Operation Medusa – a high stakes geopolitical suspense novel by Jake Greco. Photo: Amazon
Book Spotlight: Operation Medusa (Book 1)
By Jake Greco
Synopsis
History’s wounds never fully heal — and in the wrong hands, they can start a war.
From the creator of the Specters of Athena universe comes a gripping new military thriller saga that blends real-world history, relentless action, and the razor’s edge of modern geopolitics. (Amazon, 2026)
When Greece and Turkey collide in a dangerous dance of brinkmanship, the conflict is fought not only in contested waters and borderlands, but also in intelligence rooms, diplomatic corridors, and the shadows where truth is the first casualty.
At the heart of the series is Nikolas “Strix” Andros — a battle-tested Greek operative whose past in black operations and NATO counterterrorism leaves him uniquely suited for the high-stakes games being played in the Aegean. Alongside Command Sergeant Major Yakovos Rousso, Strix faces provocations by air, land, and sea, each one threatening to ignite a wider war neither side can fully control.
Told through multiple perspectives — Greek, Turkish, and NATO — Operation Medusa combines the adrenaline of modern special operations with the deep resonance of generational history. Inspired in part by the author’s own Greek heritage and the stories of family members who lived through siege, hunger, and occupation, the series honors the resilience of a people while delivering page-turning suspense.
If you crave military thrillers with authentic action, layered political stakes, and characters forged in the crucible of history, Operation Medusa will keep you reading deep into the night.
Jake Greco grew up in Arizona and is a desert rat at heart. His father, a WWII veteran, taught him to shoot at a young age and fueled his lifelong passion for firearms and adventure. These early life experiences have molded him into a versatile storyteller whose works span the full spectrum of thriller and suspense genres.
A lifelong admirer of the Southwest’s rugged beauty, Jake weaves the stark landscapes and complex characters of the region into his novels. His stories often feature heroes and antiheroes grappling with morality, loyalty, and the unpredictable twists of fate. From shadowy desert hideouts to the tense corridors of power, his tales explore the human condition under extraordinary pressure, reflecting both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.
Antonio Damasio explores consciousness and interoception in his new book ‘Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousness.’ Photo: Penguin Random House
Book Review: ‘Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousness’
By Antonio Damasio
Synopsis
Throughout his illustrious, decades-long career, Antonio Damasio has been at the leading edge of science’s enduring quest to unravel the mysteries of the human mind. Now, drawing on a lifetime of groundbreaking research as well as the newest findings of neurobiology, Damasio seeks to move the debate about the origins of consciousness from the world of high-level cognition and abstract reasoning into the wondrous realm of interoception—the human body’s own internal monitoring system.
A probing synthesis of neurobiology, evolutionary science, and philosophy from one of the most notable leaders in his field, Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousnessoffers readers a scientifically rigorous and profound re-examination of what it means to be alive and aware. (Penguin Random House, 2026)
It will be released on September 15 and is available for pre-order.
Book Contents
Beginnings
Part I: The Problem of Generating Consciousness and a Sketch of Possible Solutions
Part II: Deeper Into the Solution
Part III: Now That We Know
Part IV: Afterthought
Review
Antonio Damasio’s Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousness is a fascinating exploration of one of humanity’s oldest questions: What gives rise to consciousness? Building on decades of pioneering research in neuroscience, Damasio challenges conventional theories by arguing that consciousness begins not with complex thought or language, but with the body’s internal regulation system, known as interoception.
The book’s central insight is that homeostatic feelings—such as hunger, thirst, pain, comfort, and well-being—form the biological foundation of subjective experience. Rather than treating consciousness as an abstract cognitive achievement, Damasio presents it as an evolutionary solution that helps living organisms survive and thrive. This perspective offers a compelling bridge between neurobiology, philosophy, and evolutionary science.
Beyond explaining the origins of consciousness, Damasio broadens the discussion to examine whether simpler life forms, such as plants and bacteria, exhibit primitive forms of sentience. He also explores how homeostasis influences human culture, politics, religion, and commerce, while thoughtfully considering the promises and limitations of artificial intelligence.
“…there is no guarantee that AI tools will remain as docile servants in the hands of their human owners. The possibility of their gaining independence, even if only momentarily, is certainly a reason for worry.”
His analysis raises important questions about whether machines can truly replicate conscious experience or merely imitate its outward appearance.
Key Chapter Highlights
Chapter 9: Examines how feelings developed before words and numbers, and how consciousness developed early to help guide evolution. Even though most homeostatic regulation occurs nonconsciously, some of it remains under our conscious control.
Chapter 11: Breaks down the core science behind consciousness—specifically interoception, or the ability to sense, interpret, and integrate signals from inside your body.
Chapter 18: Explores the science behind pain and nausea. Damasio explains how nausea serves as another vital bodily alert system designed to prevent damage from ingesting toxic molecules.
Chapter 22: Outlines his theories regarding artificial intelligence. Damasio posits that AI is fundamentally neutral to good because it stems from human innovation, but cautions that if the humans behind its creation have malicious intent, the technology will reflect those motives.
Final Verdict
Although the scientific concepts occasionally demand careful reading, Damasio’s arguments remain engaging, logical, and thought-provoking. Readers interested in neuroscience, cognitive science, philosophy of mind, or the future of AI will find this book both intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding.
Natural Intelligence & the Logic of Consciousness is a profound, accessible examination of the relationship between body, brain, and awareness that challenges readers to rethink the very nature of intelligence. Damasio delivers a compelling argument that feeling is the logic of consciousness. For anyone seeking to understand the deep biological origins of human experience, this is a definite must-read.
“Poets understood, long before neurobiologists ever could, that the glories of passionate love and the sufferings of love gone astray could be legitimately described in physiological terms, even though the physiological details are not exactly the same.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
About The Author
Antonio Damasio is University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Philosophy, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Damasio is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as the author of Descartes’ Error, The Feeling of What Happens, Looking for Spinoza, Self Comes to Mind, The Strange Order of Things, and Feeling & Knowing, all of which have been published in translation and are taught in universities throughout the world.
** Thanks to Michael Goldsmith and Penguin Random House for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Community Screenings:TO USE A MOUNTAIN is currently screening with frontline communities across the country confronting issues of nuclear waste, nuclear weapons production, and next-generation nuclear projects initiated in response to the energy demands of the AI data center boom.
Festival Accolades
Visions du Réel (Switzerland) — World Premiere | Special Jury Award, International Competition
DOXA (Vancouver) — Best Feature Honorable Mention, ParaDOXA Forum
IDFA (Amsterdam) — Best of Fest
Big Sky (Missoula, Montana) — Official Selection
And many more…
Synopsis
In 1982, six rural communities across the United States were notified that all of the nation’s nuclear waste might be buried beneath them forever. (EG PR, 2026)
Faced with a mandate to isolate the waste for 10,000 years, the Department of Energy mapped, analyzed, and assembled its assessments, while the unsuspecting stewards of sacrificial territory found themselves fighting for their homes, health, history, and dignity.
In the end, one site was chosen: a desert ridge in Nevada called Yucca Mountain, on the unceded lands of the Western Shoshone. After decades of controversy, construction at Yucca Mountain was halted, and to this day, no permanent solution has been devised for America’s 90,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste.
Against the impassive logic of government analysis and archives, TO USE A MOUNTAINassembles a people’s history of resistance and stewardship through a visceral journey across the landscapes, ecologies, and personal histories of the candidate sites. Farmers, miners, citizen scientists, Native American leaders, and activists—each with a story bound to this enduring threat—stand in stark contrast to the cold, silent machinery of bureaucracy, in a meditation on resistance, memory, and the timeless struggle between power and place.
About the Filmmaker: Casey Carter
Casey Carter is a filmmaker and interdisciplinary designer whose work engages nonfiction storytelling in film and video, photography, data visualization, and cartography. His work centers around themes of governmentality, geography, environmentalism, and personal subjectivities.
Prior Work & Background
His short films—TWO BOYS AND A DREAM (2023), TWO PRISONS (2020), and THE RIGHTS OF NATURE (2019)—have screened at festivals including Revolutions Per Minute, SF Shorts, Salem, Ashland Independent, and Hong Kong Film Art.
He holds a B.S. in Physics and a B.S. in Photography from Middle Tennessee State University, as well as a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan.
Grants & Recognition
His work has been supported through grants and fellowships from institutions including:
Jason Dady Restaurants bring value driven menus to Restaurant Weeks. Photo: Katie James Collection, used with permission.
San Antonio foodies, mark your calendars! August is packed with incredible dining deals, new culinary hotspots, and a festive weekend celebration you won’t want to miss. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of the season.
Culinaria’s August San Antonio Restaurant Weeks (Aug. 8–29)
San Antonio Restaurant Weeks is back for its summer edition. Running from August 8 through August 29, this bi-annual, 15-year tradition showcases the best of the city’s culinary scene. With over 100 participating spots, it’s the perfect time to explore top-tier dining at approachable prices. (Culinaria, 2026)
Chef Jason Dady Concepts
Chef Jason Dady’s acclaimed lineup is offering special three-course prix fixe menus for $30 per person at lunch and $55 per person at dinner. (Jason Dady Restaurant Group, 2026)
Tre Trattoria – Featuring signature dishes like the Smoked Gouda White Truffle Radiatore.
Roca & Martillo – Try the classic Tuscan Bolognese.
Range – Don’t miss the Herb-Crusted Ora King Salmon.
Tres Arcos at Mexico Ceaty – Offering San Antonio-Style Cheese Enchiladas. Bonus: This marks Tres Arcos’ very first Restaurant Weeks since opening in April!
Reservations for all Jason Dady concepts can be booked online.
More Must-Try Spots
Ladino– Serving an exclusive prix-fixe dinner menu.
Mezquite – Offering both lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus.
Reservations for both Ladino and Mezquite are available via OpenTable.
Want to see the full lineup? For a complete list of participating restaurants and menus across San Antonio, visit San Antonio Restaurant Weeks online.
Combine Tax-Free Weekend back-to-school shopping at Rivercenter Mall with a weekend-long celebration at Mexico Ceaty. Shop all day, then enjoy live entertainment, food, and tax-free artisan goods:
Live DJ: Catch the vibes at Dos Cantinas on Saturday from 6 PM to 9 PM.
Mariachi Performance: Enjoy live mariachi music on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to Noon.
Weekend Mexican Breakfast: Served Saturday & Sunday (8 AM to 2 PM) at Dos Cantinas, featuring Huevos Rancheros, Chilaquiles Tradicionales, Avocado Tostadas, and more.
Mercado Deals: Merchandise in The Mercado is included in Tax-Free Weekend, making it the ideal time to stock up on artisan goods and local items.
Genghis Tron releases long-awaited new album Signal Fire. Photo: Aaron Jones, used with permission.
Genghis Tron Return to Face the Present on Signal Fire
For almost two decades, Genghis Tron bandleaders Michael Sochynsky and Hamilton Jordan have gazed into the future and imagined what the world would look like after the extinction of our species. It’s an outcome that has long troubled, but also inspired, them to steer the pioneering outfit in breaking new ground with each successive release, moving from the genre-smashing electro-grind of 2008’s Board Up the Houseto the lush, pummeling hypnosis of 2021’s Dream Weapon.(another side, 2026)
Now, with their fourth full-length album, Signal Fire—co-produced and mixed by Seth Manchester (Model/Actriz, Battles, Big Brave)—Genghis Tron awakens us from the post-apocalyptic daydreams of their previous work with a violent, and most welcome, shove.
This time, the distant-future reveries give way to an unsettling awareness of the present we’re actually living, as our circumstances grow too pressing to try and escape.
“Signal Fire envisions a Kojima-esque dystopia of endless proxy warfare, where the deluge of available information has outmoded the human ability to parse it. A world where those amoral, shameless, and cunning enough can literally reshape the reality at their whim through sheer insistence.”
— Tony Wolski, vocalist and lyricist
A Visceral Evolution
Roaring onto the scene in 2004 with a uniquely demented blend of extreme metal, synthesizer textures, and drum-machine madness, Genghis Tron are no strangers to making a forceful impression. But Signal Fire marks the first time the band—joined again by Wolski and Nick Yacyshyn (SUMAC) on drums, plus newcomer Kenny Szymanski (The Armed) on bass—has captured this level of urgency with such visceral precision.
Through their contributions to 2021’s Dream Weapon, Wolski and Yacyshyn (who joined the band in 2020, replacing former vocalist Mookie Singerman and the band’s drum machine) had already proven themselves to be indispensable to the full realization of Genghis Tron’s vision.
Refining the Craft
Twenty years into their career, having proven their ability to forge common ground between Ministry and Aphex Twin, between Brutal Truth and Boards Of Canada, and between Cluster and Converge, ugly-beautiful new genre hybrids from Genghis Tron no longer come as a surprise.
What’s remarkable, however, is how Sochynsky and Jordan have taken a project that started in 2004 as a dorm-room genre-pastiche experiment, “a chaotic, wild amalgamation of all our favorite stuff, literally slammed together,” says Jordan, and refined their songwriting craft to deliver a sound that is unmistakably their own.
Sochynsky and Jordan acknowledge that their approach to songwriting is, at its core, the same it has always been: trading ideas, whether on synths, programmed beats, or guitars. The crucial difference? Genghis Tron now sounds like an actual band.
On Signal Fire, Genghis Tron has never sounded more unhinged, more alive, and more free to continue upending everyone’s expectations in service of making compelling music.
‘Soul or Keep’ is Chad Taylor’s debut novel. Photo: Amazon
Book Review: Soul or Keep by Chad Taylor
Genre: Dark Speculative Fiction / Occult Thriller
Publisher: Alien Buddha Press
Synopsis
Nathaniel “Nate” Simpson is a truck driver trapped between unexplained blackouts, sleepwalking episodes, and the lingering effects of a spell cast long ago during Hurricane Susan to pull him out of a coma. To manage his memory loss, Nate relies on meticulous note-taking, especially around his home life with his girlfriend, Rebecca, and her grandmother, Evelyn, who recently moved in. Routine tasks come easy, but any new, non-repetitive information slips through his fingers.
The slight memory loss soon spirals into something far darker, stranger, and deeply addictive.
Nate’s uneasy reality shatters completely when he receives a cryptic, threatening message from a woman named Tammie:
“Meet me at Doug’s Waffles 143 Maple Court. We have some catching up to do. Unless you want me to call your girlfriend’s business phone instead. Rebecca’s Wedding Planning isn’t it?”
Cornered, Nate has no choice but to meet her to find answers. He is thrust into a world of fog-dense streets, hypnotized employees, and power-hungry mystics seeking to ascend to warlock status. At the center of it all is a game called Soul or Keep that lingers like a curse in the bloodstream. As Nate struggles to separate truth from illusion, he must free himself from spiritual bondage to save Rebecca and their unborn child before their souls are claimed.
If you’re searching for a supernatural thriller that seamlessly blends psychological horror, dark fantasy, and occult mystery, Chad Taylor’s debut novel Soul or Keep is a compelling read. Packed with eerie atmosphere and emotionally grounded stakes, it keeps readers questioning reality from start to finish.
Unreliable Narrators & Character Dynamics
Nate is a deeply sympathetic and well-developed protagonist. His fear, determination, and unwavering love for his family make him instantly relatable. However, his internal battle with memory loss creates a fascinating layer of psychological suspense—his untrustworthy perceptions make him an inherently unreliable narrator.
The supporting cast amplifies the novel’s mounting paranoia and supernatural danger:
Rebecca: A loving, supportive partner who carries trust issues from a troubled past, making Nate’s erratic behavior a constant strain on their relationship.
Donnie: Nate’s brother, whose desperate attempt to help with the sleepwalking—literally strapping Nate to his bed—fails when Nate mysteriously breaks free.
Vivid Prose & Central Themes
Taylor’s descriptive prose brings the uncanny world to life with precise, vivid imagery:
“He then popped out of the window with a look of concern while the yellow light blanketed his mocha colored skin which appeared almost like clay.”
At its core, Soul or Keep tackles heavy thematic ground:
Fate vs. Free Will & Destiny: The mysterious game Soul or Keep serves as both the central conflict and a dark metaphor for human agency, questioning whether destiny is preordained or something to be reclaimed.
Fractured Identity & Memory: Exploring how memory shapes who we are, and what happens when those foundations crumble.
Sacrifice & Love: Positioning love as the ultimate form of resistance against supernatural control.
Final Verdict
Soul or Keep is a haunting, moody debut that establishes Chad Taylor as an exciting new voice in dark speculative fiction. Fans of supernatural horror, atmospheric thrillers, and occult mysteries will be captivated by its memorable characters and lingering, haunting conclusion.
“In the game of life, every action has a ripple effect.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
About the Author
Chad Taylor is a writer and artist based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied Writing Studies at Northern Kentucky University and has published indie comics such as The 5ivefooter and Drips under his Uni5icomics banner. Soul or Keep is his debut novel.
** Thank you to Chad Taylor for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Gunter Hotel announces new headliner for August 8 concert – Angel White. Photo: Daniel Kelleghan Photography, used with permission.
Concert Update & Lineup Announcement: Angel White to Headline Live at the Gunter
Due to an unforeseen medical emergency, Rattlesnake Milk has canceled their headlining performance at the Gunter Hotel on August 8. The hotel looks forward to welcoming them back for a future show. (Gunter Hotel, 2026)
The Gunter is pleased to announce that acclaimed singer-songwriter Angel White will headline the evening in their place.
Meet the Lineup
Angel White (Headliner): A fifth-generation Texas singer-songwriter, Angel White characterizes his musical style as “western soul,” striving to innovate and present country music in a fresh light. Blending R&B, pop, and Western influences into a sound uniquely his own, White earned recognition for his genre-defying style and captivating live performances after honing his voice busking on the streets of Deep Ellum in Dallas.
Mockingbird Express (Opener): The South Texas trio brings a genre-bending “freak blues” sound that fuses blues, psychedelic rock, and vintage Texas influences into an electrifying live set.
Event Details & Schedule
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Location: The Crystal Ballroom (2nd Floor) at the Gunter Hotel
205 E Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Mockingbird Express: 7:30 PM
Angel White: 8:00 PM
Ticket Information
General Admission: Tickets are available for $65 [HERE].
Current Ticketholders: You may keep your existing tickets, which will be fully honored for Angel White’s performance. If you prefer a full refund, you will be contacted directly by the ticketing platform.
Make it a Weekend: The “Live at the Gunter” Getaway Package
Turn the concert into a full weekend experience with a limited-time getaway package for the night of August 8.
The “Live at the Gunter” Package Includes:
A pair of concert tickets
Access to a Studio Tour
A commemorative event poster
A $25 food and beverage credit
Discounted valet parking
Enjoy an evening in the historic Crystal Ballroom paired with an unforgettable stay at one of Texas’ most storied hotels. [Book the Stay Package HERE].
A Storied Musical Heritage
This series is another example of the Gunter Hotel’s commitment to honoring its deep musical roots while investing in the future of music in San Antonio.
In-Room Vinyl: Every guest room features a record player alongside a copy of Robert Johnson’s legendary first album, which was recorded at the hotel in 1936.
Vinyl Lending Library: Guests can explore nearly 1,000 records curated by onsite Vinyl Ambassadors, accomplished DJs, and devoted music aficionados.
Live Local Music: Stop by Bar 414 for weekly live music showcasing the sounds of San Antonio and Texas.
About the Gunter Hotel
The Gunter Hotel, a historic San Antonio landmark for over 116 years, reopened in fall 2025 following a $57 million renovation. Blending rich heritage with modern luxury, the reimagined hotel features 311 guest rooms (including 30 suites), a cutting-edge recording studio, a vinyl library, and four distinctive dining concepts: Jots, Keystone Club, Bar 414, and Paris Baguette.
Book Review: Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey by Craig Yorke
Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey by Craig Yorke is an inspiring memoir that explores the sacrifices, resilience, and determination required to overcome adversity. Yorke chronicles his remarkable journey from a struggling Boston neighborhood to becoming a respected neurosurgeon in the American Midwest. What began as a personal letter to his sons unfolds as a candid life narrative: while Yorke has gained immense wisdom, he refrains from lecturing or preaching, and, above all, he refuses to see himself as a victim.
An Uncompromising Opening
The narrative opens with Dr. Yorke taking a middle-of-the-night emergency call for a severe motorcycle accident. Covering Topeka’s hospitals and the surrounding region every other night and weekend alongside his daytime practice, he rushes into the ER. As the nurse cuts away the patient’s t-shirt, a prominent WHITE POWER tattoo covering the man’s chest is revealed—setting the stage for a story deeply rooted in composure, duty, and professional detachment.
This intense opening flashes back to his childhood in Boston, when a young Yorke was rushed to the ER after accidentally eating poisoned bread left behind the refrigerator for rats. Known mostly through family lore, the incident left a lifelong mark, he still recoils at the mere memory of Ipecac.
As the only child of Dorothy and Craig Sr., he grew up sickly, struggling with asthma and a clubbed right foot. Throughout the book, Yorke explores how his parents’ backstories shaped their parenting style, leading into his school years, surgical career, eventual retirement, and the enduring lessons of his journey.
Table of Contents
Stealth
Crucible
Educated
The Better Angel
Fledgling Pillars
Peaks and Valleys
Twilight of Enterprise
New Eyes
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 6: Peaks and Valleys
Yorke detail the launch of his independent practice with a close friend, revisiting memorable cases, including a young neighbor who developed a life-threatening brain clot. Most insightful are his encounters with uninsured patients: while accustomed to delivering difficult medical news, he found himself unprepared for the devastating financial catastrophes his patients faced. Even when waiving his own professional fees, the external medical costs wreaked havoc on their lives.
Chapter 7: Twilight of Enterprise
Here, Yorke candidly recounts facing a legal malpractice suit after failing to diagnose a fractured larynx in a patient. Though the lawsuit ultimately failed, the emotional impact was severe. As Yorke reflects:
“The ordeal was a blow to a kid whose identity was yoked to his confidence.”
Core Themes & Takeaways
Yorke writes with exceptional honesty and humility, revealing moments of doubt and self-reflection that make his story deeply relatable. His path underscores the importance of discipline, education, and refusing to let circumstances dictate one’s future. The narrative thoughtfully balances professional achievement against personal fulfillment, demonstrating that compassion and empathy are just as vital in medicine as technical expertise.
While Yorke’s identity as a Black surgeon in a predominantly white field provides crucial context, Steep ultimately moves beyond a simple critique of systemic bias. Instead, it serves as a raw, honest exploration of the heavy cost of high achievement and the quiet sacrifice required by the American Dream.
At its core, the memoir delivers profound lessons on resilience, identity, and personal reckoning:
The Price of Ambition: Success often exacts a steep personal toll, demanding emotional compartmentalization, strain on relationships, and constant self-reliance.
Resilience Over Circumstance: Roots do not define limits; discipline and laser-focused perseverance can bridge the gap between systemic disadvantage and elite achievement.
Reconciling the Past: True fulfillment requires making peace with where you came from rather than attempting to outrun your origins.
Final Verdict
Overall, Steep is an engaging, introspective, and essential read for anyone navigating their own steep climb. It offers a poignant reminder that reaching the peak is only half the battle, retaining your humanity is the rest.
“We neurosurgeons are caricatured as filled with conceit, short on empathy. And there’s truth in that cartoon. But hubris is tough to maintain while completing and signing your patient’s death certificate.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
** Thank you to Wes Seely and PR by the Book for my gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
A Practical Guide to Clinical Reasoning for Students and New Clinicians
By Kyan Sahba, PT, DPT, PhD
Your peds clinical is coming, and you don’t feel ready. That’s exactly why this book exists.
Physical therapy school teaches you the science. It doesn’t teach you what to actually do when a two-year-old won’t cooperate, a parent is watching your every move, and your clinical instructor (CI) is waiting for you to take the lead. (Amazon, 2026)
The Pediatric PT Playbook was written for that exact moment.
This isn’t another dense textbook, it’s the clinical companion you wish you had before day one of your pediatric rotation. It’s built around how real pediatric PT actually works, not just how it’s described in a lecture hall.
What’s Inside
Structured Frameworks: Master clinical reasoning across every pediatric setting—outpatient, school-based, NICU, acute care, and home health.
CI Expectations: Learn exactly what your clinical instructor expects to see from you and how to deliver it with confidence.
Smart Goal Writing: Write goals that actually make sense in a pediatric context, including educationally relevant goals.
Family Communication: Discover real-world communication strategies that don’t make you sound like a reading textbook.
Clinical Red Flags: Fast-track your assessment skills with clear breakdowns of movement quality, symmetry analysis, and red flags.
Documentation Made Easy: Master SOAP notes and documentation tailored specifically for pediatric settings.
Who Is This Book For?
Written by a pediatric PT, educator, and researcher who has trained students across real clinical settings, this guide targets the exact gap between classroom theory and clinic reality.
This playbook is essential reading for:
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Students preparing for or currently in a pediatric rotation.
New Grad PTs stepping into their first pediatric role.
Experienced Clinicians transitioning into pediatric practice.
Whether you’re two weeks out from your first peds rotation or already in the thick of it, this book will help you feel more confident, prepared, and effective from day one.
About the Author
Kyan Sahba, PT, DPT, PhD is a pediatric physical therapist, researcher, and educator with experience spanning home health, school-based practice, outpatient pediatrics, and pediatric oncology. She earned her PhD in Physical Therapy and is dedicated to bridging evidence-based research with real-world clinical practice.
Beyond her research and clinical work, she founded the Barry Blue Foundation in honor of her parents. The foundation supports families facing financial hardships due to cancer through a series of children’s books that teach kindness, courage, and emotional resilience.
Taron Egerton’s She Rides Shotgun will be released in 4K on August 18. Photo: Lionsgate
Digital Release Alert: She Rides Shotgun
Where can you run when there’s nowhere to hide?
Taron Egerton stars as Nate, an ex-con on the run, in the new gritty action-thriller She Rides Shotgun. Based on Jordan Harper’s acclaimed 2017 novel of the same name, the film follows Nate as he tries to protect his 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Ana Sophia Heger), while being pursued by unrelenting enemies—including a corrupt sheriff who double-deals as the brutal leader of a criminal gang. (EG PR, 2026)
Photo: Barnes & Noble
As Nate teaches Polly how to fight and survive, she teaches him what unconditional love truly means in an intense, moving story about loyalty, strength, and redemption.
SA Examiner 