Tag: nonfiction

The WellBalance Way by Troy W. Norris 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. 

Author Troy W. Norris explains the grounded science and essential steps behind the WellBalance method of personal growth in the book “The WellBalance Way.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Discover the foundations for a flourishing life.

This essential guide introduces the science, structure, and philosophy behind the WellBalance Model. In a world overwhelmed by noise and pressure, it provides a clear, accessible, evidence-based framework for personal growth and resilience, with your formula to flourish through the wellsprings of wellbeing. Grounded in scientific evidence, the WellBalance Way explores how core elements like purposeful contributions, emotional strength, and social connection support sustainable and resilient wellbeing. You’ll learn how small, intentional changes can lead to powerful transformations and how to apply these in your own life. Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, feeling like something’s missing, or simply searching for a more grounded way to grow, this book provides a clear path toward lasting fulfillment and flourishing, rooted in science and designed for real life.

The Review

One of the first things that stood out about this guide and self-improvement book was the way the author curated the book to be read as a process, rather than all at once, really emphasizing the journey rather than the destination. The development of the WellBalance Life Lotus was a great visual representation of the journey, and the author’s writing style really speaks to both the educational value of the information and the emotional development the book encourages in the reader.

The idea behind this book is a powerful one, as it speaks not only to surviving in this world but also to finding a way to flourish in it. The author lays this out specifically through the promotion of a strong mind, a healthy body, and the maintenance of social connections, and then expands upon this with key scientific and detailed explorations of the topic. I especially enjoyed the passages on savoring and reflection in the book, which effectively emphasized the importance of taking time to appreciate small moments in everyday life and ensuring that you don’t let essential moments pass you by. 

Grafton Mini Pen

The Verdict

Insightful, compelling, and engaging, author Troy W. Norris’s “The WellBalance Way” is a must-read nonfiction book on empowerment, personal growth, and mental wellness. The blend of scientific and grounded information to support each element of this process, combined with the emotional and heartfelt connection readers form with both the author and the author’s method, will keep readers returning to this book time and again to continue on the path of WellBalance. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Troy W. Norris is a Harvard-trained scientist, published researcher, and founder of the WellBalance Institute for Positive Wellbeing. A certified life, health and wellness coach, Troy created the WellBalance Model to bring science-backed wellbeing practices into people’s lives, relationships and workplaces. With a background in precision medicine and digital psychiatry treatments, he recognized the need for better digital tools to personalize wellbeing interventions to match each person’s unique life situation. Troy’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at leading scientific and industry conferences. Troy developed the WellBalance Method while navigating his own path from burnout and breakdown to fulfillment and flourishing.

https://www.troywnorris.com/

https://amzn.to/46o58qb

What is Healthy? By Kortney O. Lee 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. 

Author Kortney O. Lee shares the true meaning of being healthy and how to make lifestyle changes for you and your family in the book “What is Healthy?”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Do you know what is healthy?

Are you searching for something that actually teaches you how to get healthy?


If so, What Is Healthy? is for you.

This book is for those who are tired of diet books and tired of chasing answers that promise results but never provide clarity. With nearly a decade of research distilled into one blueprint, it explains what health really means, how to live it, and why so many people struggle to achieve it.

Inside, you will learn how to:

  • Understand how everyday decisions shape your energy, weight, and long-term health
  • Uncover the myths you were taught about food, dieting, and exercise—and why they hold you back
  • Recognize what truly counts as nourishment and how to choose foods that help you heal
  • Build habits that fit your lifestyle and strengthen your family’s future
  • See through marketing labels and health trends so you can make confident choices
  • Define what healthy really means for you and create a personal blueprint for lasting change

What Is Healthy? will change the way you see food, your body, and your future.

If you are ready to stop guessing and start living healthy with confidence, this is where you begin.

The Review

This was an informative and engaging read. The author found a way to effectively balance the impact of unhealthy foods and what constitutes the term “healthy,” while also examining the causes that force people into an unhealthy lifestyle and the psychological aspects of health. As someone who struggles with what many call “invisible illnesses”, many often impact weight and health conditions. So many times, people around us remain ignorant of the root causes of health conditions like obesity, frequently attributing it simply to laziness or a lack of control. Yet, more often than not, every individual is different, and some struggle with things no one could have imagined. Having a book of resources like this, which helps explore the many other root causes of unhealthy living, was refreshing.

The author explored many avenues of thought, from the economic and social class aspect of life that often makes finding affordable and fresh food nearly impossible. In contrast, fast food and pre-packaged foods remain readily available, despite the damaging effects of refrigeration trucks and methane-emitting livestock operations worldwide on the climate crisis facing our world. The author’s writing style was very evidence-based and fact-based, allowing the reader to have a book that would be an excellent resource for anyone looking to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

kickstarter

The Verdict

In-depth, honest, and engaging, author Kortney O Lee’s “What is Healthy?” is a must-read nonfiction book on healthy eating and lifestyle. The depth of knowledge and conversation that this book stirs up in readers, along with the compelling explorations of both the causes and effects of unhealthy life, will stay with readers and keep them returning to the book time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Hello World! Kortney O. Lee is a self-proclaimed nerd of all things: history, math, technology, and random facts. He explorers systems most people overlook, from nutrition labels to ancient civilizations. A true Otaku, he geeks out on patterns, connections, and the hidden logic behind everyday life. To him, health, culture, and clarity all come down to understanding how things are built and how to build them better.

https://vowels.org/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-is-healthy-kortney-o-lee/1147918788?ean=9798822981966

https://amzn.to/3Ir5mni

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.

Boomer Sells The Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cashing Out & Living Large by Frank Felker and Marty M. Fahncke 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. 

Authors Frank Felker and Marty M. Fahncke share the best way to sell your business and maintain your legacy on your own terms in the book “Boomer Sells The Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cashing Out & Living Large.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Every business owner will exit someday. The only question is: will it be on your terms – or someone else’s?

Boomer Sells The Business is your step-by-step guide to selling your business for the highest possible price—to the perfect buyer—while protecting your team, your legacy, and your peace of mind.

Whether you’re years away from selling or ready to cash out soon, this practical, no-fluff guide walks you through everything you need to prepare for a profitable and purposeful exit.

Co-authors Frank Felker and Marty M. Fahncke combine decades of entrepreneurial experience, over $450 million in executed buy/sell transactions, and firsthand advisory insights to help you avoid the most common – and most costly – mistakes owners make when it’s time to sell.

Inside, you’ll learn:

  • How to avoid the #1 mistake business owners make when exiting
  • The 7 steps to building a “sale-ready” business
  • Who’s most likely to buy your business—and who to avoid
  • How to emotionally and financially prepare for life after the sale

You’ll also discover how to protect your employees’ futures, create an exciting post-exit lifestyle, and learn from real-world stories of business owners who sold successfully—and those who didn’t.

Don’t leave your life’s work to chance.

With over 80% of businesses never being sold, Boomer Sells The Business gives you the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts to beat the odds—and create the future you deserve.

kickstarter

The Review

This was such an insightful and engaging read. One thing most businesses probably don’t think about is the longevity of the company should something happen, whether that is a change in the economy or the passing of the business owner or something else beyond a person’s control. The authors brilliantly highlight the need to make a person’s business sell-ready, even if you aren’t looking to sell yet. The straightforward, honest, and detailed writing style spoke to the business itself, utilizing numerous case studies to emphasize each point made in the book. 

The guide itself worked well on so many levels, not only exploring why businesses need to make their businesses ready to sell, but also how to utilize this method to maximize business now and give owners peace of mind, as well as the team helping the business thrive. I also appreciated the authors taking the time to recognize when a good time to sell is versus a bad one, such as acknowledging the existence of burnout in business and why selling because of it can be detrimental to the business you spent so long building. 

The Verdict

Engaging, thought-provoking, and expertly crafted, authors Frank Felker and Marty M. Fahncke’s “Boomer Sells the Business” is a must-read nonfiction book on business. The expertise and knowledge readers gain, the sense of peace of mind the guide gives to companies overall, and the way readers can read through this book and then return to it time and time again for references make this a compelling guide to have when building a business and then ensuring it is ready to sell. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!


Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Frank Felker is an author, educator and lifelong entrepreneur with more than 50 years experience starting, running and helping small businesses. 

The bestselling author of five books on marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship, he is also the creator and host of what is arguably the longest-running small business podcast anywhere, Radio Free Enterprise, which first started dropping episodes in 2004 and continues to this day.

In addition to working with hundreds of small business owners, Frank has also consulted to or presented for large corporations and organizations such as Texas Instruments, Microsoft, Constant Contact, The International Center for Entrepreneurial Development, Printing Industries of America, GBC Corporation, Isagenix, America Online, Xerox, and IBM.

Over 26,000 entrepreneurs from 170 countries are enrolled in his online business courses and he has presented before thousands more across the United States, in South America, Britain, and Europe at venues including the Kennedy Center, The Venetian Las Vegas, and the headquarters of America Online and Texas Instruments.

Frank encourages his readers to reach out to him on LinkedIn and Facebook – be sure to tell him you’re a reader so he’ll be sure to accept your invitation to connect.

Meet Marty M. Fahncke, a seasoned world-class Marketer with over 35 years of experience in growing & scaling businesses, and over 25 years of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions. Marty{s first taste of success in acquisitions came early on when a business he co-launched with some friends was acquired for 7 figures after just 18 months in business. But he quickly learned that the acquisition process is not always as easy as it seems. Fast forward to today and Marty has helped businesses scale to over $1 Billion in revenue and executed over $450 million in Mergers and Acquisitions transactions. Along with his partners, they are actively acquiring businesses across various industries including e-commerce, consumer goods, health & wellness, agencies, SaaS, and more. In addition, Marty offers his expertise as an M&A Advisor, assisting business owners in the successful process of selling OR acquiring businesses. He knows that buying or selling a business can be time-consuming, stressful, and can occasionally be a roller-coaster of emotions. But with expert guidance from Marty and the team from Westbound Road, it can also be rewarding and lucrative.

As a Sell-Side Advisor, Marty helps business owners get a top valuation for their business with the least amount of stress and risk. He advises on selling strategy, marketing the business for sale, deal negotiation, due diligence, and every other step of the way until the deal is done and your money is in the bank.

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235860418-boomer-sells-the-business

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/BoomerSellsTheBusiness/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/boomersellsthebusiness/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/boomer-sells-the-business/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boomer-sells-the-business-frank-felker/1148189815?ean=9780999490372

https://amzn.to/4nxV04t

The Masterpiece of Nature by Rabei A. Wazzeh 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. 

Author Rabei A. Wazzeh shares how everyone has a story and a voice that matters in the book “The Masterpiece of Nature.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

The Masterpiece of Nature is a quietly powerful exploration of what it means to grow, endure, and live meaningfully in a world that often demands noise over presence, certainty over curiosity, and speed over depth.

Through poetic reflections, real-life stories, and a compassionate voice that meets the reader like a trusted friend, this book reframes resilience not as forceful triumph, but as steady return. Not as perfection, but as honesty. Each chapter is a gentle invitation – to stand inside your own questions, to reimagine courage, to find strength in softness, and to keep moving even when the path disappears beneath your feet.

From the silent determination of Viola Davis to the devoted practice of Kobe Bryant, from the handwritten code of Masako Wakamiya to the return of Diana Nyad to the sea at sixty, this book brings to life the quiet human choices that shape not only our days – but who we become.

You won’t find loud formulas or self-help demands here. What you will find is a steady companion for the in-between spaces – the invisible steps, the tender thresholds, the places where meaning begins.

This is not a guide to becoming extraordinary.

It’s a gentle remembering that you already are.

The Review

This is such a unique and inspiring book. The balance not only in writing style, moving from poetic prose to essays and engaging dialogue with the reader, but also in the use of historical and public figures as examples for each chapter, was spot on in every respect. The emotive and connective way the author writes will leave a lasting impact on readers as the book delves into questions of existence and philosophy with ease. 

The heart of this book, the idea that friendship and connection are nature’s version of a masterpiece, is such a thought-provoking and heartfelt ideal to strive for and to accept in our hearts. The stories range, of course, but each packs a punch that resonates with readers, from the origins of McDonald’s, starting with one single store, showcasing how a forest begins with just a seed. It matters not how early or late in life you start, but that you start to begin with, to the story of a renowned cellist who showed that daily returns, who continues to improve on one’s craft, is not a means of becoming great, but of showing our love and respect for what moves us daily. 

The Verdict

Inspiring, heartfelt, and engaging, author Rabei A. Wazzeh’s “The Masterpiece of Nature” is a must-read book. The inspiring stories don’t leave readers with questions to ponder or steps to follow, but instead engage them on an emotional and philosophical level, allowing the reader to feel the weight of these people’s choices and how one small act can change the world, making everyone not only connected but also proving that everyone truly matters. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Rabei A. Wazzeh writes from the quiet center of a life shaped by listening -not only to people and systems, but to the deeper questions that live beneath both. Though his professional path has led him across boardrooms and ministries, his truest work has always been quieter: noticing what matters, holding space for what’s unfolding, and walking with people through the uncertain middle of change. At heart, he is a humanist -drawn to psychology, to philosophy, and to the soft strength that emerges when presence is given time to speak. His writing does not seek to impress, but to companion. It offers no grand solutions – only a steady hand on the shoulder and a quiet reminder: your life still holds meaning. You are still becoming. The Masterpiece of Nature is not a presentation of what he knows. It is an offering of what he’s still learning about resilience, about tenderness, and about the quiet power of staying close to what is true.

https://amzn.to/4pyMHXk

Don’t Die Dad by Mark Woodley 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. 

A father struggling with depression and separation must find himself in author Mark Woodley’s “Don’t Die Dad.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Don’t Die Dad

A Separated Father’s Journey from Devastation to Peace and Acceptance

🔥 A raw, powerful memoir of fatherhood lost—and the relentless fight to rebuild a life worth living.

Ten years after separation tore his family apart and ripped him from daily life with his children, one father is drowning in silence—grieving, addicted, unmoored.

With nothing left but a pair of hiking boots and a sliver of hope, he sets off on a three-day solo trek through New Zealand’s Southern Alps. What begins as an escape becomes a reckoning—with his past, his pain, and the man he’s trying to become.

What you’ll find inside:

🛑 Addiction, anger, and the silent suffering of separated dads

👣 A decade-long transformation through nature, therapy, and soul-searching

💔 Honest reflections on love, loss, fatherhood, and identity

🌄 A mountain hike that mirrors the climb back to self

💡 Hard-won insights into peace, resilience, and letting go

For separated fathers.

For men told to “be strong” and “move on.”

For anyone who needs proof that healing is possible.

This isn’t just a memoir. It’s a lifeline.

If you’ve ever felt broken, forgotten, or lost in the dark—this book is for you.

The Review

Immediately, I was struck by the author’s honesty and the visceral depth of their dive into their most painful and personal moments. The book serves not as an educational or step-by-step guide for any father or parent facing separation or divorce for the first time, but instead serves as a beacon to those living that reality that, through that struggle, perseverance is possible. The raw emotions and experiences the author brought to life on the page were both relatable and heartbreaking to read. They allowed readers who have lived through similar experiences to have their hearts laid bare on the page.

The balance the author found between storytelling with their experiences both in the past and on that transformational hike, and the lessons and experiences that made that trip so vital to their future, made this a compelling read. The relatively steady pacing of the book’s narrative elements allowed readers the time to connect to the author’s message. What stood out was how the author didn’t spend time disparaging their ex-spouse. The author was able to explore the emotional highs and lows of this journey without vilifying the other parent in this equation, and the self-reflective nature of both of their actions made this feel truly balanced.

AudiobooksNow

The Verdict

Heartfelt, emotional, and captivating, author Mark Woodley’s “Don’t Die Dad” is a must-read nonfiction memoir. The honesty and the imagery the author infused into their writing allowed the reader to connect to the emotional elements of the author’s life, and yet still kept the reader engaged in the story of their life as well. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Mark Woodley – Father, Author, Entrepreneur, Advocate and Athlete

Mark Woodley is an Australian father, author, entrepreneur, GPS windsurfing competitor, and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of separated fathers. His memoir, Don’t Die Dad: A Separated Father’s Journey from Devastation to Peace and Acceptance, resonates deeply with men navigating the collapse of family, identity, and connection.

Mark’s story of fatherhood began like many—with joy and the dream of raising his children in a loving home. That dream shattered with a single text message, launching him into the chaos of legal conflict, emotional disconnection, and the grief of part-time parenting. Over the next ten years, he faced a collapse of self, a loss of purpose, and long stretches of silence from his children.

A self-employed professional in the health and nutrition industry and previous the cosmetic industry and advertising industry, Mark has spent over 30 years working with a variety of people and corporations. But business success couldn’t shield him from the emotional toll of separation. As his internal world crumbled, he returned to a teenage passion.

Windsurfing became his lifeline—restoring presence, physical resilience, and emotional strength. He went on to become a GPS Windsurfing Champion, proving his tenacity and reminding him that healing often begins with physical motion.

But the deepest transformation came through facing the shadows within: childhood trauma, addictions, emotional shutdown, and the ache of losing daily contact with his children. His journey through despair, recovery, and hard-earned clarity is captured in Don’t Die Dad, written over three symbolic days of hiking through New Zealand’s Southern Alps—a mirror to his decade of emotional reckoning.

Today, Mark is the founder of Separated Fathers Recovery, which hosts an online course: Always Dad: The Recovery Accelerator for Separated Fathers, a structured course grounded in lived experience, empathy, and growth.

Through his work, Mark champions legal reform, mental health support, and greater understanding of the father-child bond after separation. He looks to speak regularly on podcasts and panels about male vulnerability, rebuilding after crisis, and showing up with dignity—even when love is met with silence.

Mark lives in Perth, Western Australia and travels back to New Zealand regularly where Don’t Die Dad was written. He remains a present, committed father and a qualified voice for change—proof that from devastation, peace and acceptance is possible.

https://www.separatedfathersrecovery.com/

https://amzn.to/4pupuFA

Synergy and Sparks: Unlock Excellence Through Communication, Collaboration and Influence by G. Riley Mills 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. 

Author G. Riley Mills shares the experience and skills needed to empower readers and leaders alike with the means of growing their business and life as a whole through effective communication strategies in the book “Synergy and Sparks.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Become a Standout Leader with Intentional Strategies Tailored to Your Role and Industry

Synergy and Sparks: Unlock Excellence through Communication, Collaboration, and Influence is more than just a business book—it’s a definitive, practical guide for thriving as a leader in an ever-evolving world. Written by the Emmy Award–winning co-founder of Pinnacle Performance Company—one of the world’s leading communication skills training firms—this book unveils the proven, award-winning methodology behind Pinnacle’s global success.

Blending the art and science of communication, Synergy and Sparks equips leaders with the tools and insights that Fortune 500 companies have relied on for decades. It offers a hands-on roadmap filled with current research, real-world examples, engaging stories, and actionable exercises—empowering readers to lead with clarity, influence, and intention.

Each chapter is designed to spark growth, foster collaboration, and help you apply these transformative strategies directly to your own leadership journey. Throughout the book, readers will learn:

  • The six most important aspects of modern leadership: communication, presence, influence, storytelling, connection, and collaboration
  • The skills needed to communicate a clear vision, drive productivity, and retain top talent
  • Time-tested performance techniques that professional actors have utilized for centuries to project confidence, influence emotion, and motivate action in their audiences

Synergy and Sparks is the perfect resource to help frustrated leaders achieve their full potential and motivate their teams to action.

The Review

The author’s insights and knowledge were on point in this book. The author’s ability to communicate and educate readers on the effectiveness of communication through historical, pop culture, and business-related examples was both inspiring and relatable, and the conversational tone of the book’s writing style effectively emphasized the power of communication.

Social awareness, balancing stress and performance, and even using storytelling devices in communication techniques are just a few of the compelling ideas that the author brings to life in this book. The way the author explores a post-COVID world and how it has changed the business landscape was amazing. One of the unique concepts the author brought to the conversation of modern business communication is the idea of “Yes, and”, which challenges leaders to embrace change and find ways of growing and building upon that change as a result. 

AudiobooksNow

The Verdict

Insightful, compelling, and engaging, author G. Riley Mills’s “Synergy and Sparks” is a must-read nonfiction book on business and communication. The author’s education and experience, combined with a personable and straightforward writing style, will keep readers coming back to this book time and again to seek knowledge about business communication. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

G. Riley Mills is a three-time Emmy Award-winning producer, writer and entrepreneur. He is the author of Synergy and Sparks and the co-author of The Pin Drop Principle and its follow-up The Bullseye Principle (all published by John Wiley & Sons). He was included in the list of “Top Leadership Speakers” by Inc. Magazine and has taught effective communication to executives and CEOs on six continents. He presented his TEDx session “Are We Killing Communication?” at the Shanghai American School, Shanghai, China and consulted on the MSNBC program “All In America: Chicago” which won a 2018 Emmy for Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis.

Mills has guest-lectured or delivered keynotes at such events and institutions as Columbia University, London Business School, ATD International Conference, London Chamber of Commerce, SHRM International Conference, New York University, Utrecht University (Netherlands), Singapore Management University, MENA Conference (Saudi Arabia), Manchester United and The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace.

As a writer, Mills has written for Forbes and Fast Company. He has twice been awarded the Joseph Jefferson Citation for Best New Work, in 1998 and 2001. His acclaimed musical, The Hundred Dresses, premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City. His play, Lift Every Voice, was acquired by Dramatic Publishing Company and won the 2022 Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance of Theatre & Education. Mills is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild as well as the Forbes Coaches Council. He produced the award-winning film Bed which premiered at the 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. He co-wrote and co-produced The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial in the Delta for NBC and Collaboraction Theatre (streaming on Peacock) which won a 2022 Emmy Award (Chicago/Midwest) and was a finalist for the 2023 Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association. Mills also won a 2024 Emmy Award (Chicago/Midwest) for The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Then and Now, which was produced by NBC and won Outstanding Regional Documentary.

pinper.com

grileymills.com

https://amzn.to/4gvE0c9

Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders by Rich Plumery 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. 

Author Rich Plumery shares a new take on leadership development in the book “Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Palms Up Leadership: Developing Future Leaders is not just another business book—it’s a transformative leadership manifesto designed for today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape.

In this compelling work, Rich Plumery draws from a wealth of experience shaped by real-world adversity, elite performance environments, and high-stakes leadership roles. At its core are the Palms Up tenets—Enable, Engage, and Embrace—a simple yet powerful framework that empowers leaders to navigate complex challenges with authenticity and purpose.

Plumery masterfully integrates principles from servant leadership, project management, sports psychology, elite military team-building, and entrepreneurship to offer a fresh, actionable approach to leadership development. Whether you’re a C-suite executive, a team leader, or an emerging talent, this book equips you with practical strategies to:

  • Cultivate a thriving and resilient workplace culture
  • Empower others through clarity, trust, and collaboration
  • Address pressing challenges like wisdom loss, remote work, and AI disruptions
  • Lead with integrity, purpose, and impact

If you’re ready to lead boldly, build better teams, and shape the next generation of leaders—Palms Up Leadership is your essential guide.

The Review

This was a truly insightful and compelling nonfiction book. The author wrote in a way that felt honest and personal while also conveying essential lessons along the way. The impact the author’s late brother had early on in his career, as well as the foundational work that went into his businesses, made the experiences that were put down on the page that much more impactful and meaningful. These lessons included things like making the minimum decision necessary to keep things moving, which was paired with a personal interaction with someone who caused him to rethink how reactive actions can have adverse consequences if not thought through carefully.

LISTEN TO OLAF’S LATEST ADVENTURE ON AUDIBLE!

The theme and foundation for both this book and the method of Palms Up leadership that stood out for this reader was the concept of servant leadership. The concept was new to me, but it was so inspiring. The idea of selfless leadership is so unheard of by so many companies these days. Yet, the concept is beneficial both morally and monetarily, allowing employees to feel wanted and appreciated and motivating them to contribute more to the company. Leadership is meant to work with and serve the community, including the one within a business, and the author’s expertise and strategies really do a great job of aligning with that.

AudiobooksNow

The Verdict

Memorable, insightful, and engaging, author Rich Plumery’s “Palms Up Leadership” is a must-read nonfiction business and leadership book. The fast pacing of the book, the action-driven steps the author lays out to help develop this unique brand of leadership, and the personal nature of the author’s experiences will keep readers invested and connected to the author and the journey this book takes them on. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Rich is a published author, thought leader, and international speaker who presents on various topics, including business recovery, performance management, and his Palm’s Up LeadershipTM brand of servant leadership. Rich has been a founder, investor, and operator in several successful businesses, including one of the first voice-controlled computers, a tactical supply company supporting elite military units (with partners who were some of the plankowners of SEAL Team Six and Red Cell). He also owned and operated a sports performance coaching business that served hundreds of professional athletes across the NFL, NHL, MLB, and MLS. He applied what he had learned from his expert coaches and other world-class specialists, such as Greg Roskopf, the man who retooled Bryson DeChambeau, to develop elite corporate coaching skills.

Being an obsessed problem solver, Rich is passionate about developing a new generation of leaders to help us improve our corporate cultures. At this point in our history, we are dealing with many new dynamics, such as pandemics forcing remote work environments, global work sharing, emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, and an aging workforce, which is continually draining our wisdom bank and jeopardizing quality in many of our key industries, including manufacturing, engineering, construction and healthcare.  Rich presents his solutions to these challenges, based on his unique experiences in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds.

Home

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/palms-up-leadership-rich-plumery/1147996088?ean=9798349539824

The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life by Cory McCray 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. 

Author Cory McCray shares the untapped potential that can be found when taking on apprenticeships in the book “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

“I realized that learning a trade was more than just mastering a skill—it was about gaining control over my future.” 

How an Apprenticeship Saved My Life tells the inspiring story of one man’s journey from Baltimore’s tough streets to a life of purpose, stability, and impact. 

Cory McCray was on a path many young men know all too well—one shaped by struggle and limited opportunity. But when a single decision led him into an apprenticeship program, everything changed. Through hands-on training, grit, and an unshakable commitment to growth, he found a way to rewrite his future. 

In this candid memoir, McCray shares the highs and lows of his journey, illustrating the transformative power of skilled labor and mentorship. Individuals will discover how his experiences as an apprentice shaped not just his career but his life, providing him with the foundation to become a Maryland State Senator dedicated to empowering his community. Alongside these personal stories, How an Apprenticeship Saved My Life delves into the lasting impact apprenticeships can have, particularly for those who might be overlooked by traditional educational paths. 

For anyone who believes in the power of second chances and the untapped potential within every community, How an Apprenticeship Saved My Life is a powerful reminder that sometimes the right opportunity can change everything. Dive into this transformative story and explore how one apprenticeship not only saved a life but sparked a movement.

The Review

The first thing that stood out to me was how genuine and honest the author was in expressing the events of his life that led him to the path he found himself on. The way the author delved into the hardships and struggles of his youth, and both the impact on his community and the lack of available resources, and the social pressures many young men in his community were presented with, could be felt in the author’s writing with an emotional depth that readers could feel.

The balance of nonfiction narrative as the author expands on his life and journey, with the lessons and education he imparts to young readers, is astounding. The straightforward candor of the author’s voice in the writing style was superb and drove the lessons forward with ease. The idea and inspiration this book inspires in young people to embrace change and the unknown and to see for themselves the future they deserve will keep readers inspired and invested as the book progresses.

BB Cream + Beauty Sponge

The Verdict

Insightful, compelling, and engaging, author Cory McCray’s “The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life” is a must-read nonfiction book. The author did a great job of helping young people through the process of mentorship and becoming apprentices in trades, from working with difficult people to the interview process and so much more, and this is one of those books readers can return to time and time again for guidance and inspiration. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Cory McCray is a journeyman electrician, father of four, and public servant who proudly represents East and Northeast Baltimore in the Maryland State Senate. As the only member of the Maryland General Assembly to have completed a registered apprenticeship, he brings an unwavering commitment to expanding access, uplifting working families, and removing barriers to opportunity.

Raised in Baltimore City, Cory’s life was transformed through an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24. That experience not only gave him a career, but a calling—and led him to invest in real estate as a tool for stabilizing neighborhoods, win elected office, and pass over 100 pieces of legislation aimed at equity and economic mobility.

His debut book, The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life, is a blueprint for those navigating the “earn-while-you-learn” path and a call to action for educators, policymakers, and mentors to see the potential in every young person.

When he’s not in Annapolis or working in the community, you can find Cory cheering on his daughters at track meets / tennis matches or walking his sons into basketball practice—deeply grounded in family, faith, and the future of Baltimore.

Interview with Author Kevin Glaser

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

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

As far back as I can remember, I have loved to write. Starting in high school, I earned praise from my teachers about my writing skills – which led me to focus more on my writing talents. In college, recognition of my writing abilities continued, and I earned the highest score in my Legal Research & Writing course during my first year of law school.

Advertisements

What inspired you to write your book?

The first book that I wrote was Inside the Insurance Industry. I wrote it after encouragement I received from my oldest son. He wanted me to share things that I had learned during my insurance career and as the owner of a risk management consulting business. As an amateur songwriter, I can share that writing songs is like writing books. Sometimes the words come easy and sometimes they do not. My first book was an easy endeavor.

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

My intent in writing each of my nonfiction books has been to provide information that is not available elsewhere. Readers learn useful things about the ins and outs of the insurance industry in my insurance-related books, and learn about the life and times of Tompall Glaser in my The Great Tompall: Forgotten Country Music Outlaw biography. This book about my uncle was so interesting to write since it shares stories about an interesting life and time that were so different than mine – and different than most other people, as well. 

AudiobooksNow

What drew you into this particular genre?

While I have dabbled in writing fiction – and most songs I have written contain fictional situations – I have always enjoyed learning and sharing facts. While many people write nonfiction books, I try to set myself apart by writing about things that others have not written about and doing so in a way that differs from others.

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

Honestly, the area of social media is something that I need to work on. For now, I rely on my website (www.rtsidecreationsllc.com), my Author’s Page on Amazon, Baker & Taylor, and several eBook sites to promote my book. Social media is something that I intend to learn more about to take advantage of its wide potential.   

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

When people find out that I have written books, quite a few times they have told me either that they have always dreamed of writing a book themselves, or they will tell me that they are planning to do so. When I hear these types of comments, I chuckle to myself a little bit because most people have no idea of how difficult it is to become a successful author. While anyone can type words on a page, few finish a manuscript, and even fewer attempt to find an agent or publisher, or to otherwise try to actively promote their books themselves.

So, my first piece of advice to aspiring or new authors is not to underestimate the amount of work it will take to become a successful author. However, I realize that people have different aspirations and definitions of success. Some may want only to write a book and offer it for free on a website, which is a relatively low bar to jump over. While others want to sell thousands of book copies and to make book writing a career. If the later applies, just know it takes a lot of time, money and time spent learning about the industry.     

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

Since I just published Inside the Insurance Industry – Fourth Edition, I am spending a great deal of time promoting it and have not started working on anything new. But I do have some new book ideas rolling around in my head. So, there may be more books on the horizon for me…stay tuned!

Advertisements

About the Author

Inside the Insurance Industry – Fourth Edition: Insurance Help for Individuals and Businesses is Kevin Glaser’s most recent book. This edition expands prior topics, contains several new ideas to help readers save money, and assists with making informed decisions. Ultimately, it helps to avoid out-of-pocket payments resulting from inadequate coverage or failing to address uninsured risk exposures.

He has written other well-received books. Inside the Insurance Industry – Third Edition is a consumer-focused book that describes topics such as the inner workings of insurance companies and how insurance is sold. By better understanding the insurance process consumers can both save money and obtain broader coverages.

The Great Tompall: Forgotten Country Music Outlaw is an in-depth biography of Kevin’s uncle, Tompall Glaser, an iconic and influential country music performer and business owner during country music’s outlaw era. Tompall often stood alone in his fight for artistic freedom for Nashville musicians and he paid the price. While he became the “forgotten outlaw,” this book explains the significant roles he played in the development of country music during the 1950’s through the 1980’s.

Glaser’s primary occupation involves providing insurance and risk management consulting services, litigation support and expert witness testimony across the USA.

https://amzn.to/3JXuzpS