Tag: nonfiction

ADHD ADDults: The Ultimate Success Manual by Jim Livingstone Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Jim Livingstone works to end the stigma surrounding an ADHD or ADD diagnosis and helps those working through the diagnosis to find ways to remain productive and achieve their goals in the book “ADHD ADDults: The Ultimate Success Manual”.

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The Synopsis

Millions of adults are diagnosed with ADHD—but few find solutions needed to thrive…

An ADD or ADHD diagnosis—simply a label for the underlying cause of behaviours—doesn’t mean surrendering to the challenges. In fact, understanding how the brain works will change your perspective and help you become the best version of yourself.

ADHD ADDults: The Ultimate Success Manual serves as a guide—helping you navigate this daunting, uncharted territory in your life. Author Jim Livingstone—diagnosed with Adult ADHD at age 45—gives a first-hand account of his journey and shares everything he wished someone had explained to him when feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.

Jim hopes to erase the stigma around ADD and ADHD, and help others learn to manage and succeed. In this book, he explains ways to set goals, how to get a support system in place, and the seven key elements for action. He includes all the tips and tools needed to turn distractions into developments.

If you have ADHD or know someone who does, you know that living with it can be challenging. You might feel like you’re not doing as well as others or that you’re “different” from everyone else.

And while that’s true, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dreams or things like being organized or getting things done on time—it just means finding new ways to do those things!

ADHD ADDults: The Ultimate Success Manual is the ultimate ADHD manual. It is an all-inclusive adult ADHD toolkit that will help you understand what ADHD is, how it affects certain areas of your life, and offer a helping hand to get you to a peaceful and rewarding life.

The fact that it was written by someone who was finally diagnosed with Adult ADHD at the age of 45 means you’ll be getting a first-hand account of his journey and everything he wished someone had told him when feeling overwhelmed or demoralized.

Here are some reasons why this book is a must-have:

• An Ultimate Guide and ADHD Planner: This book is a practical guide with plenty of ADHD¬friendly ways to organize your life. It helps you stay relaxed and calm even in the most stressful situations.

• Helps You Feel Understood: Find caring and helpful advice from the journey of Jim Livingstone to help you feel understood when you feel demoralized or disheartened.

• A perfect book to deal with ADHD: In this book, Jim has shared his journey and experience

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The Review

This was a well-written and engaging book. The author does an amazing job of really honing in on the experiences of living with ADHD and the lessons it brought him to find success. The balance the author struck in his tone and writing style between personal experiences and guided lessons to help the reader understand how to combat and live with their own diagnosis was supremely helpful and well-developed, and the way the author writes allows the reader to feel seen and engaged on a personal level. 

What makes this book so unique is unlike other books in this genre, the author comes from a place of personal experience and not a straight-up medical or doctoral approach to the subject matter. It allows the reader to truly connect to the lessons the author is teaching and gives the reader the tools they need to implement these guides into their lives in a sensible way. The author also does great work to de-stigmatize the world of mental health overall but in particular ADD or ADHD. As someone with family members who suffer through their own mental health diagnosis, I understand the importance of shedding society’s labels and ideas about those going through these things and allowing the right course of treatment to be found without the pressures of judgment from others. 

The Verdict

Memorable, enlightening, and thoughtful in its approach, author Jim Livingstone’s “ADHD ADDults: The Ultimate Success Manual” is a must-read nonfiction book on success guides and understanding one’s ADHD or ADD diagnosis. The informative nature of the book and the compassion for which the author writes stand out in the book clearly, and the tips the author gives for setting up routines that work for you and having the support system you need in place to help out made this a truly must-own book for anyone dealing with this. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Jim Livingstone remembers when ADHD wasn’t a recognised or diagnosed health disorder. He was simply described as “overactive, stupid…a pain in the arse.” After spending four decades feeling discouraged by life failures, he was diagnosed with ADHD. He decided not just to survive—but to thrive. For the past 30 years, he has cultivated successful relationships and businesses—and is now on a mission to support others on ADHD journeys. He hopes his story will help others change their narrative—and learn to capitalise on their unique abilities.

Jim lives Down Under on the scenic Sunshine Coast. He loves driving country roads with his beloved wife and taking his dogs to the beach. When he’s not writing or reading about ADHD, you’ll find him working out at the gym…or tinkering with racecars.

https://www.adhdaddults.com/

Selling Creative: Advertising Men & Women in the Hall of Fame by Mary E. Warlick Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Mary E. Warlick takes readers on a journey through the lives of the men and women who popularized American advertising in the book Selling Creative: Advertising Men & Women in the Hall of Fame”. 

The Synopsis

Americans have long enjoyed a fascination with advertising, a complex love-hate relationship. Ads are often connected with childhood recollections of favorite brands and characters―whether they are annoying, entertaining or persuasive, and the messages often lodge in our memories long after the actual product has disappeared from our consciousness.

“Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands.” “Does She or Doesn’t She?”

“Just Do It!” “Where’s the Beef?” These taglines are part of American culture, but few of us know the talented individuals who created the business of advertising.

Selling Creative – Advertising Men and Women in the Hall of Fame is about those extraordinary individuals who built brands with their creative ideas and drove the American economy, individuals who were mavericks in their industry. Their original ideas broke through barriers of what was possible in communication.

Bill Bernbach realized the value of smart creative work―if the ad is noticed you don’t have to keep repeating the same message. Bernbach’s agency led what was known as the Creative Revolution. Lee Clow, a native Californian and avid surfer, partnered with Steve Jobs to launch the first personal computer for Apple, “Why 1984 won’t be like 1984.” Cliff Freeman asked, “Where’s the beef?” and questioned overblown promises in America.

Selling Creativeprovides in-depth profiles of the culturally astute men and women who tapped into their generation’s fears and desires. This book tells the story of advertising’s Creative Revolution through the lives of the people who lived and worked in the era.

Selling Creative – Advertising Men and Women in the Hall of Fame tells the stories of the generation that changed advertising; they elected presidents, discovered affluent activists, and found the magic of persuasion in humor, wit and entertainment. These special men and women are part of our common history, and this book presents their stories for the first time in a cohesive, entertaining and accessible format.

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The Review

This was such an insightful and captivating read. The author does an amazing job of really honing in on the inspirations and hurdles that these pioneers went through to capture these momentous bursts of creativity. The detail and the knowledge that readers can from the way the advertising business works was defined greatly in this book, and gave the reader a rare insight into what makes the advertising we consume work to the advantage of both businesses and consumers alike.

To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the inspiring stories of these advertising legends and the history associated with them. The way the book harkens back all the way to the 20s and showcases how the advertising world tried to separate itself from post-Civil War era traveling medicine and elixir salesmen was fascinating, and seeing how the business grew and developed, especially in the “golden age” of the 50s and 60s, made this book really engaging and fascinating to read.

The Verdict

Memorable, informative, and inspiring, author Mary E. Warlick’s “Selling Creative” is a must-read nonfiction book on the world of advertising and the legends that made it so compelling. The creativity and passion not only with which the author wrote the book, but that these legends drew out of themselves and put into some of the most catchy and impactful slogans and campaigns of twentieth-century America and beyond made this a masterful book to behold. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Mary Warlick worked in advertising in New York as Chief Executive Officer of the One Club for Creativity, recognizing creative achievement. She witnessed first-hand major shifts and developments in the advertising industry, from 1990 to 2015. She personally inter- viewed most of the people featured in Selling Creative and had unprecedented access to their archives.

Warlick has produced two Emmy award-winning documentaries on creative leaders in advertising, Art & Copy (2009) and The Real Men and Women of Madison Avenue (2012). Her most recent documentary, The City That Sold America (2018) reveals the rich history of Chicago advertising.

Warlick edited Advertising’s Ten Best of the Decade 1980-1990, a compilation of the seminal print, radio and television campaigns that defined an era. She taught advertising history as an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and was a guest lecturer at Minneapolis College of Art.

Warlick graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and earned a Masters Degree from University of New York at Binghamton and a Master of Philosophy from Columbia University in New York

50 States of Mind: A Journey To Rediscover American Democracy by Ryan Bernsten Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Author Ryan Bernsten gives hope back to readers who have seen nothing but divide among Americans in recent years by shedding light on what brings people together in the travel nonfiction book “50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy”.

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The Synopsis

Is America as divided as it seems? Oxford University graduate student Ryan Bernsten takes a 23,000-mile journey through all 50 states of his home country to answer that question.

50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy is a work of travel nonfiction in the style of Alexis de Tocqueville that takes readers on a long and winding journey through all 50 states to explore the complexities of today’s America. Leading with the desire to listen and overcome preconceived notions, Bernsten ultimately offers a hopeful vision for the future of America as he embarks on a search for meaning and reflects on what it means to be American. The companion podcast “50 States of Mind,” featured in Condé Nast Traveler, showcases live interviews from the journey and is available on all podcast platforms.

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The Review

This was a compelling and thoughtful read. The author does an amazing job of tapping into the heart of the American tapestry, showcasing that despite a vastly different look at the same subject, people from all over share far more in common than we believe. The discoveries the author makes, from the use of specific terminology being the dividing line that keeps rural farmers and progressive city dwellers from being on the same page concerning everything from climate change to how different national politics can be from local, community-driven politics and policies, really kept the reader invested in the author’s journey.

To me, the heart of this book rests in both the author’s hopeful tone throughout his writing and the balance of personal experiences with enriching interviews with a variety of people. The divide that exists in our world today happens so often because the negative, harsh voices are often the loudest, and yet through this book the author shows the hopeful tone that rests underneath the current of negativity, and the relatable journey he takes both himself and through his discussions with people of all walks of life made this such a compelling book to behold. 

The Verdict

Heartfelt, memorable, and engaging, author Ryan Bernsten’s “50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy” is a must-read nonfiction read that blends the discovery of travel with the introspective nature of getting to know others and their varied perspectives. The heart and passion in the author’s writing and the thoughtful approach to this subject will keep readers enthralled as the story unfolds. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Ryan Bernsten is a graduate of Northwestern University and Oxford’s Creative Writing Master’s program. He has written for The Oxford Political Review, USA Today, The Infatuation, and The Trevor Project, where he is the Senior Managing Editor. Ryan is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been performed across the US and UK. ryanbernsten.com

https://twitter.com/ryanbernsten

Interview with Author Jill K. Thomas

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

Even though I have written 3 full-length books and several hundred blog posts, I still don’t really consider myself to be a writer.  I think of myself more as a Hypnotherapist who writes.  When you own a business writing becomes a necessary part of getting your message out and I love doing it..so maybe I am a writer…Hum, you are making me think, I love that!!.. I will say, it’s fun, people I am not related to say I am good at it so I will keep it up.

But to answer your question about how I got into it I will say I have been journaling since I was a young child.  I used it as a way to handle difficult emotions and over time as I got better and better at crafting a concise message, I started to use it in my pre-hypnotherapist professional life and career.  As in “We need someone to write a blog or 10 for the company website, who will take on that task..”  Me, always me.  

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What inspired you to write your book?

The book, which is about how to create a successful healing arts practice, came out of frustration.  I kept seeing new hypnotherapists, reiki masters, massage therapists and even a few psychics in my office trying to figure out how to turn their gifts into a business and I kept repeating the same advice over and over again. Eventually, I thought “What if I just write all this down and tell them to read the book” It took a few years but here it is.

What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

You are important, your dreams of financially freedom and creating a successful business of your own are important and most especially you and your gifts really needed right now. Its time to get started making your dreams a reality. Entrepreneurship it’s not as hard as you think, this book shows you how to do it.

What drew you into this particular genre?

HA! Because I don’t know how to write books about vampires with a lot of sex in them.  Love reading those books thought, wish I could write like that but I’m more of a “this is how you solve your problems” kind of writer.  

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What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Well, I am embarrassed to admit this but, not so savvy on the social media.  The only one I have used with any kind of success is Pinterest because my “7 ways to solve… (insert problem here)” posts seem to do better on Pinterest than on any platform.   And frankly wading through Facebook, Instagram and whatever todays latest trending social media site, just isn’t fun for me and I figured out a long time ago that if it isn’t fun, I won’t do it.  

What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Therapy, lots of therapy.  HA! There will be a lot of “no” and even more common, silence when you send out inquiries about finding a home for the books and or articles you are writing.  Know that this is part of the game and is not a reflection of who you are as a person or your value in the world.  Every writer has gone through this.  Learn who you are as a person and create a practice of loving yourself no matter what before you really start wading into the very cold pool of book agents, publishers and radio show producers.

Also, Work on getting a good social media following, years before you have a book to sell.  That is one of the first questions the publishers ask, and my career would have been much easier if I had done that work before I released my books.  

What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Yes, actually I have a book about Emotional overconsumption that keeps waking me up at night wanting to be worked on.  As many writers will tell you, a book can be a bit like a petulant child pestering you and wanting your attention.  I keep having to tell it at 3AM that it needs to wait its turn, its very impatient but I need to launch my current project first then I will give it my full attention.

But yes, I appear to be pregnant again with another book.  

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About the Author

As an Intuitive Hypnotherapist, Clairvoyant Reader, Author, Medium and Vocal Channel, Jill K Thomas, CHT has over 18 years’ experience helping clients move past limiting beliefs, discover their authentic selves, and create a life of peace and harmony. Jill has helped thousands of people realize lifestyle and wellness goals they could never before achieve, including attracting prosperity and success, overcoming debilitating phobias, healing toxic relationships, and losing weight.

Among many of her accomplishments, her most recent book, “The High Income Healer: How to Turn your Healing Gift into a Full-time Business” helps healers take their business to the next level. Her other books include “Tales From the Trance”, published by Ozark Mountain Publishing, and her well known weight loss book “Feed Your Real Hunger: Getting off the Emotional Treadmill that Keeps you Overweight”.

She has appeared on numerous radio shows, maintains her popular online blog “Confessions of a Hypnotherapist”, and has authored articles for magazines read across the nation. Her “30 Day weight loss Jumpstart” CD has also helped many people finally lose the pounds, after years of trying.

https://www.jillkthomas.com/

https://twitter.com/hypnotistjill

The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement In the Age of #BlackLivesMatter by Shaun M. Anderson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Shaun M. Anderson shares with readers the history behind black athletes using their status to incite social change and how the modern era of black athletes are able to use social media and their ever-growing popularity to bring attention and force change in a broader, much more important light in the book, “The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter. 

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The Synopsis

A timely and significant examination of how Black athletes have used their influence to create meaningful change and reform for Black Americans.

In the age of social media, athletes have a powerful influence like never before. Many Black athletes have used that power in positive ways, galvanizing their platforms to create impactful educational opportunities, donate to Black social causes, and raise political awareness on important issues.

In The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter, Shaun M. Anderson examines the Black athlete’s rise in advocating for social justice and how today’s athletes have moved beyond protesting to create substantial change for Black Americans. Anderson reflects on the history and evolution of Black athlete activism, breaking down its importance during the civil rights movement, the commodification of athletes during the 1990s, and how twenty-first century athletes have utilized their wealth and influence to create lasting societal change in the age of #BlackLivesMatter.

With fascinating portraits of notable individuals in the history of Black activism, as well as insights from athletes and allies who discuss the future of athlete activism, The Black Athlete Revolt reveals the ever-evolving and crucial role of Black athletes beyond the world of sports.

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The Review

This was such a powerful and insightful read. The author really brought the reader a moving message of hope and standing for one’s beliefs in the face of oppression, and how those who gained fame and fortune used their power to bring attention to these important issues. The way the author was able to bring a balance of historical, moral, and philosophical discussion into the narrative helped elevate the message of hope that these athletes helped inspire not only in today’s world but throughout the Black community’s history of athleticism and involvement in the world of sports. 

What really moved me was the history of black athletes using their position as an athlete to speak up for injustice, and the way the author used sports to highlight the societal and moral battles that the Black community as a whole have had to fight against for so long, even before the Civil Rights Movement. The examination of athletes from all different fields of sport, the defining moments throughout the past century in particular, and the ways in which modern technology and growing social movements like the Black Lives Matter movement have catapulted black athletes and their activism to new heights were so powerful and moving to read about and inspire so many to take up the cause themselves. 

The Verdict

Engaging, thoughtful, and hopeful in its approach, author Shaun M. Anderson’s “The Black Athlete Revolt” is a must-read nonfiction book on athletics, activism, and the need for equality and justice for all people. The inequality, police brutality, and hatred that the Black community has been forced to endure for so long is something I personally will never be able to fully understand, but I can help elevate strong and moving voices such as this incredible author to showcase the wealth of importance that these issues have, and the way in which he highlighted through meticulous research and skill the many athletes who used their position to inspire change and growth in the world made this a truly compelling book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Dr. Shaun M. Anderson is an internationally recognized scholar, proud HBCU graduate, and award winning professor at Loyola Marymount University. His work focuses on the intersections of sport, politics, race, and society. He has been featured in several media outlets including ESPN, HuffPost, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is also the founder and CEO of CSR Global Consulting, LLC, a consultancy that aides sport organizations in building social responsibility initiatives.

https://www.shaunmarqanderson.com/

https://twitter.com/shaunmarqspeaks

Everyday War: The Conflict Over Donbas, Ukraine by Greta Lynn Uehling Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Greta Lynn Ueehling takes readers on an emotional and harsh journey into the realities of noncombatants living in constant warzones in the book “Everyday War: The Conflict Over Donbas, Ukraine”. 

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The Synopsis

Everyday War provides an accessible lens through which to understand what noncombatant civilians go through in a country at war. What goes through the mind of a mother who must send her child to school across a minefield or the men who belong to groups of volunteer body collectors? In Ukraine, such questions have been part of the daily calculus of life. Greta Uehling engages with the lives of ordinary people living in and around the armed conflict over Donbas that began in 2014 and shows how conventional understandings of war are incomplete.

In Ukraine, landscapes filled with death and destruction prompted attentiveness to human vulnerabilities and the cultivation of everyday, interpersonal peace. Uehling explores a constellation of social practices where ethics of care were in operation. People were also drawn into the conflict in an everyday form of war that included provisioning fighters with military equipment they purchased themselves, smuggling insulin, and cutting ties to former friends. Each chapter considers a different site where care can produce interpersonal peace or its antipode, everyday war.

Bridging the fields of political geography, international relations, peace and conflict studies, and anthropology, Everyday War considers where peace can be cultivated at an everyday level.

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The Review

This was a gripping and thought-provoking read. The author does an incredible job of capturing the heart and emotion of the subjects that are interviewed throughout this book while also providing a clear and concise image of the direction that the conflict in the Donbas region had taken during this time. In light of the recent changes of events that have seen Russia launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it the importance of understanding how conflict impacts everyone, not just the politicians ordering the war or the soldiers fighting on the front lines, but the people and noncombatants who are stuck in the middle of this conflict, is more crucial than ever before. 

What really stands out to me about this book was the author’s approach to the subject. Rather than focusing on the more scholarly or regimented facts about the situation, the book hones in on the more personal and emotional moments of the conflict. The blend of personal interviews with Ukrainian citizens who experienced the conflict firsthand, along with the author’s own foray into the war-torn nation and the experiences that the author and these individuals all shared showcased the deeper meaning of modern-day warfare. Far more often than not, war is being fought not on some distant isolated land or battlefield, but in residential neighborhoods and people’s private lands and even major metropolitan cities within the nations fighting with one another. The emotional impact of these stories,  especially when combined with the imagery and videography showcasing the horrors Ukraine is still enduring, all bring together the theme of finding peace and hope in times of great distress and chaos, especially in a military-driven war.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, important, and engaging, author Greta Lynn Uehling’s “Everyday War” is a must-read nonfiction book on the political and sociological effects of war, in particular the conflict nearly a decade earlier in the Donbas region. The way the author was able to bring to light the multitude of “players” in the field aside from the soldiers themselves, as well as the devastating losses people endured during the war, from property loss and injuries to emotional distress and even loss of loved ones, helped readers to gain a better, more nuanced yet equally moving idea of what these battles do to those struggling to survive in the midst of war and hopefully paved a path for future conflicts to be avoided or fought on a different road. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Greta Uehling began her career by working directly with refugees, helping them find work in the United States. Her experiences in refugee resettlement motivated her to pursue a PhD in cultural anthropology, and have informed her career ever since.

After earning her PhD, she became a consultant with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, working in the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit. Her work on irregular migration there led to another migration-related position as a Family Reunification Coordinator for minors smuggled across United States borders from Latin America and China, in Washington, DC.

Named after the globe-trotting Swedish actress Greta Garbo, she has traveled and worked in many regions. Her interviewees have often remarked about the rapport they feel during conversations. Her colleagues in anthropology note how this rapport, and Uehling’s writing, centers previously unheard voices.

With her current project, Uehling sought to tell the story of internal displacement in Ukraine in a way that is multivocal. She uses the language of lived experience to take readers on a journey through Ukraine that deepens understanding and solidarity.

Uehling dedicated Everyday War to her students because they inspire her to write with their many and insightful questions.

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https://twitter.com/GretaUehling

Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar by J.S. Kirby Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author J.S. Kirby shares tips to help people transition from working in an office environment to at-home work and become the most productive remote worker possible in the book “Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar”. 

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The Synopsis

Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar is a book for anyone who wants to learn how to be the best possible remote worker whether you are a CEO or just landed your first job. Transitioning from an office to working remotely can be a huge challenge for some. This book will provide you with the strategies and tools you need to maximize productivity and make sure that every minute of your work day counts.

You’ll gain knowledge on managing your time effectively and organizing tasks so they are accomplished in the most efficient way possible. Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar will give you tips on structure, concentration, motivation, self-discipline, focus and goal setting when working from home.

Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar is an indispensable resource for anyone wanting to dive into the pros and cons of WFH while learning valuable tips and tricks to improve productivity, physical, and mental health as well as increase your efficiency and productivity levels. Take advantage of these working from home tips to help take control of your career and goals.

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The Review

I loved how clear and concise this book was. As someone who is disabled and must do remote work to earn a living, the need to establish a professional and motivating environment is one of the most important things that remote workers need in their life. Having more control over your time and environment is a great thing, but the need for structure and order is still great, as it helps improve productivity and keep our work schedules intact. 

The author’s relatability and honesty in their writing style, and the directness that the author’s steps to help guide readers towards a more productive at-home work environment were inspiring to see come to life on the page. The need to overcome things that we take for granted at home, like physical activity and communication with others in the company or work field you work in, were well represented in these steps, and the guide itself was both easy to understand and was written in a way that could allow remote workers to refer to the text over and over again.

The Verdict

Insightful, memorable, and engaging, author J.S. Kirby’s “Working from Home: Slacker to Superstar” is a must-read nonfiction and business book on remote work and establishing good work habits as a whole. The knowledge the author imparts to the reader and the thoughtful approach to the physical, mental, and emotional weight of remote work, in general, was a welcome addition that helped elevate the work put into the guide. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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Revolution and Witchcraft: The Code of Ideology in Unsettled Times by Gordon C. Chang Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Gordon C. Chang takes readers on an academic journey to discover the powerful influence ideas and specifically “idea systems” have on people utilizing three powerful historical periods as examples in the book “Revolution and Witchcraft: The Code of Ideology in Unsettled Times”. 

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The Synopsis

Ideas influence people.  In particular, extremely well-developed sets of ideas shape individuals, groups, and societies in far-reaching ways.  This book establishes these “idea systems” as an academic concept.  Through three intense episodes of manipulation and mayhem connected to idea systems—Europe’s witch hunts, the Mao Zedong-era “revolutions,” and the early campaign of the U.S. War on Terror—this book charts the cognitive and informational matrices that seize control of people’s mentalities and behaviors across societies.  Through these, the author reaches two conclusions.  The first, that we are all vulnerable to the dominating influence of our own matrices of ideas and to those woven by others in the social system.  The second, that even the most masterful manipulators of idea programs may lose control of the outcomes of programmatic manipulation.  Amongst this analysis, sixty-plus central conceptual terminologies are provided for readers to analyze multiform idea systems that exist across space, time, and cultural contexts.

This is an open access book.

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The Review

I will be honest with you all and say this was one of the most profound, thought-provoking, and educational reads I’ve had the honor of reading. The author’s brilliance shines through every page, giving readers a glimpse into the scientific and philosophical findings of the author’s research that clearly showcases the various systems at work here in regard to how ideas impact people’s thoughts and viewpoints. While this is definitely a book for those looking to push themselves intellectually and philosophically, the author does a great job of writing in a way that allows all readers to get lost in the narrative the author developed. 

For me, it was the balance of historical accuracy and the sheer volume of detail the author provided that made this such a compelling read. The way author was able to showcase both the circumstances that allow these ideas to congregate together and inform how people behave or act and the means by which those who implement these ideas can quickly lose control over a situation. One of the best examples came in the examination of the Salem Witch Trials, which highlighted the combination of religious fervor in small-time settlements with the mistrust and politics that guided those in the town to launch this coordinated attack to get people to believe in the emergence of witches and demonic forces possessing people they all knew. The tragedy of so many people’s lives being lost to this idea system not only showcases the author’s theory and research perfectly but showcases how ideas like that can take a life of their own, spiraling out of control until it reaches a fever pitch. 

The Verdict

Enlightening, insightful, and thought-provoking, author Gordon C. Chang’s “Revolution and Witchcraft: The Code of Ideology in Unsettled Times” is a must-read nonfiction and educational book on sociological and psychological impacts of ideas and idea systems. The attention to detail, from graphs and terminology to in-depth discussions of the events that brought these theories to life throughout history, will create compelling education and fascinating conversations that will drive readers to pick up this book over and over again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Gordon C. Chang is Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Western Illinois University, USA. He has taught political and cultural sociology classes at both Western Illinois University and University of California, Davis. His works in discourse analysis have appeared in Pragmatics, Discourse and Society, and the Journal of Language and Politics.

https://www.codeofideology.com/

The North Star: Canada and The Civil War Plots Against Lincoln by Julian Sher Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Julian Sher shares an intimate look into the good and bad impact Canada had on the American Civil War in the book “The North Star: Canada and The Civil War Plots Against Lincoln”. 

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The Synopsis

A riveting account of the years, months and days leading up to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and the unexpected ways Canadians were deeply involved in every aspect of the American Civil War.

Canadians take pride in being on the “good side” of the American Civil War, serving as a haven for 30,000 escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. But dwelling in history’s shadow is the much darker role Canada played in supporting the slave South and in fomenting the many plots against Lincoln. 

   The North Star weaves together the different strands of several Canadians and a handful of Confederate agents in Canada as they all made their separate, fateful journeys into history.

    The book shines a spotlight on the stories of such intrepid figures as Anderson Abbott, Canada’s first Black doctor, who joined the Union Army; Emma Edmonds, the New Brunswick woman who disguised herself as a man to enlist as a Union nurse; and Edward P. Doherty, the Quebec man who led the hunt to track down Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

    At the same time, the Canadian political and business elite were aiding the slave states. Toronto aristocrat George Taylor Denison III bankrolled Confederate operations and opened his mansion to their agents. The Catholic Church helped one of Booth’s accused accomplices hide out for months in the Quebec countryside. A leading financier in Montreal let Confederates launder money through his bank.   

Sher creates vivid portraits of places we thought we knew. Montreal was a sort of 19th-century Casablanca of the North: a hub for assassins, money-men, mercenaries and soldiers on the run. Toronto was a headquarters for Confederate plotters and gun-runners. The two largest hotels in the country became nests of Confederate spies. 

    Meticulously researched and richly illustrated, The North Star is a sweeping tale that makes long-ago events leap off the page with a relevance to the present day.

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The Review

This was such an insightful and fascinating read. As a history buff, it was so interesting to get a look into how Canada played a role in the events of the American Civil War. The way the author balanced out the heroic actions of those who helped the Union with the shocking revelations of those who worked for or supported the Confederacy was so well done and helped highlight the complex nature of Canadian influence on the war. The biggest thing I always know about was Canada was a safe haven for runaway slaves. Learning of the agents that lived in and worked in Canadian terrorizes added a level of knowledge and shock that I never knew existed before. 

The author’s writing style and unique tone really did an excellent job of painting an image of the events of the stories found within this book. The book does a wonderful job of delivering the history of this book’s subject matter, and yet also adds a personal touch to the writing, giving readers a feeling of honesty mixed with powerful imagery to deliver an almost cinematic, documentary-style narrative that highlights the information in a fresh and exciting way. 

The Verdict

Memorable, engaging, and thought-provoking, author Julian Sher’s “The North Star: Canada and The Civil War Plots Against Lincoln” is a must-read nonfiction history book and one of our most anticipated nonfiction reads of Spring 2023. The thoughtful approach to the subject matter and the rich amount of insight that the author’s work brings to this era of history will keep readers picking up this book over and over again as people’s perceptions of the impact our neighbors to the North had on the direction that bloody war took drastically change forever. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

MONTREAL, QUE.: November 2, 2022 — Julian Sher, the director a new documentary Kings of Coke about the Irish Mafia in Montreal, in Montreal’s Point St-Charles neighbourhood Wednesday November 2, 2022. (John Mahoney / MONTREAL GAZETTE)

JULIAN SHER is an award-winning journalist and the author of six widely-acclaimed books, including White Hoods: Canada’s Ku Klux Klan and “Until You Are Dead”: Steven Truscott’s Long Ride Into History. As an investigative reporter, he worked for the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. He was the Senior Producer of CBC’s the fifth estate, Canada’s premier investigative TV program, for five years. He has directed and written major documentaries, covering wars and intrigue across the globe. His documentary Nuclear Jihad, produced for the New York Times and CBC, won the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest film, Ghosts of Afghanistan, won three top Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Documentary. He is also active in protecting media freedoms, as a Senior Fellow at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Free Expression and working with Journalists for Human Rights. More information at www.juliansher.com