Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning by Alex Porter | Review

“The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning” is a relationship self-help book with an unbiased approach on resolving issues. A final fight to bring things back to how it should be With each other, Happy and in love. This book is a quick reference to assist in any situation in your relationship. To see things in a different outlook and take a different approach for a better understanding. The goal is to reprogram the way you solve issues or approach situation to keep a healthy relationship. To insure your both understanding each other, to come together as a team to find the solution. In this quick reference you will find a better way to communicate, understanding, and resolve. A better way to show your effort and get back to the same feeling you had at the beginning of your relationship. Show the effort to one another, Reprogram a New Beginning with your soulmate on this journey of life.

Title: The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning

Author: Alex Porter

Pages: 26

My review

A good relationship is a dream for every human being. We are born to connect with people. We have to protect and nourish a relationship to sustain it for a long time. A healthy relationship gives us good mental and physical health. But the relationships only grow if we take proper care of them. If not, it will deteriorate over time. This is an A-Z guide to reprogram our existing and new relationships.

The first lesson from this book is how to build a strong foundation for relationships. Because only a strong foundation can handle heights. Communication is the foundation of a relationship. A relationship cannot sustain longer without it. We have to express our feelings.

One of the most important lessons we can learn from this book is to know when you have to step back and step in. Domination is one of the major reasons for unhealthy relationships. We all have that element rooted in our character. But there are two people in a relationship, not one. Knowing when to control your emotions and expressions is the key.

The second half of this book is dedicated to the details of love languages. The author stresses out, 5 important love languages which are the pillars of any relationship. Adopting these 5 methods in our daily life can bring magic to relationships. In the end, the author also dissects down the levels of anger that can ruin a relationship. The best solution for this is an apology. This short book ends by explaining the 5 languages of apology that we can use.

Although this is a very short guide, it touches all the levels and addresses every possible problem that can occur in a relationship. It has to the point solutions. Knowing the mistake and rectifying it is the core of every relationship. This handy guide shows us the proper way to handle it.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Memoirs, non-fiction, Self-Help

Abandon Brandon: A Memoir by Brandon McDermott | Review

Brandon spent his childhood as a ward of the state, living in and out of foster care. The abuses, poverty and lack of support he experienced as a child molded and motivated him to do more and be more than he was shown. His story is one of survival, resilience, redemption, and hope. Brandon is a first generation high school and college graduate. He’s an award winning journalist, working in and out of the radio industry for nearly two decades. Currently he’s a statewide morning radio host in Nebraska covering the foster care system, education and politics.

Title: Abandon Brandon: A Memoir

Author: Brandon McDermott

Pages: 182

My review

Abandon Brandon is a brutally honest painstaking account of survival. Every living moment is a fight. A never-ending fight for the right to live. Each page is flooded with pain. This pain will overflow and it will drag our heart into its pool. The suffocation created from this pain, helplessness, and anger will break our hearts from the inside.

You can feel the roughness of this story from the first line on the first page itself. This story offers no comfort. It is not about motivation or hopes either. I felt only one thing; some people possess greater power to take all suffering. Yet they will not bow down to their circumstances. There will be some light left for them. They have the strength to hold on to that small light, with only one mission-survival.

It is not easy to survive physical and sexual abuse. It will break your health and mind, leaving long-lasting scars that will never fade. Witnessing abuse and being a victim of abuse later are two different experiences. But both of them will torment you throughout the later years of life.
Reading Brandon’s experience is not easy. He has narrated this first-person account with the utmost clarity. His unadulterated voice is too hard to digest. At some points, I was broken down into tears. I couldn’t read anymore. It was that much emotion. I couldn’t understand how he got the strength to overcome these terrible experiences even from a tender age.

We can’t choose the people we are born with. But we can choose the people we live with. We have the liberty to accept our situation or fight with them. In the end, what matters are our choices and our strength to hold on to them for good.  Loved this story and this message. This is one of the most underrated stories I ever read.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

A Guide to Motivation, Happiness, Success & Resilience by Gavin Aubrey | Review

An action-oriented self-help book for those looking to seriously boost their motivation, happiness, success or resilience.

The brain is a magnificent thing. Unfortunately, it didn’t come with any instructions…

This book provides an easy to understand explanation of how our brains work when it comes to personal motivation, success, happiness and resilience.

So, if you want to know why some people jump the queue when it comes to job promotion, or why others are just, well… happier than you are, this quick and easy read will tell you all you need to know.

Title: A Guide to Motivation, Happiness, Success & Resilience

Author: Gavin Aubrey

Pages: 105

My review

A mind-blowing guide to crack the secret code to our brain

Brain is a fascinating part of our body. Unfortunately, we do not realize its potential in our lifetime. Everything we need is a mind game. Mastering in the control over our thoughts and mind is the path towards success and happiness. This is the journey to master this mind game.

Self-development is one of my favourite subjects for learning. I am always looking for original ideas in this field. But this book really surprised me. The methods and techniques devised are fresh and practical. The author has years of experience in training teams for better performance. This accumulates huge practical knowledge in this subject. Because of that, he knows what works and whatnot. These techniques are foolproof and backed by real-life opinions of people.

Our brain is deceptive. It knows our fears and insecurities. They drag us from reaching our goal. The author introduces techniques to eliminate these beliefs and fears. By applying these methods we can counteract with our belief system. It is the only sustainable way. The author uses the analogy of an iceberg to derive relations between our behaviour, beliefs, values, and feelings. This connection perfectly symbolizes our thought processes.

What I really liked about this book is, the methods to get out of the rut. No matter how motivated I’m, often I found myself in the ditches of rut. But these techniques helped me to eliminate this phase permanently. Understanding our brain and the origin of thoughts is the key.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

Marketing Strategy Ultimate Planning Guide : For Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners by Scott Poniewaz | Review

A Marketing Strategy is at the core of any business and a marketing strategy is a must-have for any business owner or entrepreneur. This simplified, step-by-step guide to building, planning, and executing a marketing strategy is required reading for anyone trying to fuel growth and revenue for their startup or small-business.

Peter Drucker, the famous management consultant, said “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two–and only two–basic functions: marketing and innovation.”

Many business owners and entrepreneurs think of marketing as an afterthought in their busy days. In reality, a well-planned, consistent marketing strategy is as necessary to keep your business growing consistently as a fitness plan is to keep your body healthy. In this marketing strategy ultimate planning guide, you will walk away with the tactics, tools, and tricks to build a plan that will be easy to follow, implement, and run even if you always struggle to maintain consistent marketing efforts. Boost your marketing strategy and grow your business in this unparalleled guide.

Title: Marketing Strategy Ultimate Planning Guide : For Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners

Author: Scott Poniewaz

Pages: 71

My review

Marketing is the driving force of a business. If there are no customers then there will be no existence for the business. Converting an audience into potential buyers needs effective strategies. Being a sought after marketing specialist, the author draws wisdom from his years of experience to this book. Scott is a serial entrepreneur and marketing strategist. He has been on both sides of a business, such as building a marketable product as well as reaching out to the buyers. This unique knowledge led him to greater success in this field. This book is a concise summary of his battle-tested tactics. Because of that, I find these techniques, believable, practical, and most importantly converting.

This book addresses all entrepreneurs and business owners. Because the basic principles of marketing remain the same regardless of the nature of business. These strategies dissect down the business to its end. It helps to analyze your competitors, their products, their audience with your product and its unique features. Finding this gap is the first step.

Marketing is now technology-driven. So the author also explains the methods and plans that have to be adopted to use this technological arm for marketing.

One of the best features I found in this book is simplicity. The author explains A-Z details with utmost clarity, without giving any chance to raise doubts in between. But this is not a book with theoretical concepts. It has an implementation plan. This unique feature separates this one from others.

The completeness of this book is fascinating. The author has left no stones unturned while writing this book. A must-read for everyone who wants to learn or innovate their marketing skills.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction

Your Brain Kids Edition : The Engine to Your Body by Tracy Markley

In Your Brain, The Engine to Your Body – Kids Edition, kids will learn some simple fun things about their brain and how to stay healthy as they have fun with fun illustrations. It is easy to read and understand. A healthy brain helps have a healthy body. The brain is the engine to the body. This can be read alone or with teachers or parents. Tracy also wrote an adult version of this book to help teens and adults learn more about the health and care of their brain. Enjoy the fun illustrations as you learn more about your brain. Exercise, staying hydrated and good nutrition helps the brain to stay healthy as we grow up.

Title: Your Brain Kids Edition : The Engine to Your Body

Author: Tracy Markley

Pages:13

My review

The kids version of Our brain by Tracy Markley is a little package of fun, knowledge, and beautiful illustrations. Written in an interactive style, the author simplifies every bit of knowledge. This book teaches everything a child needs to know about the brain.
The author takes special care to not stuff the content with more complex ideas and scientific illustration. It is more about building better habits that make positive effects on our brain. It encourages our children to get active, eat more vegetables, laugh with family and friends, drink more water etc.

I must say the author has good knowledge of child psychology as well as on physiology. Because the book is carefully curated and written from a child’s point of view. This is undoubtedly one of the best books in this category

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction

Stroke Recovery: Leg Stability and Walking Gait by Tracy Markley | Review

In Stroke Recovery Leg Stability and Walking Gait, Tracy brings, hope knowledge, and exercises that can assist a survivor in the healing the leg, foot drop, hyperextended knee and walking gait. She had included anatomy illustrations and exercises in this book. In many cases stroke survivors do not receive enough physical therapy to help them reach the full potential in their stroke recovery. This will leave many stroke survivors seeking help from other sources, such as personal trainers, Pilates teachers, and other professionals in the fitness industry. This book is filled with important information to help a survivor while in physical therapy as well as to help guide in their continued recovery when physical therapy has ended. This is also a great learning source for fitness and physical therapy professionals. Tracy teaches the importance of having a strong core, spine, and back muscles to maintain proper posture. Proper posture is essential to build and maintain the correct positioning of the hips and pelvic girdle. This is essential for the legs to become in balance and strength for safe and functional movement. The hip joint (ball and socket) moves in several directions. You will learn exercises and tips to correct posture and to regain leg strength, movements and walking gait.

Title: Stroke Recovery: Leg Stability and Walking Gait

Author: Tracy Markley

Pages: 172

My review

Stroke Recovery: Leg stability and walking gait is a comprehensive guide dealing the subject holistically. Stroke recovery is a difficult and complex process. I had zero knowledge on this issue before. Because it was not a matter of concern in my life. But when my father suffered a stroke, I began to search for more information.

Stroke recovery is a long process and a highly demanding one. It cannot be treated just like any other diseases. Recovery is an emotionally and physically draining process, not only for the survivor, but also for the family members. This book was a boon in this matter.

The author has explained every minute detail and covered A-Z issues. This one book is enough for practical and theoretical purpose. The book is structured in a way that, it progresses from basic to advanced. At first, details about a joint are explained and then the exercises are introduced. The author has given due importance to the safety too. I find this is extremely helpful, because survivors are prone to accidents and injuries. Although the book addresses stroke survivors primarily, I find this a lot helpful to correct my posture and improve my exercise schedule. This also can be used as a professional study guide on human anatomy.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction

Your Brain: The Engine of Your Body, A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to Brain Health by Tracy Markley | Review

Tracy teaches importance tips to help you keep a healthy brain as part of you daily health plan. This book is for all ages from kids to adult. Tracy explains important facts from scientific studies to how the brain and mind work. She shares why it is important to properly hydrate and nourish the brain and body. She includes information on Neurons, White and Grey Matter and more. She shares why physical activities, proper hydration and nutrition affect your brain’s current and future health. This book can be considered an anti-aging book for your brain. This is a fabulous resource for all ages, including students, fitness fanatics and athletes. This book is for those who just want to learn more about the brain, as well as for those who may be facing neurological challenges, brain injuries, or are in stroke recovery. Tracy also includes nutritional tips and physical and mind exercises. This book also comes in a Children’s (Kid’s) Edition.

Title: Your Brain: The Engine of Your Body, A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to Brain Health

Author: Tracy Markley

Pages: 74

My review

Your Brain by Tracy Markley is an A-Z book on this subject. I’m always curious to know more about the brain. Because it controls everything in our body. It runs every biological and physical mechanisms, coordinates our senses, and administers countless processes. It is undoubtedly the most important part of our body. We are more conscious about our heart and its wellbeing. But the brain deserves more than this honor. This book opens to that pathway.
I was searching for a book that is not written for academic purposes but in layman’s terms. This one is a perfect fit for this equation. The author simplified every information and presented it in a very engaging manner.  She doesn’t forget to blend fun with facts too.  Every concept is explained using real-life examples. This helped me to retain and remember them and most importantly apply them consistently. The best part of this book is information about taking care of our brain on a day-to-day basis. It presents practical tips to keep a healthy brain amidst my hectic work schedules. This small book is a must-read for everyone.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

Success Transformation Accelerator: 21 Day Blueprint by Dr. Alok Chandra| Review

Do you wish to achieve the successful life that you have always dreamed of by learning from the best? Would you like to reach the zenith of your career or profession but need expert guidance? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, keep reading …..
Let’s face it. Most, if not all, of us dream of leading successful lives. However, only a few are able to achieve it. It is no accident. The majority who do not attain greatness, do not have the essential guidance on what they need to do. The people who make it do so by learning from the best, leaving no stone unturned, and become exemplary professionals and excellent people. The rest do not realize their full potential and some keep dreaming for their entire lives.

After meeting with and studying great individuals, the author possesses a deep knowledge of what you need to materialize success in your life at breakneck speed. Therefore, this book was written to be extremely effective and simple to follow.

Title: Success Transformation Accelerator: 21 Day Blueprint

Author: Dr. Alok Chandra

Pages: 307

My review

Success is the only thing that is unquenchable in many minds. Sadly many of them never achieve what they want in life. I was always curious about achieving success and greatness in life. I admired people who have the grit to achieve their dreams. What is the secret code for success? Is there any hidden formula for achieving it? These questions lead my way to this book.

This is the voice of an extremely successful person. This blueprint presents the common success traits extracted from highly successful people as well as the author’s life. This book demystifies all myths around success. It demolishes all doubts.

The book begins with a chapter on luck. What a way to start a book about success! Because we all are in one way or another, ties success with luck. The more we fail, the more we blame luck or rely on it. But luck does not deserve any importance in success. This powerful tool has many chapters like this which establishes the author’s arguments, undoubtedly.

This is clearly a success accelerator. The author cites experiences from his own and from his students and mentees to support this. These experiences are narrated as raw and unadulterated. We can see and interpret how the author has defined his goals and draw a blueprint to reach those goals. But the important thing about making blueprint is they are useless without action. The last section of this book teaches us how to keep going amidst all odds. Loved the content as well as its presentation.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse by Richard Capriola

The workbook is the companion to The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse. Together they are a parent’s roadmap to understanding, assessing and finding resources to help battle adolescent substance abuse. In the pages of the workbook parents examine their family history of substance abuse, assess their child’s motivation to change substance use behaviors, identify how their child’s behavior has changed under the influence of substances, and use exercises to help cope with anxiety. This workbook and the companion book are resources for any family member interested in learning about adolescent substance abuse and options that are available for diagnosis and treatment. 

Title: The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse 

Author: Richard Capriola

Pages: 103

My review

Substance abuse in adolescent child is a very difficult issue to handle. The responsibility lies exclusively on parents. To successfully navigate through this difficult situation, you need a guide. A roadmap, which explains everything about addiction, diagnosis and treatment. This book bridges that gap.

Substance abuse in children is often a neglected subject in the mainstream media. It never gets the deserved attention. People never realize its long-lasting effect because of lack of education. The author presents some shocking data obtained from teenagers to prove the height of neglect on this issue, prevailing in our society. Drug abuse became a normal subject among the children. Through this book, the author explains how early substance abuse hinders the brain development and creates psychological issues in adolescent children.

This systematic guide has every information we need to manage this situation. The roadmap explains how we can assess the substance abuse in our child informally and later comprehensively. This guide also has information about the most common drugs and their side effects. The book concludes with information about support groups, educational consultant and mental health resources for additional reading.

Through this book, the author has given his honest effort to destigmatise “addiction” in children. Proper education is the need of the hour in this subject. Very helpful guide.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Quotes, Self-Help

The Road to Growth through Values Quotes: : 310 Powerful Positive Quotes from 178 Inspiring People by Ruthy Bar

Ruthy Bar’s creative passion for collecting insightful quotes from various sources that have helped her grow in positivity has led her to share these words of empowerment with you. She has collected quotations that express values that are important for growth. These are values for life; she’s chosen them for their conciseness, effectiveness, and positive outlook.
By categorizing the best of the best under twenty of our most cherished values – values such as Creativity, Optimism, Determination, Courage, Persistence, Commitment, and Gratitude – she has tried to include quotations that will encourage you to do positive and good things for yourself. She believes that if a person has good in their life, they will be inspired to share it by bringing good to others.
She also believes every reader can benefit from even just one sentence that can move them and give them the inspiration and the motivation to do and think differently. Through these beautiful, inspired words she hopes that you can grow strong in the values that are most important to you.
Leaf through the book randomly or visit the value that impinges on your thoughts at the moment — each page is sure to improve your outlook. Each and every one of us needs only one phrase that can influence, inspire, and motivate us so we can grow strong in our most vital values.

Title: The Road to Growth through Values Quotes: : 310 Powerful Positive Quotes from 178 Inspiring People

Author: Ruthy Bar

Pages: 136

My review

The Road to Growth through Values Quotes is a bundle of wisdom ready to flow from the first touch.

Quotes are always an essential part of my life. I’m a person who quickly enters into a rut after a hectic workweek. Soon, I‘m procrastinating from my goals. The secret to success is consistency. You have to keep moving forward. The pace does not matter. But no matter how determined I’m to achieve my goal, I often find myself in a state of laziness. To regain control from this recurring phase, I always looked up to the great personalities who had the grit to push forward, no matter what happens. I like to collect their quotes for my personal growth. They give me instant energy and motivation. A little push, that is all needed. This habit lands me in this quote collection. Within no time, this book became my accountability partner.

The author has carefully curated, important and multidimensional quotes for this book. They are arranged in chapter-wise which is tremendously helpful for me. They touch every inch of personal growth. The wisdom from this book is invaluable. This will surely go into my permanent collection.

Download this book for FREE! Amazon.com Amazon.in