The Path Redefined: Getting to the Top on Your Own Terms by Lauren Maillian Bias

The Path Redefined: Getting to the Top on Your Own Terms by Lauren Maillian Bias

Link to buy The Path Redefined: Getting to the Top on Your Own Terms

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

It's hard to decide what to say about this book. The author Lauren Maillian Bias is described as a "serial entrepreneur," which seems to mean that she has started up multiple companies. These start-ups and the fact that they're all in different industries is noted on practically every page of the book. The reader is also not allowed to forget that Bias accomplished all of this before age 30.

Yes, her accomplishments are impressive, but the tone of the book, combined with the emphasis on the author's high-powered personal connections grew very old very quickly. Bias seems to be quite full of herself. Take this sentence as a sample of what you'll find throughout the book: "I worked really hard for nearly ten years and now I'm part of a powerful ecosystem of like-minded people who dream big and do big like me." (Yes, the words "I" and "me" appear multiple times in practically every sentence.)

This book is supposed to offer readers advice about achieving their own success, yet it reads more like a memoir designed to chronicle Bias's own achievements. For instance, a great deal of time is spent emphasizing the importance of having networks of important, influential friends. Bias calls these people for help, works with them to bring about future business ventures, and sits next to them on philanthropic boards of directors like one for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's all a bit too much for readers who are looking for suggestions to help start a new dog walking business or open a restaurant. Let's face it, if you're checking a book about entrepreneurship out of the library, you're probably not already sitting on boards of directors and starting up new ventures with a guy who runs a successful national skin care brand. In other words, explaining how to use high-powered connections probably isn't going to help people who pick up this book.

Speaking of unrealistic, Bias's first big success was a winery that she started at age 19. Allegedly it started out as a real estate investment. How many 19-year-olds have money to invest in real estate? So if you already have a network of rich, powerful friends and you're trying to figure out how they could be useful to your next business venture, this book might be up your alley. Alternatively, if you're looking for short, pithy ideas that guided Bias's success, look no further. For instance, she wraps up the chapter about negotiation with tips like these: "Be confident." And "You can't always put compensation first, especially when you're a rookie."

Overall, some sensible business advice can be gleaned from this book, but many of the stories recounted here probably don't pertain to regular people living normal lives. There are better books out there if you're looking for step-by-step practical instruction about starting a business or improving your odds of career success.

Reviewed by Peter

Review: Forever Fat Loss by Ari Whitten

Forever Fat Loss by Ari Whitten

Link to buy Forever Fat Loss: Escape the Low Calorie and Low Carb Diet Traps and Achieve Effortless and Permanent Fat Loss by Working with Your Biology Instead of Against It

Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

You know you've read a good book when you finish it and have a list of people you want to pass it along to. But you also know you've read a good book when you don't want to lend it out because you might not get it back. Such is the dilemma you'll face with Forever Fat Loss.

Full disclosure: I'm a sucker for the zillions of health and diet books that promise easy, quick, permanent, fool-proof results. Sadly, those promises never pan out. Sure, if you can completely avoid carbs or fats, or slash your caloric intake, you'll probably lose some weight. Or pass out during your wedding. Or die. Whatever. Those promises are unrealistic for most people with a normal amount of willpower, and they're potentially unhealthy. What to do?

Enter Forever Fat Loss. Author Ari Whitten had me at hello when he said people can eat as much as they want and shouldn't waste their lives at the gym. It's interesting advice from a personal trainer, but who's judging? He says that diets of all sorts, including low carb, low calorie, and low fat, are doomed to failure in the long run because they don't work in concert with the body.

This book points out that a key reason so many Americans are overweight is because of the typical American diet of processed foods. Laboratories are devoted to adding just the right chemicals to processed foods in order to make them unnaturally irresistible and pleasurable. This, in turn, encourages us to overeat.

Whitten has specific, clear guidelines to fix the problem. First and foremost, avoid processed foods. Eat simple, whole foods. Don't buy a milkshake at a fast food restaurant where most of the ingredients came from a lab. Want a shake? No problem. Toss organic yogurt, raw honey, and actual frozen berries into a blender. Sounds pretty good.

The book has a number of other guidelines designed to re-set your body to the weight it's supposed to be. Unlike what's found in most diet books, almost all of these seem both sensible and manageable. The only questionable one was his restriction on nuts, seeds, and legumes. He offered some rationale behind it, but it wasn't compelling. The guidelines state that people can eat some of these items if they really want to, but Whitten recommends limiting them. He advocates eating substantial protein in the form of meat and eggs, but since the environment would be healthier if humans ate less meat, my diet will continue to include unsalted nuts, seeds, and beans. That's one of the advantages of this book, though. It doesn't say "You get only 1500 calories per day!" or "No carbs!" Instead, it's all about listening to what your body is telling you. And my body is telling me to eat almonds.

Overall, this is an excellent book whether you're looking to lose weight or just embark on a healthier lifestyle. It's written in a simple, clear style with easy-to-follow guidelines and even some sample meals that show how "normal" a diet can be without processed foods. Now go make yourself a healthy milkshake and settle in with a copy of this book.

Reviewed by Peter 

Review: The Stephen King Illustrated Companion by Bev Vincent

The Stephen King Illustrated Companion by Bev Vincent

Link to buy The Stephen King Illustrated Companion Manuscripts, Correspondence, Drawings, and Memorabilia

Story Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blurb:

This book takes a critical look at Stephen King's most iconic works and reads between the lines to uncover the personal influences and demons as reflected in each monster, epidemic, and depraved character. Unseen family photographs and 16 pieces of previously unpublished ephemera - such as handwritten manuscript notes, typed early drafts, lengthy journal entries, and doodles for King's college newspaper - complete this tangible tour. Packed with fascinating biographical details, literary interpretations, and personal memorabilia, The Stephen King Illustrated Companion is a must-have addition to any true fan's library.

Review:

The Stephen King Illustrated Companion is a fantastic addition to any King fan's collection. It was neat to see the handwritten notes and book covers that I remember seeing as a kid years ago. This book will appeal to any Stephen King fan of any age. There is so much information here that you can tackle this book as a read in order type of book or skip around to your personal favorites. One thing is for sure and that is once you get your hands on this you will immediately put it on your "keeper shelf" to be able to look at it again and again.

Reviewed by Catherine

Review: Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain by Renee Atler

Title: Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain by Renee Atler 

Link to buy Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain

Story Rating: 3 out of 5 

Review:

Love, Life & God is a collection of the author's personal life experiences, interspersed with poems and occasional song lyrics. It's written in a chronological memoir style with a great deal of detail in the names, times, and places recollected in the stories. The level of detail suggests that Alter had been painstakingly recording her experiences over the course of many years, as opposed to simply recalling events when she sat down to write a book.

A substantial portion of this book focuses on Alter's health challenges, which are extensive. She describes how they all came about, how they evolved, and the measures she and her doctors took to address them. Those measures include myriad prescription drugs, which she discusses as alternately helpful and harmful. Throughout all these circumstances, she makes an attempt to show how God was looking out for her or teaching her or guiding her. In that way, the book has an emphasis on spirituality.

There are many books out there that detail authors' struggles with all manner of ailments, including cancer, drug addiction, and mental illness. Frankly, this reviewer doesn't usually have much interest in those types of books. I get the impression that they're primarily cathartic exercises designed to help the authors work out their own personal demons, which is fine. 

The place where Alter's book shines is in the chapters where she temporarily forgets her various ailments (and allows the reader to forget them, too) and concentrates on telling stories about people she's encountered throughout her life. She describes many fascinating individuals who lead unusual lives. For instance, Allen lives in the country, keeps chickens, feeds zillions of cats, and works a newspaper route to support himself. Alter offers vivid descriptions of her life with Allen, including funny and informative details about chicken behavior and how someone can feed and care for that many cats. Their concern for all those animals was touching.

This book is a mixed bag. I was depressed by parts (chronic illness) but enjoyed other parts (chickens giving themselves dirt baths). Overall, the message that potential readers should get from this review is "Enter at your own risk." Which, by the way, is also the message that should be posted at the entrance to Allen's chicken/cat farm.

Reviewed by Peter 

Review: Love's True Second Chance by Jeff Dawson

Love's True Second Chance by Jeff Dawson

Link to buy Love's True Second Chance
Story Rating: 4 out of 5

Review:

This is a non-fiction account of one man's history and relationship with the woman of his youth whom he was always loved. It begins in early life as they meet, then as a couple later in high school and eventual breakup shortly after finishing school. Each move on and create lives for themselves only to meet again later in life.

This story seems like it was written by the author for the author. There are many times you read a book and ask the question for whom was this intended? This book seems like it was written as a cathartic process for the author himself.  

While reading you feel that you are being allowed a small viewing into the writer's feelings as he shares his history, joy, love, anguish, fear and loss. There are moments in the story when I questioned why some parts were included because they felt so personal. The author is sharing not just his story, but also his love's and both their families’ stories too. I’m leaving out actual details of the story because of the spoiler factor.

So, who would enjoy this book? If you enjoy romance novels then this is a story you should read. It doesn't read with the flair of these novels, but authenticity is stronger than fiction. Possibly another audience would be those who have lived through or contemplating exploring a lost or path not chosen.

Reviewed by ronni

Low carb life

Many people want to take off extra pounds for summer, but diets are notoriously prone to failure. It's hard to cut calories and be subjected to a rumbling stomach, plus intense exercise is unpleasant and time-consuming. So what are we supposed to do when we know we're skinny people trapped in not-so-skinny bodies?

Fortunately there are zillions of diet experts out there who promise quick, foolproof results if you follow their eating plans. One particularly popular option is low carbohydrate. Low carb diets essentially mean no sugar or grain. So, no sweets or bread or cereal. That's the downside. The upside is you can eat all the meat and fat and veggies you like, which typically means a cheeseburger without the bun is fine. 

There are plenty of variations on the low carb theme, which are outlined in books that offer meal plans, recipes, and benefits of the low carb lifestyle. If you're looking for basic low carb information, you can check out something like Living Low Carb: Controlled Carbohydrate Eating for Long-term Weight Loss.

A popular variation on the low carb theme is the low glycemic diet. These diets don't just dictate "NO CARBS!" Instead, they consider how quickly different types of carbs are metabolized by the body and provide guidance about good and bad foods using that criteria. Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies offers help with this type of eating, and you can also find plenty of low glycemic recipe books. Some people adopt this type of diet because it might help manage diabetes. If this includes you, consult your doctor before starting any diet. Needless to say, a book review blog written by a pair of cousins who have absolutely no medical training shouldn't be used as a substitute for medical advice.

"Eat like a caveman" describes yet another type of low carb diet. It's commonly known as the Paleolithic Diet. Supporters of Paleo believe that our bodies are designed to eat lots of fresh meat and veggies and avoid carbs and processed foods, just the way our ancestors did when they were wearing animal skins to hunt and gather thousands of years ago. Want to eat like a caveman? Get more information from books like Paleo for Beginners: Essentials to Get Started.

So if you're looking to shed a few pounds this summer to look better in your bikini, or just so your kids stop yelling at you for displacing all the water in their kiddie pool, check out the low carb option. Good luck!

Review: A People's History of the Peculiar:A Freak Show of Facts, Random Obsessions and Astounding Truths by Nick Belardes

A People's History of the Peculiar: A Freak Show of Facts, Random Obsessions and Astounding Truths by Nick Belardes

Link to buy A People's History of the Peculiar: A Freak Show of Facts, Random Obsessions and Astounding Truths

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review:

This is a really interesting book. It is full of fun and intriguing facts about almost everyone and everything. From the random to the obscure there is something to catch everyone’s attention. Young and old will be entertained with this book. Not only did I enjoy it but my sons also liked thumbing through it as well. We all had fun picking facts out and asking each other questions like “ Did you know that…..? “  and “ Guess what…?”

These are quick and easy facts that let the reader skip around to find what interests them. I would find something that caught my eye and then continue to read and before I knew it I had read numerous pages of facts, never getting bored, only more curious about so many different subjects. Whether you are a trivia buff or not this book will keep you entertained. Young and old will enjoy the variety of subjects in this book.

Reviewed by Gabrielle

Milkweeds and Monarchs

Milkweed and Monarchs

A lot of people don't know that monarch butterflies need milkweed plants to survive. That's because the only food monarch caterpillars eat is milkweed. Without milkweed, there wouldn't be any monarchs; without butterflies and other insects that are pollinators, there wouldn't be any plants. The problem is that milkweed is quickly disappearing in the United States. It's being destroyed by farmers seeking to use their land for crops. 

So what do we do? Concerned gardeners to the rescue! Small scale gardeners in cities, suburbs, and rural areas are taking up the cause of monarch protection by planting milkweed in their home gardens. Milkweed is a pretty flower that's easy to grow. Its genus is asclepias, and it can be found in either seed or plant form at garden centers. Some people create monarch gardens that that include milkweed and other plants that are beneficial to butterflies, like catnip and coneflower.

If there's a child in your life who enjoys nature and science, the picture book Monarch and Butterfly might make the perfect gift. Illustrations and details follow the migration and reproduction of the monarch butterfly to teach children about the symbiotic relationship between these beautiful creatures and the plants they need to survive.