Non Fiction Book Review: Working from Home

Working From Home by J. S. Kirby

Working From Home: Slacker to Superstar
by J. S. Kirby

4 of 5 stars

Working from home has its own list of benefits and troubles. It can be tempting to waste your time with distractions when you are at home and keep reaching for snacks in the kitchen. This book has advice for how to remain focused and succeed with a good working routine at home.

Continue reading

Book Review: Different

Different by Heather Dominick-Kosmicki

Different: The Highly Sensitive Leadership Revolution
by Heather Dominick-Kosmicki

4 out of 5 stars

This book helps you to navigate the difficulties of being a highly sensitive person and embrace the strengths that come with high sensitivity. Instead of being stuck in limiting beliefs and anxiety, you can learn to act from a place of trust and courage.

Continue reading

Book Review: Arborama

Arborama by Lisa Voisard

Arborama: The Marvelous World of Trees
by Lisa Voisard, Jeffrey K. Butt (Translator)

4 out of 5 stars

This book has everything you wanted to know about North American trees! From giant redwoods to the humble apple tree, you can learn about how trees are so important and beautiful. How deep do the roots go? How do different trees blossom and pollinate? How do their seeds grow into such mighty trunks?

Continue reading

Book Review: Unplug and Play

Unplug and Play by Anthony T. DeBenedet M.D.

Unplug and Play: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Roughhousing with Your Kids
by Anthony T. DeBenedet M.D., Lawrence J. Cohen Ph.D.

4 out of 5 stars

Children need a little roughhouse play and gentle wrestling to help them develop emotionally and mentally. Blowing off some steam can help them regulate their emotions and learn to express themselves in healthy ways. Roughhousing and silliness actually lights up parts of the brain that will make children smarter. They learn how to interact with people socially and manage their impulses.

Continue reading

Book Review: Smart Brevity

Smart Brevity by Jim Vandehei

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less
by Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz

3.5 out of 5 stars

People are lost in an ocean of words, and if you want your message to be heard and understood, brevity is the key. This book gives advice on how to streamline your words, so that you can communicate most effectively.

I really like that this book helps you to explore why your message matters. If you know your ‘why’, then you can boil down your message to the most important points that you want people to remember. If you can get the “one big thing” to stick in people’s memories, then you have won the battle. A few short words can be truly powerful.

Continue reading

Book Review: A Book That Loves You

A Book That Loves You by Irene Smit

A Book That Loves You: An Adventure in Self-Compassion (Flow)
by Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst, Editors of Flow magazine

4 out of 5 stars

This beautiful book has postcards, stickers, small posters, removable journal booklets, and a dozen other adorable things included! You can write lists, read poetry, make a collage, write in your thoughts, or make a paper flower. There are articles about slowing down, treating yourself with compassion, finding meaning in your life, and enjoying solitude.

Continue reading

Non Fiction Book Review: God in the Dock

God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis

God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics
by C.S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (Editor)

4 out of 5 stars

This collection of essays and letters from C.S. Lewis covers a wide range of topics, including Christmas traditions, miracles, vivisection, morality, dogma, and prayer.
He talks about how a God who is good can allow pain in the world, briefly summarizing concepts from his book “The Problem of Pain.” He talks about the common man of his day and their objections or misunderstandings that keep them from believing in Christ. He talks about the decline of religion in Britain, and the Christian truths hidden in pagan mythology. He answers questions, refutes common mistakes of his contemporaries, and responds to criticisms from his fellow intellectuals.

Continue reading

Book Review: Supercade

Supercade by Van Burnham

Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1985-2001
by Van Burnham

4 out of 5 stars

This book gives a comprehensive history of the development of videogames in the 1980s and 90s. I love that this book begins with a quote from George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old… we grow old because we stop playing.”

The chapters are separated by year, going through each major game that was released that year. We get to learn about Super Mario Bros., Oregon Trail, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Prince of Persia, Legend of Zelda, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
I remember playing some of these games! Ah, those were simpler times. I lost count of how many times I “died from dysentery.” The nostalgia is strong with this book!

Continue reading

Non Fiction Review: Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture

Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture by David Lemmo

Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture
by David Lemmo

3 out of 5 stars

The fictional character of Tarzan heralded the beginning of the superhero archetype in literature. A man who is more than a man; stronger, faster, smarter, and capable of super-human deeds of courage and glory.

Continue reading

Non Fiction Review: The Breathwork Companion

The Breathwork Companion by Margaret Townsend

The Breathwork Companion: Unlock the Healing Power of Breathing
by Margaret Townsend

5 out of 5 stars

Your breath is a powerful tool to nourish your body and mind. Simple breathing exercises can unlock the healing instincts of your nervous system, and relieve stress and anxiety. You’ll sleep better, find more energy, and be able to stay calm in difficult situations. Conscious breathing can build up your immune system and help reduce inflammation in the body.

Continue reading