Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Poems, poetry, Self-Help, Young-Adult

Coiled by Marian Hanna MPH|Book review

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People often confuse self-confidence to mean pride and vice versa but, the truth is pride and self-confidence are poles apart. The difference between pride and self-confidence is made clear in Coiled.

While self-confidence helps you to understand your strengths and makes you aware of your truth, pride is a brash covering for inadequacies; it never lasts. Self-confident people don’t need to brag about their strengths before you will notice their strengths, as they are conspicuous and accommodating.

The difference is crystal clear for all to see, like the ravishing beauty of a girl with curly hair that twirls. Hearts melt when the sun emblazons its natural light on their coils of confident people, but they are never one to make noise about their beauty because they know that loud talk never validates their beauty.

My view

Coiled is the celebration of curly hair! I came across this topic for the very first time. I have read many writings about breaking gender biases and stereotypes. But this author has chosen a very different topic to address these issues, curly hairs. This beautifully written poems are about celebrating the differences and ethnicities by accepting them. Although the poems gave importance to curly hairs, it also carefully acknowledges all others. This is the underlying message that every reader should accept from this book.

I have read Curse of curls from the same author before. So I felt that this is the continuation of that book. Here the author gave emphasize on developing self-confidence and mutual love. This message is presented through the close-knit bond of sisterhood and friendship, addressing little girls. As always the illustrations also contribute to the beauty of the book.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Poems, poetry, Self-Help

Curse of Curls by Marian Hanna MPH|Book review

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Curse of Curls is a probing piece that mirrors the inherent biases in our diverse world and rightly deciphers them.

Using curly hair as a symbol, Hanna understands the prevalence of stereotypes, which constantly dislodge the truth and forms our judgment of what is right or wrong.

Curse of Curls asks vital questions such as – Why are we naturally averse to something we do not know? Why do we deny ourselves the chance to learn, grow, and embrace new perspectives? Why can’t we embrace other outlooks to life? Why must one be looked down with disdain for the other to be rated highly?

My view

Curse of Curls addresses one of the most important issues of modern society, stereotypes. Judgment and body shaming is one of the most prevalent virus in our society. Instead of accepting the diversity, we have made a class difference with them. This narrow mentality is the root cause of every problem in the world. The author is trying to preach about the essentiality of a broader mindset that accepts everyone by acknowledging their difference. The best example that the author has been chosen to express this issue is the biases towards curly hairs. The author presents both sides of the story addressing the little girls who are prone to these stereotypes from an early age.

This beautifully written writing piece talks about empowerment through embracing our differences. Through addressing children’s the author is trying to eradicate these stereotypes from its roots. Apart from the writing, I also liked the illustrations included in the book.

Rating 5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Memoirs, Motivational Quotes, Self-Help

The Ultimate Love by Sherine Anniruth| Book review

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Title: The Ultimate Love

Author: Sherine Anniruth

Pages: 125

Blurb

A remarkable and inspiring journey of a grieving mother, “The Ultimate Love” will make you shed a few tears. But it’ll also remind you to value every second you have with your loved ones and treasure the memories of those who passed away.
It is about the author’s loss and can serve as a cathartic release for your own grief. As you read about her experience and how she tried to deal with this insurmountable loss, you will discover ways to cope with the grief and pain of losing your child and how to find the inspiring journey to go on with your life.

Grieving is a journey that teaches us how to love in a new way. Let “The Ultimate Love” show you how.

My review

There are not many books that can touch your heart and fill it with emotions after reading. For me, pain is the greatest emotion one can ever felt. Because pain can either lead you to wisdom or destruction. After reading this book, I felt that wisdom. The pure emotions of a grieving mother are flowing through words on every page.

Grief is a very hard emotion to manage. There is almost no single solution to escape from it. But it is also a learning opportunity. It is an opportunity to analyze and understand the root cause of grief. It is a path to our own redemption. Going through this path is very hard, but in the end one will learn to live with our grief. We will learn to love more than ever in the end.

The author has gone through the bitterest days of her life because of the demise of her beloved son. This is a heartfelt essay on how she has managed to control the pain and overcame struggles eventually. I appreciate the author’s effort to pen down a harsh journey in order to help others who are going through the same situation.

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

Mental Toughness by Nicola Jeremy Baehler| Book review

 

51m6rW0LGYLTitle: MENTAL TOUGHNESS: “How To Build Mental Strength Like A Spartan – Guide On How To Improve Your Self-Confidence, Build Unbreakable Discipline, Become Emotional Resilient And Overcome Your Fears.”

Author: Nicola Jeremy Baehler

Pages: 119

Genre: Self-help

My review

Mental toughness is everything. Almost all the competitors have the same set of skills, efficiency and knowledge. What makes one another different is their level of mastery in mental toughness. Believe it or not, it is the single most aspect, that differentiates a legend from a winner.

I have read many books on personality development until now. From my experience, I must say most of the books lack original ideas. Thay has either copied or paraphrased contents. But this book surprised me from the beginning itself. It has astonishingly original ideas and practical techniques. The major difference that I have spotted while reading was, the author has been constantly pushing the readers to take action rather than consume more information.

The presentation of the contents in the book is remarkable. It is structured as a complete package. The author explains the theoretical aspects of mental toughness in the initial chapters, then gradually proceeds to tools and habits needed to rewire our existing life and mindset. The book concludes with providing two bonus chapters. I really liked the second bonus chapter on the spartan morning routine which contains refreshing techniques.

Altogether, this short book has very promising and helpful ideas that can surely transform one’s life. A must-read for everyone.

Rating:5/5

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

The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership by Shawn Abrams|Book review

 

41g51mK8R+LTitle: The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership

Author: Shawn Abrams

Pages: 154

Blurb

Shawn Abrams is a sitting member of the Pace University – Lubin School of Business Executive Education Advisory Board.
His book, The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership is a first of its kind, as. It effectively addresses and shines a light on the two areas of your life that can cost you the most. They are Leadership and Relationships. If you are leading people without the benefit of relationship, you could be bullying them, and if you are loving people without the benefit of relationship, you could be lonely.
Most people will tell you they are a leader, but few people can define leadership. How can we maintain the integrity of it or even recognize it without being able to define it? More importantly, how can we teach it if we cannot define it? Your organization has multiple levels of people and there must be Continuity of Leadership through them. This represents an intangible ‘through line’ that your profits and productivity will follow because the people that work for you are affected by it.
I do not lead with words. I coach my team with words, I mentor them with Statement challenges, and lead with compassion. In this book, you will learn how to employ Applied Leadership to coach and mentor people to reach their next level. In turn, they will help you to reach your next level. Establishing relationships with those we lead will keep them engaged with our vision long after the meeting has ended. Your vision of tomorrow is bigger than today, and the potential of you people is greater than their problems. You must believe this because aside from an extreme shortage of resources, the only reason teams fail is because of their leader. Know this, before you get people to change the way they think you must change the way you think. I will share that in detail with you.
Finally, I cover Emotional Intelligence. Leadership skills and emotional intelligence parallel each other, but they are not the same. People are more inclined to follow relationships than a leader! If you can occupy both these spaces in someone’s life at the same time, you possess The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership.

My review

The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership covers A-Z details on the practical and moral side of leadership. Considering the structure and the range of information included in the book, I can easily call it “The Bible” on leadership. The striking feature for me while reading this book was its elaborate introduction. The well-scripted introduction itself gives a holistic view on the upcoming contents in the book. The interactive and lucid way of narration used in the book is evident from the introduction itself.

Although the book is titled “The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership”, the author does not try to explain this in the beginning. The book has 11 chapters overall. In the initial seven chapters, he tries to build a strong foundation on the topic by conveying the true purpose and moral side of leadership. Only in the eighth chapter, he introduces the seven epaulettes. The rest of the chapters is used to explain the practical side of the leadership incorporating all the ideas which were previously discussed.

I really liked the style of narration used in the book. The personal, contemporary, and historical references and stories with a pinch of humor helps the reader to easily glide through the pages. This helps to absorb the core qualities explained in the book as it is.

I must say that the ideas and wisdom poured through the pages of this book is truly unmatchable. This is surely a time worthy, must-read for personal and professional development.

Rating: 5/5

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

The Self-Esteem Workbook: Become your Amazing Ideal Self, build your Real Self-Esteem and get Healthy Confidence|Book review

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Title: The Self-Esteem Workbook: Become your Amazing Ideal Self, build your Real Self-Esteem and get Healthy Confidence 

Author:  Lya Swan

Pages: 112

Why we read self-help books? The answer is simple! We all want to change our personality for better results and eventually to attract success in life. To change our personality, we apply many techniques and hacks in our life in the hope to yield better results. But most of these techniques never give the results we need. Primarily because these techniques never concentrate on the root cause. They all are superficial, so the results. The bottom line of every personality development hack is self-esteem. This is the best takeaway from this book. Self- esteem builds strong self-confidence. Self-confidence will lead to success.

The author has divided the whole book into two parts. The first part concentrates on defining the meaning of Self-esteem. After a clear explanation, she moves to evaluate our own self-esteem. From this evaluation, we will realize where we stand and how far we have to go. The next chapter is about laying a solid foundation for the upcoming exercises. In the second part, the author gives a holistic approach to building self-esteem. This approach includes mindfulness to goal setting.

What I really liked about this book is the author never tries to rush into the action plan. She starts from the basics and then proceeds further. This step by step approach makes this book special in the genre. The overall structure of the book is unique and truly meant to help people. Personal development books depend a lot on human psychology. How well you know that will reflect on your writings. The understanding of author in this area makes this book exceptional. I would love to see a continuation of this book or more work from the author.

Rating: 5/5

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

Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr.| Book review

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Title: Deceptive Gods: Confronting the Divine and Demonic: Exploring a Revolutionary New Approach to Angels, Demons, and The Unseen Spiritual World That Guides Us 

Author: Lorne J. Therrien Sr.

Pages:347

Blurb

Lorne J. Therrien’s Deceptive Gods is among the best books on spiritual warfare. On his path to win God’s heart, Lorne J. Therrien experienced angels that appeared as bright as the sun, the comforting embrace of the Holy Spirit that would come and go leaving him in a euphoric state, and darker-than-night hooded shadows that lingered on the sidelines, watching. It is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God’. But when his empathic ability recognizes a similarity in the energy of the angels, demonic hooded shadows, and the Holy Spirit, a red flag is raised. Does he accept what has been written, or trust his intuition and test the God he loves? Making no assumptions, Therrien lets empathy, intuition, and thorough research guide the way, arriving at a clear understanding of both human and non-human nature. The opportunity presents itself with an unexpected visitation at a former monastery, and the game begins. Therrien invites a student curious about spiritual communication to join him as he confronts and converses with the divine and demonic to learn the true identity of the invisible presence. Deceptive Gods is one of the best books on angels and demons and will be of great value to readers interested in Christian mysticism practices and spiritual communication.

My review

The world that we live in is deluded with misinformation that inadvertently leads us to misery. Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr. is an attempt to defog and demystify these beliefs. Faith and supernaturalism are connected together to obtain monetary advantages. We can’t find many books which talk about truth like this. Because creating deception about supernaturals is a part of the selfishness in humans. I was always skeptical about the books written in this genre. Because either they are misleading or filled with unrealistic explanations. But I found an entirely new approach in this book. The author never tries to hide anything. He immersed himself in this. He narrated clearly of his experience. This is a close to real-life experience ever you came across in these genres.

Due to this unreserved nature in the narration, all of my doubts are cleared as I read through. The author starts with basics and he takes time to explain and clear all misbeliefs. This helps me to approach the content through an open mind. The author used a conversation style between him and one of his students throughout the book. This way he teaches and answers every doubt we may encounter on the way. The world of paranormal and supernatural are tempting for certain people to delve right in. But the author clearly explains what we may face if we made that decision.

I really liked his explanation about why these supernatural beings are trying to connect with us. This reasonable explanation is enough to demystify popular beliefs. How he has approached this subject from a reader’s point of view is absolutely great. This is the most believable explanation on this subject you can ever have.

Rating:5/5

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Quotes, Self-Help

The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders by Michael Elliott|Book review

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Title: The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders
Author: Michael Elliott
Pages: 170
Blurb
The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is a work of extraordinary insights for self-driven go-getters. Whether you are an entrepreneur, illustrator, writer, executive, or pastor, a leader needs a book s/he can lean on for inspiration. This is that book. Drawing from the greatest kings, authors, artists, poets, philosophers, and religious minds of all time, and amassing over 300 lessons for the 21st-century leader, this refreshing collection of quotes delivers a wealth of eternal knowledge, that is sure to stand the test of time. The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is an essential addition to any personal library. There is everything to gain by igniting the imagination through profound words of inspiration. This book will be your spark.
My review
Life is all about goals and dreams. It is a quest for our own purpose. We have the freedom to uses our limited years of life for our own good or for doing good to others. Not all can manifest their own destiny. When we fail, we seek guidance. Those who have walked the same path before are the best mentors to choose from. This is why we rely on motivation to supplement our endeavors. But extrinsic motivation is always something short-lived. Intrinsic motivation only emerges from our own inner self. What we can do for this is to fall back to the knowledge from great visionaries and leaders to build strong morale.

This book is a great collection of quotes from almost all the visionaries who have ever walked on the earth. The insights range from poets to Kings, authors to philosophers. I must say it is a great addition to my personal book collection because it serves as a constant source of motivation. The author has divided this book into nine parts, each one discusses the insights from a particular group of leaders. This composition helps to read and accept things that best suits each one of us.

Rating:5/5
Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Self-Help

Hang Shakespeare by Robert Boog| Book review

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Title: Hang Shakespeare: But not DeVere, a True story Mystery Solved

Author: Robert Boog

Pages:123

Blurb

Ever wonder why people doubt that William Shakespeare was the “true” author of the poems, plays and sonnets? In this book, not only will you discover three reasons why to doubt, you will also learn why William Shakespeare, a young man from the provinces, a man without wealth, connections or a university education should be hung!” His close friend and rival, Ben Jonson wrote these words in 1623. This man knew the “real” author MUCH better than modern scholars like Stephan Greenblatt or James Shapiro, wouldn’t you agree? “Many books that question Shakespeare’s authorship will claim he could not have written the works because of his lack of education or upbringing but this book does not. Anybody can write anything. However, when Elton John sings songs written by Bernie Taupin, they simply sound better. And that is reason number one we should doubt the authorship.”
Why hang Shakespeare? Because in the 1620’s, thieves were hung.
Using an interesting concept that does NOT focus on snobbery or money to explain WHY, author Robert Boog claims to have solved this 400+ year old, true story mystery. Do NOT take someone else’s word for it. Then, join the conversation.
Bringing together little-known historical facts as well as the scant, but incontrovertible things written about the “real” author, Mr. Boog, who claims NOT to be an expert, explains things in a comfortable yet convincing fashion.
Shakespeare’s MOTIVE to steal: it wasn’t the money or the fame. It was something else that makes perfect sense.
Causation: Who created the First Folio PROVES Shakespeare could NOT have written the plays.
Common sense: Why this nobleman needed a pseudonym makes perfect sense.
Stylometry: why it fails when the age of an author’s writing sample is unknown.
Occam’s Razor: why the most logical choice for the “real” author is the one with the university education in MATH, not English.

My Review

Life is all about learning. Learning new things, questioning, and changing perspectives. We need an open mind for accepting the arguments and conclude a subject on the basis of evidence. I have been reading plays and sonnets by William Shakespeare since my school days. I have never ever thought to question Shakespeare on his authorship. I have come across this book rather accidentally. But this was really an eye-opener for me on this topic. Hang Shakespeare by Robert Boog holistically covers historical and logical evidence that questions William Shakespeare’s authenticity to its core.

The author has gone through every possible document to reason his arguments. Some of the details from these documents are unbelievable. They clearly state that the real author of these iconic plays is Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, not Shakespeare and people actually know this fact and they have openly expressed it through their writings. Apart from the mind-boggling content of this book, I was mostly impressed by its structure. The author has a good idea about presenting a controversial topic with proper introduction and know how to reason his arguments without diverting from the main question. The way he has structured the book to support his arguments is remarkable. He has included every possible detail in this subject which varies from Shakespeare and Edwards’s personal, professional, and literary experiences. He has also examined the plays, sonnets of Shakespeare for clues to support his arguments.

What I learned from reading this book is, it is important to question any popular belief and analyze to reach our own opinions on that matter. This experience is a way forward in our overall life.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in https://amzn.to/31kyqDu

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Quotes, Self-Help

DREAMS. GOALS. PLANS.: A Simple Guide for Turning Your Dreams into Goals and Goals into Plans by Danni White

 

43437394._UY630_SR1200,630_Title: Dreams. Goals. Plans: A Simple Guide for Turning Your Dreams into Goals and Goals into Plans

Author: Danni White

Pages: 102

Blurb

DREAMS. GOALS. PLANS. is a 31-day guide to helping you get from where you are now to where you would like to be. It is much more than another book on how to dream big, best practices for setting goals, or a checklist on how to plan your life and future. Instead, it serves as a simple guidebook of empowerment to help you think about your life and the opportunities available to you in new ways. When we open up to the possibilities, we find new ways of dreaming, propose better goals for ourselves, and make plans that excite us.

My review

Life is a journey, some may simply exist here and some may live their dreams here. Only a very small percentage of people become successful in their life. We all have some dreams and goals. But realizing these dreams are the hardest part. Usually, extrinsic motivation is short-lived. Feasible and long-term motivation only comes from introspection methods. Analyzing and examining our day-to-day habits is the only way forward. This book Dreams. Goals. Plans by Danni White focuses on changing and prioritizing our habits. The author has structured this book in way that its core values should make an impact on its readers.

I have read many books in this niche before. But what makes this one different is its applicability. The author never attempts to sugarcoat the harsh truths in this book. She put down the exact reality of the hardworking and successful people. Success never comes easy. If someone says it is easy then its a blatant lie. We subconsciously accept these lies because we are afraid to go beyond our comfort zone. This book serves as a detox for this mindset. Because of this nature, I felt refreshed after completing this book. This book gave me the clarity that I need for my thoughts. It is a practical guide to converting dreams to goals and then actionable plans.

The author has carefully chosen some meaningful quotes to convey her ideas. She included them at the beginning and at the end of each chapter. These quotes reflect the core values of successful people. Then she explains the concepts and actionable plans that one can derive from those words. This is indeed a unique plan for achieving our own goals. Because the action is the only thing that matters in the end.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in