Sixty-Two Years Later by Dr. John Ayoola Akinyemi

Sixty-Two Years Later by Dr. John Ayoola Akinyemi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Heartfelt Rearview Mirror: Reflections on "Sixty-Two Years Later"...

Most memoirs these days feel a little too polished, too neat. But Dr. John Ayoola Akinyemi's Sixty-Two Years Later reads like catching up with an old friend over coffee—the kind who's lived a full life, laughed at the absurdity of it all, and come out the other side with something real to say.

Published in 2025 by The Eagle Literary, this slim book marks 62 years since Akinyemi landed in America at 21, a wide-eyed kid from Nigeria chasing an education in what he calls the "Land of Plenty." Now 83, he's not just telling his story—he's bringing us along, looking back through the rearview mirror while reminding us to appreciate what we've got.

The structure's simple—preface, four parts—but it unfolds like a fireside chat. Part 1 acknowledges America's immigrant soul, grounding us in who was here first. Part 2 gets personal: his journey from a "Land of Empty" to one full of promise, echoing threads from his earlier books Beyond 80 and I Am Scared, VERY SCARED! Part 3 is where it really hits—a meditation on what's changed (goodbye rotary phones, hello $5 gas) and what hasn't (the heart of "We the People"). He mixes humor with heartache: immigrant masons joking about building a "cathedral" while working on the Washington Cathedral, reflections on aging, the wild fact that Obama was a toddler when Akinyemi arrived. Time does that to you.

Part 4 turns tender. He revisits meeting Agnes, an 18-year-old Kenyan student who became his wife, and mourns her loss at 76. It's love stretched across continents and decades, raw and real. Woven through it all is advice for young scientists facing gutted research budgets—drawing from his NIH-funded PhD days, he tells them: innovate, adapt, maybe even look abroad. "Tough times don't last, but tough people do."

What sets this apart is Akinyemi's voice—warm, unpolished, effortlessly human. He's a biologist, a retired Marine vet, not a trained historian, and that's exactly the point. This is storytelling from the gut. Sure, the prose wanders sometimes, full of tangents and exclamation points, but that's him: generous, reflective, alive on the page. The photos at the end—birthdays, cruises, retirement toasts with Agnes—hit like flipping through a family album.

Sixty-Two Years Later is for anyone who's ever paused mid-day wondering where the years went. Immigrants, seniors, dreamers, the curious. In a fractured world, Akinyemi's stubborn love for America (flaws included) feels like exhaling.

This isn't just a book—it's a quiet push to look back with gratitude and forward with grit. Read it. Count your blessings. Let Dr. Akinyemi take the wheel. You'll come out wiser, maybe humming an old hymn. Highly recommended.

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The Dark Menace by William Blackwell

The Dark Menace: In this mind-bending supernatural thriller, terrifying Hat Man attacks lead a nightmare-plagued man to suspect a mysterious doctor has opened a portal to hell by William Blackwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Dark, Relentless Piece of Supernatural Horror...

Noah Janzen’s life starts to split at the edges the moment his nights stop behaving like nights. They blur into something he can’t quite name—something perched on that thin, breathless line between a sleep disorder and… whatever waits past that line. Shapes flicker in the corners of his vision, shadows that shouldn’t move but somehow do. And every episode leaves a deeper mark, fear settling into him like a weight he can’t shake. You feel it too—that sharp, buzzing dread that curls up in your chest and refuses to be reasoned with.

When Noah finally turns to a sleep specialist—strange, brilliant, and not at all what he expected—the whole story tilts into territory that’s unsettling in the most believable way. The kind of mystery that makes you glance at the dark corners of your room before turning off the light. Every answer they uncover just makes the ground a little less steady, pulling you closer to Noah’s unraveling until you’re breathing in rhythm with his panic.

The Dark Menace is the sort of book you crack open way too late at night and instantly regret—but only because you’ll lie awake afterward, staring into the dark, wondering why it suddenly feels different. Even when you close the back cover, it doesn’t really let go. It lingers. It leaves fingerprints. Highly recommended.

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Happiness-Based Mindfulness by Sara Spowart

Happiness-Based Mindfulness by Sara Spowart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Practical Path to Emotional Mastery...

In Happiness-Based Mindfulness, Dr. Sara Spowart offers something pretty rare—a way to see our emotions not as things we need to fix, but as doorways to something deeper. Building on her earlier book You Are Love: The Discovery of Happiness, she's put together something that's both practical and beautiful: a psychoeducational program that doesn't feel like a textbook, but more like talking things through with someone who really gets it.

The centerpiece is her "Emotion Chart" and five zones of feeling—from the stormy Red Zone all the way up to the bright, open Yellow Zone. It's basically a map for your inner world, helping you not just figure out where you are emotionally, but how to move through it with purpose.

What sets this book apart is how it brings together the clinical stuff with something more soulful. Spowart doesn't just pull from psychology and mindfulness—she adds something gentler, something rooted in love. She shows how actually sitting with our pain, really looking at it, can open us up to compassion and strength we didn't realize we had. And she doesn't just leave you with ideas—her guided meditations, trauma-informed exercises, and workshop formats give you real, usable tools, whether you're reading for yourself, working with clients, or guiding others.

At its heart, Happiness-Based Mindfulness isn't just about managing your feelings. It's about coming home to yourself. Spowart writes with warmth and openness, like she's genuinely inviting everyone in. If you're tired of just reacting to life and you're ready to live from a place of awareness, empathy, and quiet joy—this book feels like a good place to start.

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Reflections by Phillip McClendon

Reflections by Phillip McClendon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wisdom for the Everyday Journey...

Reflections is one of those devotional books that feels like sitting down with a wise friend over coffee. Phillip McClendon has poured years of pastoral work and Sunday morning wisdom into these pages, organizing daily encouragements by month—each one touching on faith, family, relationships, and what it means to live with real purpose.

What makes this book special is how McClendon weaves everything together. Personal stories, biblical truth, and everyday examples all flow naturally into one another. He'll move from marriage and parenting to patriotism and gratitude without missing a beat, speaking to wherever you are in life. It never feels preachy—rather, it feels like you're listening to someone who's been there before and wants to share what he's learned.

The reflections on integrity, hope, and God's faithfulness during hard times really stand out. McClendon has this gift for taking something like Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" or the ancient story of Polycarp's martyrdom and making it resonate with what you're facing today. And beyond the inspiration, there's actual practical wisdom here—ways to strengthen your family, habits to deepen your spiritual life, things you can actually do.

The monthly setup might feel a bit choppy if you're the type who likes to read straight through, but McClendon gets that. He actually encourages you to skip around, find what speaks to you. It makes the book work beautifully whether you're reading a page each morning or turning to it when life throws you something difficult.

He wrote this for his grandchildren, and you can feel that heart in every entry—a grandfather wanting to pass down what matters most. Reflections is honest, accessible, and genuinely helpful for anyone looking to grow spiritually while navigating real life.

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Giving Is Not Just For The Very Rich: A How-to Guide for Giving and Philanthropy by Susan Aurelia Gitelson

Giving Is Not Just For The Very Rich: A How-to Guide for Giving and Philanthropy by Susan Aurelia Gitelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unlocking the Joy of Giving...

Dr. Susan Aurelia Gitelson's book is a real eye-opener when it comes to philanthropy. She makes it crystal clear that you don't need to be a billionaire to make a real difference in the world. The stories she shares are genuinely compelling—you'll read about business titans and regular folks alike who are changing lives in their own communities. Whether you're drawn to education, healthcare, or helping out globally, she shows you there's a path that fits.

What I love about this book is how practical it is. Gitelson isn't just telling you to go out and give—she actually walks you through how to pick trustworthy charities and make sure your donations align with what matters most to you. It's the kind of guidance that helps ensure your money actually creates the impact you're hoping for.

The whole thing has this uplifting "yes, you've got this!" vibe that makes philanthropy feel totally doable rather than overwhelming. She's got a knack for mixing solid advice with stories that'll actually get you excited about taking action. And honestly, it's refreshingly short and sweet—packed with insights but won't eat up your whole weekend.

Whether you're just dipping your toes into giving or you've been at it for years, this book hits that sweet spot between inspiring and useful. If you're looking to make a difference, definitely pick this one up!

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Dress Your Cat by Helen Weismeyer

Dress Your Cat by Helen Weismeyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Feline Fashion Follies: A Purr-fect Delight...

Helen Weismeyer's "Dress Your Cat" is absolutely adorable - she's managed to photograph this tabby cat in the most ridiculous outfits, and somehow it works perfectly. The cat just sits there with this completely deadpan expression while dressed as everything from a golfer to a Tour de France cyclist, and it's honestly hilarious.

What really makes it shine are the captions that go with each photo. They nail the humor perfectly and make you crack up even more at the cat's totally unbothered attitude about the whole thing. You can tell the cat is just tolerating all this dress-up nonsense, which somehow makes it even funnier.

If you love cats or just need something to make you smile, this book is gold. Definitely worth picking up - it'll make you grin every time you see it sitting on your coffee table. And kids will love it too!

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Oliver and the Twisting Tornado (Navigating Natural Disasters Book 2)

Oliver and Twisting Tornado by Chrissy Hobbs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Story That Builds Confidence in Uncertain Times...

"Oliver and the Twisting Tornado" by Chrissy Hobbs and Ben Jackson feels like a warm hug with good advice. When storm clouds roll over Ollie and Emma's farm, we learn with them how to read the sky, when to listen for warnings, and when to get out of the way.

It's beautiful to see this family get ready with calm determination: they tie up their animals, gather supplies, and wait out the storm together. The pictures come to life, the characters feel like real people who live next door, and what starts as a story about the weather turns into something deeper—a reminder that love and being ready can help us get through any storm.

This is the kind of book that every family should have in their library. It teaches without preaching and comforts without sugar-coating reality. Hobbs and Jackson have written a great story that helps kids deal with their fears and gives them real confidence for whatever life throws at them. Highly recommended.

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