucci’s portrayal of himself as both the hero and anti-hero of his story. His journey is riddled with contradictions and conflicts, making him a complex and relatable character. The book is a rollercoaster of emotions, from moments of deep gratefulness to intense regret. Lucci’s writing style is engaging, his prose bleeding with emotion, making it feel as though every word is a piece of his soul laid bare on the page.

In essence, “Loving & Leaving” is not just a memoir; it’s an exploration of the human condition. Lucci’s ability to share his life lessons and mistakes in such a raw and honest manner is both brave and commendable. This book is a compelling read, sure to evoke a range of emotions in its readers. Whether you end up rooting for Lucci or not, one thing is certain โ€“ his story will leave an indelible mark on your heart.

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Book Review: Why We Make Bad Choices: The Godโ€™s Labyrinth of Good and Evil Encountering the Self by Maria Liviero

Book Details:

Author: Maria Liviero
Release Date: March 19, 2023
Series:
Genre: Spirituality-Religion, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 244 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
This book explores our sense of self and the source of the unhealthy behaviours and thinking patterns that cause us to make bad choices through the symbolic themes and characters of Genesis 1โ€“3.
The journey towards understanding ourselves is undertaken by a character called Eve, who enters a parallel universe between Genesis and the present day only to discover the dark side of human nature that stems from God, and where she learns how to deal with the resulting false self.
This is a self-help book for anyone interested in investigating the depths of the human self and exploring how a false self can manifest itself causing us to make unhealthy choices. It will take you on a journey where you will encounter both the good and evil that exists within all of us, a journey first introduced in the creation story of Genesis.


Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

In “Why We Make Bad Choices,” Maria Liviero delves deep into the labyrinth of the human psyche, exploring the intricate relationship between our sense of self and our propensity for unhealthy choices. This thought-provoking journey, inspired by the symbolic themes of Genesis 1โ€“3, offers a unique and profound perspective on understanding and confronting our inner selves.

The narrative is skillfully woven around a character named Eve, who embarks on a journey through a parallel universe that bridges the biblical past with the modern day. Liviero’s use of Eve as a conduit to explore the darker aspects of human nature is both innovative and insightful. As Eve encounters various facets of the human condition, the reader is invited to reflect on the duality of good and evil within themselves. This exploration is not only enlightening but also deeply relatable, making the book a compelling read for anyone on a quest for self-understanding.

One of the most striking aspects of Liviero’s work is her ability to seamlessly blend complex theological concepts with practical self-help guidance. The book doesn’t shy away from challenging the reader to confront their ‘false self’ – the source of many unhealthy decisions. The journey is an intricate blend of self-discovery and introspection, providing readers with valuable insights into how they can identify and alter destructive thinking patterns.

Liviero’s writing style is engaging, making complex concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. Her approach to the creation story of Genesis as a metaphor for the human experience of grappling with good and evil is both innovative and enlightening.

In conclusion, “Why We Make Bad Choices” is a powerful and insightful read. It offers a unique lens through which to view the age-old struggle between good and evil within ourselves and equips the reader with the tools to navigate this terrain. Livieroโ€™s book is an essential read for anyone interested in personal growth and understanding the deeper motivations behind their choices.

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Book Review: Native Knowings: Wisdom Keys for One and All by Steven McFadden

Book Details:

Author: Steven McFadden
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Series: Soul Sparks
Genre: Philosophy, Motivational, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 84 pages
Publisher: New Degree Press
Blurb:
This original compilation–a small treasure–offers a concise and contemporary compendium of some key North American (Turtle Island) wisdom teachings to help support people through this era of transition.
What do some of the venerable, deeply rooted wisdom teachings of the Americas offer in our era of transition?
This Soul*Sparks small treasure offers an array of thoughtful messages, a compilation of keys that everyone has opportunities to turn. We’d be wise to understand and then to weave their enduring insights into the fabric of what we are creating for ourselves, our children, and our childrenโ€™s children
The words of contemporary elders, in particular, sound a note of urgency.

“I ask you to listen,
not just with your minds.
I ask you to listen with your hearts,
because that’s the only way
you can receive what it is,
what we are giving.
These are the teachings of our hearts.”
– Frank Decontie, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Native Knowings: Wisdom Keys for One and All by Steven McFadden is a profound and soul-stirring journey into the heart of North American indigenous wisdom. This concise book, though just 84 pages, is a treasure trove of timeless teachings that are more relevant today than ever. As I delved into its pages, I found myself deeply moved by the words of wisdom that have been passed down through generations.

McFadden’s writing is both eloquent and accessible, making the profound teachings of the Native American elders resonate with a contemporary audience. The book masterfully weaves together teachings from various tribes, offering a rich tapestry of wisdom that speaks to the heart as well as the mind. The quotations and teachings from elders like Frank Decontie are particularly impactful, urging the reader to listen not just with their minds, but with their hearts. This approach brings a deeper, more intuitive understanding of the messages conveyed.

One of the most compelling aspects of Native Knowings is its relevance to our current era of transition and uncertainty. The book highlights how these ancient teachings can guide us in creating a more harmonious and sustainable future. It’s a call to integrate these insights into our daily lives, for the sake of ourselves and future generations. The sense of urgency in the words of contemporary elders adds a poignant note, underscoring the importance of heeding these teachings now.

In conclusion, Native Knowings: Wisdom Keys for One and All is a must-read for anyone seeking wisdom, guidance, or a deeper connection to the Earth and its history. McFadden has created a powerful compilation that not only educates but also inspires. It’s a book that I will undoubtedly return to, as its messages are timeless and its wisdom, inexhaustible.

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Book Review: Unwanted: Fighting to Belong by Mary Beth Moore

Book Details:

Author: Mary Beth Moore
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Disability, Parenting, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 218 pages
Publisher: New Degree Press
Blurb:
โ€œHe is my son. A person. He is not a condition or a statistic. Heโ€™s my son.โ€
Mary Beth Moore chose to have hope in a situation experts deemed hopeless. She was encouraged to abort her son when an ultrasound revealed the presence of multiple disabilities. Years later, experts education said the limitations of the school system could not be changed to meet her sonโ€™s needs. Again, Mary Beth chose to have hope.

Unwantedย is a powerful story about one momโ€™s journey to make the world a better place for her son. Full of heartbreak, grit, and triumph, it raises awareness for disability rights and advocates for the human right to belong.
The presence of disabilities is a natural part of humanity, and in no way makes someone less worthy of living a full, inclusive life. Children with disabilities face pervasive discrimination and systemic segregation in school systems across the United States and around the world.ย Unwantedย explores the evolution of special education law, research on creating inclusive classrooms, and real-world stories of families and teachers actively fighting to protect the rights of children with disabilities in our education system.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

“Unwanted: Fighting to Belong” is a heartrending and deeply personal journey of a mother’s unwavering determination, resilience, and advocacy for her son’s right to belong. Mary Beth Moore’s narrative is both a testament to a mother’s love and a powerful call to action for the rights of individuals with disabilities.

From the onset, Moore’s emotional recounting of being encouraged to abort her son due to detected disabilities is both heart-wrenching and evocative. This crucial moment sets the tone for the entire book, showcasing a mother’s fierce determination to protect her child in a world that might not readily accept him. Moore’s persistence in the face of adversity is commendable, and her narrative is charged with raw emotion and palpable passion.

One of the book’s strengths is its ability to intertwine personal anecdotes with an exploration of the evolution of special education law. Moore’s detailed examination of the history and present state of the education system in relation to disability rights is both enlightening and alarming. Through her eyes, readers gain an intimate understanding of the pervasive discrimination and systemic barriers that many children with disabilities face daily.

Moreover, “Unwanted” is not just a memoir but also an educational tool. Moore delves deep into research on creating inclusive classrooms, offering insights and solutions for a more accepting education system. The real-world stories from families and educators actively challenging the status quo add depth and dimension to Moore’s narrative, presenting a holistic view of the challenges and triumphs in the realm of disability rights.

In essence, “Unwanted: Fighting to Belong” is an inspiring tale of hope, persistence, and advocacy. Moore’s story is a clarion call for society to recognise and uphold the rights of individuals with disabilities, emphasising that their presence is an intrinsic part of our shared humanity. The book is a beacon of enlightenment, urging readers to rethink and reshape perceptions about disabilities, inclusivity, and the inherent right of every individual to belong. Highly recommended for those seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by families with children with disabilities and for educators and policymakers striving to make a positive change.


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Book Review: Not Nicholson: The Story of a First Daughter, An Adoption Search and Reunion Memoir by Ann M. Haralambieย 

Book Details:

Author: Ann M. Haralambieย 
Release Date: July 28, 2023
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 364 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
This is a story about family, adoption, heritage, and identity. It is also about place and people. Haralambie invites you to accompany her on her search for her biological roots, the hurdles and misdirections, and what happens when she finally finds out who her biological family members are. Every adoption search and reunion are different. The results, and how each adoptee deals with them, are also different. But everyone who has been touched by adoptionโ€”whether directly or through friends, professional clients, or patientsโ€”can learn from others’ experiences. Haralambie’s journey will intrigue readers and may make them laugh and cry. It will surely get them thinking about their own identity and heritage. Her message for readers is to approach the quest with kindness and understanding.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

In “Not Nicholson,” Ann M. Haralambie crafts a poignant and deeply personal narrative about her quest to uncover her biological roots. The memoir is more than just an adoption story; it’s a profound exploration of identity, heritage, and the intricate bonds of family. Haralambie’s heartfelt recounting of her journey, filled with its challenges and revelations, is both riveting and emotionally charged.

What stands out in Haralambie’s memoir is her genuine and raw portrayal of the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany such a profound personal quest. Her experiences, ranging from moments of elation to heart-wrenching obstacles, provide a candid look into the complexities of adoption searches. This journey, while unique to Haralambie, serves as a beacon of understanding for anyone touched by adoption.

As readers navigate through Haralambie’s experiences, they’re prompted to reflect on their own sense of identity and heritage. The narrative, while evoking a spectrum of emotions, consistently carries a message of kindness and empathy. “Not Nicholson” is not just a memoir but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for self-understanding. It’s a deeply moving read, one that resonates long after the final page is turned.


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Book Review: Lifeline to a Soul: The Life-Changing Perspective I Gained While Teaching Entrepreneurship to Prisoners by John K. McLaughlin

Book Details:

Author: John K. McLaughlin
Release Date:ย 4th April 2023
Series:
Genre: Memoir | Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 237
Publisher: Lifeline Education Connection
Blurb:
The Victories and Challenges One Man Faced as a First-Time Teacher in the Strange World of Prison Life
After devoting half of his lifetime transforming his start-up business into a multi-million dollar industry leader, author John McLaughlin set out in a new direction: to teach what he had learned to others.
Due to a lack of teaching experience, his only job offer was to teach entrepreneurship to prisoners at a minimum-security camp in North Carolina. John gradually builds an effective program until a scandal involving prison officials blindsides his progress and threatens to bring his teaching career to an unceremonious end.
Lifeline to a Soulย takes the reader inside the fence and chronicles the victories and challenges one man faced as a first-time teacher in the strange world of prison life.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Lifeline to a Soul: The Life-Changing Perspective I Gained While Teaching Entrepreneurship to Prisoners by John K. McLaughlin is a very unique memoir that gives readers insights into the one-of-a-kind perspective of the author who had to teach entrepreneurship to prisoners in order to gain teaching experience. Put in a very difficult, awkward and un-envious spot, the author showed grit and determination and made the best out of his situation which in turn gave him the experience of a lifetime.

This book’s perspective is so unique and refreshing that it kept me engaged throughout the story. The author has done a wonderful job in narrating his adventurous and enthralling tale in a way that made it feel all the more interesting and gave it the warm quality of a story that is being told by a friend to a group of his close friends.

I would recommend this memoir to all readers as it packs a lot of details that are very interesting, unique in their own right and extremely intriguing. This book deserves to be read!


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Book Review: Exits: Selected Poems by Stephen C. Pollock

Book Details:

Author: Stephen C. Pollock
Release Date:ย 12th June 2023
Series:
Genre: Poetry, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 54
Publisher:
Blurb:
Every life is finite. Though circumstance and timing may vary, death remains the one inescapable attribute of the human condition. Awareness of this inevitability and recognition of the transient nature of our biological selves profoundly affect each person’s perspective on their life and its meaning.
Stephen C. Pollockโ€™s debut poetry collection nods to the literary tradition of years past while simultaneously speaking to the present moment. Multilayered and musical, the poems in Pollockโ€™s โ€œExitsโ€ have drawn comparisons to the work of Eavan Boland and Seamus Heaney.
With bold imagery, attention to form, and a consistent through line rooted in the theme of mortality, his collection responds to contemporary anxieties surrounding death and decay and the universal search for meaning in lifeโ€™s transience.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Exits: Selected Poems by Stephen C. Pollock is a collection of beautifully written poems that evoke vivid imagery that makes one think about the meaning of not only life but also death and the afterlife. Writing on bold and dark themes, the author had done a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere for each and every poem so distinctly that you could taste it on the tip of your tongue and can distinguish them accordingly with your eyes closed.

The writing is captivating, moving and at times very strong (in a good way, of course) and makes one reminisce after each and every piece. I would definitely recommend this poetry collection to all poetry readers and even to those who don’t go for non-fiction/poetry books as their usual go-to genre, as this book has a lot to offer to its readers.


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Book Review: Vegetable Garden Soil Science Made Easy: Create a Soil Base for Abundant Harvests in Your Raised Bed, Container, or No-Dig Garden by James Bright

Book Details:

Author: James Bright
Release Date:ย 
28th September 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Guide, How-to Books, Gardening
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 121
Publisher: Heath Publishing Company
Blurb:
โ€œIf I wanted to have a happy garden, I must ally myself with my soil; study and help it to the utmost, untiringly … Always, the soil must come first. โ€”ย Marion Dudley Cran, the 1st woman gardening broadcaster
Inย Vegetable Garden Soil Science Made Easy, garden fertility and soil science expert James R. Bright draws on many years of cultivating high-yield vegetable gardens to provide you with proven methods that anybody can use to easily set up your garden to grow healthy vegetable crops, even if you have never planted vegetables before, or have limited space and time to grow delicious vegetables, spices, and other gardens delights.
As Ms. Cron said in the 1930s, the key to growing a beautiful garden anywhere in the world is maintaining fertile soil, and in this easy-to-understand gardening book, James Bright teaches all gardeners how to understand soil composition, soil testing, PH levels and acidity, soil moisture and soil microbes – and how to manage these vital soil factors each year in your garden, without buying expensive fertilizers or garden tools.

In this straightforward and practical soil maintenance and gardening book, you will learn:

  • In-depth explanations of all of the most important soil characteristics of high-yielding gardensโ€ฆ and how to optimize your home garden soil to produce the most vegetables with the fewest extra soil additives, fertilizers and chemicals.
  • Easy step-by-step directions for setting up amazingly productive gardens whether you have a large yard or a limited space, including inexpensive hand-made raised bed gardens and container gardens, as well as how to plant no-dig gardens, the best option for in-ground home gardens.
  • Seasonal soil maintenance โ€“ how to treat soil and your garden after harvest each year to improve soil conditions for the next growing season.
  • The perfect soil mix for raised bed gardens and container gardens to get the ideal mixture of organic matter for nutrients, moisture retention, and aeration.
  • Proven soil testing methods to determine the timing and amounts of organic fertilizers, lime, nitrogen, nutrients, or soil microbes to improve soil health and maximize fertility.
  • How to protect beneficial soil microbes, understand your soil’s ecosystem, and apply this knowledge for bountiful vegetable production.


If you have ever struggled to produce beautiful, healthy fruits and vegetables, the problem is not you โ€“ itโ€™s poor soilโ€ฆ and there is a solution. Itโ€™s time to start setting up your home garden for success, and years of producing cheap, healthy vegetables, as well providing you with many hours of relaxing outdoor activity and a sense of individual accomplishment, when you save hundreds of dollars in grocery bills and grow your own organic food.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Vegetable Garden Soil Science Made Easy: Create a Soil Base for Abundant Harvests in Your Raised Bed, Container, or No-Dig Garden by James Bright is a marvellous book that teaches about the complicated yet extremely important science of soil in an extremely simple and understandable way.

This book is a practical guide for everyone who likes greenery and wants to grow a vegetable garden in their backyard in small containers, on a terrace garden, or on a farm. This book is an excellent guide for beginners, especially as the author, James Bright, break down complicated concepts into simple-to-understand, bite-sized pieces of information that are not only easily digestible but also very practical to apply and get results.

I’d recommend this book to everyone who wants to have their own vegetable garden, as this book offers a lot of knowledge on the most important element of vegetable gardening: the soil!


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Book Review: Me and My Shadow: Memoirs of a Cancer Survivor by John Walker Pattison

Book Details:

Author: John Walker Pattison
Release Date:ย 
29th October 2022
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 233
Publisher:
Blurb:
Me and My Shadow โ€“ Memoirs of a Cancer Survivorย is a brutally honest account of one teenagerโ€™s struggle to understand and deal with the most feared diagnosis known to society: cancer. At 18 years of age, John Walker Pattison was thrust onto a roller coaster ride of emotional turbulence โ€“ his innocence cruelly stripped from him; his fate woven into the tapestry of life. After years of failed chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments that ravaged his physical frame and almost destroyed his psychological stability โ€“ his parents were told that he would not survive. Yet, today, he is one of the longest surviving cancer patients in the UK.

Eight years after his unexpected recovery, the news that all parents fear, his daughter is diagnosed with terminal leukaemia. Yet like her father, she too would defy the odds and go on to become an international swimmer.
Pattison turned his life full circle and became a cancer nurse specialist at the same hospital that made his diagnosis decades earlier. He prescribes chemotherapy and cares for individuals with the same cancers experienced by both him and his daughter.
Throughout his journey, Pattisonโ€™s inspirations were the space rock legends, Hawkwind. He would get to play on stage with his heroes at the Donnington Festival in 2007.
More significantly, he found solace throughout his cancer journey in the history and spirituality of the Lakota Sioux Nation. In 2018, he would spend time on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with the indigenous people of South Dakota. The same people who, unknowingly, supported him through life’s greatest challenge: cancer.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Me and My Shadow: Memoirs of a Cancer Survivor by John Walker Pattison is a gut-wrenching, eye-opening and heart-melting read from the author who shares his experience of not only living with cancer but also overcoming it, having been through seeing his daughter having it and seeing her overcome it. This book is an emotional roller-coaster of ups and downs that the author had experienced throughout his life, since his teenage years when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

This book serves as s tremendous source of information and inspiration because it has a lot to offer to all its readers. The emotional turmoil in the book conveys the hardships and predicaments that the author had to suffer many times in his life and makes the readers connect with the author on completely another level.

This book would be best for anyone suffering from cancer or any other terminal illness, a survivor of one, or the family member of anyone suffering from a terminal illness or anyone really who wants to read about how it feels to be stuck in such a situation and yet not to lose hope and in fact come out of it stronger. Really, everyone should give this book a read as there are so many takeaways for each reader in this book.


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Book Review: The Beginners Guide to Chicken Health and Care: How to Optimize Your Flock’s Health, Avoid Diseases and Losses by O. Banks

Book Details:

Author: O. Banks
Release Date:ย 
5th September 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, How-To, Guide, Animal Care
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 156
Publisher:
Blurb:
If you are yearning for respite from the cumbersome task of probing the undying cause of deteriorating chicken health and seek to learn preventative and integrative healthcare practices that save your gallinaceous pet from embarking upon a punitive expeditionโ€ฆ You might want to pique your curious appetite by delving into this book.
Do you ever feel as if your indomitable spirit and love for your backyard chickens are being pushed to the brink of collapse by communicable diseases that drive a wedge between your chickens and unblemished health? Consider your exploratory spelunking adventure into the depths of uncertainty to be over! This book weaves the essential healthcare practices into the fabric of raising chicken flocks needed toย mitigate the spread of diseases. The process of caring for these inherently inseparable gallinaceous members of the family can be turned into a snag-free greased slide by peering into this book, whichย encompasses all elements of veterinary care.

Amid the sanctimonious abyss created by multitudes of books with the premise of the argument articulated solely through palliative care, this book enlightens a higher path toward raising a healthy brood through unique management practices that avert the possibility of the brood catching disease. These practices have been corroborated by studies that have glaringly proved that healthy chickens produce healthier eggs and meat.
Surrendering to the hearty clasp of this awe-inspiring book is inevitable because this book:

  • Provides the diagnostic tools required to identify health problems in chickens and the ways through which they can be overcome.
  • Lays out plans for structuring sanitary and hygienic chicken coops that provide a safe environment for the flock.
  • Addresses ways of stifling the burgeoning threat of antimicrobial resistance that results from the overuse of antibiotics.
  • Highlights quintessential brood health maintenance techniques that ameliorate egg-laying problems and maximize yield.
  • Conveys cost-effective alternative care regimens combined with knowledge of hazardous backyard materials that are detrimental to chickens if ingested.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Beginners Guide to Chicken Health and Care: How to Optimize Your Flock’s Health, Avoid Diseases and Losses by O. Banks is an extremely insightful book about raising chickens and taking good care of them. The author has methodically laid out the plans and strategies needed to provide a safe environment for one’s flock and has provided a lot of useful insights into how to deal with and manage different types of medical conditions in the flock.

This book is a treasure trove of information for anyone looking to raise and maintain a chicken shed/farm or flock in a very systematic and sensible way. The book is well-structured and the author’s writing is very clear, concise and to the point.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get into poultry farming or knows anyone who plans to.


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Book Review: 14 Lessons in Happiness: A Guidebook on Improving Your Life by Gina Ross

Book Details:

Author: Gina Rossย 
Release Date:ย 
10th August 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 123 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
HAPPINESS MADE EASYย 
Although there is evidence to show that some people are genetically born happier than others, there is also a mountain of proof that this can be changed and that happiness is, in fact, a choice.
In 14 Lessons in Happiness, Gina Ross, a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist, teaches you how to be happier with simple and practical tips and techniques outlined within the following lessons:

  • LESSON ONE: Maintain a Positive Outlook
  • LESSON TWO: Pay Attention To Your Breathing
  • LESSON THREE: Meditate Daily
  • LESSON FOUR: Practice Mindfulness
  • LESSON FIVE: Love Yourself
  • LESSON SIX: Be More Confident
  • LESSON SEVEN: Pursue Your Dreams
  • LESSON EIGHT: Be Kind
  • LESSON NINE: Learn to Deal With Negative Emotions
  • LESSON TEN: Learn To Deal With Other Peopleโ€™s Negativity
  • LESSON ELEVEN: Practice Forgiveness
  • LESSON TWELVE: Learn To Deal With Fear And Anxiety
  • LESSON THIRTEEN: What To Do When You F**K UP
  • LESSON FOURTEEN:ย Dealing With Death

Overall, 14 Lessons in Happiness will give you the tools needed to experience the following:

  • an increase in inner calm;
  • an ability to reduce anxiety;
  • strength to conquer fears and phobias;
  • an improvement in relationships; and
  • an overall unleashing of self-love and self-confidence.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

14 Lessons in Happiness: A Guidebook on Improving Your Life by Gina Ross is a new self-help book that teaches the reader to learn to be happy (or be happier) as it is an emotion that can be inculcated through simple daily practices listed in the book.

This book is a treasure trove of advice for anyone seeking to learn how to have a more positive outlook towards themselves, their lives and their surroundings and be a better and happier person overall. The author, who is a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist, has come up with a great set of simple-to-follow practices that the readers can easily practice and perform consistently in their daily busy lives and achieve their goals of living a happier and healthier life.

I’d strongly recommend this book to every self-help book reader as this has a lot to offer and ais a pretty quick read packed with a lot of useful tidbits.


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Book Review: The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray

Book Details:

Author: Nick Gray
Release Date:ย 
14th June 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Social Skills, Self-Help, How-To
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 278 pages
Publisher: Lioncrest Publishing
Blurb:
You know that well-connected friend who only exists in the movies? The one who throws the best parties and can set up any introduction you need?
Everyone wants to know someone magical like this who brings people together. The secret is:ย youย can be that person. Youย shouldย be that person.ย The 2-Hour Cocktail Partyย will show you how.
Discover a simple formula with step-by-step instructions to host parties that help you meet new people, strengthen your existing relationships, and makeย youย the person everyone wants to know.

You’ll learn which days are the best (probably not the ones you think!) and what to say to the first people who arrive. Read how to ensure your invitations get responses and your guests show up excited to mingle. Plus, get helpful pre-party checklists and a breakdown of activities to encourage new connections.
Withย The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, you’ll make new friends, boost your career, and leave everyone asking, “When’s your next party?”
Pick up your copy today!

An encouraging, upbeat, and useful call to host parties and make friends.”

2022 KIRKUS STAR AWARD

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray is a useful book on hosting parties that would be sure-as-hell engaging and make you the ‘it’ person in town with whom everybody would want to connect with.

This book goes into detail about not just how to host fun and successful parties but also lists the kind-of dos and don’t at the party, ways to make sure your guests accept your invite and actually show up to your party and then have a fantastic experience while at your party.

If you are someone who is not sure about throwing your first or the most amazing cocktail party then this book is definitely for you!


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Book Review: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Complete Vol. 1 & 2): RATS ~ Grow up or be Left Behindย by R Lucianiย 

Book Details:

Author: R Luciani
Release Date: 
4th October 2021
Series: Star Personality Styles (Vol #2)
Genre: Christian Non Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 400 pages
Publisher: KoHoE Publishing
Blurb:
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss โ€œuntil death do us partโ€. 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 โ€“ before conflict escalation. With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss โ€œuntil death do us partโ€ is possible for every marriage.
โ€œSTAR Personality Stylesโ€ is based on principles from the Holy Bible, but donโ€™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 โ€“ 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.1 & 2) RATS: Grow Up Or Be Left Behind by R. Luciani combined book with two volumes: STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 1 STAR and RATS): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind and STAR ~ Personality Styles (Volume 2 Tools & Rules): RATS ~ Grow up or be left Behind.

This book is a complete package with the first volume providing insights to the readers about the relationship mechanisms and context into how exactly people’s minds work while being in relationships and dealing with them and the second book giving a detailed look into conflict resolution and various solutions related to relationship problems. The author uses examples, anecdotes and teachings from the Bible in order to present his ideas but he has done so in such a way that even if you are not a Christian and have not read the Bible it’ll all make perfect sense to you.

The author’s writing has a beautiful flow and the style of writing resonated with me. I was able to read this book very easily and without any difficulty related to the pacing of the prose.

This combined book is great for anyone looking to understand the “why” behind human psychology of relationships and also the “what to do” in case they find themselves facing a related problem.


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Book Review: Your Sleep Map: Navigating Your Own Path to Relief from Insomnia by Thad R. Harshbarger

Book Details:

Author: Thad R Harshbarger
Release Date:ย 
5th April 2022
Series:
Genre: Self-Help, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 332 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
If you have insomnia, you want relief as soon as possible, and you need a path to your own answer.ย Your Sleep Mapย will help you link together a series of decisions and actions to identify the sources of your insomnia, and once you do that, you will be better able to make changes to relieve it.
The book begins where you are, with symptoms and a history. It moves forward by posing questions about your insomnia. Your answers to those questions will define a path that leads to suggestions for treatment.

Each chapter-map is initiated by a flow chart that organizes its component sections of text. You follow the flow chart, and when you need more information, you read the associated section of text. In that way, you individualize the text to suit your own needs. You actually only read a part of the book โ€“ the part that matters to you.
This form of organization emphasizes the choices you need to make in order to get better sleep. It fits the book to you, and not you to the book. You use a method or technique that you have chosen because it suits your needs and issues, and you eliminate a lot of techniques that are interesting but irrelevant.
For more, look at the Overview, pages 3 to 5, to see how the book is organized. The first map begins on page 6.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Your Sleep Map: Navigating Your Own Path to Relief from Insomnia by Dr. Thad R. Harshbarger is an extensively insightful and practical book that would help the readers not only to explore their insomnia or sleep-related issues in general but also find an effective solution for it. The book is written well with the author using simplified language and explaining difficult technical terms for the reader’s understanding which made reading this book smooth-sailing.

As the author claims in the blurb, this book really is a tailor-made kind of read thanks to its various extensively researched and meticulously figured out flow charts making it a really special and personalised read. I found a lot of helpful information in this book which I am planning to implement in my routine as well as add to my habits in order to improve my sleeping schedule. This book has loads of useful and practical information and I’m glad that I read it!

I would highly recommend this book to everyone as most people suffer from some sort of sleep-related issues, if not exactly insomnia, and this book could actually help you.


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

Book Details:

Author: R Luciani
Release Date:ย 
4th October 2021
Series: Star Personality Styles (Vol #2)
Genre: Christian Non Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 270 pages
Publisher: KoHoE Publishing
Blurb:
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss โ€œuntil death do us partโ€.ย At the time of writing this book, several sources reported thatย 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 โ€“ before conflict escalation.ย With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss โ€œuntil death do us partโ€ is possible for every marriage.
โ€œSTAR Personality Stylesโ€ is based on principles from theย Holy Bible,ย but donโ€™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 Stylesย Completeย (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 inย bothย Personality Stylesย andย 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 Stylesย Volume 1ย (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) areย onlyย interested in Personality Styles, Volume 1 (ISBN-13 978-1-7778566-1-8 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.
STAR Personality Stylesย Volume 2ย (Tools and Rules) explains how to establish and nourish Love, Joy, Peace, and Harmony in your relationships with different personality styles โ€“ of course, success depends on your commitment to the relationship. If you (the reader) areย onlyย 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 Behindย 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

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 โ€œplayful mindโ€ 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 weโ€™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 โ€“ 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

Book Details:

Author: Poppy Mortimer
Release Date:ย 
10th May 2022
Series:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
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

Book Details:

Author: Daniel G. Vintner
Release Date:ย 
24th May 2022
Series:
Genre: Non-Fiction, Philosophy
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 263 pages
Publisher: Boros Dรกniel
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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