Category: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘The Hidden Worlds’ by Sandra Ingerman and Katherine Wood

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‘The Hidden Worlds’ by Sandra Ingerman and Katherine Wood is an interesting look at friendship and magic. Courtesy photo: used with permission. 

Sandra Ingerman is an award-winning author of twelve books, including ‘Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self,’ ‘Medicine for the Earth’ and ‘The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred into Everyday Life.’ She is also a renowned teacher on shamanic journeying, healing and using spiritual methods to reverse environmental pollution. Katherine Wood taught reading and writing to middle and high school students for 31 years. She is a shamanic practitioner and teacher as well as an avid reader, writer and journeyer who loves to travel in both ordinary reality and in the hidden worlds. They are co-authors of ‘The Hidden Worlds,’ a novel for young readers about four middle school students who work together for a common purpose even though they are completely different people.

The protagonists in ‘The Hidden Worlds’ are middle school aged students. It begins with a look into Isaiah’s life, complete with home and school drama. Then come Magda, the popular soccer star whose goal in life is to get a soccer scholarship for college, George, the quiet boy who is frequently bullied because he requires “special services” and Rose, the Chinese girl who is always angry and gets into trouble for fighting. One day, they are playing near the forest when they come across several dead birds and are compelled to work together and find out what is poisoning and killing off the wildlife. They get together and brain storm in shared dreams, where they each find their power animal: Isaiah has a great grizzly bear, George an octopus, Rose a giraffe and Magda a black panther. Their dreams lead to real life adventures when they discover a toxic waste plant illegally disposing of poisons. Strangers in the beginning, their friendships grow as they work together with their Power Animals to close down the plant.

Isaiah, George, Rose and Magda are normal middle schoolers who are dramatically different but have similar interests that bring them together as they work for a common cause – the environment. In ‘The Hidden Worlds,’ shamanism is introduced in a nonchalant way when they need guidance and feel no one can help them when they desperately want to make a difference. Wikipedia defines Shamanism as “a practice that involves reaching altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with the spirit world and channel those transcendental energies into this world.” The chapters are short and the story is easy to read and understand. It may be a small book, but it touches on important topics such as bullies and the importance of standing up for yourself, school drama, puberty, environmental concerns and shamanism. Stand out chapters include Chapter 16: Organizing, which explains how cause and effect works when the environment is concerned and Chapter 13: Journeying – it explains what journeying means and the kids learn what the Hidden Worlds are and how shamans help people communicate with spirits. Aside from having the usual teen drama such as school, family life and personal issues, ‘The Hidden Worlds’ also touches on magic, spirit guides, power animals and journeying. It is recommended for readers of any age with an interest in these topics and who have an open mind and are willing to discover new ways of seeing the world.

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

Book review: ‘Cyber Smart’ by Bart R. McDonough

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“Cyber Smart” is the new book by Bart McDonough on the subject of cyber security. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Bart McDonough attended the University of Oklahoma and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut. He is CEO and Founder of Agio, a hybrid managed IT and cybersecurity services provider where he and his more than 250 employees have developed cybersecurity and managed IT tools tailored to protect businesses’ most precious assets: money and reputation. Bart is currently on the board of two cybersecurity firms, TwoSense.AI and Magnus Cloud and has just released his debut book “Cyber Smart: Five Habits to Protect Your Family, Money, and Identity from Cyber Criminals.” This easy to read guide simplifies good cyber hygiene and debunks common cybersecurity myths to help readers protect themselves and their families from identity theft, fraudulent schemes, hacking and more.

Cybersecurity can be a complicated subject because the Internet has overtaken everything, from banking, healthcare and personal communication. As an expert in the cybersecurity field, in “Cyber Smart,” Bart McDonough “combines his knowledge with real-world examples of cyberattacks and how to prevent them as well as how to recover from them.” It begins with the Introduction, where the author provides specific recommendations anyone can use to protect themselves against cyberattacks and scams including: Update Your Devices, Enable Two-Factor Authentication, Use a Password Manager, Install and Update Antivirus and Back-Up Your Data. The book is divided into twenty-one chapters, proof that he covers almost every subject imaginable, including Overview of Cyber Risks, Attack Targets and Goals, Attack Methods, Incident Response, Protecting Your Identity, Protecting Your Money and Protecting Your Social Media.

“Cyber Smart” makes cybersecurity accessible to the general public by being easy to read, informative and extremely organized. Readers can read it cover to cover to gain valuable information to protect their daily digital lives or pick a subject/chapter, by using the Index, to increase their knowledge and become better prepared to deal with the risks. This useful guide not only touches on the risks associated with an increasingly plugged-in society, but gives insights into how hackers think, why they do what they do, and what they do with stolen information. In Chapter 5: Attack Targets and Goals, Mr. McDonough explains that in the healthcare industry, stolen ‘personally identifiable information’ (PII) is used to gain access to healthcare treatment, prescription dugs and medical equipment. It is best to keep in mind that these attacks are not personal, that “bad actors are looking to get rich off the attacks they perform.” Stand out chapters include Chapter 4: Attack Methods where he explains the different scams, including Malware, Crypto mining and Spyware and recommends using multiple email addresses for different purposes, such as banking, social media and shopping; and Chapter 9: Incident Response where he goes into details about what to do once an attack occurs. The definitive reference guide for cybersecurity, “Cyber Smart” is recommended for readers who understands that the risks are out there and are looking to arm themselves with the knowledge to protect their digital lives.

“There are around 4,000 data brokers in the United States that are in the business of purchasing and selling personal information – things we would normally not share with others, let alone give knowing permission to corporations to store and resell it.”

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

Book review: Tug Wyler Mystery series by Andy Siegel

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Andy Siegel is a personal injury lawyer and author of the Tug Wyler Mystery series. 

Andy Siegel is a graduate of Tulane University and Brooklyn Law School and a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney in New York City. His many trial successes have regularly placed those outcomes among the “Top 100 Verdicts” reported in the state annually. After sharing a trial story with a mom at his kids’ baseball game, he was encouraged to write them down, which led to the Tug Wyler Mystery series. The series consists of ‘Suzy’s Case,’ ‘Cookie’s Case,’ which was selected as a Conversations Book Club Top 10 Beach Read, ‘Nelly’s Case,’ ‘Elton’s Case’ and ‘Jenna’s Case.’ At the heart of each is Tug Wyler, a colorful, cocky and self-deprecating personal injury lawyer.

‘Jenna’s Case’ is about Jenna Radcliff, a teenager who is the victim of a cosmetic surgeon willing to put greed above his oath to do no harm. It begins as she is going in to surgery and has flashbacks of how she got there. She is a competitive double-Dutch rope-jumper who is self-conscious about being big-breasted and agrees to a reduction surgery set up by her con-man step-father. Instead, she gets a total breast reduction that leaves Jenna not only physically scarred but a shell of the bright and energetic teenager she used to be. Her scheming step-father will do anything to get the money Jenna has inherited, including putting her life at stake.

The client in ‘Nelly’s Case’ is Nelly Rivera, a young woman who, because of dental anxiety, goes to Dr. Grad, know as the Painless Dentist, who uses general anesthesia. Shortly after being hooked up to the IV, she stops breathing and is rushed to the hospital where she falls into a coma. Eventually she comes out of it, but Dr. Grad insists that it was an unfortunate anaphylactic reaction. Rather than drag litigation out and risk his career and family, he settles out of court but ends up being sued by the city for negligence. The money trail targeted Nelly who was recently set to inherit a large sum of money from her father’s life insurance after he died in a house fire.

‘Elton’s Case’ is the case involving Elton Jerome Cribbs, who was wrongly convicted of a crime. His situation goes from bad to worse when he is injured during a prison transport and left paraplegic. Now in a wheelchair, he is seeking justice for his wrongful imprisonment while rejecting any kind of pity. The City of New York offers him millions to settle but maintains their stance that he is faking his injuries. It turns out they were right and Tug is stuck in the middle, struggling to distinguish the bad guys from the guys and truth from fiction.

Personal injury lawyers tend to get a bad reputation and their efforts to get justice often goes unnoticed, until Tug Wyler came along. This is a fascinating series centered around a flawed, but charming lawyer who frequently admits his mistakes and schemes and simply says “at least I admit it.” His lies frequently catch up to him and he is haunted by his past but in his mind he does what he has to do. He has been kidnapped, assaulted, held in contempt of court and blackmailed into taking cases he does not want. The novels start with ‘The Unfortunate Event’ and are written in the first-person point of view of Tug in plain English and are easy to understand and follow. There is courtroom drama with details of the cases including medical backgrounds and insight into Tug’s mind and analysis of his actions. The characters are well developed and sometimes other cases are mixed in to emphasize how lawyers usually handle more than one case at a time. These page-turners and are recommended for fans of courtroom dramas similar to John Grisham as well as mysteries and medical dramas.

“It’s common to diss personal injury lawyers-ambulance chasers they call us. But just remember: anyone, in an instant, can become a victim. Even you.” – Andy Siegel

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

Book review: ‘Becoming Starlight’ by Sharon Prentice, PhD

becomingstarlightSharon Prentice, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor and a Board-Certified Spiritual Counselor. Soon after completing her graduate studies in psychology, Dr. Prentice found the world of secular psychology lacking – her patients needed “something more.” She set out to investigate and explore alternative methods in the field of mental health that would incorporate that “something special” she believed existed in each and every individual soul. Because of her unusual experience with death, she developed an interest in death and dying and investigated and interviewed patients who were in the dying process and people who had experienced Near Death Experiences or Shared Death Experiences. Her new book “Becoming Starlight: A Shared Death Journey from Darkness to Light” is a thought-provoking book that opens the conversation regarding the afterlife, including NDEs and SDEs.

A Near Death Experience is defined as a personal experience associated with death or impending death that includes feelings of detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total serenity, security and warmth, among others. A Shared Death Experience is similar, but occurs not to the person dying, but to someone who is physically well and completely unaware that a loved one is close to dying. They witness the aftermath of death via powers outside their control. The author experienced such an SDE which was tied to the passing of her husband.

“Becoming Starlight” begins with A Note from the Author and a Foreword by Dr. Raymond Moody where he explains that, aside from discussing NDE and SDE, “the book will also bring comfort to those who are feeling unrelenting grief over lost loved ones.” The Introduction serves to define what NDEs and SDEs are and how they are similar. There are fifteen chapters in all and the first few chronicle her personal life and the deep losses that brought her to the point where she was angry at God and viewed death as cold and inflexible. Chapter 11: Becoming Starlight describes her Shared Death Experience that changed her perspective on life, death and God.

In this deeply personal book, Sharon Prentice shares her long and difficult journey to find inner peace and cope with the death of her daughter and husband, all while trying to reconnect with God. Even though the subject matter may be difficult at times, including the details of her husband’s illness and deteriorating health, some readers may find solace in knowing that others, like themselves, have also experienced such hardships. The language is easy to understand and the story flows from chapter to chapter and makes it a page turner for the target audience. In this case, it is the religious community that may find themselves questioning their faith and are looking for reassurances that in the end, their faith is not in vain. Sometimes the tone is unforgiving to scientists, science and those who do not believe in the afterlife and may turn off some readers. Regardless, the highlight is definitely the author’s description of her Shared Death Experience as it comes across as a beautiful experience that surrounded her with love, hope and comfort when she needed it most. “Becoming Starlight” is recommended for readers who are genuinely interested in the afterlife and need the comforting words of someone who, despite heartbreaking losses, came out a better person.

“Becoming Starlight is….an account, my account, of a Soul’s journey that leads to an unraveling of a lifetime of beliefs about God and our very existence in this universe.”

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

Book review: ‘Say What You Mean’ by Oren Jay Sofer

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‘Say What You Mean’ is the intriguing new book by Oren Jay Sofer on improving communication skills. Courtesy photo, used with permission. 

Oren Jay Sofer is the founder and Guiding Teacher of Next Step Dharma, an innovative online course focused on bringing the tools of meditation to daily life, and co-founder of Mindful Healthcare. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and leads mindful communication retreats and workshops throughout the United States. His new book “Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication” is a practical guidebook for having more effective and satisfying conversations.

Communication is an important part of everyday life with speech being one of the most effective and widely used forms of communication. Words have the power to heal or destroy and it is up to the individual to determine what kind of vibe he or she wants to give out to the world. In the Introduction, Oren Jay Sofer writes that during his life’s journey, he has worked to integrate his understanding of Buddhist meditation and Nonviolent communication. The book as a whole is a collection of three distinct streams of practices: mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication and Somatic Experiencing (emphasizes the role of the nervous system regulation in resolving trauma). They are tools for deepening self-understanding and transforming habits of communication. The three steps of communication include: lead with presence, come from curiosity and care and focus on what matters. These steps form the basis of “Say What You Mean” and divide the book into four parts: The first step: lead with presence, The second step: ‘come from curiosity and understanding,’ The third step: ‘focus on what matters’ and ‘bringing it all together.’ Useful indices at the end include Notes by Chapter, Glossary, Resources and Index of Practices by Topic.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to communication. In “Say What You Mean,” Oren Jay Sofer offers the reader a practical and useful guide to improving this often overlooked but vital skill. In today’s volatile environment, it has become more important than ever to be able to communicate clearly and in a non-violent manner to ensure everyone is heard. The author has done an impressive job of laying out the elements of communication in simple and easy to understand terms. Highlights include ‘emotional agility’ in Part Three where it states that defining emotions is a critical part of communication and ‘the flow of dialogue’ in Part Four where the author summarizes the different components of dialogue: speak, listen and rest in presence. The chapters are peppered with practice exercises, Q and A from real people, principles and key points to summarize the material along the way. Especially helpful are the quick reference guides at the end: Summary of Principles and Useful Communication Phrases. “Say What You Mean” is recommended for readers who wish to improve their communications skills as well as their interpersonal skills while getting to know themselves.

“If you take nothing else from this whole book, I hope you will take with you the importance the intention to understand, to come from curiosity and care, has in your interactions.”

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

Book review: ‘Temptation Rag’ by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

temptationragElizabeth Hutchison Bernard is an award-winning author of historical fiction but her first love was music. As a vocalist, flutist and songwriter, she toured for nearly a decade. She was a Communications graduate of Northwestern University and in 1997 became the Communications Director for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Her in-depth knowledge of plastic surgery lends a unique perspective to her first historical novel, ‘The Beauty Doctor,’ and music takes center stage in her upcoming book, ‘Temptation Rag,’ both set in turn-of-the-century rag-time era New York City. ‘Temptation Rag’ is scheduled for release on Monday December 3 and centers around seventeen-year old May Convery, who is unhappy with her privileged life and dreams of becoming a poet.

The story in ‘Temptation Rag’ begins with May, who as a young girl, meets Mike Bernard, a talented young aspiring pianist and immediately falls in love. He is her piano instructor but their lives cross paths during parties and concerts. When their secret marriage is discovered, it is annulled and they both go their separate ways. As the years pass, their stories are told simultaneously as Mike abandons serious music to defend his title of Ragtime King of the World and May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. The book is separated into four acts and each begins with a chapter told from the view of Ben Harney’s sideman, Strap Hill. They are as follows: Act I (1895-1896), Act II (1900), Act III (1912-1913) and Act IV (1928-1929). In the Curtain Call set in August 1943, Mike’s son Bert Bernard meets the brother he never knew he had; Melvin Livingstone, who is his May and Mike’s son.

In the Author’s Note, Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard explains how this historical novel is based on historical facts but that while some characters are real, like Mike Bernard, Ben Harney and Tony Pastor, some of the characters are fictional. Fans of the genre will be thrilled to find out that the author’s husband’s grandfather is the real Mike Bernard, the American musician who influence the development of ragtime-era music. Even though May and Mike’s story is a complicated romance that spans decades, the history taking place in the background, including vaudeville stars, early African American musical theatre actors and actresses and the woman’s suffrage movement is the gem of the novel. Especially gripping is the chapter titled ‘The Parade’ in Act III which is set in Washington DC in March 1913 during a suffragette march where May and other women are arrested. May’s character is relatable because it realistically describes a women’s never-ending search for her identity, especially in that era. ‘Temptation Rag’ is a gripping page-turner that has romance, history and music and is recommended for readers who appreciate a smart retelling of history through multiple points of view. It might even introduce some readers to the joyful sounds of ragtime.

“May wiped away an errant tear before it could leave its trail on her cheek. She felt light, giddy. It seemed the secrets that had weighed her down for decades also had the power to set her free.”

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

Book review: ‘The Golden Sequence’ by Jonni Pollard

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‘The Golden Sequence: A Manual for Reclaiming Our Humanity’ is Jonni Pollard’s exciting new book on finding true purpose and responsibility. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jonni Pollard is best known for bringing meditation to the mainstream through his organization 1 Giant Mind and its Learn to Meditate smartphone apps which have taught hundreds of thousands of people worldwide how to meditate for free. He leads mass meditations at some of the world’s biggest lifestyle events and festivals like Wanderlust, Lightning in a Bottle and The Big Quiet and also teaches private meditation and personal development for entrepreneurs, CEOs, celebrities, political leaders and wellness experts across yoga and meditation. His first book ‘The Golden Sequence: A Manual for Reclaiming Our Humanity’ was released this month and in it, Jonni Pollard presents a powerful case that the current global crisis is rooted in people’s disconnection from their true purpose and responsibility to belong.

At one time, Jonni Pollard was struggling to make sense of the world and find true purpose until a master teacher in India introduced him to ancient Vedic practices. This changed his life forever because the anxiety he felt for years was replaced with a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. As a meditation teacher, his mission is to share the knowledge and techniques he learned to help others reclaim their power to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. According to him, the best way to accomplish this is through what he calls ‘The Golden Sequence.’ “The Golden Sequence teaching, when practiced diligently, rapidly awakens the creative intelligence that flows from within us when we are connected to the sacredness of life.” This book begins with an Introduction where the author introduces himself, his background and how he got to his current state. Chapters include The Heart of Our Crisis, The Wisdom in Our Bodies, The Four Golden Insights, The Twelve Ways of Wisdom, The Greatest Threat to Fulfillment, The Golden Sequence Technique and How Can I Be of Service in This Moment.

‘The Golden Sequence’ is more than just a how-to book on meditation and new age concepts; it is a manual for these troubled times and gives much needed advice on being human, kind and benevolent. It expands on the basic definitions of pity, compassion and love, the most impactful being ‘love’ as “…carrying the loving intention to do no harm to others and to be of loving service whenever possible by supporting and encouraging each other.” Chapter 7: The Twelve Ways of Wisdom stands out because it touches on ideas like Devotion and Grace with a section for each and at the end has a practical exercise on how apply them. Chapter 11: How Can I Be of Service in This Moment is a practical reference guide for daily tips such as seeing failures as opportunities to grow and making a connection with at least one person every day. With easy to understand terms and language, ‘The Golden Sequence’ is recommended for readers interested in self-improvement and who are genuinely concerned with making a difference not only in themselves, but in others and the world around them.

“Where there is love, there is wisdom. Where there is wisdom there is the ability to find a light side of ourselves and every situation.”

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

Book review: ‘The Burn Zone: A Memoir’ by Renee Linnell

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‘The Burn Zone: A Memoir’ is the fascinating story about one woman’s experience with a cult. Photo: In Her Image Photography, used with permission. 

Aside from being a surf model and a professional Argentine Tango dancer, Renee Linnell is a serial entrepreneur who has founded or co-founded five companies and has an MBA from New York University. She is currently working on starting a publishing company to give people from diverse walks of life an opportunity to tell their stories. In her new book ‘The Burn Zone: A Memoir,’ she recounts how being smart and successful did little to prevent her from being severely brainwashed and lured into a cult and how people unknowingly give up their power in their desperate search for answers to life’s biggest questions.

‘The Burn Zone’ is the story of one woman’s search for Truth and the struggle to forgive and be free. It starts off with a Preface where Renee Linnell summarizes what she has learned along the way: that the only way to find real happiness is through embracing what makes each person unique. The Introduction sets up how her journey began with a meditation seminar in California in 2006 that changed her life, for better or worse. Her first experience with Lakshmi, the guru, in that seminar, was so intense that she knew without a doubt that it was exactly what she needed. The term ‘Burn Zone’ refers to the first few rows in a meditation session where the energy is the strongest. She was looking for answers; for guidance to help her navigate life’s unfortunate circumstances: death and a volatile homelife. The rest of the book is separated into six parts: Seeking, Tantra, Crucible, Alone, Into the Light and Whole. In Seeking, she describes her traumatic childhood and adolescence while Crucible is where her life starts to unravel and she wakes up to the realization that she was in a cult.

Cults are sometimes associated with poverty and living a sheltered life, but that is not always the case. Despite being educated and having travelled the world from an early age; she visited close to fifty countries by her early twenties, Renee Linnell’s search for deeper meaning left her vulnerable. She wanted to believe that her spiritual guides and gurus had her best interest at heart so she blindly followed their advice but it left her isolated and heartbroken. After seven years, she faced reality and after some deep soul searching, managed to finally find herself. This page turner of a memoir is part cautionary tale, part inspirational story that speaks volumes about what makes people human and their longing to belong. The language is down to earth and easy to understand without any complicated meditation terms to learn. She simply tells her story in the hopes of inspiring others to live their true self.  ‘The Burn Zone’ is recommended for readers who appreciate memoirs with spiritual and meditation themes.

“Embrace your skeletons in the closet. Pull them out and paint them pink. Celebrate them. Your skeletons are probably the most interesting part about you. Your difference is your destiny.”

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

Book review: ‘Brother John’ by August Turak

brotherjohnAugust Turak is a successful entrepreneur and award-winning author who attributes much of his success to his frequent visits with the Trappist monks of Mepkin Abbey where he lives and works alongside them sometimes for months at a time. In 2004 he entered the Templeton Foundation’s Power of Purpose essay contest by answering the question: “What is the Purpose of Life” in 3500 words or less. His essay, Brother John, about a Christmas Eve encounter at Mepkin Abbey, won the $100,000 grand prize. Now his essay is available in book form, ‘Brother John: A Monk, a Pilgrim, and the Purpose of Life,’ and is set for release on Sunday October 21. It includes over twenty full color paintings by Glenn Harrington, a multiple award-winning artist.

‘Brother John’ is the true story of the meaningful encounter between the author going through a mid-life crisis and an umbrella-wielding Trappist monk. Set in the Trappist monastery of Mepkin Abbey and brought to life by Glenn Harrington’s paintings, the essay revolves around what happened after a Christmas Eve service and party. It was raining and he was exhausted and still had to walk to his room in the rain. That was when he spotted Brother John, who had been up since 3a.m., waiting to walk him to his room and shelter him with his umbrella, just like he had done with the other guests. This selfless act eventually leads him to the redemptive power of an authentically purposeful life.

Despite the religious overtones and subject matter, this is not a religious book. Mr. Turak shares his experiences searching for the meaning of life in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same. It is an enjoyable read and meant to be read more than once. The paintings are beautiful and transport to reader to a simpler life at Mepkin Abbey. In the Introduction, he explains that he donated the money from the contest to charity, including the Self Knowledge Symposium Foundation, a non-profit corporation whose mission is “to bring Brother John’s transformative message of meaning and purpose to a Western culture increasingly bereft of meaning and purpose.” Just like Brother John offered him his umbrella at a critical time, August Turak now dedicates his life to sharing his magical umbrella with his fellow men. ‘Brother John’ may be a small book, but its moving message is bigger than life and is recommended for readers searching for life’s meaning.

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

Book review: ‘The Beauty of Dirty Skin’ by Whitney Bowe, M.D.

dirtyskinWhitney Bowe, M.D. is a renowned New York-based dermatologist committed to achieving and maintaining the health and radiance of her patient’s skin. She specializes in skin rejuvenation, laser dermatology and the link between nutrition and skincare. Her work has earned the attention of top media outlets, including Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show and The Doctors as well as publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In her book “The Beauty of Skin: The Surprising Science of Looking and Feeling Radiant from the Inside Out,” she presents the connection between a healthy gut and radiant, clear skin, with a 21-day program to maximize skin health and beauty.

According to “The Beauty of Skin,” every year, millions of Americans will consult their doctors about skin disorders ranging from stubborn acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and premature wrinkling only to receive treatments that are only skin deep. As a pioneering researcher on the cutting edge of the relationship between the gut, brain and skin, she explains how even the best lasers, scalpels, creams and prescription pads do not guarantee consistently healthy, glowing skin. She focuses on the microbiome and highlights the connection between sleep, stress, diet and gastrointestinal health as they pertain to skin health. The book is divided into three parts: A Gut Reaction to Radiant Skin – how getting clear, glowing skin is an inside job, from the state of mind to how the gut works and how food affects the skin; Glow with Your Gut – includes practical tools that will transform the skin; and Putting It All Together – a plan of action for superior skin care and recipes for meals and cleansing face masks.

After a health scare when she was ten years old, Dr. Whitney Bowe spent years researching the microbiome, the friendly microorganisms that support the gut-brain-skin relationship, which is the soul of radiant skin. She goes into the science of microorganisms in Part One where she writes about how bacteria, fungi and viruses play a role in everything from the efficiency of the metabolism to the risk of diabetes, obesity, depression, autoimmune disorders and dementia. Some of the science can get longwinded but the material is easy to understand and readers can easily skip ahead to the tips and lifestyle advice.

Her medical advice may go against the establishment but it has helped her patients and now she is sharing it with readers. Highlights include Chapter 6: Feed Your Face, dietary recommendations for better skin health and Chapter 7: Take Time to Recover, the power of exercise, meditation and sleep. It all comes down to this: why spend millions on creams and skin treatments in the search for perfect skin, when the answer could be as simple as a few dietary changes and exercising the mind, body and spirit. “‘The Beauty of Dirty Skin” is recommended for readers who are struggling with skin issues and are ready to try something different.

“…what’s going on in your gut right at this moment is determining not only how your brain performs and responds to signals from the body about its current state and needs but also what your skin thinks and how it performs.”

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