7 Principles of Becoming a Leader by Riku Vuorenmaa

7 Principles of Becoming a Leader: The definitive guide for starting and building your management career by Riku Vuorenmaa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read book for becoming a good leader...

Some people have a seemingly natural charisma that makes them very persuasive. While the power to motivate and persuade is a tremendous asset to those who would lead, it isn't the sum total of leadership. Even if you are not a natural born leader, you can certainly evolve into one. However, you must be proactive in developing your leadership skills. Many leaders are made, not born.

7 Principles of Becoming a Leader by Riku Vuorenmaa is a definitive guide for starting and building your management career. The author focuses on ‘a comprehensive approach on leading, writing about and coaching often forgotten aspects of leadership work and career, such as deeper personal development, and career management for leaders.’

The authors infectious enthusiasm, keen insight, remarkable interpersonal skills and engaging style will no doubt help countless people "flip the switch" to a life of greater clarity, meaning and success by showing them how to be better leaders. Highly recommended.

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The Big Smile: The principles of modern dentistry―for dentists and patients

The Big Smile: The Principles of Modern Dentistry―For Dentists and Patients by Rick A. Mars
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bridging the gap between dentist and patient...

Over the years the field of dentistry has grown in leaps and bounds because of development in technology which has made it possible for dentists to provide excellent care to their patients with all sorts of issues.

The Big Smile by Dr. Rick Mars explores the principles of modern dentistry for both dentist and patient. With no filler in the pages, the author writes in a witty style to help enhance the dental care experience for dentists and patients. I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. Highly recommended.


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The Latch Key Kid by M.J. Hughes

THE LATCH KEY KID: A Memoir of Anhedonia by M.J. HUGHES
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read memoir that highlights an important mental health issue...

The Latch Key Kid by M.J. Hughes is a compelling biography that prompts further awareness of child abuse and mental illness. By telling his story in a most candid way, the book highlights a condition known as Anhedonia: ‘a psychological condition characterized by the inability to experience pleasure in normally pleasurable acts.’

The Latch Key Kid is a powerful and inspirational story about triumph over incredible adversity. It was a brilliant read that will leave you unexpectedly feeling like a better person for having read it. It’s an impressive work by author M.J. Hughes and if he offers more work, I’d be more than willing to read it. I would highly recommend this extraordinary autobiography. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Serenity Boat by Sarit Brik

Serenity Boat by Sarit Brik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel...

Serenity Boat by Sarit Brik is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters driven by love, loss and tragedy. The author weaves a well-crafted romantic drama written around the personal tragedy she lived through with the suicide of her father. It’s an all-encompassing human dramatization that will captivate the reader from the first page to the last.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

There’s no doubt that Serenity Boat is an exceptionally well written book. The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. The author pays as much attention to her sentences as she does to her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create a reflective and poetic atmosphere throughout. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple

From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple: Concepts in Kabbala and the Wisdom of Hassidut through the Lens of Modern Physics by Shemer Keydar PhD
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exploring concepts in Kabbalah and the wisdom of Hassidut via the lens of modern physics...

Quantum theory is science's most significant, thrilling, demanding and even mystifying domains. It is considerably more than just strange. It is, without reservation, the most awe-inspiring hypothesis in the world today. The supposition is telling us that we may well be deeply incorrect in our reasoning concerning what reality truly is. Quantum theory gradually evolved into a very successful scientific tool capable of achieving precise measurements, while at the same time presenting us with conceptual conundrums.

Israeli author Keydar Shemer explores concepts in Kabbalah and the wisdom of Hassidut via the lens of modern physics in his fascinating book, From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple. His credentials for writing on such topics leaves no doubt as he ‘graduated from Tel Aviv University and from Bar Ilan University with a B.Sc. in physics and graduated from Tel-Aviv University with an M.Sc. in Geophysics. He earned his doctorate in geophysics at Tel Aviv University. Since 1984, he has worked for the Geophysical Institute of Israel as a senior researcher. He has written around 100 publications in professional journals and at international conferences. Over the last two decades he has developed a keen interest in the relationship between Judaism and modern physics.’

Anything that pricks up my ears and gets my tail wagging always makes for an interesting read. Admittedly, I was at a disadvantage reading this book, perhaps to the extent of not understanding key points. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating and thought-provoking book that’s sure to pique the interest of many. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Collateral Damage (Iris Reid Mystery #4)

Collateral Damage by Susan Cory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A cleverly written mystery...

The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in Collateral Damage by Susan Cory. The author weaves a first-class murder mystery with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a compelling and fast-paced whodunit in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a mystery that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. Highly recommended.


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Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy

Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy by Craig R. Hipkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted medieval adventure...

Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy by Craig Hipkins is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted teen and young adult medieval fiction that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. Skillfully constructed, this medieval adventure will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book. This was a great read and comes highly recommended. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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