Reading Fanatic Reviews
All Nonfiction ReviewsPower of Minimalism by Will Mark
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Power of Minimalism*
Overview of Minimalism
Nearly half of this book is a very high-level overview of the concepts about minimalism, an idea that has become popular lately. The first part is actually somewhat repetitious and goes into some of the philosophy of minimalism. After the halfway point, the book gives specific instructions about decluttering your physical space and your digital life. The author then also tries to apply the minimalism to ideas that it isn’t usually associated with, like diet, sleep, and relationships. The second half of the book is more practical than the first, but I didn’t think it successfully integrated with those latter concepts that I just mentioned. For instance, the diet section didn’t seem to me to be about minimalism; instead, it appeared to be about healthful eating. In general, I thought that many of the suggestions about how to be more minimalistic seemed impractical or just wrong; for instance, it is hard for me to imagine a monastically bare bedroom as he espouses. I question, too, if one truly did strip everything in all areas of life mentioned in this book as he states, what would life be like? What would one actually do? Those who are new to the concept of minimalism might like this short look at the philosophy of the idea as well as some ways to apply it. But those who already know some about this won’t find anything here that isn’t better stated elsewhere.
Live Work Love by Terry Williams
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Live Work Love*
Engaging Look at How to Age Well
In this intriguing work, the author explores in depth the concepts in the title within the framework of how to live not just longer lives but better lives. The author states at the beginning of the book that he has read 100 books and 100 research articles on how to age better so we don’t have to. As somewhat of a research nerd myself, I enjoyed both the author’s intent toward backing up his thoughts with data and others’ views as well as the ideas from the books and papers themselves.
The book is divided broadly into the three main categories of Live, Work, and Love. Before this, though, there are chapters about the concept of aging and what that means. The Live section is the longest, with sections on the physical, mental, and social and their 12 controls (like move, sleep, think, learn, care, and touch). The Work section is short but touches briefly on ideas like engaging in work, retirement, and alternate paths. The final part on Love starts with oneself, and subsequent sections spiral out from there to friends, partners, and family.
Despite the strong research element—which might suggest that this could be a heavy and dense read- I found the book to be well written and engaging. As I stated above, most of the ideas researched are quite fascinating, and the discussion presented offers ample food for thought. There’s certainly much to ponder here, and much that I believe would indeed improve the quality of life as one ages.
How to Write a Spiritual Dramatic Suspense by Krista Wagner
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
How to Write a Spiritual Dramatic Suspense Novel*
A Look at a Very Specific Subgenre
I had never heard of this particular sub-subgenre of suspense! As a writer and editor myself, I am fascinated by the topic of writing. So when I saw this show up at one of my favorite book review sites, I was curious and had to choose it to find out more. Unfortunately, I found this book a little light on content, though it did have some interesting insights and exercises.
The book starts out with a very brief definition of this subgenre and then goes into other information about the overall arc and elements of a suspense story and what the author calls tropes. I found the writing of this part to be a little tedious because the author tends to state what she is going to explain at some length and then explains it more fully, even for relatively minor concepts. Just get to the explaining! If she felt a need for a transition between ideas, a simpler one could have been chosen. I also disagree with what the author calls tropes. I think she is mixing up the concepts of genre conventions and tropes in most cases.
The bulk of the book is actually the author’s book called Intent. Interspersed between paragraphs is the author’s commentary about what she was doing in a particular segment of a scene, discussing some elements that she had talked about in the general section previous. Each chapter ends with a writing exercise or two about an idea that the author believes was reflected in the preceding chapter. These are actually fairly decent writing prompts/exercises for any fiction writer, not just for one of this subgenre. She suggests exercises that look at minor characters, foreshadowing, tensions, and the like. There’s no real wrap-up section, which I think would have been helpful. It does end with a little discussion on theme.
I believe the author should have explicitly stated on the cover that the book is more about Christianity rather than general spirituality. In fact, Bible quotes precede each writing exercise. Perhaps she should have used the word “Christian” instead of “spiritual” as the title. After all, there are many types of spirituality which could form the basis of a suspense novel.
I felt like the beginning section, the part before her novel and analysis of it, was too short to be of much use to someone who actually is interested in writing this subgenre. The writing itself in that section, also, was sometimes confusing, and not just because she didn’t seem to understand the difference between conventions and tropes. I think nonfiction is best when it’s written in a conversational style, as if you were just telling the information to a good friend who is interested in the topic but doesn’t have the amount of knowledge that you do. Unfortunately, the author did not succeed in that very accessible nonfiction writing style.
Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum? by Sam Slaughter
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum?*
Simply Fun Cocktail Book for Millennials (and Maybe Gen X!)
In this whimsical and fun cocktail book, cultural icons of the 1990s are invoked to inspire the children of that decade, now grown up, to explore the world of mixed drinks. The book is colorful, both in the many photographs and the playful design of the pages. The book starts with a little background on tools, glassware, basic mixing methods, and building a proper bar. The recipes are often twists on classic cocktails, while others are more original. The names of the drinks reflect the cultural milieu of the 1990s, often with a pun, like the Kimmy Gimlet (for Kimmy Gibbler of Full House) and Livin’ La Vida Coco. Even the title of the book refers to a 1990s TV show. The book ends with a few more helpful chapters about syrups and infusions as well as a 1990s playlist and a very short list of drinking games.
While I wasn’t a 1990s kid, graduating from high school in 1985, I recognized enough of the references to make me smile. As I said above, the book is beautifully photographed. The colors jump out at you, and you get a good look at what finished drinks look like. Reminding me of MTV’s Behind the Music, sometimes the pictures have little bubbles with trivia about the particular 1990s reference of the drink. The recipe headers also often talk about the 90s reference or about the cocktail itself.
The only thing I find strange is that measures like a half ounce and quarter cup are given in decimal rather than in fractions, and the decimals don’t have leading zeros. As one who has read a gazillion cookbooks, this just looks strange to me.
That being said, I think this is a fun collection of cocktails that any 1990s kid, or 1980s kid, might enjoy for both nostalgia and the fanciful drinks.
Ask a Suffragist by April Young Bennett
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Ask a Suffragist*
Wonderful Addition to the Canon of Feminist Literature
If you have an interest in women’s history or feminism, this book is a wonderful addition to others on the subject. It brings together the voices and stories of the suffragists who made forward strides for gender equality and ultimately triumphed in getting women the vote in the US in the early 20th century, though the stirrings of the movement began nearly a hundred years before. In this book, the author poses a set of questions that is as valid today as it was back in the early days of feminism, like how do we make our voices heard, what is men’s role in feminism, how do we balance family life with activism, and how do we break the glass ceiling. In some of my own reading and documentary watching, I’ve become familiar what did deeper stories of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but some of the other women referenced in this book were less well-known to me; I enjoyed learning both about their perspectives on feminism and their lives.
For each question, the author begins with quotes and then an extended essay that draws upon the lives and the activism of the suffragists using a lot of their own words (and others about them), pulling from their public and private writing. I found many of these stories, like the courtship of Lucy Stone, the Bloomers, and the first National Woman’s Rights Convention, quite compelling. Like us, these women lived complex lives, and they struggled against a society that vilified them and tried to make them go away. While women’s lot has much improved, there is still so much that needs to be done for true equality, as the current fight for equal wages for equal work and for respectful treatment in the workplace and beyond will attest.
The author has done an incredible amount of research. There are just shy of a thousand citation notes! Using so much of the living record adds an immediacy to this work that makes it more than just essays on feminist questions. Instead, it brings us into the real lives and work of these path-breaking women. The author does include a timeline in the back, which is handy.
Whether you have an interest in feminism from a historical standpoint or from what it could mean to us today, you will most likely find much of interest in this well-researched and inspiring book.
The Course of History by Struan Stevenson and Tony Singh
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, and Angus & Ferguson
The Course of History*
For Foodies and History Buffs
What a fun idea for a book! If you like food and enjoy history, what’s not to like about this book? The author has chosen 10 different meals that have preceded an important event in history. The book starts chronologically, beginning with the meal that came before the Battle of Culloden. Each chapter gives the relevant history around meal, both what happened before and the aftermath of the event itself. Each chapter ends with recipes for the pivotal meal. These may or may not have come from documentation of the actual dinner, but they all do reflect what would have comprised such a meal at that point in time.
I found the historical context of these meals to be a fascinating, and the author actually succeeded in making them a riveting read. As a history buff, I knew about many of these events, some in good detail, but I learned much from each little snippet of history. For instance, I went to Scotland last year and visited the amazing visitor center at Culloden Moor. While I learned much of the events that came before the battle and the social milieu through the amazing exhibits there, this book showed me more about the disparity between the existence of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highlanders. I also liked how the second chapter pointed out the seeds of rebellion for the American Revolution, as the host of that meal was the first to recommend to those back in England that the colonists should be taxed.
My only quibble with the book is I thought it should explore the aftermath of the historical event in more detail. The author is fantastic at the set up for the meal, but I felt something was lacking in the description of the actual reverberations of decisions made at these pivotal meals as they rippled out through history. For instance, in the Culloden chapter, we hear in some detail about what happened to Bonnie Prince Charlie after Culloden, but we don’t hear a lot about how this changed the course of Scottish history forever and perhaps even laid the basis for the American Revolution because the Hanoverian Dynasty was in desperate need of cash after fighting wars on several fronts.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you enjoy history or are a foodie, you might enjoy this historical slice of life around pivotal events in the last 300 years.
Unleash Your Creativity by Michael R. Hogan
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Unleash Your Creativity*
Long on Story, Short on Substance
As I have been working through ideas about my own needs for creativity, I was attracted to the concept of this book. The setup of it, unfortunately, didn’t help me with any insights or guidance as I hoped it might. A full half of the book is in story format describing how family and society can squelch creativity and dreams. This didn’t leave much room for the actual discussion of creativity or exercises to help you find your spark and passion. It talked more about the philosophy of creativity than creativity itself.
How to Analyze People by Steven Hopkins
Available at Amazon
Free with Kindle Unlimited
How to Analyze People*
Introduction to Nonverbal Communication
In this short book about nonverbal communication, the author lays out a simple plan to improve your ability to read and understand the nonverbal clues about the thoughts, plans, and emotions that people can’t help but communicate. The author’s experience comes from his own life as a trainer and personal coach, and he also has a master’s degree in behavioral psychology. After he explains the basic concepts of nonverbal communication, he lays out chapters that go essentially from head to toe: facial expressions, voice, posture, body language of the upper body, and body language of the legs and feet. The main section of the book ends with two specialized chapters, how to spot a lie and how to spot romantic interest. There was a bonus chapter on well about nonverbal communication in the workplace.
The book is basic in what it explains about each of these topics, but it does get you thinking about others and your own nonverbal communication. If this is a topic that interests you, you might find this short read a very interesting introduction.
I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years by Ilchi Lee
Available at Amazon, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Scribd, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
I've Decided to Live 120 Years*
A Gift and Blessing to Those Middle-Aged and Beyond
What a delightful book that will get you thinking differently about aging. The title is shocking, which is what made me choose the book at a book review site that I use. In the introduction, the author states that while he doesn’t know when his end will be, he has in fact decided his life span will 120 years. For him, this has caused a paradigm shift in his thinking about what to do with what he views as the second half of his life. This book discusses a lot of his philosophy and what it can mean, but it is also practical, giving direct suggestions and activities that will help you if you decide to live 120 years. Topics he discusses include our physical power, sources of joy, letting go of attachment, solitude, mental power, continuous cultivation of self, sharing and giving, and the importance of nature. He does also discuss death in various chapters, and the final chapter discusses the many ways that one could leave a legacy, whether through mentorship directly or by leaving a small, but compassionate footprint on the Earth.
As one who has just passed the half-century mark, I found this book to be inspiring and invigorating, making me desire to live as much of a life as I can for as long as I can despite my age. The author has given a gift to people who see themselves as middle-aged or senior citizens. It opens up the possibilities of all that we can be.
The Ketogenic Diet for Beginners by Anivya Publishing
Available at Amazon only
Not with Kindle Unlimited
The Ketogenic Diet for Beginners*
Biased Information and Questionable Recipes
This book purports to be for beginners. I think it is more of a recipe book with a few short articles about the ketogenic diet itself. I found these articles to be heavily biased and light on fact. If you’re hoping to gain true information about this diet to help you better understand it, you would do better to look elsewhere.
The recipes are divided into three sections, breakfast and brunch (30), dinner ideas (31), and snack recipes (10). I have actually written cookbooks myself, so I tend to be a stickler when I look at the format of recipes and how they are laid out. In this cookbook, I definitely found some issues. Some titles are misleading. For instance, the coconut egg scramble, the second recipe in the breakfast section, would lead you to think that it has coconut in it from the title, but it only has coconut oil.
The ingredient lists are inconsistent; they don’t always follow the order in which the ingredients are used. Sometimes the preparation didn’t follow the ingredients when it needed to do so–you can’t have “1 diced bell pepper”; it should read “1 bell pepper, diced”. Sometimes a piece of information that wasn’t preparation followed the ingredient (like “12 strips bacon, organic cooked”). Sometimes the formatting of the directions wasn’t correct either. In at least one place, a paragraph was styled as a header, not as text. There are also issues in the entire book with grammar, punctuation, and usage. They were definitely issues with commas (especially not preceding a preparation method), spacing, and capitalization. This book needs an editor, one who specializes in cookbooks.
As to the recipes themselves, I thought some sounded interesting while others made me question the flavor profile. For instance, I can’t quite imagine a zucchini and coconut flake egg scramble. Some of the amounts of the ingredients in recipes is concerning. For example, the first omelet calls for three eggs but one entire bell pepper that’s been diced. It would seem that that recipe would be more of a bell pepper dish with a little bit of egg binding them than a true omelet.
If you have an interest in the ketogenic diet, I would suggest looking through the table of contents before deciding to purchase to see if these types of recipes would interest you.
Used To Build My Websites
NetGalley Badges