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Reviewer's Choice
Design For Your Mind
Annie Guest
B. D. Walsh Publishing LLC
9798992203332, $43.99, HC, 188pp
https://www.amazon.com/Design-Your-Mind-Caregiver-Therapist/dp/B0DVRGQQFT
Synopsis: Author, mental health therapist and attorney Annie Guest faced a dilemma that a great many people do. As she describes it:
"My parents left their house to me. I decided to reimagine it in ways that would help me remember the whole of my parents' lives (not just those sad final years) as I rebuilt my own life. The process has helped me work through my grief over my parents' final struggles and appreciate the fullness of their lives. It has also helped me take stock of my own life and find my way forward. I wanted to uncover the house's beauty, dust it off, and maybe reinterpret it. I wanted to bring the house alive."
With the publication of "Design For Your Mind: How a Family Caregiver and Mental Health Therapist Renovated Her Home to Recharge Her Life - and Didn't Break the Bank", Guest takes us through her journey of reinterpretation and shows us the magic of how she transformed her home sustainably and on a budget.
"Design For Your Mind" takes the reader, step-by-step, through the renovation that jump-started her creativity, refreshed her life, and allowed her to mourn her parents. Using 95 "before" and "after" photos accompanied by easy-to-follow explanations of the science of good interior design, Guest helps us discover the true purpose of each room and how it can promote healthy living.
A good home design can fulfill the needs of its inhabitants, everything from safe zones for children explore their own interests, to fostering a sense of independence for adolescents, to giving busy adults spots to unwind from the pressures of daily life.
Working from home removes the separation between you and the outside world. Creating clear areas for work and relaxation can help maintain balance and calm anxiety.
Every adult needs a place to play, no matter what your hobbies, but good design also allows you to express your personality, tastes and values through thoughtfully curated choices.
Aging in place (and staying healthy and productive while you do it) can be achieved with good home design.
More than a book of inspired, affordable interior design. "Design For Your Mind" is a guide for anyone facing a new beginning who wants to recreate a home that supports well-being, self-expression and personal empowerment. It is also a reminder that taking care of ourselves by taking care of our home is a worthy focus, and even in the most difficult of times, our homes can bring us satisfaction, good mental health and joy.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Design For Your Mind: How a Family Caregiver and Mental Health Therapist Renovated Her Home to Recharge Her Life - and Didn't Break the Bank" (and all the more impressive when considering that it is Annie Guest's debut as an author) is as informative and insightful as it is inspiring and thought-provoking. While also available in paperback (9798992203325, $35.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), this hardcover edition of "Design For Your Mind" from B. D. Walsh Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as a unique addition to community and college/university library Interior Design collections.
Editorial Note: Annie Guest has had a varied career in book publishing, advertising, and law, before she took another jump to work as a mental health therapist.
The AI Studies Shelf
AI Futures
Evgeny Morozov
Boston Review
c/o Haymarket Books
www.haymarketbooks.org
9781946511911, $19.95, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/AI-Futures-Evgeny-Morozov/dp/1946511919
Synopsis: "AI Futures" by Evgeny Morozov and the Boston Review is a sober assessment of AI (Artificial Intelligence) today, and a bold vision for what it could be.
Generative AI tools, released by a handful of rich tech companies, are currently remaking the economy, society, and human life as we know it. But must their vision be our common destiny?
Leading a forum, acclaimed technology writer Evgeny Morozov (author of To Save Everything, Click Here and host of the podcast A Sense of Rebellion) takes a hard look at Silicon Valley's grip on our technological imagination. The prevailing wisdom says we can be complacent realists (erecting a few guardrails around Big Tech) or else total refuseniks, rejecting this new technology altogether.
That false choice runs roughshod over history, Morozov argues -- and with it a more utopian vision of the role technology can play in our lives.
To sketch a better AI future, Morozov takes us back to the past, showing how a radically different way of thinking about artificial intelligence once flourished before losing out to Cold War militarization, consumerism, and venture capital. That more humane vision can still be won, but it requires being clear-eyed about the obstacles.
Only by building political power, Morozov concludes, can we wrench control of AI from Silicon Valley and build a technological future that serves us all.
Forum respondents include musician Brian Eno, computer scientist and AI pioneer Terry Winograd, free software activist and former digital minister of Taiwan Audrey Tang, technologist Bruce Schneier, writer and software engineer Wendy Liu, and journalist Edward Ongweso Jr..
Also in "AI Futures is: Joelle M. Abi-Rached on exploding pagers in Beirut and Israel's expanding war; Sophia Goodfriend on the military's embrace of the new AI; Lily Hu on the political theory of algorithms; Alexander Hartley on copyright after ChatGPT; Terry Nguyen on the work of literature in the age of large language models; and more.
Critique: Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, insightful and iconoclastic, "AI Futures" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, governmental, and college/university library AI collections and supplemental Artificial Intelligence/Computer Science curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "AI Futures" from Haymarket Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Evgeny Morozov (https://evgenymorozov.net) writes on technology and politics. He is author of To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism and The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom. His latest podcast is "A Sense of Rebellion."
The Business Shelf
The Profitable Entrepreneur
Amy Rose Herrick
Money With Amy Series
9781960427335, $29.99, HC, 116pp
https://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Entrepreneur-Entrepreneurs-Management-Inexpensively/dp/1960427334
Synopsis: Attention all entrepreneurs! Are you tired of working tirelessly without seeing the results you deserve?
With the publication of "The Profitable Entrepreneur: 16 Ways to Retrain Entrepreneurs Using Mindset, Time Management, Leveraging Your Resources and Enjoying More Business Travel Inexpensively", Amy Rose Herrick offers you 16 game-changing strategies to help you work smarter, save time, and grow your business.
"The Profitable Entrepreneur" covers:
Boosting your productivity and multiply your results with the Power of "10"
Unleashing your hidden talent and become quote-worthy in just 60 seconds
Unlocking the full potential of your email audience with five valuable techniques
Protecting your business with an easy-to-follow cybersecurity plan
Ditching traditional financing, funding your growth through self-directed retirement accounts
And so much more!
"The Profitable Entrepreneur" is an accessible compendium of practical and easy-to-implement strategies to elevate your entrepreneurial business goals and aspirations.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "The Profitable Entrepreneur: 16 Ways to Retrain Entrepreneurs Using Mindset, Time Management, Leveraging Your Resources and Enjoying More Business Travel Inexpensively" must be considered an invaluable and core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Entrepreneurship and Business Management collections, as well as supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, business managers, and entrepreneurs that this hardcover edition of "The Profitable Entrepreneur" is readily available in paperback (9781960427250, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Amy Rose Herrick, widely recognized as "America's Profit Building Specialist," is a Chartered Financial Consultant, Tax Professional, and Educator. With over three decades of expertise, she has dedicated her career to empowering entrepreneurs, professionals, and families to build profitable businesses, reduce tax burdens, and create comprehensive financial strategies for long-term success.
Breaking Open The Boxes
Andrew Munro & Robert Bolton
Independently Published
9798340246028, $19.51, PB, 493pp
https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Open-Boxes-Quadrants-Success/dp/B0DJ6T96MT
Synopsis: In his foreword to The Power of the 2 X 2 Matrix, Joseph Gilmore proposed that the matrix represents the most notable analytical tool ever to emerge in business management. More recently, Venkatesh Rao argues: the quadrant diagram has achieved the status of an intellectual farce, providing mediocre consultants a picturesque path for their descent into madness.
Which is it? Can 100 quadrants make sense of the complexity of life? From decision making, project management, interpersonal skills and communication impact, leadership, change management, culture, strategic analysis, through to technology and the future of the workforce.
"Breaking Open The Boxes: 100 Quadrants For Wisdom and Success in Life" by co-authors Andrew Munro and Robert Bolton draws on left and right brain thinking. It's DIY field book to navigate through the wicked dilemmas we encounter in life.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, iconoclastic, insightful, extraordinary, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Breaking Open The Boxes: 100 Quadrants For Wisdom and Success in Life" by Andrew Munro and Robert Bolton will prove to be a fascinating and informative read for anyone with an interest in the field of product management and sales. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA studies lists, "Breaking Open The Boxes" should be a part of the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, sales managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Sports Shelf
Baseball Like It Oughta Be
Tom Alesia
August Publications
https://www.augustpublications.com
9781938532887, $18.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Like-Oughta-Tom-Alesia/dp/1938532880
Synopsis: When Steve Schmitt committed to summer-collegiate baseball in a city that failed to support professional or college baseball, few expected him to succeed. With the publication of "Baseball Like It Oughta Be", Tom Alesia provides the inside story of how Schmitt and the Madison Mallards became summer-collegiate baseball's top draw, changed the face of the sport, and brought new life to a downtrodden neighborhood and ballpark.
Expected to fail in their inaugural 2001 season, the Madison Mallards soon became summer-collegiate baseball's most popular team. Since 2002, the Mallards have become the biggest box-office hit among hundreds of similar teams nationwide, drawing more than 4.3 million fans in team history.
"Baseball Like It Oughta Be" is the phenomenal story of how owner Steve Schmitt, a rural Wisconsin shoe sales marvel, and his young, aggressive staff turned dust into gold.
Celebrating their 25th year, the Mallards have an entertaining and hilarious history that combines marketing prowess, customer service and anything-goes promotions with stories ranging from Gary Coleman's outrageous appearance to slugger Pete Alonso's amazing season as a Mallard.
Schmitt and team president Vern Stenman turned a downtrodden ballpark into a must-experience destination. The Mallards never went bananas on the field, churning out future pro players like Alonso, Nico Hoerner, Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Spilborghs. Along the way, they've become one of America's most extraordinary sports teams.
The Mallards story follows an owner's obsession; the dreamland of a young marketing director, who quit an NHL front-office job; relentless customer service for their fans; fresh promotions annually; belief in what many viewed as a struggling neighborhood; and the embracement of America's least likely renowned ballpark.
Critique: A fun, fascinating, and informative read from start to finish for all baseball fans in general (and a 'must read' for Mallard fans in particular), "Baseball Like It Oughta Be" is exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Baseball history/biography collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Baseball Like It Oughta Be" from August Publications is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Tom Alesia (https://tomwriteturns.com) is a Midwest newspaper feature writer who won the National Music Journalism Award. He also wrote Beauty at Short, one of 2022's most popular baseball books, about Hall of Famer Dave Bancroft.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Hipster's Legacy
Lorraine Gibson Cohen
Plumtree Tales
https://www.plumtreetales.com
9798990845626, $35.00, HC, 598pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hipsters-Legacy-Memoir-Dreams-California/dp/B0DR3DS2RX
Synopsis: Born into a musical family and raised on dreams of fame and glory, 22 year old Lorraine is finding it tough going on her own when she moves to Hollywood in the early 1960s.
Her Associate of Art's degree from the local junior college does not help her get a job in the art field. And if that isn't enough, her longtime boyfriend has broken up with her. The job she does have as a receptionist is also a disaster, so when she comes down with severe laryngitis, she is ready to call it quits. Accepting defeat, she takes the twenty-mile ride home to Hermosa Beach.
But home isn't quite the same at 230 Culper Court. In her absence, her usually sensible mother has moved out to live "in sin" with a used car salesman named Bob. Replacing her at the cottage is Lorraine's older sister, Arlene, her three children and Lorraine's younger brother, Jeff. Arlene is an artist-of what kind, she is not always sure. She is talented but erratic and seems almost mystified by the fact that she has three children to raise. Jeff is a budding jazz saxophonist, a shy boy who somehow draws people around him.
Lorraine's life takes a different turn as she learns to fit in with her newly re-arranged family and all the strange and talented people who pass through the little red cottage by the sea.
An intriguing and often humorous memoir of a unique family influenced by a hard-working mother who just missed being a saint and a father -- the wild jazz pianist and entertainer known in the 1940s as Harry the Hipster Gibson whose amazing abilities and crazy style influenced the evolution of Rock and Roll.
Critique: Original, exceptional, memorable, a a deftly crafted saga of a memoir of dreams, jazz and family life in 1960s California, "The Hipster's Legacy" by Lorraine Gibson Cohen is a simple fascinating and thought autobiography that is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of 15 B/W illustrations by the author and a collection of 37 family photos. While also available from Plumtree Tales in paperback (9798990845602, $15.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99), "The Hipster's Legacy" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library American Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Lorraine Gibson Cohen is an artist turned writer. She was raised in Southern California, a stone's throw from Hollywood, and after studying art a El Camino College returned to her birth place in New York City, eventually becoming a package designer for JCPenney. Her first book, The Hipster's Legacy-A Story about a Family is a memoir based on her life growing up with her father, a zany entertainer and jazz musician better known as Harry the Hipster Gibson. Lorraine lives in New York City with her husband on the upper west side, with a view of Central Park if she leans far out the window and looks east.
The General Fiction Shelf
The Summer of the Shark
Alexander Carr
Independently Published
9798879498325, $21.71, PB, 290pp
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Shark-Alexander-Carr/dp/B0CVXV5F34
Synopsis: Nick Martin, internationally renowned wildlife presenter and shark expert, is called in to investigate a Great White shark attack in Scottish waters. Along with his new assistant, Emma Warren, they track the shark's movements southwards to the north Cornwall coast during the peak tourist season.
As sightings and attacks mount up, the government struggles to keep beaches safe, tensions rise, and the situation becomes increasingly perilous. Nick and Emma must risk everything to save lives, and to save the shark.
But they are fast running out of options - and out of time...
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, exceptionally compelling, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "The Summer of the Shark" by Alexander Carr is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library contemporary action/adventure collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Summer of the Shark" is also currently available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99).
Editorial Note: Alexander Carr's fascination with sharks was sparked in the early 2000s by a television documentary about the chilling 1916 Matawan Creek Incident, where a shark swam eleven miles up a freshwater creek in New Jersey, claiming the lives of a ten-year-old boy and the man who tried to save him. This haunting event left such an impression that, during a trip to New York, Carr ventured to the small town of Matawan. Battling through dense brambles and nettles, he stood at the very spot of the tragedy, gazing across the creek and imagining if such an event could unfold in the UK. It was there, amid the quiet of the creek, that the seed for his gripping novel, "The Summer of the Shark", was planted.
Jane, Divided
Craig Lancaster
Missouri Breaks Press
https://www.craig-lancaster.com/missouribreakspress.html
9798990332447, $22.95, PB, 454pp
https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Divided-Craig-Lancaster/dp/B0DYSPT12M
Synopsis: Just before Christmas, Jane Sperling is headed from Montana to Texas, to the hometown she once abandoned, in a car she doesn't fully trust, for a job that's a leap of faith and the only line she has on a better life for herself and her eleven-year-old daughter, Claire.
In Texas, Jane puts a long-dormant teaching credential to use at the middle school she once attended. She navigates a fraught relationship with her widower father and the growing pains of her daughter. In an old place that's new again, there are kids to get to know (including a temperamental and brilliant young man named Roderick); colleagues to fit in with, among them a young, popular teacher who takes an interest in Jane; and Claire's yearning to go back to Montana.
Jane fights against her memories and her circumstances as she tries to find her footing. Through her current challenges and the letters she wrote to her daughter as her marriage was failing, Jane takes the measure of the lives she's trying to imbue with hope: That she really can go home again and find something, that she can keep Claire close and still let her grow, that she can forgive her father as he fades away, and perhaps that she can even open herself to love she has never believed in.
Critique: Original and so deftly crafted by the narrative driven storytelling style of author Craig Lancaster, "Jane, Divided" rises to an impressive level of literary excellence. A compelling, fascinating, and engaging read from start to finish, "Jane, Divided" will be of special interest to fans of stories about adult women dealing with significant life changes and challenges. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction and college/university library American Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition of "Jane, Divided' from the Missouri Breaks Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Craig Lancaster (www.craig-lancaster.com) is the author of eleven novels, a collection of short stories, and two produced, full-length plays. His work has twice been honored by the High Plains Book Awards (And It Will Be a Beautiful Life, fiction, 2022; and 600 Hours of Edward, first book, 2010), has won an Independent Publishers Book Awards gold medal (The Art of Departure), and has received assorted regional, national, and international recognition. A former newspaper journalist and pipeline inspection specialist, he now serves as the design editor for Montana Quarterly magazine, and takes on freelance editing and design work as his schedule and his willingness allow.
Raise Your Other Right Hand
Jody Weiner
Speaking Volumes, LLC
https://speakingvolumes.us
9798890222503, $16.95, PB, 230pp
https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Other-Right-Krafters/dp/B0DWJ3VC75
Synopsis: Attorney Archie Krafter doesn't need anything else on his plate. He's happily tending to his lovely wife, Lora, talented musician and proprietor of a small repertory theater, while dodging his mafia in-laws. After many years representing high-profile clients, Archie is enjoying life away from the courtroom and penning "The Naked Lawyer" current events blog.
Then NBA superstar Radon Jaalaba goes AWOL from a nationally televised game on Christmas and Archie is handed the case of his career. On the way to the arena Radon fled the scene of a drug-related shooting that killed Russell Marchetti, his driver and intimate friend, in addition to a responding police officer. Once America's hero on the basketball court, Radon is now on trial for his life, battling addiction and the weight of a career-threatening secret.
"Raise Your Other Right Hand" by Jody Weiner is a darkly humorous and suspenseful tale that deftly unfolds as Archie finds himself pulled deeper into Lora's notorious family. Lora's estranged father, Sal Dellacozzi, the aging "Rapini King" of Northern California suffers a stroke and calls on Lora to look after her younger brother, Dominic; he also wants Archie's legal help, having been unjustly accused in an international identity theft ring operating from inside a Dellacozzi Industries building.
Along the harrowing ride to Radon and Dominic's days of reckoning, Archie and Lora's relationship is tested in ways for which they could never prepare.
Critique: Original, imaginative, clever, witty, engaging, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Raise Your Other Right Hand" by author/storyteller Jody Weiner is an extraordinary, memorable, and compelling, novel that is raised to an impressive level of literary elegance. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections. Deftly laced throughout with humor, it should be noted for personal reading lists that his paperback edition of "Raise Your Other Right Hand" from Speaking Volumes LLC is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Jody Weiner (https://www.jodyweiner.com/bio.html) is writer, attorney and producer. He wrote the novel Prisoners of Truth, a national IPPY award winner, (Council Oak Books 2004, pb 2006). He currently serves as Board President of San Francisco's Litquake Foundation, producer of the largest and longest-running annual literary festival west of The Mississippi.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Once There Was Fire
Stephen Shender
Pai'ea Press
https://www.paieapress.com
9798218150150, $40.00, PB, 548pp
https://www.amazon.com/Once-There-Was-Fire-Hawaii/dp/B0CCXH4BPB
Synopsis: The native Hawaiian people lived in an isolated Eden and fought over it for centuries. When pale strangers with 'pointed heads', strange 'skins', and magical weapons came from beyond the horizon on 'floating islands', the Hawaiians thought they were gods.
But one man understood these 'gods' were just men, and that their arrival had changed everything for his people. He would go on to defeat his rivals, unite the Hawaiian Islands, and found a new kingdom at the crossroads of the Pacific Ocean. His name was Kamehameha.
"Once There Was Fire", although a work of historical fiction, brings a little-understood, historically remote era to life through the words and actions of its memorable characters:
Kamehameha, his strong-willed and rebellious consort, Ka'ahumanu, his favorite brother, Keli'imaika'i, and Kamehameha's sons, nephews, comrades in arms, haole advisers, and bitter enemies.
This saga of a novel by Stephen Shender invites readers to see Hawaii of the mid-18th and early 19th centuries as the old Hawaiians themselves might have seen and experienced it on the cusp of their passage from splendid isolation to being irreversibly connecting the wider world.
Critique: Original, exceptional, entertaining, and with a meticulously detailed attention to historical accuracy to enhance an inherently fascinating work of creative fiction, "Once There Was Fire" by Stephen Shender will hold a particular appeal to readers with an interest in biographical and historical fiction set in the context of Hawaiian history and the coming impact of the Europeans and Americans upon the natives and native culture. A deftly crafted saga from cover to cover, this hardcover edition of "Once There Was Fire" from Pai'ea Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Historical/Biographical Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: During a professional writing career spanning 30 years, Stephen Shender worked as a congressional press aide in Washington, D.C., newspaper reporter and editor on California's Central Coast (Monterey and Santa Cruz counties) political speechwriter in Washington, D.C. (Clinton administration), corporate speechwriter in Los Angeles, marketing communications writer in Silicon Valley, and freelancer before retiring in 2003. "Once There Was Fire, A Novel of Old Hawaii" is his first novel.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Wild Fox Ridge
Xue Mo, author
Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-Chun Lin, translators
Ruxue International Media Inc.
9798889910190, $19.68, HC, 484pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Fox-Ridge-Xue-Mo/dp/B0DR7466F1
Synopsis: Centuries ago, a Mongolian and a Chinese caravan vanished into the mystery of Wild Fox Ridge; now, through twenty-seven midnight interviews, their spirits return, each revealing fragments of long-buried memories. With masterful storytelling, "Wild Fox Ridge" dissolves the boundaries between Yin and Yang, north and south, virtue and vice, human and beast, weaving a beautifully crafted chorus of souls.
A complex story that rewards reflection and invites revisits, "Wild Fox Ridge" by Xue Mo is a spellbinding work of magical realism that challenges the reader's intellect and ignites their imagination. Drawing upon the kaleidoscopic perspectives of Rashomon and the polyphonic voices of Dostoevsky, it tells a tale as intricate as it is engaging.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "Wild Fox Ridge" by Xue Mo is brilliantly translated into English for an American readership by the team of Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-Chun Lin. Of special appeal to readers with an interest in Chinese literature and literary criticism, "Wild Fox Ridge" is especially and unreservedly recommended for both community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Wild Fox Ridge" is also readily available in paperback (PB, $17.68, Amazon) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note #1: Xue Mo (http://www.xuemo.com) is a shining star in the Chinese literary and cultural world. Born in Gansu, China, he has a prolific career. His writings have been translated into more than 20 languages. Notably, nearly 10 of novels have been co-translated into English by Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-chun Lin who are acclaimed translators of Nobel Prize-winning authors.
Honors:
Winner of the 2024 NYC Big Book Award;
Winner of the 2024 Independent Press Award;
Winner of the 2022 Sri Lanka National Literary Award;
Winner of the 2022 Excellent Translation Award by the China International Communications Group (CICG).
As of now, Xuemo's works have garnered attention and reviews by tons of scholars from prestigious universities, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Stockholm University Northwestern University, University of Leeds, the University of Warwick, Heidelberg University, etc.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Sunrise Over Numbi Gate
Michael Weiss
Timeless Love Publishing
https://timelesslovepublishing.com
9789657867051, $16.99, HC, 207pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sunrise-Over-Numbi-Michael-Weiss/dp/9657867053
Synopsis: Emily, a young American traveler, is abducted on the edge of Kruger National Park -- only to discover her unlikely savior is Thabo, one of the very men who helped orchestrate her kidnapping. Haunted by guilt and torn between loyalty and conscience, Thabo turns against his own and helps Emily escape.
Their flight becomes a life-or-death journey along South Africa's iconic Garden Route from burning sugarcane fields to sun-drenched coastlines -- and where every mile brings them closer to freedom... and to each other.
But with Thabo's brother hunting them down, the past refuses to stay buried -- and love may not be enough to outrun it!
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, compelling, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Sunrise Over Numbi Gate" by Michael Weiss will have a special appeal for readers with an interest in contemporary Christian action/adventure romance novels. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Sunrise Over Numbi Gate" from Timeless Love Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9789657867037, $11.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Michael Weiss is a successful author and entrepreneur who focuses on uniting people through love. With a background in Israeli journalism, he uncovered human-interest stories that transcended cultures. His passion for love stories led him to transition to author-entrepreneur. As the founder of Timeless Love Publishing, Michael shares contemporary narratives that celebrate diversity and explore the complexities of modern relationships. His novels highlight emotional depth and cultural authenticity, showcasing love as a catalyst for change. Michael connects with his community, the Timeless Love Tribe, through newsletters and social media, providing behind-the-scenes insights and exclusive content to celebrate love in all its forms. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54552993.Michael_Weiss)
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
River Gold: A Northern Lakes Mystery
Jeff Nania
Feet Wet Writing
https://feetwetwriting.com
9781960681133, $9.99, Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/River-Gold-Northern-Cabrelli-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0F92LH9ZH
Synopsis: A nationally acclaimed historian has his briefcase stolen during a contentious sheriff's race in Namekagon County, and John Cabrelli is pulled into a murder investigation with more questions than answers. The victim refuses to cooperate, a political rival circles like a vulture, and Cabrelli's only suspect turns up dead -- run down before he can speak.
As the case spirals, Cabrelli follows a trail leading through cryptic journals, whispers of lost French gold, and long-buried secrets in the Northwoods. But every lead is a dead end.
Under pressure from a relentless county executive, Cabrelli must untangle fact from folklore, ambition from truth and catch a killer before it costs him everything -- his badge, his reputation, and maybe even his life.
Critique: A simply riveting and original read from cover to cover, "River Gold", the fifth book in the Northern Lakes Mystery series by Jeff Nania. A fully engaging and deftly crafted small-town mystery novel of murder, suspense, buried secrets, and told with the kind of distinctive and narrative storytelling style that novelist Jeff Nania has become noted for, "River Gold" is especially and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Jeff Nania (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/jeff-nania) draws upon careers in law enforcement, conservation, and his passion for our natural resources to weave together his award-winning Northern Lakes Mysteries. Whether he's cutting wood, sitting in a wetland, fishing muskies, or snorkeling Spider Lake for treasure, Jeff spends as much time as possible outdoors.
The Culinary Caper
Nick Greenberg
Speaking Volumes, LLC
https://speakingvolumes.us
9798890223036, $19.95, PB, 374pp
https://www.amazon.com/Culinary-Caper-Cook-Crook/dp/B0F57QGN92
Synopsis: Pierogi slinging, food truck chef, Anton Cherny, is up to his eyeballs in debt. Desperate to find a way out of his dire situation, he agrees to Ricky's, his old art school buddy, daring solution: Art thievery.
The plan is straightforward. While catering parties for members of the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, who are unknowingly buying priceless works of previously pilfered art, Anton and Ricky swap out the paintings with forgeries, then return the originals to the insurance company for the generous reward money. Easy-peasy, until Anton discovers that his new girlfriend is the daughter of a ruthless Russian mob boss.
Adding to his plateful of anxieties are the emotional and financial strains of supporting a son he's never met, fielding threats from a Tolstoy-quoting loan shark, and mounting tension with his food truck partner.
Will Chef Anton end up behind bars? Perhaps have his limbs disassembled by the erudite loan shark? Or can he employ his culinary expertise to prevail over the multifaceted morass in which he finds himself?
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted, memorable characters, unexpected plot twists and turns, "The Culinary Caper" by Nick Greenberg is a riveting and fun read from cover to cover. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated organized crime and action-adventure mystery buffs that this trade paperback (6 x 0.94 x 9 inches, 1.11 pounds) edition of "The Culinary Caper" from Speaking Volumes is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Nick Greenberg's writing draws on the colorful and eccentric characters he has encountered in his culinary quests. In 2020, Nick published his first novel, "Buried Treasure". (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8431190.Nick_Greenberg)
In Disguise of the Storm
Ron Whittington
Primedia eLaunch LLC
9798891450523, $14.99, PB, 292pp
https://www.amazon.com/Disguise-Storm-Parker-Glynn-Thriller/dp/B0DBV4XRDN
Synopsis: Set in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in South Texas, "In Disguise of the Storm" follows businessman-turned-spy Parker Glynn as he infiltrates the suspected prostitution ring of Pakistani-born 'Risky' Bhakta.
Homeland Security's H.1.4 Section has discovered a possible connection between Bhakta's ring and al-Qaeda, and as he delves deeper into Bhakta's operations, Glynn uncovers a horrifying truth -- it seems that Bhakta's control over the women he employs is just a small piece of a twisted terrorist plot aimed at the genocide of Western Civilization!
Critique: "In Disguise of the Storm" by novelist Ron Whittington, readers should get ready to dive headlong into a riveting suspense thriller of a read that is packed from cover to cover with danger and deception. Fast-paced action from start to finish, "In Disguise of the Storm" is the fourth book in the Parker Glynn Thriller Series and unreservedly recommended as a high priority pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense action/adventure collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of suspense/thriller novels that this trade paperback edition of "In Disguise of the Storm" from Primedia eLaunch is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Bone Hash
Skye Griffith
Artemesia Publishing
https://www.apbooks.net
9781963832136, $16.95, PB, 284pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Archaeologist-Aideen-Connor-Mysteries/dp/1963832132
Synopsis: In the vast untamed desert of northern Arizona, Aideen Connor signs on as lead archaeologist hoping to find peace after witnessing her husband's violent death. Instead, she stumbles into a mystery as ancient and dangerous as the land itself. Aideen's team uncovers a "bone hash" -- human bones showing evidence of prehistoric cannibalism. Then a brutal murder shocks the residents of the nearby Hopi Reservation. Unsettling connections emerge between the murder and her dig, and Aideen's world begins to unravel.
Aideen's boss blames her when the bone hash is stolen. Violent threats begin: A sheep is viciously killed under her residential trailer, a photo of her dead husband left in its blood. A hulky stranger chases her across remote backcountry and attacks her. All threats point to a grim reality: someone wants her gone.
Aideen must navigate a maze of buried truths with only her dog, Dakota for companionship. Every clue leads her closer to the secrets buried at her dig that could cost her more than her career -- they could cost her life!
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a compelling read from start to finish, "Bone Hash" by Skye Griffith is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. Showcasing author Skye Griffith's impressive flair for the kind of distinctive, entertaining, and narrative driven storytelling style that is centered around an amateur female sleuth and creates memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, it should be noted that this trade paperback (5.5 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches, 12.2 ounces) edition of "Bone Hash" from Artemesia Publishing is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Skye Griffith (https://skyegriffith.com) has hiked windswept canyons in the American Southwest, visited dozens of archaeological sites in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona and attended Native American dances and celebrations that gave her a deep respect for these First Americans and their ancient cultures. She has published articles for the National Endowment for the Arts, the International Festivals & Events Association and other periodicals focused on the arts. She's a member of Sisters in Crime, the Denver Woman's Press Club, Mystery Writers of America and has earned a Master of Arts from the University of Denver.
This Side Of The Law
Tamar Anolic
https://www.tamaranolic.com
Independently Published
9798313703046, $13.75, PB, 260pp
https://www.amazon.com/This-Side-Law-Tamar-Anolic/dp/B0F4PFZ7BJ
Synopsis: New York City prosecutor Jamie Jefferson's life is going nowhere fast-- until a relationship with a witness puts her on a collision course with a federal prosecutor out for blood.
Jamie is an Assistant District Attorney in the Special Victims Unit, drawn to prosecuting sex crimes after her own high school trauma. She has a stellar conviction rate, a high workload and a bad case of burnout. Then she's assigned to prosecute a rape case that happened at one of Russian mob boss Peter Federov's nightclubs.
Jamie seizes the opportunity to advance her career -- until she starts falling for Peter's sixteen-year-old grandson Alexander, who was a witness to the crime. Alexander, desperate to be free of his family's stranglehold on the bowels of Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach, sees Jamie as his ticket out.
But standing in their way is the vengeful Rostislav Gutin, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and first-generation American who is trying to separate his own Russian heritage from the world of the Federovs. Rostislav is a Julliard-trained musician who became a lawyer with the sole aim of prosecuting Peter Federov for crimes that changed Rostislav's life.
As he gets closer to his aim, Rostislav will stop at nothing- including ending Jamie's career for her transgressions with Alexander.
Critique: Deftly blending our contemporary justice system with an action packed suspense thriller of a plot line, "This Side of the Law" by author Tamar Anolic demonstrates her kind of genuinely original, impressive, and narrative driven storytelling style that keeps her readers fully engaged from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Suspense Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of Legal Thriller stories that his trade paperback (6 x 0.59 x 9 inches, 12.5 ounces) edition of "This Side of the Law" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Tamar Anolic (https://www.tamaranolic.com) is a writer whose work focuses on a range of genres and subjects. She writes Young Adult and Middle Grade novels, as well as historical and contemporary fiction for adults. Many of her short stories have been published in literary journals, and she has written numerous award-winning books.
The Saundra Gray Affair
Daniel Yager
RealClear Publishing
https://realclearpublishing.com
9798891385382, $28.00, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Saundra-Gray-Affair-Novel-Politics/dp/B0F5178GX2
Synopsis: Congressman J.D. Clay had the makings of a presidential contender -- an Iowa Democrat, war hero, and one-hit-wonder songwriter who made Washington work by listening to all sides and finding common ground.
But then Saundra Gray, an attractive young intern in his office, disappeared.
As accusations of an affair and even involvement in her disappearance explode around him, Clay's world (along with that of his loyal chief adviser, Wally North) is turned upside down.
In a saga spanning more than two decades and continuing long after Saundra's killer is found, journalist Isaiah Stone untangles a winding web of sex, secrets, and lies at the highest levels of government.
It should be noted that "The Saundra Gray Affair" is more than a just a murder mystery. It is also a powerful commentary on power, politics, and the brilliance and flaws of both our laws and our leaders.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and with that special feel of authenticity, "The Saundra Gray Affair" by novelist Daniel Yager is a deftly crafted and compelling read from start to finish. With a particular appeal to fans of deftly scripted political thrillers, "The Saundra Gray Affair" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Saundra Gray Affair" from RealClear Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note; Daniel Yager is a fifty-year veteran of the Washington, DC, legislative arena and the former chief executive officer of HR Policy Association (HRPA). Before that, he served as minority counsel to the House Education and Labor Committee. He has authored several books on labor relations. (https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/author/daniel-yager)
Woman with Eyes Closed
Rue Matthiessen
Latah Books
https://www.latahbooks.com
9781957607337, $29.95, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Eyes-Closed-Rue-Matthiessen/dp/1957607335
Synopsis: On a full moon night in Rotterdam, three Dutch thieves break into the Kunsthal museum and steal four paintings -- including two Monets, a Picasso, and Woman with Eyes Closed.
Inspired by this real 2012 art heist, "Woman with Eyes Closed" by Rue Matthiessen is a literary thriller of a novel that follows British MI-6 agent Kit Hobbs, who is unexpectedly assigned to the case.
A tip leads Hobbs to Sagaponack, New York, where the Monets may be hidden in the bunker of a Russian mobster with a beach house-and a taste for stolen masterpieces.
Just down the beach, Perrin Clayton (daughter of a once-famous abstract expressionist painter) is newly married to art-world superstar Jack Triplett. Their glamorous Hamptons life dazzles from the outside, but something vital is missing.
When Kit, whose connection is Jack's gallerist, meets Perrin at a party in the Russian's home, he notices the mobster's fascination with her-and devises a risky plan to draw her into his investigation.
Meanwhile, the art thieves are on the run, their alliance unraveling. As Kit and Perrin are pulled deeper into each other's lives, and a hurricane barrels toward the coast, the fate of Woman with Eyes Closed hangs in the balance-along with their own uncertain futures.
Critique: A beautifully crafted suspense thriller of a read from cover to cover, "Woman With Eyes Closed" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that this hardcover edition of "Woman With Eyes Closed" from Latah Books is also readily available in paperback (9781957607320, $17.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Rue Matthiessen (www.ruematthiessen.com) was nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. Her essays and short fiction have been published in numerous literary journals. Her memoir, "Castles & Ruins" was published by Latah Books in February 2024. Recently, Rue was featured in the Bridgehampton Museum's Distinguished Lecturer Series, and Longhouse Talks in East Hampton.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Nixian Chronicles: The Awakening
C. S. Evermore
Independently Published
9798284465004, $36.99, HC, 221pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nixian-Chronicles-Awakening-C-S-Evermore/dp/B0F98THYW1
Synopsis: In the twilight-bound city of Eldoria, Lyara Valen has lived a life of silence, her bloodline hidden, her magic suppressed, her name nearly forgotten. But when a celestial storm fractures the sky, it awakens something ancient within her: Shadowflare, a volatile force of light and shadow that answers to no one.
Hunted by the Veiled Dominion, a sacred empire that purged her kind to extinction, Lyara is no longer just a girl in hiding. She's the final echo of a broken prophecy, and the world fears what she might become.
As her powers spiral and rebellion simmers beneath the surface of a city ruled by fear, Lyara must choose what kind of weapon she is willing to be. Because she wasn't born to save the world.
She was born to unmake it.
With the publication of "The Nixian Chronicles: The Awakening", author C. S. Evermore draws his readers into a dark, immersive, epic fantasy where prophecy is a lie, mercy is a weapon, and power comes only through pain.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, compelling, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "The Nixian Chronicles: The Awakening" aptly showcases author C. S. Evermore's genuine and memorable flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative driven storytelling style and master of the epic fantasy sage genre. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for dedicated fantasy fans that this hardcover edition of "The Nixian Chronicles: The Awakening" is also readily available in paperback (9798284316566, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
The Forever Factor
Tom Hogan, author
Amanda Iles, author
Laughing Dog Publishing LLC
https://laughingdogpublishing.weebly.com
9781736943663, $19.95, PB, 412pp
https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Factor-Tom-Hogan/dp/1736943669
Synopsis: When visionary inventor Petra Alexander stumbles upon a groundbreaking discovery that could radically extend the human lifespan, she's catapulted into the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley startups. Armed with ambition and a deeply personal drive, Petra must navigate the cutthroat corridors of tech giants, venture capitalists, and biohackers -- as well as threats from powerful forces dead set against the transformative technology she's developing.
Funded by "The Hydras" (an elite group of tech moguls dedicated to biohacking and longevity) Petra pushes the boundaries of science, spurred by her quest to find a cure for the rapid-aging disease that killed her sister and now threatens her mother. Reluctantly assuming the mantle of biotech CEO, she faces impossible choices: Who will control access to a life-saving breakthrough? What sacrifices will she make in the name of progress? And how far is she willing to go when her own life is at risk?
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "The Forever Factor" showcases co-authors Tom Hogan and Amanda Iles remarkable flair for presenting their readers with nuanced ethical dilemmas that accompanies and is extrapolated from rapidly evolving technologies we see today emerging from Silicon Valley start-ups. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal lists of readers with an interest in genetic engineering themed science fiction that this paperback edition of "The Forever Factor" from Laughing Dog Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note #1: Tom Hogan is an author and screenwriter based in Austin, TX. who has split his professional career between academia and technology marketing. He was a lecturer in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Santa Clara University and UC Santa Cruz. He joined Silicon Valley in its infancy, where he was the original creative director at Oracle. Moving into the VC (Venture Capital) world, he was also a co-founder of Crowded Ocean and now advises startups in Silicon Valley and Austin.
Editorial Note #2: Amanda Iles is a writer who creates prose on behalf of Silicon Valley executives and companies, from Steve Jobs to the latest hot startups. Before writing professionally, she earned a biology/philosophy degree and worked in a developmental neurobiology lab at UC San Diego, followed by a graduate degree from the prestigious UC Santa Cruz science writing program.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Book of Enoch MSV
Kip Farrar
Independently Published
www.enochmsv.com
9780999049525, $24.99, HC, 235pp
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Enoch-MSV-Standard-Version/dp/0999049526
Synopsis: "The Book of Enoch MSV" (Modern Standard Verse) by Kip Farrar is the contemporary English translated version of the Book of Enoch for easy reading with a focus on parallels to the Bible.
The standard translation of R. H. Charles is combined in the MSV with the timeless work of Richard Laurence, George H. Schodde, and August Dillmann to make the Book of Enoch easier to understand. All four translations and their extensive notes were compared diligently when updating the text in this complete edition.
There are more than 640 MSV footnotes cross-referencing Enoch with the Old and New Testaments show the consistency of thought, ideas, and themes between Enoch and the Holy Bible. The footnotes also address difficult passages to demonstrate how they align with the teachings of the Bible. A section on parallel passages from the New Testament is included for your study. The companion Bible study is available on the YouVersion Bible app.
Nearly all the writers of the New Testament (including the works of the Apostolic Fathers, knew the Book of Enoch, which is reflected in their writings. Enoch was part of Jewish tradition and is just one of many outside works alluded to in the Holy Bible. Peter, Jude, and even Jesus Christ referred in scripture to the ideas of the Book of Enoch.
For most Christians, Nephilim, Angels, Giants, and Demons are rarely taught subjects involving the spiritual warfare that is to be found throughout the Holy Bible, connected to such important themes as Baptism, the book of Revelation, eternal judgment, and the purpose of the church as described in Ephesians 3:8-11. The Book of Enoch elaborates on these ideas while remaining faithful to biblical teaching.
This Modern Standard Version is an easy-to-read and accessible introduction to the Book of Enoch. This Bible-based version is an excellent way to study and learn these ancient concepts.
Critique: The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic religious text, ascribed by tradition to the patriarch Enoch who was the father of Methuselah and the great-grandfather of Noah. The Book of Enoch contains unique material on the origins of demons and Nephilim, why some angels fell from heaven, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary, and a prophetic exposition of the thousand-year reign of the Messiah. Three books are traditionally attributed to Enoch, including the distinct works 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch.
The older sections of 1 Enoch are estimated to date from about 300 - 200 BCE, and the latest part (Book of Parables) is probably from around 100 BCE. Scholars believe Enoch was originally written in either Aramaic or Hebrew, the languages first used for Jewish texts. Copies of the earlier sections of 1 Enoch were preserved in Aramaic among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran Caves. (Wikipedia)
This new Modern Standard Verse edition of the Book of Enoch by Kip Farrar is extraordinary, fascinating, and unreservedly recommended for church, seminary, community, and college/university library Biblical & Christian Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for clergy, seminary students, and non-specialist readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of the "Book of Enoch: MSV" is also readily available for personal reading lists in paperback (9780999049501, $19.990 and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Kip Farrar (www.kipfarrar.com) is the son of a pastor, grew up in the church, and spent several years on church staff in the Austin, Texas area. He is a writer/director in the film and advertising industry with a passion for art and storytelling.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Wellness Ethic
Mark Reinisch
Seneca House Press
https://www.wellnessethic.com/seneca-house-press
9798991604918, $29.99, HC, 380pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-Ethic-Thrive-Unpredictable-Stupid/dp/B0F8PPPRD2
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Wellness Ethic: How to Thrive in an Unpredictable World (Where Stupid Things Can Happen)", sports journalist Mark Reinisch invites the reader to toss the notion of having a "work ethic" into the dustbin of the 20th century.
It has misled generations to devote their lives to their job, while everything else (family, dreams, the fun stuff) had to scramble for scraps. There's nothing noble about working hard unless you're working hard for your well-being.
The 21st century is about having a 'Wellness Ethic'. When you're devoted to wellness, you nurture your mind, body, and spirit to deliver a steady stream of happiness. You cultivate loving relationships. You find joy in your passions and meaning in your work. You persevere through life's chaos because you're adaptable and resilient.
You deserve to thrive. Make no mistake -- thriving is your birthright. "The Wellness Ethic" will help you thrive by making wellness accessible and actionable. You will be given practical insights that you can put to use immediately. This book can, quite literally transform your life.
You deserve to laugh and be inspired. That's why "The Wellness Ethic" was written -- to be the antidote to all those other self-help books that are too damn boring! "The Wellness Ethic" is engaging with humor and gripping personal stories that make the wellness concepts spring to life. It is that rare self-help book that you won't be able to put down.
"The Wellness Ethic" will show you how to thrive in an unpredictable world (where stupid things can happen).
Critique: A complete course of practical, realistic, inspiring, motivating, informed and informative approaches to achieving emotional, social, and physical well-being, "The Wellness Ethic: How to Thrive in an Unpredictable World (Where Stupid Things Can Happen)" is infused with humor, insights, and the ideal DIY guide to transforming your life into a state of satisfaction and experience never before achieved. A welcome and recommended pick for personal reading lists, and a unique, original, and unique contribution to community and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, "The Wellness Ethnic" from the Seneca House Press is also readily available in paperback (9798991604901, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Mark Reinisch (www.WellnessEthic.com) is an author, life coach, and entrepreneur specializing in personal transformation. He has decades of executive experience in corporate America, having driven transformation programs to help people and companies realize their vast potential. As side hustles, he founded a social media start-up, shepherded it to a successful buyout, and has written a dozen comedic screenplays. His dry wit comes along for the ride in all that he does.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Man Made
Fred F. Burton
Independently Published
9798218579470, $14.00, PB, 343pp
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Made-Fred-F-Burton/dp/B0DZVS693C
Synopsis: The near-future reality portrayed in "Man Made" by Fred Burton is a recognizable extrapolation of what we see tody. It's a world in which AI, social media, and surveillance tools are more advanced, and the populous more dispirited.
The collective gaze has shifted to cyborg intelligence and its promise of speed learning; one more layer of technology to fix the problems caused by all those that came before it. But the amazing talents displayed by the first cyborgs to come online uncover one surprising finding: the awesome power contained within each of us.
With the publication of "Man Made", Burton maintains that we have entered an age where many of us feel there is no center, no agreed upon sources of truth. We are creeping, or lunging, towards authoritarianism. We are looking for answers.
In the pages of "Man Made", Burton provides answers that sometimes conflict, but definitely need to be discussed and interrogated. "Man Made" wraps its theoretical answers in flesh and blood. The experience is visceral because the characters in the story struggle to retain their humanity, but may find that goal beyond their grasp.
"Man Made" does all this with a compelling and entertaining narrative that moves between realistic and surreal realms of experience.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Man Made" by Fred F. Burton is a seminal work of metaphysical fiction that blends a kind of magic realism with extrapolated vision to create a memorable (and occasional iconoclastic) work of speculative fiction that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Metaphysical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Man Made" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.00). Also highly recommended are his two earlier novels, "Bountiful Calling" and "The Old Songs"
Editorial Note: Fred F. Burton (https://www.fredfburton.com) wrote fiction through his early 20s. Writing was my first passion and he returned to it after his own sons had reached their teens years. One thing he strives for in his writing is to avoid easy answers. His literary goal is to try to carefully construct situations and characters so that at a certain point they place demands on him as an author, utilizing him to become a conduit for the action that needs to unfold. The intention is that this approach will provide his readers the opportunity to reflect on different threads of experience. Then they can decide what's important to them, and affirm what rings with the sound of truth.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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