Category: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘The Tao of Inner Peace’ by Diane Dreher

‘The Tao of Inner Peace’ by Diane Dreher

Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is a bestselling author, researcher, and positive psychology coach. Her books, “The Tao of Inner Peace,” “The Tao of Personal Leadership,” “The Tao of Womanhood,” “Inner Gardening,” and “Your Personal Renaissance,” have been translated into ten languages. Her work has been featured in media outlets including USA Today, Entrepreneur, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Science of Mind, radio and TV talk shows, and websites on leadership and personal growth. “The Tao of Inner Peace” shows how the Tao can be a powerful and calming source of growth, inspiration, and well-being in times of conflict and anxiety.

Translated more often than any other book except the Bible, the Tao Te Ching has been a spiritual guide for centuries, helping millions find peace within themselves, with each other, and with the natural world around them. Written in workbook style, complete with exercises, questionnaires, journal-keeping techniques, and affirmations, “The Tao of Inner Peace” translates the ancient Eastern philosophy into a plan for contemporary Western living. The book is divided into five sections: I The Way: Then And Now, II The Inner Way, III The Way of Nature, IV The Way of Life, and V The Way of Peace. In the Introduction, the author writes that in this book, the Tao lessons are explained with parallels and real life examples to make them more relatable to modern times. The chapters are short for a reason, to allow readers to read as many portions as time allows and then apply the lessons to his/her life. Each chapter opens with a quote from the Tao Te Ching which can be used as a meditation theme and closes with an affirmation to reinforce the lesson just covered in that chapter. The Notes and Resources section at the end has been updated as needed. Diane Dreher, Ph.D., shows the way to bring greater joy, fulfillment, and creativity to daily life, heal the body and spirit, build self-acceptance and self-esteem, resolve conflict, reverse negative cycles of emotion, and understand life as a process of changes and challenges.

“The Tao of Inner Peace” is a resourceful handbook that encourages mental wellness. It modernizes the principles of Tao and shows how to apply its lessons to everyday life to create balance and harmony. It covers every aspect of daily life, from defining peace within ourselves to becoming a citizen of the world by getting to know people of other cultures and being aware of how our actions affect the planet (nature). Diane Dreher does an admirable job of making Tao principles easy to understand by using simple and down to earth language. Readers can incorporate them into their lives by following the personal exercises listed at the end of each chapter. Highlights include Section II The Inner Way, Chapter 11: Creating Greater Joy In Life “With laughter comes the realization that all things come to pass, that life evolves through cycles of change” and Section III The Way of Nature Chapter 16: Transcending Hostiles Cycles where it stresses that “Violence begets further violence, negativity begets negativity” and the importance of not becoming hostile, fearful, or angry when faced with negativity. The most important lesson to be learned is that we are all part of a larger whole and by thinking globally while acting locally, we can “bring greater harmony to our world.” “The Tao of Inner Peace” by Diane Dreher is a practical guide as it offers advice and solutions to improve not only our personal lives but the local and global community as well. It is worth re-reading several times and is recommended for readers who appreciate books on meditation, mindfulness, self-improvement, and Taoist Philosophy.

“As the waters of a pure mountain spring slowly cleanses a stagnant pond, so by circulating loving energies we can gradually heal our world.”

*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: ‘The Still Point: The Simplicity of Spiritual Enlightenment’ by Kevin Krenitsky, MD

‘The Still Point’ is Kevin Krenitsky’s new book on spiritual enlightenment and awakening. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Kevin Krenitsky has been, at times, a professional rock musician, a medical doctor, and a business executive. Despite leading a life deemed outwardly “successful,” he lived with a deep background of anxiety, fear, and stress that came and went since early childhood. At the age of forty, in the midst of decades of suppressing tremendous inner and outer conflict, he reasoned there must be another way. This “willingness” led to a decade of studying non-duality by way of “A Course in Miracles.” At the height of a successful business career, he turned away into relative isolation and soon found the direct path to the recognition of our true nature. One day in meditation, a thought came that a book called “The Still Point” would be written. Five years later, the first words arrived. Krenitsky’s “The Still Point: The Simplicity of Spiritual Enlightenment” takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately leading to the recognition that our self-aware nature is happiness and peace itself.

“The Still Point” begins with an Introduction where the author explains that this book is about “discovering and living as your indestructible, true self, which is deeper than just the body and the mind.” He refers to our true self as the Still Point and defines it as the experience of recognizing our own awareness; simply put: “being aware of being aware.” According to him, our unconscious living has not only created stress, anxiety, wars, and famine, but our choices have brought us to the edge of mass destruction. The earth has suffered greatly from our collective human unconsciousness. With this book, he shows us how to discover and live our lives in alignment with our true self. Each chapter begins with an introduction of the subject and is followed by a question and answer discussion. Some of the questions are from people he has encountered but most of them are questions he himself has had in his journey to self-discovery. The book is divided into two parts: the first has chapters such as The Discovery of Our True Nature, The Healing of Our Relationships, and Awakening and the Limits of the Mind; the second part deals with subjects such as Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness, Be a True Student of Peace and Happiness, and The Illusion of Control.

For such an intense subject, “The Still Point” is relatively easy to read, due in part to the Q & A format that the author chose to present his ideas. It reads like an interview and the language is straightforward and down to earth. The important takeaways include the significance of living in the moment, realizing that we share a consciousness with each other and the planet, and self-awareness. When we focus on the noise of the outside world, we lose our feelings of peace and happiness. Highlight include Chapter 14: Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness, as it reminds readers that “The desire to project blame on others, the world, or past events is a universal trait of the egoic mind” and Chapter 20: Be a Seed of Light in a Desperate World where it emphasizes the importance of taking pride in your job. It is important to find a job you like but “…never diminish whatever it is you find yourself doing in the present.” These may not be new theories, but in today’s world, in the midst of all the chaos, both external and internal, it pays to slow down and re-evaluate what makes life worth living. Filled with practical life advice, “The Still Point” is recommended for readers who value concepts such as meditation and self-awareness and are searching for tips on easing the load we all sometimes have to carry.

“There is no denying the terrible injustice that has been happening for a long time, but treating people who are desperately calling out for love with hate and anger simply will not work.”

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

Read an excerpt here. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘You Speak For Me Now’ by Sandy Graham

‘You Speak For Me Now’ is the new novel by Sandy Graham. Photo: amazon

Sandy Graham is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. His dual citizenship reflects a North American ancestry dating back to both sides of the American Revolutionary War. It also leads to a desire to see all North Americans find a way to embrace their multiple cultures, languages, and ethnic backgrounds in a manner that provides an opportunity for all to enjoy a full life. His previous books include the Pillage Trilogy, (“Life Shattered,” “Life Rescued,” and “Life Threatened”) “Murder – On Salt Spring?” “The Pizza Dough King,” and “A Quite Rampage.” In his new novel “You Speak For Me Now,” Emma and John, a young couple, risk their marriage, their business, and their lives to speak out against inequality, racism, and fascism.

“You Speak For Me Now” – Emma Simon is a brave but introverted deaf woman of color and John McEwan is an extrovert with a passion for politics and singing. When they meet in the seventh grade, John is immediately smitten, proving that opposites do attract. Not only do they find happiness in marriage, but as business partners. They create an app – Sign-Talk, as a way to give deaf people a way to talk to everyone. As the popularity of the app grows, so does John’s public persona. While promoting Sign-Talk on national TV, John turns the conversation into a discussion about politics. He is quickly targeted by a popular conservative commentator who uses his platform and social media following to attack John’s views and his family. John becomes embroiled in this battle and drags Emma in with him. Forces against them turn violent, driving them into seclusion, tearing them apart, and destroying their rapidly growing company. In a world torn between democracy and dictatorship, can America survive the onslaught of authoritarianism and become once again a beacon of democratic leadership? In a dramatic role reversal, Emma reveals how a strong individual can rise in the face of crises.

Romance novels usually have a happy ending when a couple finally ends up together. Rarely do they expand the narrative to include a lifetime of ups and downs and unexpected surprises that come along the way. This is what makes “You Speak For Me Now” a more realistic account of one couple’s struggles and victories. Emma and John’s story is not a typical ‘happily ever after’ account and is both heart warming and heart breaking. Mr. Graham puts readers through an emotional rollercoaster while at the same time emphasizing music’s ability to heal and bring people together. It is an easy read and the action is mostly dialogue driven and since the story spans decades, the character development is excellent. It is worth mentioning that politics and social issues, such as income and race inequalities, as well as the current state of affairs in the United States plays a big part in the story which will no doubt elicit strong reactions, depending on the reader’s political leanings. Regardless, the book’s underlying message of unity and the need for peace and understanding stands out. “You Speak For Me Now” is a must read novel of love and courage in the midst of life’s toughest moments and is recommended for readers who enjoy romance and political fiction.

“Regardless of our political leaning, liberal or conservative, we must come together to right our ship, to return to morality, integrity, and mutual respect.”

*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: ‘Last Stop on the 6’ by Patricia Dunn

‘Last Stop on the 6’ by Patricia Dunn. Photo: google

Patricia Dunn is the author of the young adult novel “Rebels By Accident.” (Sourcebooks Fire, 2014). Her writing has appeared on Salon, in The Village Voice, The Nation, LA Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, in the anthology Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, and more. Patricia holds an MFA in creating writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She has been Senior Director of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and is co-founder of The Joe Papaleo Writers Workshop in Cetera, Italy. Her new book “Last Stop on the 6” is the return of the prodigal daughter to a world of long-buried hurts, political complexities, and female resiliency.

“Last Stop on the 6” begins as Theresa Angela Campanosi, or Angela, is sprung from jail after getting arrested at an anti-Gulf War protest in Los Angeles. It is set in 1991 against the backdrop of the Gulf War and the people who were against it. She left her Italian-American neighborhood of Pelham Bay, the Bronx, after an accident that left her brother, Jimmy, an up-and-coming actor, paralyzed. It is now ten years later and she receives a letter from her mother that includes a one-way ticket back to attend Jimmy’s wedding. Against her better judgement and because she blames herself for the accident, she returns to New York to deal with the guilt and secrets that make up her family. But now the groom has disappeared, leaving behind only a cryptic note and his collection of plastic patron saints on his nightstand. Angela’s asthmatic mother insists on keeping Jimmy’s fiancée in the dark; her father, three years sober, goes on a bender; Angela’s ex-boyfriend has taken over running the family exterminating business; and her stepfather just wants to feed everyone. She goes looking for Jimmy through the old neighborhood and discovers that our opinions about people—even ourselves—can be wrong, and that family is far more than blood.

Patricia Dunn presents an extraordinary picture of an Italian American family from the Bronx. Narrated in the first person point of view, readers get an insight into Angela’s conflicted personality: “In LA, I was the Bronx Girl – stubborn and tough- an activist with only three days to stop the war from happening. In the Bronx, in Pelham Bay, I was the sister who ruined her brother’s life.” Once she gets to New York, the first sign that she is not ready to return is her lack of a coat, which she had long ago donated to a homeless shelter. While she does not have a good view of her mom “Dad was the dreamer and Mommy was the sledgehammer who smashed those dreams into smithereens,” she still refers to her as ‘Mommy.’ The characters are complex, relatable, and well developed and the action flows easily from chapter to chapter. Using a combination of humor and drama, the author keeps it from being an overly depressing and dramatic tale of family bonds and obligations. Angela’s family is no doubt dysfunctional but they are also loving, supportive, and most of all, forgiving. In focusing on the life of one anti-war activist, “Last Stop on the 6” brings a Bronx neighborhood to life with all its complexities and humorous mis-adventures. It is recommended for readers who appreciate stories centered around strong families and the joys and pitfalls of growing up and growing wise.

*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: ‘Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller’ by Mike Papantonio and Alan Russell

‘Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller’ is the new novel by Mike Papantonio and Alan Russell. Photo: amazon

Mike Papantonio is a senior partner of Levin Papantonio, one of the country’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, and was one of the youngest inductees into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He has aggressively taken on Big Pharma, tobacco, weapon manufacturers, and the automobile industry, among other strongholds of corporate greed, and uses his own cases as springboards for his novels. Papantonio is also a well-known media presence as host of America’s Lawyer and co-host of the syndicated radio show Ring of Fire.

Alan Russell is the #1 bestselling author of seventeen mystery and suspense novels, including “Burning Man,” “Shame,” “St. Nick,” and “A Cold War.” Russell’s novels have been nominated for most of the major awards in crime fiction, and he has won a Lefty award for best comedic mystery, a USA Today Critics’ Choice Award, multiple San Diego Book Awards, and the Odin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the San Diego Writers/Editor Guild.

In their new novel “Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller,” while taking on a human trafficking case, the past comes calling with word that Nick “Deke” Deketomis’ fifteen-year-old goddaughter, Lily Reyes, is missing.

“Inhuman Trafficking” begins with Lily Reyes being set up by her boyfriend Carlos Navarro and handed off to a strange man who calls himself ‘Tío Leo’ as collateral for a planned score gone bad. Seven days after Lily disappears, her mother Sylvia contacts Deke for help in bringing her home safely. This is a sideline from his current case with Welcome Mat Hospitality.

For Deke, going head to head with some of the most dangerous cases has long been a way of life. His target this time is Welcome Mat Hospitality, a firm known for its truck stops and lodging throughout the United States. What Welcome Mat does not advertise is the human trafficking—for sex work and slave labor—going on at many of its properties. For the sake of better profits, Welcome Mat’s ownership has turned a blind eye to this lucrative enterprise. When Deke learns that Lily has fallen prey to a notorious trafficker, his personal and professional worlds converge when Lily comes in contact with Karina, a Russian woman who is one of the many victims of a madwoman’s human trafficking operations. For his goddaughter to survive, Deke must prevail not only in the legal arena but outside of it.

Mike Papantonio is the author of the Nick “Deke” Deketomis series of legal and courtroom thrillers including “Law and Addiction,” “Law and Disorder,” and “Law and Vengeance.” Even though “Inhuman Trafficking” is not a “Law and..” titled book, Deke is back in action trying to save the world from man’s inhumanity to man, in this case, human trafficking, which includes slave labor and sex traffickers.

There is not as much courtroom drama as in Papantonio’s previous books, but Deke and his team shine as they work incessantly to find Lily while trying to identify Karina and bring down the system that is taking advantage of her and countless others. The language is down to earth, easy to understand and expressive at times “Colors shimmered, appearing and disappearing like will-o’-the-wisps.”

With action that flows easily through the pages, one of the highlights is the heart-pounding action when Karina finally gets the nerve to call Deke’s office for help while looking over her shoulder to make sure no one sees her. Some of the details of human trafficking, including Lily’s survival mechanisms, are hard to read but are not overly graphic. The main takeaway is that everyone has had their challenges but nevertheless survived and are stronger because of them. Filled with relatable and well-developed characters, investigative action, and unpredictable developments, “Inhuman Trafficking” is a fast-paced thriller recommended for John Grisham fans who root for the little guy.

“Deke knew the ‘damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead’ look in Gina’s eyes. As she opened her mouth to reply, Deke surreptitiously banged the side of her chair. Gina turned his way, took a read of his eyes, and swallowed her commentary.”

Rating: 4 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.

Read an excerpt:

Book excerpt: ‘Inhuman Trafficking’ by Mike Papantonio and Alan Russell

Book review: ‘Treachery Times Two’ by Robert McCaw

‘Treachery Times Two’ is the new mystery novel by Robert McCaw. Photo: google

Robert McCaw is an author who grew up in a military family traveling the world. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, served as a U.S. Army lieutenant, and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. He was a partner in a major international law firm in Washington, D.C. and New York City, representing major Wall Street clients in complex civil and criminal cases. Having lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, McCaw fills his writing of the Islands with his more than 20-year love affair with this Pacific paradise. His new book “Treachery Times Two” is book four in McCaw’s Koa Kāne Hawaiian Mystery Series and follows “Death of a Messenger,” “Fire and Vengeance,” and “Off the Grid.” This new mystery novel involves secret military weapons, saboteurs, a volcanic eruption—and a probe of Chief Detective Koa Kāne’s criminal past.

“Treachery Times Two” – The action begins with a vivid description of a volcanic earthquake as “Pele, masquerading as a glassy-haired old woman,” destroys an abandoned cemetery and unearths a mystery that will shake up Hilo Hawaii’s Chief Detective Koa Kāne’s life as he knows it. The destruction brings forth the body of a woman mutilated by her killer to conceal her identity. While trying to solve this mystery, he finds himself at odds with a mysterious defense contractor with a politically connected board of directors. Defying his chief of police, Koa becomes entangled in an FBI espionage investigation of Deimos, a powerful secret military weapon. To top it off, Koa—a cop who thirty years earlier killed his father’s nemesis and covered up the murder—now faces exposure by the dead man’s grandson who mysteriously comes into town demanding answers. Koa is forced to investigate his own homicide, and step by step, his cover-up unravels until another man is falsely accused. His character is tested as he debates whether to stand by and let an innocent man pay for his crime or come clean and risk losing it all. 

Detective Koa Kāne is on the trail of another killer who thought the crime would be covered up by volcanic lava. Not only does he need to find out who killed the mysterious woman, he is constantly looking over his shoulder and dreading the day when his past crime will be revealed. It follows him constantly: “The investigation which had consumed his waking hours had now invaded his sleep.” Every time he closes a case, he visits Anthony Hazzard’s tombstone. As with the previous books, “Treachery Times Two” features highly developed, complex, and relatable characters, as well as Hawaiian terms, language, and history. Sometimes these Hawaiian terms and names slow down the pacing of the story, but it is worth it and readers are rewarded with a thrilling murder mystery filled with one plot twist after another. The author’s love of Hawaii is evident in his writing by his use of beautiful poetic language, especially when describing volcanic activity, as when the lava was “spreading thin, glassy particles of Pele’s hair like strands of cotton candy.” Koa Kāne is a deeply flawed character, comparable to Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. He is running from his past while trying to be the best detective he can be all the while people he thought he knew disappoint him but he still struggles on. The highlight is Chapter 9, which has eye-opening historical background on Hawai’i including how in 1893, the Committee of Safety, a group of western businessmen, with the backing of US Marines, staged a coup d’état against the reigning monarch and five years later, the United States annexed the islands. The plot twists keep the reader guessing until the shocking end. “Treachery Times Two” is another remarkable murder mystery by Robert McCaw and is recommended for fans of Michael Connelly who also appreciate a historical lesson or two. The good thing about this excellent mystery series is that each novel stands on its own and can be read in any order.

*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: ‘Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives’ by Minal Bopaiah

‘Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives’ by Minal Bopaiah. Photo: amazon

Minal Bopaiah is the founder of Brevity & Wit, a strategy and design firm that helps organizations achieve the change they wish to see in the world through a unique approach that combines human-centered design, behavior change science, and the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Bopaiah has written for the Stanford Social Innovation Review and TheHill.com and has been a featured guest on numerous podcasts and shows, including the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU. She has also been a keynote speaker for many conferences, inspiring thousands with her credible, authentic, and engaging talks. Her new book “Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives”  helps leaders create more inclusive organizations using human-centered design and behavior change principles. (amazon, 2021)

“Equity” begins with an Introduction that delves deep into the subject of equity. Under the section Why Equity, Not Equality, Minal Bopaiah defines Equality as “when everyone has the same thing” and equity as “when everyone has what they need to thrive and participate fully.” Figure 1. Equality versus equity illustrates this as everyone having the same size bicycle versus everyone having the right bicycle to fit their needs. By sharing her family’s immigration story, she explains systemic inequality and how the system was designed this way: “the United States has an education system tied to local property taxes.” Equity allows leaders to create organizations where employees can contribute their unique strengths and collaborate better with their peers. The book is divided into chapters: 1. The Relationship between Bias, Systems, and Equity, 2. A Design Approach to IDEA, 3. Engaged and Equitable Leadership, 4. Bridging the Gap, 5. Communicating the Change, and 6. Creating Equity through Media and Marketing. In Closing Thoughts, her hope is that she has provided readers with the tools to “start designing for more equity in the corner of the world where you have influence and power.”

It may be a business centered subject, but everyone can benefit from learning more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as Accessibility. “Equity” takes a complex topic and makes it clear and concise to everyday readers. Minal’s writing style is down to earth and the language is easy to understand. The Glossary at the end makes it easy to look up unfamiliar terms and Discussion Guide aimed at individuals, teams, and organizations will certainly keep the conversation going. One of the highlights is Chapter 6: Creating Equity through Media and Marketing which shows that even content creators can make a difference by making sure the content has proper representation and that everyone can access it. It may be a small book, but it speaks volumes about issues regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Far from being solely a business manual, it is also a reference guide for readers interested in creating a more equitable society. Filled with business and leadership advice, as well as interesting anecdotes and life lessons, “Equity” explains how everyone can do their part to achieve a more inclusive and diverse world and is recommended for readers interested in books about business leadership, workplace culture, and personal enrichment.

“When designing for equity, the objective is not to get everyone to think the same, have the same values, or believe the same things. The objective is to design a world where differences are valued.”

Rating: 4 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.

Book review: ‘Lineage: Life and Love and Six Generations in California Wine’ by Steven Kent Mirassou

‘Lineage: Life and Love and Six Generations in California Wine’ by Steven Kent Mirassou. Photo: amazon

Steven Kent Mirassou is an acclaimed winemaker and a descendant of one of the oldest and most respected wine families in California. He received his BA in American Literature from the George Washington University and his MA in Literature from NYU. He started his wine career in sales but found his true passion after moving into the production side of the business in 1996. Steven has made the highest rated wines from the Livermore Valley, and he is a co-founder of the Mount Diablo Highlands Wine Quality Alliance and the President of the Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association. With his decades of winemaking expertise, and with his extraordinary gift for haunting writing, Steven takes readers straight into the heart of his calling in his first book “Lineage: Life, Love and Six Generations in California Wine.” (amazon, 2021)

Steven Kent Mirassou starts “Lineage” with a description of the critical hour at the vineyard before the harvest starts. It is a cold night and it is “wondrously lonely out now” before the workers arrive. He is alone with his thoughts as they wander to the past and he reflects on the path that brought him to the wine making business. As the narrative moves along, he takes readers deep into the art of his craft, through the six generations that the Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting wines in California, the last thirty years in the Livermore Valley. As with every story, there is family drama, including the highs and lows of running a business. But through it all, he loves what he does and he learns that every loss brings on new beginnings. The book is divided into two parts: Part One consists of chapters like The Deep and Simple Immensity, Making Wine is Morning Work, and Thanks You Can Never Repay and Part Two has chapters like The True North of Civilization, Imprisoned in These Barrels, and Each Dusty Sunset Observed. It is an inside look deep into the art, the craft, the passion, and the 8,000 years of history that lie inside the finest of wines. As he puts it, “I work to take care of people, to add richness and joy to their lives, to make the people who drink my wine a little happier after than than they were before, each day.”

Images of beautiful Italian vineyards often accompany thoughts of wine and the wine making business. What the general public does not see is what happens behind the scenes: the long cold nights with the only illumination coming from the lights around the perimeter which are powered by generators, the tired workers who show up to work the vineyards, and the winemakers with arms deep in crushed grapes. Told in the first person point of view, it is a deeply personal look into the history of winemaking and his family business. This is a book like no other. It is a combination of autobiography and beautiful poetic prose: “This sweaty ferment that is the wine production business is like the snake attracted to its own tail, making eternal circles.” Accentuated with hauntingly beautiful pictures that tell their own story, it is more than just a book about the history of winemaking, it an impressive work of literature. “Lineage” brings the art of winemaking to the general masses and is recommended for readers interested in books about winemaking with a genuinely personal touch as well as poetry fans.  

“To taste a wine with one’s heart is to come to know the dirt between the farmer’s fingers, the exhalations of the vineyard as it sleeps in the black night.”

*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: ‘Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?’ by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro

‘Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?’ by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro. Photo: FSB Associates

Richard J. Leider is the founder of Inventure—The Purpose Company, whose mission is to help people unlock the power of purpose. Widely viewed as a pioneer of the global purpose movement, Leider has written or co-written eleven books, including three bestsellers, which have sold over one million copies. David A. Shapiro is a philosopher, educator, and writer whose work consistently explores matters of meaning, purpose, and equity in the lives of young people and adults. He is a tenured philosophy professor at Cascadia College, a community college in the Seattle area. Their new book, “Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?: The Path of Purposeful Aging” invites readers to navigate a purposeful path from adulthood to elderhood with choice, curiosity, and courage.

It is inevitable. Everyone is getting old, but not everyone grows whole while they are aging. A life well-lived contains purpose and fulfillment and while the authors do not profess to know everything, they are continuously learning and are sharing what they have learned along the way. In the Preface, they explain that this book is about “growing” old and their focus is on how to go about doing this. The topic came about when these two friends, who have known each other for years and have backgrounds in psychology and philosophy, started a conversation at a rained-out baseball game. Using inspiring stories, real-life practices, and thought provoking questions, they offer advice on how to live a purposeful life which leads to aging well. “Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?” is divided into nine chapters that addresses a question most people have had at one point or another. These chapters are One: Old, Who, Me? Two: If We All End Up Dying, What’s the Purpose of Living? Three: Aren’t I Somebody? Four: Am I Living the Good Life My Whole Life? Five: How Do I Stop Living a Default Life? Six: Am I Having a Late-Life Crisis? Seven: Will I Earn a Passing Grade in Life? Eight: How Can I Grow Whole as I Grow Old? Nine: How Will My Music Play On? It ends with an Afterword: Staying on the Path that encourages readers, once they finish the book, to re-read and study the chapters that had the most impact to them.

Everyone’s life is unique and we each have a different definition of what a purposeful life means. Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro share their views on “growing” old with the hopes of inspiring others to look within and find their own fulfillment to become an authentic person. It is an easy book to read and the chapters are divided so as to encourage readers to concentrate on whatever topic draws their attention. The language is down to earth and the tone is non-judgmental and supportive. Highlights include chapter Nine, which emphasizes the importance of having a reason to get out of bed because otherwise “we may as well just pull the covers over our head and stay there” and chapter Five that shares that the secret to ending default living is by “choosing to be your own person, on purpose, not by default.” All this advice may seem like common sense to most, but in the midst of life’s hectic pace, sometimes we need reminders along the way. This is what “Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old?” accomplishes perfectly. It may not be for everyone, but for readers who are genuinely searching for a deeper meaning to life and appreciate advice from others who have been there, this is a highly recommended must-read book.

“We invite you to explore this path of purposeful aging, keeping in mind that for each of us, the path will be unique. Each of us is an experiment of one.”

*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: ‘The Space in Between’ by Signe Myers Hovem

‘The Space in Between’ by Signe Myers Hovem. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Signe Myers Hovem has created homes on five continents over twenty years, raised four uniquely sensitive children, pursued a special education lawsuit appealed to the US Supreme Court, volunteered in a hospice in Texas and an orphanage in Azerbaijan, worked as a spiritual counselor in Houston Texas, and taught workshops and trainings in the art of being an empath and the power of language in many countries around the world. Her new book “The Space in Between: An Empath’s Field Guide” is written for people who identify as highly sensitive, as empathic, or as empaths and is a map to cultivating both self-awareness and connectivity with the greater world.

“The Space in Between” begins with an Introduction where the author shares an experience she had with a guard (she felt a stinging sensation on the back of her hand) when traveling to Angola to illustrate what it is like to be both empathic and an empath, or as she calls it, being a functional empath. Her goal in writing this book is to share her experiences in the hopes that it will help others like her manage their own experiences and understand how they influence their surroundings. She calls this book a ‘field guide’ because she sees herself as a guide whose goal is to help others create a more authentic, empowered, and empathic self. It is divided into five parts: Part I: The Field of Reflection, Part II: The Field of Definition, Part III: The Field of Sensing, Part IV: The Field of Experience and Awareness, and Part V: The Field of Mystery. Each “field” grounded her and helped her understand her empathic self. Before each one, there is an introduction that explains the themes of the chapters involved, and a “Questions for Reflection” section at the end.

For those who identify as empaths or highly sensitive people, daily life can be intimidating and overwhelming. Signe Myers Hovem does an excellent job of helping readers navigate through this often difficult journey by providing personal examples and stories. Her intimate experiences as a functional empath serve as a guide and inspiration for others to get to know themselves better. The subject matter may get confusing at times but she uses plain language that anyone can understand. A major focus is on journaling, self-discovery, and improvement. Her tone is soothing and insightful which puts readers at ease. Highlights include Chapter 9: The Sponge Factor where she defines the differences between a Highly Sensitive Person and an Empathic Person and the ‘Questions for Reflection’ sections at the end of every chapter which encourage readers to pause and reflect on what they have just read. The Resources section at the end has a list of sources she recommends for further guidance and information. It is important to note that this is not a ’how-to’ book on how to become an empath but rather a guide to help others in their path to understanding and coping with their own empathic abilities. “The Space in Between” is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and developing their empathic abilities or just genuinely open to learning more about the subject.

*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.
Author Signe Myers Hovem. Courtesy photo, used with permission.