non fiction review

Non Fiction Review: Trigger Point Therapy Made Simple

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Trigger Point Therapy Made Simple by Richard Finn LMT CMTPT
Trigger Point Therapy Made Simple: Serious Pain Relief in 4 Easy Steps
by Richard Finn, LMT CMTPT
5 out of 5 stars


This book outlines where trigger points are located in our muscles, and how massage, pressure, and other therapies can help to alleviate that pain. The self-therapy techniques include self-massage, breathing exercises, stretching exercises designed to alleviate nerve tension, massaging or compressing a trigger point in your muscle, and Swedish movements for stretching your range of motion.

I really like the attitudes in this book, putting the power of healing back into the hands of the patient, instead of relying on doctors who don’t give any answers or solutions other than prescription pain medication. The writing is so encouraging and gives good information about using techniques to heal yourself and find relief from pain and tension. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Joy at Work

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Joy at Work by Marie Kondō
Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life
by Marie Kondō ,Scott Sonenshein 

4 out of 5 stars


Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein give some wonderful guidelines in this book for tidying up your work. They focus on not just your desk and workspace, but also your time, contacts, email and digital documents, and decision-making process. They give advice on team-building, evaluating tasks, and how to run an effective meeting.

I liked the chapters that Marie wrote the best. Her voice is so inspirational and clear. The advice given by Scott is also good, but I didn’t connect with his voice as much.

I really liked that the circumstances and examples of each job could apply to almost any job or field of work, no matter your level or profession.

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Non Fiction Review: Origami Made Simple

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Origami Made Simple by Russell Wood
Origami Made Simple: 40 Easy Models with Step-By-Step Instructions
by

Russell Wood
5 out of 5 stars

This book has simple instructions for easy origami patterns, and begins with the simplest of them all, a little paper house. Gradually the book moves from simple designs to more complex designs that require more folds. Everything is explained with detailed instructions and diagrams that clearly show each fold.

I love the cute designs! There are cats and birds and fish and butterflies, a teapot, a basket, a man fishing, a praying nun, and even a sphinx and a snail. The instructions for some of these are so simple that a child could do them, and yet they are still interesting for adults. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person

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The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person by Amanda Cassil
The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person
by Amanda Cassil

5 out of 5 stars

As a Highly Sensitive Person, it is such a relief to have a book like this! It describes the HSP experience so clearly, and gives real and practical ideas for navigating the strong emotions and overwhelming sensations that come with having an HSP brain.

There is a quiz you can take to determine whether or not you are an HSP. The quiz says that if you score a 14 or higher, then you are an HSP. I scored a 24! I am extremely sensitive, and it’s always been a struggle. I’ve felt misunderstood my entire life, and have spent years telling myself, “Why can’t you be like other people? Why does this bother you so much? Why can’t you just let it go?” This book spoke so compassionately to my frustration and emotional pain, as well as my physical struggles. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Stretch

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Stretch by Scott SonensheinStretch: Unlock the Power of Less – and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined
by Scott Sonenshein 
3 out of 5 stars

I picked up this book because the author has co-written the new Marie Kondo book, Joy at Work. I wanted to check out other books by this author before I read Marie Kondo’s new book.
I was disappointed.

The writing is much too verbose, taking forever to make a clear point. Every chapter is FULL of stories; true stories, anecdotes, business stories, and examples of people who succeeded or failed. Then the author uses the example from the story to illustrate their point about being resourceful with little instead of grasping for more. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know

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Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know by Candace Rose Rardon
Stuff Every Tea Lover Should Know
by Candace Rose Rardon 

4 out of 5 stars

This book covers everything you could ever want to know about tea from the rich history of tea to how to brew it properly. There are chapters about the different types of teas, the pros and cons of teabags vs. loose leaf tea, how to determine the flavors and aftertaste of a tea blend, and how to brew the perfect cuppa.

There are excellent instructions on how to store tea, how to determine the caffeine content, and how to calculate the correct temperature and steeping time.

One of the details that make this book special is the inclusion of Asian tea ceremonies and traditions, along with fun things like a tea pet, which is a small unglazed clay figurine that can be saturated with the tea and takes on a beautiful patina and aroma of the tea. There are also tea ceremonies from Russia, Tibet, Britain, Turkey, New Zealand, India, Morroco, and a dozen other cultures. There is a section about the newly popular “bubble tea” from Taiwan, and it has inspired me to try it! But I was especially delighted to see a section for Southern Sweet Tea native to my own Southern United States. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: All about Weather

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All About Weather by Huda Harajli MA
All About Weather: A First Weather Book for Kids
by Huda Harajli MA

5 out of 5 stars

This children’s picture book describes all different types of weather, and gives some simple scientific information about temperature and cloud types. I like the writing style that is perfect for a child’s level of understanding.

The illustrations are adorable! Full of bright colors, each page draws the reader in. The clouds are smiling, and the children are playing in the rain.

There are even questions to answer in the text, prompting the reader to choose the right accessories for a rainy or cold day. Should I wear boots or sunglasses? Should I carry mittens or an umbrella? I like that the book gets the reader involved, and encourages children to think carefully. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Healing through Nutrition

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Healing through Nutrition by Eliza Savage
Healing through Nutrition: The Essential Guide to 50 Plant-Based Nutritional Sources
by Eliza Savage

5 out of 5 stars

This book has recipes for healing foods of fruits, grains, herbs, coffee and tea, and dozens of vegetables. The sections are divided by the type of food, with information about the benefits of that food, it’s healing power, and medical conditions that it will help.

The recipes are simple with easy instructions and common ingredients. There are also variations on the recipe in case you want to add or substitute something. I really like how the recipes are organized, and the design and layout is easy to navigate. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Prayer

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Prayer by Timothy J. Keller
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
by Timothy J. Keller

5 out of 5 stars


This book on prayer gives clear examples from history, hundreds of Scripture references, and inspiring ideas about prayer and how God draws close to us.
The topics include why we need to pray, how great and marvelous prayer truly is, what prayer is and is not, and how to truly encounter God and approach His throne. There are also chapters about traditional ideas of prayer, rules for how to pray, how to prepare our heart for prayer, the elements of confession and adoration that go into a prayer, and an analysis of The Lord’s Prayer.

I especially loved the chapters about meditation, with advice on how to meditate on God’s Word and incorporate quiet meditation into your prayers along with petitions, thanksgiving, and confession. Continue reading →