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, Erotic fiction, Fiction

Misty Young Love by Casa Nova|Book review

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Title: Misty Young Love

Author: Casa Nova

Pages: 94

Blurb

It was a brief period of training and she looked forward to isolation and boredom. But then this robust teen came into her life and it became a holiday in paradise. Suddenly she became a trainer playing a role freeing the butterfly from its cocoon.
The birds, the most beautiful creatures of nature, are so colourful and add to the beauty of the world. To see them in all their splendour they need to spread their wings and fly. But what if society clips their wings? Are you also a lovely colourful bird with clipped wings?

My review

Misty Young Love is the story of Jane and Tom who were once lost in their respective paths. Somehow their paths are intervened just like they are meant for each other. Though both are living inside the taboos of society, they found their mutual love unexpectedly. In the beginning, Jane only considered this relationship as a getaway from her boredom but it grew stronger and stronger each day. Both of them were exploring the unexpected pleasures that they can squeeze from one another. They set out a journey of experimenting with their wildest thoughts and desires for a brief course of time. Soon Jane has to assume the role of a mentor to course this young man in the right direction. Her honest efforts molded a clueless teen to a fine young man. But the sincere deeds will always payback, even after a long time. Jane finds the meaning of their connection after many years of parting their ways, which is a befitting climax for a romantic story.

This short romantic fiction is aptly penned, incorporating the pure emotions behind every human being. Though it lacked conversations in the beginning, the author has managed to craft a good drama at the end. This steamy hot romance will hook the readers till the end for sure.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, short story

Lucky the Turtle by Tylin Pratt|Book review

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Title: Lucky the Turtle

Author: Tylin Pratt

Pages: 30

Genre: Children’s fiction

Blurb

Lucky is a kind and happy turtle who lives in a small pond, on a big farm. He has many friends and many aspirations, but doubts he’ll be able to achieve them because he’s a small turtle, living in a big world. Lucky finds the courage to follow his dreams and on that journey, he discovers his inner greatness.

My review

We all have many dreams and goals. But often we are discouraged by the people around us. We lose focus due to this unwanted influence. People who can rise beyond these hurdles can only achieve their dreams. “Lucky the Turtle” illustrates this meaningful concept very well. This is a beautiful story of overcoming challenges and believing in oneself. These beliefs can work magic on your way. The beautiful illustrations certainly add brightness to the story.

Stories like this help our children to not only dream big but also to believe that every dream is achievable, no matter how big it is. But we can only achieve it through the right guidance, meticulous practice, and laser-sharp focus. No matter, how small you are, how slow you are, if you are perseverant enough, nothing can stop you from reaching your goals.

The story also conveys another message about good and bad friendships. How people around you can pull you down and how good friends can turn your mindest quickly. It is important to circle yourself with meaningful and supportive relationships to achieve every goal.

Through this small story, the author has imparted timeless wisdom to budding minds. A must-read for children and adults alike.

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, Fantacy, Fiction, Science Fiction

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole|Book Review

 

54803781._SX318_Title:The Quarter Percent

Author: Lily Nicole

Pages: 285

Blurb

It is summer 2030. Truth is the weapon and profit is the territory. Over thirteen intense days, combatants wage war, wielding influence and prestige. Behind the screens, wealthy recluse Marvin Stone has unimaginable power and rewrites the rules of the game. As the rules change, a former fashionista struggles to adjust. On the continent, the popular and charismatic King Cordial of Vale works covertly to undermine his rivals. His youngest daughter, Costmary, is in the cross-hairs. Rue, his older daughter, takes on an exciting new challenge and Gala, Cordial’s first-born, when she is named Princess Regent, forges new ties and unveils her master plan.

My Review

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole is a unique dystopian science fiction blending politics and technology together. The plot has many parallel storylines which are woven together through mutual connections.

Set in the near future, the book begins giving a glimpse of the technical takeover on our day-to-day lives. Every information ever put out on the internet is now archived into a ten cubic meters of nanocellulose and silicon called Pai. Every user can point your device to this jelly block to access their data and modify them according to their taste. Access to this unique technology is only given to an extremely rich quarter percent of the population. This manipulative illegal technology which is controlled by a group of eight companies called The Conglomerate plan to market their product in the near future. This will cause a phase-out of the internet and the rise of Aeterna, the replacement. The source code of Aeterna is owned by Marvin Stones’ technology firm, Stone Technology Partners, LLC.

The plot thickens when Marvin Stone decides to rewrite the rules of the technology over the course of thirteen days. This will disrupt many lives depending on social media and the internet. The equations of marketing and advertising are going to take a toll due to this. This storyline is blended with the life of King Cordial of Vale, whose family problems have started spilling into the media. The King and his daughters are trying to squeeze the last drop of profit and power through covert plans.

This is not a simple story that can be expressed through a few lines. The story is getting complicated with the introduction of new characters. This complexity adds suspense and thriller elements in the story. The satirical account of family politics to gain more power and profit is portrayed very accurately. When people lose their ethics and only concentrate on profits, their grounds also change. This leads then to unquenchable greed to impair their opponents and rise above them. The human nature to wage war for their selfish goals is the soul-cause of the fall of humanity. This story explains them all. With accurate turns and twists, the plot never loses its charm.

The creative mind behind the story demands a huge applause. It is not easy to weave many storylines together and combine them to a single concept. The author has done this job very well. This book is absolutely a great treat for readers.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in  https://amzn.to/3iquCr7

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, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

I’m lucky because you were born: My twenty-five (25) reasons by Zara Achou|Book review

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Title: I’m lucky because you were born: My twenty-five (25) reasons

Author: Zara Achou

Pages: 27

This is a beautiful illustrative storybook for our little ones and for ourselves. Parenthood comes with a lot of happiness and responsibilities. Our little ones become the center of our chaotic life in no time. They bring joy to every small thing. We reborn at the moment we became a parent. It is indeed a new turn in our lives. But this happiness came only with that much high responsibility. The upbringing of a child is a difficult process.

This creative, colorful, and meaningful illustration can make this job a lot easier. The author has put down very unique words along with the illustrations. Those words are the heart of pictures. They completely reflect the parent’s love for their child. Capturing these raw emotions is not easy. But the author has done it with ease. Show this book to your child and say I love you to them. Their eyes will widen and their heart will be filled with happiness. They never forget how you made them feel.

The beautiful moments of parenthood should be shared with our little ones without losing their essence. This is the best way for that.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in  https://amzn.to/2Pg6Gdn

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Indian Authors

Binge and Nothingness by Juan Kaius| Book review

51h19J7t1eLTitle: Binge and Nothingness

Author: Juan Kaius

Pages:75

Blurb

If you are suffering from an existential crisis, do not read this book!

This is the story of Juan, a 25 year old boy, who after binging the joy out of everything, food, drugs, and entertainment, realizes that the only way left to fill the void is to fall into it. Thus, he embarks on one final journey – to jump off the top of a hill and end his life on a ‘high’ note. By doing this, he intends to set an example for his peers, all depressed and directionless individuals, who can follow him and attain the truest form of freedom. But does fate have one last absurd joke to play on him?

Set in McLeodganj, a mystical sanctuary of Tibetan Buddhism, this is a satirical take on our generation’s futile search for the meaning of life.

My review

Binge and Nothingness narrates a story of a 25-year-old young man who is suffering from an existential crisis. He is always in search of his life’s purpose. He has tried everything to extract pleasure. His search hits a dead end and he decides to give up his life. He is ready to embrace death for reaching a new “high”. He decides to jump off from a cliff at Triund, Dharamkot. But what if life has some other plans, waiting for him?

I really loved this story because of its uniqueness. I never ever came across a story like this before. The existential crisis of the new generation is embedded very carefully in the storyline. The explanation of this unique philosophy often drifted me from reading. The thoughts of Juan kept me thinking about those concepts much deeper. His views resonate with the present world very accurately. The observations of author in all the things mentioned in the story such as drugs, meditation, spirituality, life, greed, and lust is hundred percent correct. This alone glued me to the story until the end.

Honestly speaking, I have come across very few books that have the power to leave me astonished after reading. This is one of those rare books. The story is penned down very beautifully. The pinch of sarcasm till the very last page is something deserves a huge applause.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in