Tag: social sciences

Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters by Michael Swerdloff 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 powerful and moving story of the impact toxic masculinity has on those growing up and the way it drives others to become what they fought so hard not to drive author Michael Swerdloff’s “Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters”

The Synopsis

This is a story about a boy who wanted to be kind and loving but was raised by wolves and monsters who taught him to choose violence and aggression. As the boy grew to be a man, he wanted to be a protector of women but ended up being what girls and women needed protection from. He lied, cheated, and scammed his way through life until he couldn’t.

This memoir is his moving account of discovering healthy masculinity from the inside out. His journey has been sensational at times and unbelievable at others, but for many readers, it has been absolutely inspiring. Will the hungry wolves outlast the desire to be loving and beautiful? Can men truly change?

There is hope in witnessing the depth and commitment of a person willing to try to be better without knowing exactly how. This memoir captures one man’s struggle to transcend his past and imagine an entirely new future for himself premised on compassion, care, and advocacy.

We do not have to be what they did to us, but it’s our responsibility to do something about it.

The Review

The author’s story’s raw honesty and emotional impact were refreshing and memorable. The way the author can honestly depict and write out the painful experiences of his childhood, as well as the actions he himself took to continuously perpetuate this harmful lifestyle and the transformative experience of bettering himself, made this such a phenomenal memoir. The imagery found in his writing style and the importance of his ability to hone in on the conversational aspect of his writing, allowing readers to feel as if they have been having a true heart-to-heart with the author, made this an engaging read.

The true heart of this story is both the author’s transformative journey and the theme of toxic masculinity, and the impact toxicity can have on child development as a whole. The heartbreak of the author’s experiences in childhood, primarily his father’s actions, and the role addiction and toxicity played in his life were so poignant. The author never shies away rom the challenging moments, from his lying and cheating to his hospitalization in a mental hospital and the reformative path he found afterward in healing energy and Reiki as a whole. 

The Verdict

A remarkable testament to the power of forgiveness and transformation as one man shares his journey to overcome the toxic traits that defined his early life, author Michael Swerdloff’s “Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters” is a must-read nonfiction memoir. The way the author can creatively paint an image of each and every experience he shares and can find a way of bridging the gap between the lessons he grew up with and the path to better-helping others, especially women, after the way he acted in his youth, made this a stunning message of hope and the path of change that hope can provide. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

MICHAEL SWERDLOFF is an Ordained Minister of Natural Healing from The Seminary Training Program and a Reiki Master. His work is Brief Holistic Counseling/Coaching. Michael has received training from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Gottman Institute, and other revered teachers and healers. He has been a counselor, coach, social worker, community organizer, educator, writer, and DJ for more than twenty-five years. Along with his private practice, Michael is the Program Manager at Dance New England, a volunteer-centered non-profit that hosts dance events that cultivate a vibrant multi-generational community. Michael facilitates retreats in New England and globally. He lives by the water in Rhode Island, which is not an island.

Social Security and the Three Bears by Burt Williamson 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 family of bears engage in the conversation and decisions surrounding social security in the United States of America in author Burt Williamson’s “Social Security and the Three Bears”.

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The Synopsis

Mama and Papa Bear Bear have built a successful fishing business in the Great River Valley, and they have many of the same concerns about Social Security as most Americans. Mama tells stories of family members who had difficult situations in retirement, which worries her to no end. She meets a financial planner at a seminar, who turns out to be the only guide Papa will listen to.

Meanwhile, Baby Bear grows up and takes over the business along with a human partner. Thanks to Baby’s girlfriend, he later helps to solve the Social Security funding crisis once and for all.

The short story helps demystify the essential aspects of Social Security. It will appeal especially to women who are married, divorced or widowed, as the majority of the important decisions about Social Security for retirement apply to them.

The Review

This was a fun, heartfelt, and insightful blend of financial education meets fairy tales and was playful and engaging. The fast pace of the narrative and the relatable character development of the humans and the bears were playful and engaging, as they thoroughly represented all of the talking points surrounding our nation’s social security issues. The descriptive nature of the setting and actions the main cast of characters found themselves in allowed the reader to picture this fun story playing out in their mind’s eye.

The heart of the story, however, was the education and insight that the author provided to younger readers about this important program. The history of the program’s creation and purpose, along with the issues and fears that many have surrounding the program’s future, were expertly addressed in this book, which allowed both kids and adults to come together to better understand their own futures as well.

The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and entertaining author Burt Williamson’s “Social Security and the Three Bears” is a must-read children’s fairy tale meets financial educational and retirement planning book. The development of this bear family, their engagement with the Social Security program, and the lessons readers will gain from this book make it a fantastic story to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Burt is an award winning financial planner and a Certified Financial Planner (TM). He’s the owner and Retirement Specialist at PlanPrep. His goal is to teach important concepts people really need to know in ways that makes it easy and FUN for them to learn.

His daughter used to ask him to tell her bedtime stories rather than read them to her. Each night, the stories were about different characters in unusual situations. The stories here try to capture that magic with a spin on them.