Library of Clean Reads: Adult Non-fiction

Showing posts with label Adult Non-fiction. Show all posts

Friday, June 2, 2023

I Feel Your Stare: An Autobiography by Cheryl Gillespie (Review)

An autobiography of a Canadian woman who continues to overcome a crippling disease so she can lead her best life.

Book Details:

Title: I Feel Your Stare: An Autobiography by Cheryl Gillespie
Category: Adult Non-fiction, 242 pages
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Fingertip Books
Release date: July 22, 2022
Content rating: G

Book Description:

Imagine yourself in a position of maneuvering through aspects of our everyday living we simply take for granted. Would we see our existence as a beautiful opportunity to explore and live our moments fully, or spend our time lamenting our perceived hardships? Throughout I FEEL YOUR STARE you will be transported to a place in time whereby Cheryl Gillespie’s descriptive scenes allow the reader a glimpse into a life of an individual assuming control of her future, and who excels far beyond the most hopeful of expectations. ~Mary McGinley

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

It's not often I read autobiographies, but when I do it's because a particular aspect of the person's life has grasped my attention. In I Feel Your Stare, it was the fact that Ms. Gillespie has suffered from a chronic illness since childhood that led to her blindness. And she is Canadian.

The author begins her story from childhood and it is filled with her memories of family events, life in the Maritimes (eastern Canada), her experiences at the School for the Blind away from her home, and the profound role her mother played in her life.

I enjoyed reading Ms. Gillespie's life story. It's easy to read because it feels like she is sitting in front of you telling her story. It's not a long autobiography since the author does not go into many details about some aspects of her life, but there is enough to learn that resiliency, determination, and courage are needed to overcome large obstacles and build a satisfying life no matter what the circumstances.

This book pulled at my heartstrings because as a mother myself, I know some decisions we make believing to be the best option for our children, are not always easy to make. The author recognized that her parents did the very best they could for her at a time when the Internet and online learning did not exist. I think this book is an ode to her mother, and the writing process a way to reflect and come to terms with the PTSD triggered by her multiple surgeries, hospital stays, and time away from her loving family.

One of the best lines from this book: We are all a little broken, that's how the light trickles in.

This autobiography shows us the impact of chronic childhood illnesses and how the love of family and friends, and one's own inner strength, plays a significant role in helping such children lead successful lives.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Amazon.ca ~ Goodreads

Rakuten Kobo ~ Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

In her home province of New Brunswick, Canada, Cheryl Gillespie, along with her cat Mattie, will often be found basking on the backyard deck beneath the warm sunshine, the very spot where many of the chapters for "I Feel Your Stare" were written.

A childhood diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, with associated blindness, coupled with physical and societal barriers, has proven only to strengthen her resolve. Following graduation from Fredericton High School, Cheryl advanced in her private studies through the Royal Conservatory of Music, attaining First Class Honours in piano, theory and history.

Today, well established in her teaching career, she takes pride in the education of her students, highlighted by a two-time provincial medal winner through Mount Allison’s Local Centre Examinations Department of Music. Through her active role within the Fredericton Music Teachers’ Association, Cheryl has built invaluable, longstanding friendships with her colleagues. In 1993, Cheryl was the recipient of the Stanley B. Cassidy Memorial Award, presented by the Fredericton Music Society, recognizing her dedication to excellence and personal achievements.

Cheryl’s first work for adults, "I Feel Your Stare" was preceded by her children’s book, "Tigger and Jasper’s New Home."

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Great Weight Debate: Get the Facts and Choose the Diet That's Right for You by Amy Newman Shapiro (Book Review and Giveaway!)

If you are confused about all the different diets out there and you are looking to lose weight, this is the perfect book to get informed.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Great Weight Debate: Get the Facts and Choose the Diet That's Right for You by Amy Newman Shapiro
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 188 pages
Genre: Self-help, Health and Fitness
Publisher: Snewman Media
Release date: January 2021
Tour dates: July 19 to August 6
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

The Great Weight Debate helps you evaluate which diet will work for you and which can hurt you. It is your essential, trusted resource to sift through the minefield of recommendations and misinformation when choosing the best diet for weight loss success. The Great Weight Debate summarizes many popular weight loss plans and explains the principles and research behind each diet. It also highlights the factors that may or may not make the diet a healthy choice for you. It explains why and how to choose a diet that takes into account your food preferences and meets the needs of your lifestyle, schedule, and food availability. It will help you discover and understand the rules, food restrictions, and health risks of each diet. In addition, read up on the new trends, the latest buzz, and the results of the most up-to-date research science has to offer. So...Whether you choose Paleo, low carbohydrate, intermittent fasting, Whole30, or Mediterranean, do it with realistic expectations and do it smartly. Find weight loss success with The Great Weight Debate.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

A few years ago, I discovered intermittent fasting and it helped me lose the 25 pounds I had gained because of a medication I had taken for only 6 months. I also strongly believe nutritious food is medicine and have adopted a mostly plant-based diet. Let me begin by saying that I have read a lot of books on diets, including keto, paleo, lectin-free, raw, bulletproof, etc. So I was curious to get Amy's view on some of these prominent and trending diets.

One of the things she says toward the beginning of the book resonated with me: "The key to making healthy food decisions and lifestyle choices is mindfulness. Mindful eating is a nonjudgmental awareness of the nurturing aspects of food selection and preparation; choosing foods without censorship that are satisfying, enjoyable, and nutritious..." This pretty much sums up the spirit of the book. But to become mindful, one needs to be informed. I'm constantly surprised by what people consider to be "healthy foods". Hence, this book is ideal for the person starting on their journey of better food choices. It's important to be informed. Reading facts from someone not touting their own horn about one particular diet can give the reader clarity to make the right decision that is best for them and their particular health needs.

The reader will get a good idea and a good summary of the different diets and discover that ultimately not all diets are good for everyone. What has worked for me may not work for you. Amy's professional experience is evident as she clearly explains how the various trending diets work, going into detail and providing the benefits and the drawbacks, making this an excellent reference book.

If you are confused about all the different diets, Amy includes all of them here, many of which I have never heard of. She lists the pros and cons that are easy to understand, and includes stats and scientific details for the more informed. She also gives sound advice about how to be successful in your goal to lose weight. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their food choices for weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Amy Shapiro RD, CDN, CPT is a registered dietitian and professional speaker promoting wellness in corporate, clinical and private settings. With degrees in both Psychology and Nutrition, Amy’s focus is on behavior modification and lifestyle management. Additionally, Amy is a personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise and a wellness coach. With thirteen years of experience educating and coaching clients and worksite wellness groups to achieve weight loss success, Lose It For the Last Time is Amy’s first book. She is the mother of two grown children and lives with her husband on Long Island New York.

Connect with the Author: 

Website ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends August 13, 2021

Friday, March 12, 2021

Relentless Solution Focus by Dr. Jason Selk and Dr. Ellen Reed (Book Review)

If you are motivated to make changes in the way you think so that you can clarify and achieve your goals as you strengthen your mind, this book can certainly help you with this.

Book Details:

Book Title: Relentless Solution Focus by Dr. Jason Selk and Dr. Ellen Reed
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 256 pages
Genre: Psychology, Self-help
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Release dates: January 7, 2021
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

From bestselling author and mental toughness expert Jason Selk comes a mind-training regimen for reframing every problem into an opportunity for productive action.

The most common cause of failing to reach our professional and personal goals is hardwired in us: Humans instinctively focus on problems. Over millennia, our very survival relied on our ability to be alert to any potential dangers that could threaten our existence. But today this negativity bias significantly limits our potential and increases stress, pressure, and underperformance.

The one characteristic all phenomenally successful people share is mental toughness. Mentally tough people are better at making decisions more quickly and with better results. They possess the uncanny ability to control what goes on between their ears. Instead of allowing their minds to focus on their problems when adversity strikes, the most successful people have learned to direct their thoughts in a systematic manner that produces positive emotions and productive actions: they have a Relentless Solution Focus.

In this book, top performance coach Dr. Jason Selk, former Director of Mental Training for the World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals, and his colleague Dr. Ellen Reed provide the insight, tools, and proven step-by-step framework for you to do the same. When you have Relentless Solution Focus, you think better. Your decisions garner positive results. You take action and follow through, every time. And when you do get off track, you get back on with less effort and less drama. Weakness shrinks and strength grows, creating confidence and momentum, taking you and your team to higher levels of performance and achievement.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I'm a firm believer in the branch of positive psychology and neuroplasticity. I haven't read any of Dr. Selk's previous books but I was curious about his latest release. Relentless Solution Focus (RSF) is his three-step process to developing mental strength. In a nutshell, it trains you to 1) Recognize when negative thinking sets in, 2) Replace negative thinking with positive thoughts, and 3) Retrain your mind to be more solution-focused and positive.

I've read enough books on the subject to know that this is nothing new, however, this book is easy to read and is infused with the authors' own experiences working with elite athletes and business leaders. Therefore, it is very much performance-based and perfect for the target audience of those in competitive environments.

I am the type of person that I love to learn the same subject from different perspectives, and I did enjoy very much the method outlined in this book with the anecdotes that gave me a fresh perspective on my own way of doing things. Furthermore, the keyword is relentless. In other words, consistency in retraining your mind and using your new skill set. This is the growth mindset, striving to improve oneself continuously. I paid particular attention to the section on prioritizing and perfectionist mentality because I know I need to work on these on a regular basis. I realized I need to focus on less so that I can achieve more of what is important to me. I've just got too much going on in my life.

If you are motivated to make changes in the way you think so that you can clarify and achieve your goals as you strengthen your mind, this book can certainly help you with this. Written in the first-person, the author coaches you along in an easy-going manner, making this a pleasure to read as well. A good resource for all readers with an eagerness for improvement.

Disclosure: Thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Buy the Book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Add to Goodreads

About Dr. Jason Selk

Dr. Jason Selk, one of the nation’s premier performance coaches, has worked with business titans and superstar athletes. As Director of Mental Training for the St. Louis Cardinals, he played an important role in the team’s first World Series victory in over 20 years, in 2006, and their second in 2011. He is the bestselling author of Executive Toughness, 10-Minute Toughness, Organize Tomorrow Today, and Lead Any Team to Win.

Find out more about Dr. Selk on his website, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Dr. Ellen Reed

Dr. Ellen Reed has worked side by side with Dr. Selk for 15 years, and has extensive experience in mental training for consistency, accountability, and execution in business, athletics, academics, and the performing arts. She helps business leaders and elite athletes reach their peak performance by developing the mental toughness necessary for success.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

STOP STRESS FAST : 12 Quick, Proven Stress Relief Techniques to Help You Feel Good Everyday by Gregory Landsman (Book spotlight & Giveaway!)

More great healthy tips from Gregory Landsman, this time on learning to deal with stress quickly and efficiently.

Book Details:

Book Title: STOP STRESS FAST: 12 Quick, Proven Stress Relief Techniques to Help You Feel Good Everyday by Gregory Landsman
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 110 pages
Genre: Stress Management Self Help; Happiness Self Help; Self Help
Publisher: Hill of Content Publishing
Release date: June 2020
Tour dates: Feb 1 to Feb 19, 2021
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

STRESS MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT MINDFULNESS

Best selling author and wellness educator Gregory Landsman shares his quick, simple and proven method to STOP STRESS FAST and re-boot your energy.

The bite sized chapters will reveal:
• The ground breaking GL DE-STRESS & AGE LESS™ Breathing Technique that everyone can use to Stop Stress Fast (sometimes in less than 2 minutes).
• The secrets to lowering stress levels everyday with foods that support you to look younger and healthier at the same time.
• The 5-Day GL DE-STRESS & AGE LESS™ diet.
• How to counteract the wrinkle causing hormone and look younger and more vital.

“Stop Stress Fast is a highly digestible, real-world guide that brings tangible beneﬁts to the reader very quickly. It helps us understand the science behind the approach, and it reads so easily that anyone could pick it up and within a few minutes be well on the way to implementing a number of practical and effective stress management tools.” - Psychiatrist Dr Doug Blomeley

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Walmart
B&N ~ Book Depository ~ BAM ~ IndieBound
Add to Goodreads

Watch the trailer:

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Get your skin back on track after the holidays with the most powerful anti-aging ingredients found in everyday foods.

Fulfill a new years resolution to look your best self at every age with simple effective methods to achieve younger, healthier looking skin that will take years off the face.

Spend some time nurturing yourself and take years off your face for next to nothing.

This new year get the same results as expensive cremes without having to leave your kitchen.

Each book stands alone, focusing on a different method to achieving younger looking skin i.e. Face Value - DIY topical treatments; Face Fitness - facial exercise; and Face Food - anti-aging foods). Together they represent the ultimate guide to younger, healthier and more vital looking skin at any age.

“With knowledge and know how we can counteract and prevent premature aging, as small changes make a big difference to the way we age over time.”

Gregory Landsman

To receive a free copy of Gregory’s e-book, STOP SKIN AGING PREMATURELY, which includes a list of the most powerful cortisol lowering foods go to: https://gregorylandsman.com /

Meet the Author:

Gregory Landsman is one of the most noted global beauty and wellness experts in the world, a best selling author of nine books, and a TV host who specializes in using food to take years off the face naturally.

Having worked in the beauty industry for 30+ years Gregory believes that looking youthful goes well beyond waging war on wrinkles, and that how we age is 100% controllable. His natural methods are used globally by models, shown in universities and recommended by doctors.

Often referred to as ‘The Beauty Advisor’, Gregory’s books and global TV program Face Lifting Food show viewers how to create quick skin-boosting meals and powerful skin treatments using everyday foods to achieve younger, healthier looking skin at any age.

Gregory is a strong voice for inclusion. His book, Faith Lifting Prayers is a celebration of humanity and captures his journey of extremes; from Apartheid South Africa to working at the height of the fashion industry, and his fundamental discovery that regardless of what we do, how we look cannot be separated from how we feel. This is why all of his books, even those about looking younger, all feature his own quotes and philosophy about the importance of feeling good in our skin. His book A Lifetime of BEAUTY also shares messages for early teens and middle years about embracing our differences and our individuality; finding happiness; and standing strong in a world that often judges us for the way we look. This book is endorsed for inclusion in the education system.

Connect with the author: website ~ podcast ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Feb 28, 2021

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Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure by Doreen M. Cumberford (Book Spotlight & Giveaway!)

A memoir of an American family who lived as expats in Saudi Arabia in the 90s. I spotlighted this book this past summer and the author is having another tour this winter, which means another chance for you to enter the giveaway to win this book or gift cards!

Book Details:

Book Title: Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure by Doreen M. Cumberford
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 288 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: White Heather Press
Release date: April, 2020
Tour dates: Jan 25 to Feb 12, 2021
Content Rating: G. There are no offensive scenes or language

Book Description:

IN 1995, DOREEN CUMBERFORD catapulted herself into an extraordinary adventure halfway around the world. Leaving a comfortable American lifestyle, she moved to Saudi Arabia with her husband and toddler.

Instantly assaulted by culture shock, they had to quickly adapt to a complex multicultural lifestyle inside a corporate compound.

Danger was never far from their threshold, including the events of 911, the Iraq War and Saudi internal terrorism against western expats. At the same time, they discovered surprising and wonderful connections between East and West, including the charismatic lifestyles of middle-class Saudi women behind closed doors.

Doreen and her family grew to love life in the Camel Lane and discovered a growing passion for multiculturalism and global living.

However, upon returning to the US, they discovered they no longer fit into their old life. With compelling honesty, Doreen describes their most challenging journey: creating new identities as citizens of the planet. Her story provides insightful inspiration for anyone longing to embrace the world as their home.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Doreen Cumberford is a Scottish native, expat, author and global traveler for more than four decades. In her 20s, Doreen joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Her first posting was as the youngest and most junior British Embassy staffer in Cameroon, West Africa. Later, she moved back to London and took a position with an American oil-field construction company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

After moving to America, living in Louisiana then California, (two extremely different cultures in the US,) Doreen and her family moved overseas to Japan, then spent 15 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With 13 major moves under her belt, she understands the value of moving, building a new life and handling inter-cultural hurdles. One constant has been her ability to explore through the lens of adventure. Her stories are full of multi-cultural intelligence, messy multilingual communications and multi-global perspectives.

Doreen is currently based in Denver, Colorado but spends most of the year living adventurously in the Housesitting Lane, which takes her around the globe. Currently she is doing her best to install Spanish in her brain, which already has French and smatterings of Japanese and Arabic. She is passionate about cultural intelligence, global-heartedness and life on the road.

Honest, compassionate and full of wisdom and inspiration, Life in the Camel Lane is comprised of stories from expats who lived in Saudi Arabia from 1950s onward. This memoir contains expert advice, sage wisdom and stories that all globally mobile families can use to navigate their international journey.

The principles in this book will also encourage anyone who wants to embrace a more adventurous life at home or is considering taking the leap and moving overseas.

Connect with the Author:

website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Feb 19, 2021

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Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The Future of Buildings, Transportation, and Power by Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber (Book Review and Giveaway!)

I have a guest review today on a nonfiction book that addresses the evolution of buildings, transportation and power. If this is something that interest you, read on.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Future of Buildings, Transportation, and Power by Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 290 pages
Genre: Non-fiction Futurism
Publisher: DW Books
Release date: July 2020
Tour dates: Jan 11 to Jan 22, 2021
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

The evolution of buildings, transportation and power will determine how our future looks and feels, and in the book Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber argue the Energy Efficiency Megatrend will shape our future technology. Buildings and vehicles will evolve into sentient-appearing machines such that we will be living, working and moving about inside robots. Buildings may develop personalities and the transportation system will have any manner of vehicle available at a moment's notice. This complex, interconnected system will be powered by the clean and efficient conversion of fuels and energy flows that surround us.

Guest Review:

Reviewed by Jack Zaleski:

Five stars. This book really captured my imagination and got me thinking – about a lot of things! Hard to ask for more than that from any author! It is also well written and enjoyable to read.

The overarching theme of the book is what the authors call the “Energy Efficiency Megatrend.” This will be accomplished by the ever-increasing information intensity of digital technology. They make the interesting point (and provide examples) that not all technologies will advance at the same rate – some aspects of technology will change at much slower rates.

One consequence of the megatrend is the convergence of buildings, transportation and the electrical power grid into a single system providing huge increases in efficiency which will require less material, motion, energy, and time. Not only will structures become much more energy efficient in the future, but the construction time to build them will drop drastically thanks to 3D printing, robots, and AI.

A fascinating portion of the book is entitled “Sentient-Appearing Buildings,” where the authors cover topics including programmable matter and how engineering at the nanotechnology level may well allow for buildings to essentially become shapeshifters. New materials, like graphene, coupled with sensors will allow the structure to physically change itself to accommodate the needs of the occupants. Self-repair of itself will likely be a standard feature of most future buildings.

In addition, printed electronics, embedded sensors, and communications technology will allow wall surfaces, both interior and exterior, to serve many purposes such as screens, power generators and as air filters. As the authors speculate (page 81), “Screens will be everywhere. Your walls may serve as a TV or computer screens, display Monet’s water lilies, pick up where you left off in the book you are reading, or conference in your partner at the office.” They point out that the company “Meural” already sells an electronic art screen that can download art and pictures from the internet which you cycle through by waving your hand or can program to play as desired. This interactive screen technology, they believe, will be a standard feature built into future walls. All this left me wondering (hoping) whether this technology can be retrofitted (affordably) into my existing house.

I was particularly interested in urban farming, and forests because it had never been well explained to me. The authors did a good job of doing just that, by including not just the potential benefits but also the challenges involved and citing examples not just of what, to date, has worked but also what has not – why.

Lots of interesting tidbits can be found throughout the book. For example, the authors point out that covering building exteriors with plants is a good way to help air quality, but that in some climates synthetic carbon capture may be necessary. It turns out that high tech artificial leaves on artificial trees can capture much more carbon than natural trees. They share the observation that, “We may see a mixture of natural and artificial landscapes in the future. Buildings and cities may still be green, but it won’t all be natural.”

The only areas the author’s neglected to address was security and privacy. The highly integrated future presented in the book also seems especially vulnerable to hacking and the intentional disruption by bad actors. Ameliorating outsized security vulnerabilities would require significant (and continuous) defenses which will drive operating costs up.

At a policy level, exactly who owns and operates this future? The state? Private companies? At the time of this writing the tech titans of Silicon Valley have exerted their power over several politicians and companies in the U.S. effectively silencing them. So, I have to wonder if, in this future, I was to order something from Amazon that was deemed inappropriate (e.g., a MAGA hat), or wrote something that was deemed unacceptable – does my house get shutoff? There are clearly tools of coercion that can come with this future and we should give thought to the tradeoffs involved between convenience and comfort on one hand, and personal freedom on the other.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

B&N ~ IndieBound

Meet the Authors:

Roger Duncan is a former Austin, Texas City Councilmember and the former General Manager of Austin Energy, the municipal electric utility. He is also a former Research Fellow at the Energy Institute at the University of Texas.

Michael E. Webber is the Josey Centennial Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas, and Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE, a multi-national energy services and ingrastructure company.

Connect with the authors: website

Enter the Giveaway:

Ends Jan 29, 2021

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Wednesday, November 25, 2020

The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley (Review and Giveaway)

For all families who are dealing with depression or any other mental illness, this book is a testament that things can get better.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Boy Between: A Mother and Son's Journey from a World Gone Grey by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 286 pages
Genre: Author Memoir, Family
Publisher: Little A
Release date: November 2020
Tour dates: Nov 2 to Nov 27, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: (f-words (about 10), mildly questions religious faith during a testing time and references to thoughts about suicide, not graphic)

Book Description:

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times. Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life.

In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child. For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression, Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

As soon as I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. Part of me couldn't wait to read it and part of me dreaded it. My interest in this book was two-fold. It's about depression--a topic that both attracts me in books but also makes it hard to read-- and it's written from both the point-of-view of a mother and her son. I could relate in two ways. I have suffered from post-partum depression, and I am the mother of a teen who suffers from depression.

This was both an easy book to read and a hard one. The writing is very compelling, on the part of both authors, pulling me in, absorbing me in my hungry need to know that I am not alone in my struggles with my son, and in my need to know how to best help my son. I cried when I read Amanda's feelings of guilt from not doing enough or the right things. As a mother I am plagued with the same doubts, guilt, worries and helplessness that Amanda went through. My heart also broke for Josiah who felt overwhelmed, sad and in pain both physically and emotionally. Seeing things from his perspective has helped me to think twice about what words I say to my son and about how I show him that I love him beyond all else.

Despite these hard feelings, this is a book about hope. About starting over. About taking it one day at a time. About understanding that mental illness is a big social issue that needs to be dealt with compassion and community support. It's a book about changing the stigma still attached to depression.

I applaud both authors for being so raw in their honest portrayal of what it has been like to be a family dealing with the big challenges brought on by mental illness. It must not have been easy to relive all the emotions as they were being remembered and written.

For all families who are dealing with depression or any other mental illness, this book is a testament that things can get better. That with the right support you can still lead a fulfilling life despite having depression. A very worthwhile read for fans of memoirs and inspirational literature.

Thank you Amanda and Josiah for bravely sharing your story.

Buy the Book:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com/Can ~ Amazon.com/UK ~ Amazon.com/AU

Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Amanda Prowse is an award winning international bestselling author best known for her contemporary fiction novels. A radio broadcaster and TV presenter renowned for her empathetic and emotional books, she is known in the UK as the 'Queen of family drama'. Her books have sold over 8 million copies in dozens of languages around the world.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Meet the Author:

Josiah (Josh) Hartley is the son of Amanda Prowse who has co-authored with his mother to tell the story of his journey through life so far. Born in the England, Josh was fortunate enough to attend one of the country's elite public schools from an early age and was awarded a place at one of the UK's top Universities where he planned to work towards a medical doctorate. But just at the moment when he should have been having the time of his life, he started feeling nagging tugs of self-doubt which spiralled into a depression during which time he planned his suicide. Luckily, his family intervened and after a roller coaster couple of years, he is alive and well and sharing his story to help other families who find themselves in the same position navigate their way through those difficult times.

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Dec 4, 2020

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Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Plant Your Money Tree: A Guide to Growing Your Wealth by Michele Schneider (Guest Review and Giveaway!)

Plant Your Money Tree by Michelle Schneider is a terrific introduction to understanding the big picture of investing using what is known as “technical analysis.”

Book Details:

Book Title: Plant Your Money Tree: A Guide to Growing Your Wealth by Michele Schneider
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 272 pages
Genre: Personal Finance, Stock Investing, Retirement
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Release date: May 8, 2019
Tour dates: Sep 28 to Oct 9, 2020
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Plant Your Money Tree: A Guide to Growing Your Wealth was named 'Best New Wealth Books' by BookAuthority. On Amazon, it enjoyed the #1 New Release spot in three Amazon categories: Introduction to Investing, Business & Finance, and Retirement Planning.

Plant Your Money Tree offers readers a strategic and actionable way to look at their financial life with a completely new attitude of confidence, empowering them to make smart decisions regarding:

What to do with their money
How to grow their money
When to make smart personal choices such as changing careers, guiding their kid's education, expanding their business, buying a house, putting money in a savings account, capitalizing on social trends and investing in the future
How to manage their existing portfolios and 401Ks

In clear and accessible language, Schneider walks the reader through the six most essential sectors of the U.S. economy as seen through six market phases ---bullish, caution, distribution, bearish, recuperation, and accumulation. She illustrates how to easily recognize these phases, understand their interrelationships and explains to readers why they should care. Using a personal and conversational tone, Schneider's goal is to help anyone who believes the topic of the economy and growing wealth is beyond their comprehension by giving them the tools to make independent, informed decisions about their money. With that knowledge, readers will gain insight plus have practical, smart options for what to do with their finances.

Schneider holds the readers' hands every step of the way with her welcoming and easy to understand language. She does not endorse passive or buy-and-hold type investing. Rather, she teaches readers an evergreen methodology that adapts to every market scenario.

Guest Review:

Reviewed by Jack Zaleski

Nicely done! Plant Your Money Tree by Michelle Schneider is a terrific introduction to understanding the big picture of investing using what is known as “technical analysis.”

As an investor with a long-term time horizon and who uses “fundamental analysis” to pick stocks I found the author’s explanation of the technical approach to be fascinating. Lots of real-world examples help illustrate the concepts involved.

To readers unfamiliar with the terms, fundamental analysis considers a company’s financial position and performance, the industry in which it operates, competitors and the economy. The most important source of data for fundamental analysis is the company’s financial statements. These include the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements. Fundamental analysis is time consuming – each company must be studied independently and in detail.

Technical analysis, on the other hand, is concerned with stock price action, which gives clues as to the stock’s supply and demand dynamics – which is what ultimately determines the stock price. Patterns often repeat themselves because investors often behave in the same way in the same situation.

The difference between the two approaches comes down to what determines a stock’s value and price. Fundamental analysis considers the value of the company. This ultimately depends on the value of its assets and the profits it can generate. Fundamental analysts are concerned with the difference between a stock’s value, and the price at which it is trading. Technical analysis is concerned pretty much with just price and volume data.

Michelle does not bog the reader down with esoteric theories and formulas. In chapter two she does a wonderful job introducing the technician’s basic tool – the “Moving Average.” The rest of the book is basically applying that concept to what she identifies as “six market phases.” A picture is worth a thousand words and she provides one – on page 47 – a diagram showing how the phases relate to each other.

My takeaway: It’s not an either/or choice between fundamental vs. technical investing. Fundamental research can be used to determine which parts of a business cycle are most profitable for a company and technical analysis can then be used to ID and confirm anticipated trends.

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A word from the author:

About the Author:

A former special education teacher, Michele "Mish" Schneider was one of the first female floor traders on Wall Street. Today she serves as Director of Trading Research and Education at MarketGauge.com, a 20 year industry-leading financial publishing company.

With Plant Your Money Tree, Mish combines her love of teaching with her world-class expertise in finance and investing. When she's not changing lives through education, Mish spends her time exploring Sante Fe, New Mexico with her husband (and fellow trader) Keith.

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