Category: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘Unfear’ by Gaurav Bhatnagar and Mark Minukas

‘Unfear: Transform Your Organization to Create Breakthrough Performance and Employee Well-Being’ by Gaurav Bhatnagar and Mark Minukas of Co-Creation Partners. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Gaurav Bhatnagar is the founder of Co-Creation Partners and has dedicated more than two decades to helping companies thrive and achieve breakthrough performance. Since founding Co-Creation Partners in 2010, he has designed and led programs and workshops for private, public, and social-sector clients across multiple industries, including financial services, basic materials, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Mark Minukas has worked across multiple industries, including financial services, high tech, biotech manufacturing, IT services, and governmental offices to deliver both top-and bottom-line improvements and build high-performing operations. As co-authors of “Unfear: Transform Your Organization to Create Breakthrough Performance and Employee Well-Being,” these top experts on high-performing organizations show you how to reframe your, and your employees,’ relationship with fear and anxiety to create a learning culture of engaged workers at the top of their game. (Amazon, 2022)

“Unfear” – Fear and uncertainty have been undermining performance and well-being in the workplace for as long as we have had workplaces. Mismanaged fear is responsible for almost all of the dysfunction that most organizations experience. While fear can drive short-term results, it does so at the cost of high employee burnout and turnover. It also undermines long-term business performance. We can not eradicate it entirely; it is inherent to the human condition. Winning organizations are not fear-free; they know how to reframe fear into opportunities for learning and growth. They create resilient cultures of unfear. This book is divided into two parts: Part I: Fear with chapters such as Biology of Fear and Unfear and Eight Fear Archetypes in the Workplace and Part II: Unfear and includes chapters on Unfear Transformation and The Unfear Organization. In the Introduction, the authors explain how it is divided: the first part explores fear including its impact and the different ways in which it is expressed in an organization and the second part explores unfear and how to bring about an unfear transformation. This timely and essential guide shows leaders the impact of fear, the strategies and actions needed to bring about an unfear organization, and so much more.

Fear is a natural part of life and therefore impossible to avoid. Instead of hiding from it, we should learn to not only live with it, but learn how to use it to our advantage in every day life, including in the business world. In their book ‘Unfear,’ the authors define the different types of fear and offer advice on how to ‘unfear’ – to shift our relationship with fear and use it as a tool to learn and grow. It is an extremely useful and easy to read business guide that uses down to earth language that does not include too much business jargon. Highlights include Chapter 2: Biology of Fear and Unfear that explains the biology of fear and its importance “In order to live as an unfear individual, you need to understand the evolutionary function of fear and how it can cause dysfunction in the modern world,” Chapter 3: Eight Fear Archetypes in the Workplace, and Chapter 7: The Unfear Organization which emphasizes the need to control fear mindset in the workplace “Instead of cohesion and focus, it [fear] leads to second-guessing, indifference, and wasteful internal politics.” This proven approach to workplace anxiety reduces stress, boosts engagement, and overcomes obstacles that get in the way of success. In the long run, it leads to personal rewards, greater profits, and sustainable growth which is only possible with a culture of unfear. ‘Unfear’ is an excellent guide for recognizing and overcoming fear not only in our personal lives but in the workplace. It is recommended for readers who appreciate self help and enrichment books as well as books on workplace culture, business, and human resources.

“Look forward rather than backward. Don’t dwell too much on why something went wrong. Instead, recognize the value in reflection and diagnostics, but keep most of your focus on solutions and the future.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Assassin’s Lullaby’ by Mark Rubinstein

‘Assassin’s Lullaby’ by Mark Rubinstein in an interesting examination of the human condition as it pertains to an assassin. Photo: Amazon

Mark Rubinstein MD is a practicing psychiatrist in New York City and an author. Before turning to fiction, Rubinstein coauthored five medical self-help books: “The First Encounter: The Beginnings in Psychotherapy,” “The Complete Book of Cosmetic Facial Surgery,” “New Choices: the Latest Options in Treating Breast Cancer,” “Heartplan: A Complete Program for Total Fitness of Heart & Mind,” and “The Growing Years: A Guide to Your Child’s Emotional Development from Birth to Adolescence.” His first novel “Mad Dog House” was named a finalist for the 2012 ForeWord Book Of The Year Award for suspense/thriller novels. His latest novel “Assassin’s Lullaby” is about a former assassin turned contract killer.

“Assassin’s Lullaby” – in every life, there lurks catastrophe. So believes Eli Dagan, a thirty-nine-year-old man whose traumatic past led to his service as an assassin for the Mossad. He now lives in New York City, where under various assumed names he is a contract killer. The story begins as Eli is walking down the street, always on alert mode “Knowing his life depends on stealth, Eli Dagan moves warily with the tide of pedestrians streaming along East Forty-Second Street.” He is on his way to a meeting with Anton Gorlov, the head of the Brooklyn-based Odessa mafia, who has a new and challenging assignment for him. Gorlov wants to leave the country permanently, so all loose ends must be eliminated. He is willing to pay $1 million for a task that is divided into two parts. The job involves extreme measures along with unprecedented danger for Eli, who has lived a ghostly existence over the last ten years. Eli knows this assignment has its dangers, but deep inside he wonders if it is a way to make up for the past. For the first time since his pregnant wife and parents were killed by a suicide bomber years earlier, he is facing challenges that will reconnect him with his damaged past and may yet offer hope for a new and better life. Questioning the meaning of his life, he wants out but this is the only life he has known and for a brief moment, he gets a glimpse of a better life. His story ends on a hopeful note and even though he is still not sure of what the future holds for him, he remains optimistic.

Sometimes assassins are viewed as inhuman and incapable of feeling any emotions, but Mark Rubinstein makes Eli Dagan seem almost human with fears and insecurities, just like everyone else. The character development is excellent and it gives Eli’s background on what drove him to chose the life he did; he started killing only evil people as revenge for what happened to his family years ago but now he just kills for profit and power. He wants to leave the country, to start over somewhere else but the pull of what he has become is too hard to resist. The language is at times poetic and beautiful, “The bare sycamore branches sway in the wind and cast dancing shadows on the street” and a sharp contrast to the subject matter. Highlights include Chapter 41 because of the detailed description of the fight scenes and Chapter 74 when Eli ponders his last victim’s final words “Death waits for us all, and I have no fear of it” and resigns himself to receive whatever life brings him. The chapters are short and to the point, which helps the pacing of the story. Some of the details of Eli’s hits might be too graphic for some readers but they convey a CSI-like narrative. With themes of nature vs. nurture and good vs. evil, “Assassin’s Lullaby” is a fascinating novel and hard to put down because it gives readers a rare view inside the mind of an assassin for hire including his internal conflicts and fears: “Is killing evil people no more than an anemic attempt to try forgiving himself for the life he’s led because he can never be absolved from his crimes, his sins that are too many to count?” It is recommended for readers who enjoy suspense thrillers that revolve around an anti hero and in this case even though Eli is an assassin, readers can sympathize with his plight and in the end might even root for him to get his life together.

“Because it seems there’s no coming back from what he’s become and there’s no way to renounce a life brimming with bitterness, with grief, and with rage so monstrous it consumes his every waking moment.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Down to the River’ by Anne Whitney Pierce

‘Down to the River’ is a family saga set in the late 1960s in Cambridge, Massachusetts against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Photo: amazon

Anne Whitney Pierce is a life-long Cantabrigian and the author of two books, “Galaxy Girls: Wonder Women” (1993) and “Rain Line.” (2000) She has taught in the graduate writing program at Emerson College in Boston. Her short fiction has appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, The Chattahoochee Review, The Boston Globe Magazine, Kansas Quarterly, Crosscurrents, The Southern Review, among others. Her work has been included in the O’Henry Prize Story Collection and has won several awards, including the Nelson Algren Award, the Willa Cather Fiction Prize, the Paterson Fiction Prize, New Voices Award and a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award. Her new book “Down to the River” is a family saga set in the late 1960s in Cambridge, Massachusetts against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. (amazon, 2022)

“Down to the River” – The story starts with a Prologue where Chickie and Hen’s story begins. Chickie is Minerva’s nickname and Hen is short for Henry. They are first cousins born in 1951 and their fathers are identical twins named Naylor Potts (Nash) and Remington Potts (Remi). The twin brothers grow up as entitled, Harvard-educated, golden boys, heirs to an old, but dwindling family fortune. With the passage of time, family money begins to disappear and their lives begin to fall apart. The first chapter begins in 1966 with Nash and Remi in their mid-forties and partners in a sporting goods store in Harvard Square. The twins’ marriages are in trouble. Their youngest children, Chickie and Hen, are coming of age during the turbulent urban wilderness of the late 1960s— school bomb threats, racial tensions, war protests and demonstrations at Harvard and beyond. With all hell breaking loose at home, and any semblance of “parenting” hanging ragged in the wind, Chickie and Hen are left mostly on their own. Suddenly freed from old rules and restrictions, they head out onto the streets of Cambridge, which become their concrete playground, tumbling headlong into a world of politics, sex, drugs, rock and roll.

What was it like to come from a privileged family in the Boston area during the turbulent sixties and seventies? Anne Whitney Pierce gives readers the saga of the Potts family who seem to have it all but deep down, they face the same internal struggles and dark family secrets as everyone else. The family is born with money but eventually that goes away and their troubles grow against the background of a country that is besieged by riots, war, and general uncertainty. From the children who are facing college life and a possible Vietnam draft to the parents whose marriages are in trouble, nothing is as it seems from the outside looking in. The author describes the lives of the characters through the years so the character development is deep and complex. Language wise, it is an easy read but it is tough to get through some of the grimmer parts. This just goes to prove that life is not always smooth sailing and how we get through the tough times determines and shapes our character. Readers familiar with the area, specifically Cambridge, will no doubt feel a tough of nostalgia, especially if they grew up in the Vietnam era. Anne Whitney Pierce does an excellent job of bringing one family’s history to light and her writing style makes for an interesting novel. “Down to the River” may make some readers uncomfortable but it is a portrait of one family’s experiences during a troublesome era that just might mirror society’s present-day struggles. It is recommended for readers who appreciate family life fiction mixed in with historical fiction.

“Raised to be God-fearing, if not religious, both Violet and Faye came to think of all this – their lives as silent, fettered wives and mothers – as the tradeoff for marrying well.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Dry Heat: A Novel’ by Len Joy

‘Dry Heat: A Novel’ is Len Joy’s latest novel. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Len Joy is the author of four books that have have received shining reviews and several awards. His first novel, “American Past Time,” published in 2014 took 1st Prize in the Top Shelf Book Awards in 2019, his second novel, “Better Days” was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards in 2019, and “Everyone Dies Famous,” published in 2020 won 1st Prize in the 2020 Top Shelf Book Awards. His new book “Dry Heat” is about an All-American young man, Joey Blade, whose life begins to unravel when he learns that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, is betrayed by his new girlfriend, and is arrested for the attempted murder of two police officers.

“Dry Heat” –  The story is set in Phoenix, Arizona and begins in November 1999 as a teenage Joey Blade is at a park playing basketball with his friends. Shortly thereafter at the high school bonfire, his life takes a turn for the worse as he is at the wrong place at the wrong time. The bonfire explodes and Joey, his girlfriend Wendy and her drug dealing friend TJ flee in her truck. When the police pursue, TJ shoots at the cop’s car. It crashes and in the ensuing chaos TJ slips away undetected. Joey, the only adult in the truck, is arrested and charged with attempted murder and released on bail. TJ is nowhere to be found. In desperation, he reaches out to notorious gang leader, Chico Torres, whom he met in jail, for help locating TJ. When Joey is offered a deal–his freedom in exchange for his cooperation in nailing Chico–he faces a decision that will change the course of his life. The book is divided into two parts: Part I Joey and Part II Joseph and spans years in Joey Blade’s life, up to the year 2017 as an adult.

Some of the best novels plunge deep into the human condition by examining a character’s lifetime of experiences. Such is the case in “Dry Heat” as readers are witnesses to Joey Blade’s transformation from an idealistic teenager to a young man who, despite being falsely convicted of a crime, he is far from jaded. As with his previous novels, Len Joy excels at character development and by the end of the story, readers cannot help but be heavily invested in finding out what happens. Due to the dialogue driven action, it is an easy read and hard to put down. The characters are down to earth and relatable because anyone can easily become a victim of circumstances and have his or her life turned upside down from one minute to the next. “Dry Heat” by Len Joy has everything from family drama to courtroom action and is recommended for readers who enjoy both. It is a must read coming of age saga.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

An excerpt is available.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Tao Calligraphy’ by Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha

‘Tao Calligraphy’ is the first in a series of books about the benefits of Tao Calligraphy. Photo: Amazon

Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha is the author of thirty-one books, including eleven New York Times bestsellers and bestsellers on the lists of the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon. He brings ancient wisdom to modern times to help people reach optimal wellness and greater happiness. Tao Calligraphy is a revolutionary healing art based on an ancient form of one-stroke calligraphy from China. Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha now brings this healing frequency to everyone through a new book series. The first book in the series, “Tao Calligraphy to Heal and Rejuvenate Your Back,” offers relief from back pain, a problem all too familiar to many Americans. According to Georgetown University’s Institute for Health Care Research and Policy study, nearly 65 million Americans report a recent episode of back pain. (Tao Calligraphy, 2022)

In “Tao Calligraphy,” Dr. & Master Sha offers a guide for enhancing many aspects of life through soul secrets, wisdom, and simple, practical techniques. As a doctor of both Western and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture and a master of several Eastern arts, he brings decades of study and experience to help people discover their own power to heal and uplift their lives. It is divided into eleven chapters including Tao Science Explains the Universal Law of Shen Qi Jing, Why do People Have Challenges in Health, Relationships, Finances, and Every Aspect of Life?, and What is Tao Calligraphy? In the section The Importance of Practice, the author explains the importance of practicing Tao Calligraphy and explains how to access the practice videos using the QR codes. Since it addresses ways to heal back pain, In the Foreword, William Gladstone stresses that this book is not a substitute for medical treatment but that it is simply “a supplemental approach that has helped hundreds of thousands with no negative side effects.”

Almost everyone at one time or another has experienced back pain. It is a chronic condition that can disrupts people’s daily life and some pain relievers can cause side effect that can be worse than the original back pain. In his book in a series, Dr. & Master Sha shares ways to relieve this pain through Tao Calligraphy. In the first couple of chapters, he briefly explains the science and physics involved in vibrational fields but overall it is easy to understand and follow. It is a small but informative book that includes QR codes that link to videos that help further explain the information. Highlights include Chapter 3: Why Do People Have Challenges in Health, Relationships, Finances, and Every Aspect of Life? because it clarifies the fact that Tao Science states that “information, energy, and matter can be positive or negative” and that when they are negative, they cause sickness and relationship, and financial challenges and Chapter 6: Chinese Calligraphy where he explains what Chinese Calligraphy is and its importance in Chinese culture. Admittedly it is a different way to deal with physical pain but it has worked for some people. “Tao Calligraphy” is a small but helpful guide to help heal and rejuvenate your back and is recommended for readers interested in mental and spirituals healing.

“To be a person of good quality and to experience a good life, we need to have a good vibrational field. A good vibrational field is one carrying positive information, energy, and matter. Positive information, energy, and matter bring connection, order, and harmony.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

An excerpt of this book is available here.

The Black Phone is an edge of your seat psychological thriller

The Black Phone is the movie adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story from ’20th Century Ghosts. Photo: google

Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels “The Fireman,” “NOS4A2,” “Horns,” and “Heart-Shaped Box;” “Strange Weather,” a collection of novellas; and the acclaimed story collections “Full Throttle” and “20th Century Ghosts.” The Black Phone is a short story in his “20th Century Ghosts” collection and has been adapted into a major motion picture from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions starring Ethan Hawke.

The Black Phone – Jack Finney is thirteen, alone, and in desperate trouble. For two years now, someone has been stalking the boys of Galesberg, stealing them away, never to be seen again. And now, Finney finds himself in danger of joining them: locked in a psychopath’s basement, a place stained with the blood of half a dozen murdered children. With him in his subterranean cell is an antique phone, long since disconnected but it rings at night anyway, with calls from the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them does not happen to Finney. The movie is 1 hr. 42 min. long, is rated R and classified as horror/thriller.

I have not read many of Joe Hill’s works, just ‘NOS4A2,’ but I have seen the series NOS4A2 and the movie Horns, both are excellent. After watching The Black Phone movie on opening weekend I was curious how it compares to the original short story on “20th Century Ghosts.” I checked the book out of the library because it seemed quicker than going out to buy it or ordering it on amazon. I read it in one seating, it is, after all, a short story, no more than 30 pages long.

The movie is short, less than two hours long, and that is the way I like it. It does not go into detail with an origin story, the reason why the ‘Grabber’ is the creepy killer that he is and that is quite alright with me. It is mislabeled as a horror movie because it is not scary at all but it is a psychological suspense/thriller. There are plenty of jump scares and suspenseful moments and yes, it is hard not to compare it to IT with the balloons, the mostly young cast, the retro setting, and the yellow raincoat the sister wears. While it may have a predictable ending, it does have a false ending, where just when you think it is over…..it surprises you. Yes, it is unnerving to see children in peril but in the end, Finney takes a schoolmate’s advice “Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself.” All’s well that ends well. It gets high marks for Ethan Hawke’s performance and how about those creepy masks. I came to the conclusion that the reason the father is an abusive alcoholic is because he is still grieving his wife, who committed suicide because of the visions she was having, just like the daughter and he was scared that she would end up the same way. It is creepy, haunting, and suspenseful but it also focuses on the familial bonds between brother and sister and in the end the father is repentant. Did I need to know why the Grabber is a demented killer? Probably not. I would definitely watch it again. Need a movie recommendation for the long Fourth of July weekend? Check out The Black Phone, it is well worth a trip to the movie theater. 

The short story focuses on when Finney gests kidnapped and his trying to escape. The Grabber is obese and does not wear masks. He kills his brother just when we think he is going to save Finney, just like in the movie. It does not mention a sister or father for Finney or even anything to do with school, but both the movie and the story have the same redemptive ending. I would say that the movie is faithful to the short story version when it comes to Finney’s harrowing experience with the Grabber and that is all that matters. 

Photo: Sandra Cruz

Book review: ‘Breach’ by Kelly Sokol

‘Breach’ is Kelly Sokol’s new book. Photo: amazon

Kelly Sokol is the author of “Breach” and “The Unprotected,” which was featured on NPR and named one of Book Riot’s 100 Must-Read Books of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood. She is a Pushcart Prize-nominated author and MFA creative writing graduate. Her work has appeared in Alpinist, UltraRunning Magazine, The Manifest-Station, Connotation Press, and more. She teaches creative writing at The Muse Writers Center. Her new book “Breach” is an unflinching and timely gaze into the marriage of an enlisted special operator and his wife.

“Breach” – Marleigh Mulcahy grew up in a boxing gym, the daughter of hard-drinking parents who did not keep a stable roof over her head. The story begins as she is working at her grandfather’s gym. In the cinder-block Box-n-Go, amidst the sweat and funk, she meets Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist Jace Holt, a highly and expensively trained bomb diffuser with three successful deployments behind him. With a heady mix of hope, carelessness, and a ridiculous amount of courage, they begin a family. They have plenty in common because they both have unstable parents and they are determined to do better. In between the pressures of a growing family and responsibilities, their relationship grows strained. When Jace returns to active duty, a roadside bomb resurrects ghosts from the couple’s past and threatens the life they have built.

It is common knowledge that the life of a military wife is challenging but it is rare to read a book that chronicles these challenges. This is where ‘Breach’ comes in and not only fills the void but excels at shining the light on the ups and downs of a military family. This book is an unwavering look at the reality of what it means to be a military wife and struggling to keep it together. With down to earth language, it is fast paced and an easy read and will keep readers turning pages to find out what happens to Marleigh in the end as her life begins to unravel. The characters are relatable and well developed and the action is mostly dialogue driven. Although it contains a few graphic sex scenes, it serves to cement the couple’s relationship and does not take away from the focus of the overall story. Marleigh and Jace’s story may be heartbreaking but it ends on a hopeful note that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. ‘Breach’ by Kelly Sokol is a reminder that it takes a village to raise a family and that we all need the support of friends and family. It is easily this year’s beach read and is recommended for fans of military family life fiction as well as women’s fiction.

“Marleigh awoke in the dark, each night, a running tally of debt in her mind. Food, school for the boys, diapers for Max, gas for the car, car insurance. Did she have room on either of her credit cards? Health insurance cancellation notices.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

An excerpt of ‘Breach’ is available here.

Book review: ‘Nailing It’ by Robert L. Dilenschneider

‘Nailing It: How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together’ by Robert L. Dilenschneider. Photo: amazon

Robert L. Dilenschneider has hired more than 3,000 successful professionals and advised thousands more. He is founder of the Dilenschneider Group, a corporate strategic counseling and public relations firm based in New York City. Formerly president and CEO of Hill & Knowlton, he is the author of the bestselling books “The Critical First Years of Your Professional Life,” “Power and Influence,” “A Briefing for Leaders,” and “Nailing It: How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together.” The latter is an inspiring and encouraging book that provides 25 fascinating and diverse profiles of iconic men and women at or near age 25 and how they built their legacies. (amazon, 2022)

‘Nailing It’ begins with a foreword from U.S. Ambassador Donald Blinken where he writes that Robert L. Dilenschneider focuses on these men and women when they were aged 25 or so, what they did to gain a spot in history, and how they did it. He also mentions that the target demographic is those coming of age right now, but also older people who care about them and want them to succeed. In the Introduction, the author shares that the idea behind the book is to inspire young people and hopes they realize that they can make a difference. In general, he wishes people realize that there are many paths to greatness and not all of them are smooth sailing. The book is made up of twenty three chapters and each focuses on one of these 25 people, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Albert Einstein, Coco Chanel, Golda Meir, and more. More than just biographies, each chapter reveals where they were in their lives in their mid-twenties and the choices that made them who they are.

At first, seeing a list of history’s greatest might be intimidating but it serves to remember that each one of them encountered and defeated their own difficulties in life. Even if you do not know every one of the people profiled in this book, all their stories are inspiring. Since each chapter is a different person, readers can take their time and even go back and re-read previous ones. With easy to understand language, the author takes readers deep into the lives of each of these individuals and shares the good and the bad in the hopes of inspiring everyone to dream big, but most of all, to put in the effort and work necessary to achieve success. Most importantly, this book is a reminder that it is ‘never too late to make an impact.’ It is hard to choose a favorite profile, but Mary Shelley (Chapter 2) stands out due to her being a notable literary figure, best known for her masterpiece Frankenstein. By the time she was 25, she had already written what could be considered a best-seller, but she had also suffered more than most young women, starting with the death of her mother when she was only ten days old. ‘Nailing It’ by Robert L. Dilenschneider is an inspiring collection of notable historical figures that would make an excellent addition to any personal library. It is recommended for readers who appreciate biographies and books on career advice and self-improvement.

“The world is full of timid souls and idle dreamers who never really go after what they want. Don’t be one of them. Work to stand out and use the lessons you’ve learned from this book. If you take that approach and stick with it, it will change your life for the better.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Influence and Impact’ by Bill Berman and George Bradt

‘Influence and Impact: Discover and Excel at What Your Organization Needs From You The Most’ by Bill Berman and George Bradt. Photo: Sandra Cruz

George Bradt has led the revolution in how people start new jobs – accelerating transitions so leaders and their teams reduce their rates of failure and fulfill potential. He is Chairman of PrimeGenesis, author of ten books on onboarding and leadership, two books on back-to-school chats, 700+ columns for Forbes, and eighteen plays and musicals (book, lyrics & music). Bill Berman is a seasoned business psychologist with more than 30 years’ experience as an executive coach, senior line manager, clinician and academic. He has consulted to CEOs, C-suite leaders, and general/functional managers since founding Berman Leadership Development in 2004. He has published more than 50 articles and books on a variety of subjects. They are co-authors of “Influence and Impact: Discover and Excel at What Your Organization Needs From You The Most.” (Amazon, 2022)

“Influence and Impact” provides an easy-to-follow, common-sense approach to building influence at any level of an organization. It is divided into five parts: Part I: The Disconnect, Part II: The Solution, Part III: Plan A, Part IV: Plan B, and Part V: Helping Others Build Their Influence and Impact. In the Introduction, the authors define influence as “the indirect or intangible effect you have on others, based on what you do, how you do it, how you communicate it, and who you are.” According to them, the purpose of this book is to help readers understand themselves, their role in their job, and how to influence their organization. The section also summarizes each part and what the reader can expect. Each chapter includes tips, worksheets, and tools to help readers focus and take appropriate actions to do the job that is expected of them. There are also real life examples of workers who have benefitted from their expertise and practical advice.

Books on leadership, influence, and business advice are not a rare commodity. What makes ‘Influence and Impact’ unique is that it covers all the stages of a person’s career, ranging from preparing for an interview, to getting more recognition at work and aiming for more satisfaction from a job. Using real life stories, practical advice, and worksheets to help readers individualize the content, it is an extremely useful guide for modern business practices. The language is easy to understand which makes the reading pace steady. Highlights include Chapter 12: Make a Plan to Move On: Sometimes You Need a Fresh Start – provides insight into how to prepare to move on from a job and tips on job searching, including how to prepare for an interview and Chapter 11: Negotiate for a Better Role Inside Your Organization -helps readers create a Personal Strategic Plan to help them “find a better fit for your strengths within your current organization.” A major takeaway is that as workers, blaming the company for difficulties in job performances is just masking the reality that we all have to adapt to our environment to survive. We may have to adapt, but it is up to each individual worker to find fulfillment and the do the best job they can without casting blame on others or on the company itself. It has valuable information that everyone in an organization can use, from the workers to the managers. ‘Influence and Impact’ by Bill Berman and George Bradt contains important information for building a successful career in any stage and is recommended for readers who understand that there is always something new to learn when it comes to career advice.

“There is extensive social science research, however, that indicates that your ability to adjust to the context you live or work in is directly related to the likelihood of your success.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Be Your Own Medical Intuitive: Healing Your Body and Soul’ by Tina M. Zion

‘Be Your Own Medical Intuitive: Healing Your Body and Soul’ by Tina M. Zion. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Tina Zion is the globally acclaimed award-winning author of three medical intuitive books. “Become a Medical Intuitive” won 1st Place Gold from the Body Mind Spirit Book Awards in 2019 and “Advanced Medical Intuition” won the 2020 COVR Visionary Award along with 5 star ratings on Amazon. She is also the author of two Reiki books, “The Reiki Teacher’s Manual” and “Reiki and Your Intuition.” Tina’s books sell in over 40 countries and have been #1 in Canada and Australia. She teaches in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the USA. She is also a contributing author in Michael Newton’s book, “Memories of the Afterlife.” Tina has taught self-development courses for 30 years and specifically has specialized in medical intuition for over 10 years, always with 100% stunning reviews by her students. Her new book, “Be You Own Medical Intuitive: Healing Your Body and Soul (Medical Intuition)” guides readers forward into their own personal healing.

After the Foreword by Shelly Frome, Professor of Dramatic Arts Emeritus, “Be Your Own Medical Intuitive: Healing Your Body and Soul” begins with Introducing This Book to You where Tina Zion explains the purpose of the book: “for your healing and transformation into a healthier body, healthier mind, and a cutting-edge intuitive awareness of the world around you.” It is meant to guide readers in their own journey towards personal healing through methods that have improved people’s lives for decades. A medical intuitive is a practitioner of alternative medicine who uses his/her intuitive abilities to find the cause of a physical or emotional condition through insight instead of modern medicine. According to the author, people are already wired to be intuitive but it is a learned skill and this book helps readers understand it in an effort to learn, heal, and master their life in exciting new levels. The book is divided into four parts: Part One: Become Powerfully Intuitive for Yourself, Part Two: Get In Charge of the Intuitive You, Part Three: Confidently Healing Yourself, and Part Four: Eight Primary Causes & Your Action Steps to Heal. The Appendix includes worksheets to print for self scans, suggested reading and resources list, and other books in the Medical Intuitive series.

Physical pain often has an underlying emotional tie. Where there is emotional trauma, there is bound to be our body’s physical reaction to it. Tina Zion’s “Be Your Own Medical Intuitive” is a practical guide to help people understand and deal with the signals that their bodies are sending in an effort to heal what is ailing them. Using examples from clients’ experiences and exercises meant to clear the mind and body of past trauma, she makes the entire process easy. The language is simple, down to earth and geared towards the everyday person. Each chapter covers a topic and at the end, there is a summary or recap of the essential points discussed. Highlights include Chapter 13: Twelve Keys to Constantly Do for Yourself (Save Yourself First, Do Not Absorb the Energy of Others) and Part Four – Eight Primary Causes & Your Action Steps to Heal which highlights main causes of physical discomfort and how to rise above them. With topics such as meditation, auras, energy fields, clairvoyance, and non-physical entities, “Be Your Own Medical Intuitive” is certainly not for everyone but readers interested in self-healing and self-awareness will find it resourceful and informative.

Intrigued? Here is an excerpt.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.