Iconoclasm: A Survival Guide in the Post-Pandemic Economy

Iconoclasm: A Survival Guide in the Post-Pandemic Economy by Tony Zorc
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Coping with the aftermath of the pandemic and thriving in the new economy...

Tony Zorc's Iconoclasm: A Survival Guide in the Post-Pandemic Economy, is a guide to developing an investigative mindset and coming to our own conclusions through the use of critical thinking. It is about rethinking the ways in which we can accomplish success going forward with a different approach. The book details the tactics and ideas of iconoclasm, as well as how to not just survive but thrive in the economics of the post-pandemic world. You will find the secret to unlocking success in the current and post-pandemic panic economy, both professionally and personally, as you read through these pages and learn about the tactics of the iconoclast. Recommended.

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The Manager's Playbook: Make Exceptional People Management Your Competitive Advantage

The Manager's Playbook: Make Exceptional People Management Your Competitive Advantage by Joel Trammell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fresh look at what it means to be a great boss...

Being an effective leader necessitates having strong managerial skills. Trust is more important than charm when it comes to outstanding leadership, despite the fact that this may not appear to be the case in most large companies. In today's world, it is all too common for leaders to be selected not on the basis of their competence, vision, or ability to motivate a team, but rather on the basis of their star appeal and alpha inclinations. There are a lot of charismatic people in top positions, but most of them aren't very good leaders. This is something that far too many of us have noticed. They may have good improvisational skills, but they are severely lacking in both judgment and competence. They may be resolute, but they are blind to both the big picture and the details. A genuine leader brings out the best in others and leads by setting an example for others to follow. This book takes a fresh look at what it means to be a great boss and how great bosses help everyone win. It is an approach that is both enlightening and motivating. Highly recommended.


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Rapid Transformation: An Outcomes-Based Approach to Drive Results

Rapid Transformation: An Outcomes-Based Approach to Drive Results by Ali Davachi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How to generate genuine transformation...

Companies may be required to make drastic course corrections in order to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the market in these unpredictable times. Rapid Transformation: An Outcomes-Based Approach to Drive Results by Ali Davachi demonstrates the author's abilities as a business consultant in assisting organizations in identifying critical adjustments and improvements. CEO Ali Davachi outlines his cutting-edge and tried-and-true system for bringing about good change. In addition, Davachi takes the reader by the hand and guides them through the common recurring hurdles that prevent organizations from effectively tackling new difficulties. He then shows businesses how to generate genuine transformation that is both powerful and profitable. This a highly recommended read for businesses looking for change and positive results.

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Forsaken

Forsaken by Gina Detwiler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted Christian-themed fantasy...

Gina Detwiler is the author of the YA Supernatural series FORLORN and is co-author with Priscilla Shirer of the bestselling middle-grade fantasy series, THE PRINCE WARRIORS. Her non-fiction books include The Ultimate Bible Character Guide and The Ultimate Bible Character Devotional. She's written novels for adults, including HAMMER OF GOD and AVALON, under the name Gina Miani.

Gina Detwiler’s FORSAKEN is Book 2 in the FORLORN series. It’s an excellent Christian fantasy that will grab readers and hurl them far beyond the boundaries of our limited world. This YA fantasy has intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Although the book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I would highly recommend starting with book 1 in the series FORLORN.

In summarizing the synopsis, we find that Grace Fortune watched her boyfriend, Jared Lorn, die nine months ago. Grace doubts Jared's death. She and her friends investigate Silo City, an abandoned silo complex with dark secrets and abandoned people… Jared is alive and working with the enemy, Blood Moon frontman Lester Crow, to save the girl he loves. Jared's "deal with the devil" will take him cross-country into darkness. Jared must use Blood Moon's music to fight while defending his mind and soul… Jared and Grace desperately want to be reunited, but first, they must overcome the demonic powers, and pray for God-forsaken Nephilim Jared's future…

If you are looking for a well-written and exceptional fantasy book with unforgettable characters and a gripping plot, Gina Detwiler’s FORSAKEN will not disappoint you. It’s a Y/A fantasy that maintains a compelling hold from start to finish. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Never, Ever Get Married

Never, Ever Get Married by Tony Moraffah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read for those who are thinking about tying the knot...

Every person who is in a relationship has the ultimate goal of one day having a happy marriage. The moment the couple decides to get married and continues down the path of preparing for their wedding, they can't help but develop their own idealized version of what a successful marriage will be like in their heads. Regrettably, for some people it will never be more than a fantasy. They frequently find that the reality is far different from what they had envisioned would be their "happily ever after." Even if they put in their absolute best effort, they could still end up in a relationship that is doomed to fail. Then there are the couples that manage to make their romance work and go on to have a life together that is filled with nothing but joy throughout its entirety. Never, Ever Get Married by Tony Moraffah is a witty, insightful, and practical handbook for those who are thinking about tying the knot or are currently married but want to improve their relationship. Highly recommended.


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Inheriting Silence - A Holocaust Memoir

Inheriting Silence - A Holocaust Memoir by Zahava Kornberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An emotional, and utterly compelling read...

The Holocaust is always a difficult subject to read about, especially in a way that is meaningful beyond the subjects' inherent weight, insomuch that it doesn't rely solely on the tragic nature of the Holocaust to bring it resonance. “Inheriting Silence” by Zahava Kornberg manages to bring a fascinating story, in its own merits, and interweaves it with skill.

The story revolves around Zahava, born in a German displaced person camp (DP camp) after World War II. She had very little knowledge of her parents' lives before she was born, including her father's upbringing in Chortkiv, Poland. Her father had left her with a lot of unanswered questions after he died… Then, as her phone rang one day, a seemingly innocuous question at first turns out to be the catalyst for a significant turning point in her life. Years after her father's death, Zahava sets out on a journey to retrace his pre-Holocaust diaries and finds out more about her father's past than she ever imagined possible; enough to change the way she thinks about his life, the war, and the relationship he had with his family, both the one he started with her mother and the one he left behind…

It's impossible to read this utterly compelling memoir and not absorb the powerful drama and emotion that unfolds within its pages. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Playing Dirty: Operation Trouser Snake

Playing Dirty: Operation Trouser Snake by Andrew R. Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A political thriller not afraid of politics...

In summarizing the synopsis, we find the main protagonist, Michael Ventiquatro, the flamboyant leader of the S & B Progressive Party, who wants to take over the UK Parliament. He is affluent and funded by his own multinational company Slash & Byrne Enterprises. Power-hungry, he distributes the Superdrug Ambronootrop which was banned in the US due to its negative side effects. He persuades his followers to take the drug and support the political party to achieve ‘fulfillment.’ Party followers who become ‘Superiors’ are fulfilled - as opposed to being just Homo Sapiens…

With the Media and police avoiding conflict, party thugs terrorize the UK. One of Ventiquatro’s top lieutenants is ordered to plan a series of covert strikes on democracy itself to win the next general election. Along with a nerve gas attack killing numerous members of parliament, "honey traps" set to damage surviving MPs and blackmail to undermine what’s left of his challengers… Who will prevail in the end?

Taut, gripping, and intelligent, Playing Dirty works very well as intended - a political thriller. Looking at the premise and plot, the story moved well. The book is very effective at both a macro and micro level; the national politics and personal emotional drama carry the same amount of narrative weight. The book works best at pulling the reader along for the ride and spinning a yarn so involving that it makes you want to read it from start to finish in one sitting.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.


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