Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Behind The Smile - A Review of This New Book

'Behind The Smile: the story of Lek, a Thai bar girl in Pattaya' is the first novel of a new author. It became available on April 19th. 2012. Behind the Smile is a book that Mr. Jones says he has been trying to write for several years. It is set in Thailand, but the sort of people involved are to be discovered in most countries in the world.

The story is not an atypical one in richer as well as poorer countries: a young woman gets married but her husband soon realizes that he is too young to become tied to one woman and live a life of drudgery. He begins carousing and sleeping around. His wife, not being prepared to put up with this, separates from him.

The difficulty arises in Third World countries that people have no social security to fall back on, which is why family ties are so all vital. You could easily die without the support of your family. This normally works well, but not always.

In Lek's case her father dies at an early age and leaves enormous debts to the bank with the farm as security. The future looks bleak as Lek's mother cannot do more than she is already doing. Lek could begin to help out, but a farm girl's wages are low. One brother is already working, but the other is too young.

At a family conference, they unwillingly make a decision that there is no option but to send Lek away to a big city to work, where she will at least be able to pay the bank's repayment installments off every month.

Lek goes to Pattaya where a relative owns a small bar. She is given a job as a waitress and she loves the thrill of the job. The dazzling lights, deafening music and attentive men are new to her.

A month or so later, she realizes that she is pregnant with her ex-husband's child. That is a total disaster, because it threatens her capacity to pay off the bank, which would bankrupt her mother and siblings.

This book, 'Behind The Smile', looks at Lek's life from her own standpoint and follows her through her fun and frustrations. It tries to demonstrate her thought processes and tell you, the reader, why she does things and what she may rather be doing instead.

You get to be privy to Lek's hopes and fears as the book takes you through a very important part of her life. You meet her friends, family, work mates and boyfriends and you get to see what makes Lek tick

A central theme of this book is not to judge a book by its cover; not to be to quick to judge at all, in fact, and above all, to be careful of what you wish for in case it comes true and there are unforeseen consequences

The title of the book, 'Behind the Smile', derives from the fact that Thailand is famous as The Land of Smiles.

Owen C Jones has just published his first book which is entitled Behind The Smile: the story of Lek, a Thai bar girl in Pattaya in Thailand.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Book Review - Bringing Up Brits

I am an Australian woman, married to a man who was born in England and now holds three passports. Given our recent decision to move to England, this book seemed like an essential read for me, as it is of paramount importance to my husband and I that our kids settle in sooner rather than later.

I loved this book from the first page and I read it in one afternoon.

There were so many places in the book that I found myself nodding my head, realising that I have had so many experiences similar to Peterson Fenn, including when I lived in England in 1999 before I met my husband.

One of the first things she mentions is the distance factor, being far away from family particularly parents not being close enough to share and participate in her life and that of her children. So thank goodness for Skype, and Facebook and other forms of communication; but as Peterson Fenn points out there is no physical contact. You can't reach through the computer to give your parents a hug, or hug your sister's newborn baby son.

I thought her comments on belonging were most interesting. Sometimes non-British parents find a sense of belonging through their children, or their British spouse, perhaps even through friends or work, or it is something that remains difficult to achieve.

On page 83 she covers the issue of changing perspective and the importance of fitting in:
'On the other hand, I have found my perspective has changed because I live here and I have definitely somewhat assimilated into the British way of life. In a way, it is imperative for me because of my children who are half British and who are growing up here. I think it's natural to want to fit in and to do so almost seamlessly'.

I really identified with her comment about accent making you stand out a lot. Having just lived in Italy, people could tell that I was not a native speaker, and now that I have moved to England, many people can tell straight away that I am not English, and some can even pinpoint what country I do originate from. However like Peterson Fenn I also cherish my accent because it is a reflection of where I originate from.

I found the section from page 94 onwards very interesting about languages other than English in the home. It made me reflect on the past six years of our lives and how English has taken a back seat to Italian. Meghan reiterates a point that I was aware of already, that children who have more than one language are at an advantage and some of the children profiled in this book have two, three or four languages.

I will not give any more away in terms of the contents of this book. I simply believe if it is relevant to you, you will find reading it to be of great assistance, or even comfort.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Book Review of "The Codependency Conspiracy"

I was glad to find a book that I could align my thoughts with regarding the self help movement. For friends who benefitted from active participation in the self help tradition, I respect their experiences.


However, I have not always agreed with all the tenants of the traditions but never felt that I could discuss the topic in order to avoid arguments. In "The Codependency Conspiracy", Dr. Stan Katz and Aimee Liu thoroughly compare the positive and negative thought processes of step programs.


One example of practicality is this: if you were having marriage problems, would you want to be counseled by someone with years in a healthy marriage or by someone who's been divorced five times? The idea of associating with others who can understand your experiences because they've been there is understandable but should not be replaced by the counsel of someone trained and licensed in the field.


Another area for thought is that initially, the sell help groups were to be voluntary. In my prior work in the criminal justice field, offenders were court ordered to attend AA and submit signed slips for verification of attendance. Religious versions were not always accepted. If this was a first offense or experience with drugs or alcohol, does that automatically make a person an addict or alcoholic. If an individual is court ordered to attend meetings, will they benefit from it if they don't want to be there?


As for assigning the disease label to crimes such as sex offenses, I believe that is very dangerous. There has to be accountability and consequences for actions.


I have never agreed with the concept of Codependency. Just because you have a family member who has addiction problems, that does not make your family dysfunctional by association. You may be an upstanding citizen, active in church, volunteering in the community and reaching goals and not be able to live someone else's life for them.


Dr. Katz presents eight points to assist those seeking recovery to let go of the past and take control of their choices so they can have a brighter future.


When in a position to consider both positions of the self help/Codependency topic, I would refer others to this book. It is well written. I strongly recommend it as an educational supplement in the counseling or addictions field.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Angry Woman Suite by Lee Fullbright: A Review

What does it say about a book when it continually reminds you of other books or of an author who reminds you of other authors? Let me see if I can clarify this a little. It's not that The Angry Woman Suite is like another book. For example, Lee Fullbright's book reminds me of Charles Dickens. It's not that she writes like him but the complexity of her plots and the multiple narrators remind me of things of his I have read and enjoyed. At other times she reminded me of other books and writers. She even reminded me of a movie: Laura. In the movie the main obsession of the characters is a painting and its subject. This novel broadens that theme to include the artist who did the painting, in this case several paintings: a suite-

-The Angry Woman Suite. I have to say, since this book recalls to my mind other books and things I have enjoyed then it is doing something very few books are able to do.

The author uses three narrators, almost like reading three diaries of similar times. But they aren't exactly recalling the same events from different perspectives but are instead travelling parallel lines that meander enough to touch and flow together from time to time.

Each narrator is responsible for swatches of history. Elyse is the youngest. A child really, at least at first. Her voice is very believable. She thinks and speaks like the child she is, which, in itself, is quite an accomplishment. The men in her life seem to be a burden to her. Even her beloved grandfather, who may be well-meaning but instructs her in the ways of the world in cryptic statements that confuse more than enlighten. I have to remember however that the grandfather's character along with one of the narrators, Aidan, were born in the nineteenth century, when magic and mystery has a greater influence on thinking.

Francis, the third narrator, becomes Elyse's step-father. Have you ever hears the expression, he's his own worst enemy? This is an apt one sentence description of Francis. He is the most compelling character in the book. If I were asked which fictional character I'd least like to be it would be Francis Grayson. He is riddled with self-doubt and driven by compulsions that bring him to shame at nearly every turn. Each time he finds happiness or success he self-destructs. It's not as though he doesn't succeed or find happiness, or, that it lurks outside his grasp. He is enormously talented. He just can't hold onto his hard-won victories. This makes his life more tragic for its twists and turns. His talent, combined with his self-doubt and compulsive actions make his life a living hell.

If you enjoy a good story well told The Angry Woman Suite is a book for you.

Joseph Valentinetti is an author of novels: fiction and fiction based on fact. He writes articles on a variety of subjects, from impressions of travel spots to speculating about the name of the moon, but his focus is on his writing and author interviews. Get better acquainted at. http://www.valentinetti.com/viewre-views/ Join his site, pick up his feed and become part of the dialog. Read A Book.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Dark Traveller Ebook Review

Cindy Wright's The Dark Traveller is a unique compilation that details with precision and accuracy the movement of the Black Death in London and the small area of Eyam in the 1660's. The quantity of facts and figures offered is far more than what one gets reading general European history. For history lovers researching this infamous time, The Dark Traveller is an invaluable resource because it is one of the most in depth references around. Wright eloquently and accurately tells of the chaos without being unnecessarily theatrical. The reader is swept to feel like they are living in London in 1665. Well written and concise, The Dark Traveller references primary resources of the time, giving it an authoritative stand on the subject matter.

For attentive learners interested in digging up medical history, this is an essential read because it focuses on the early efforts to quell the disease. After reading The Dark Traveler, one will appreciate the advents of modern sanitation and more a sophisticated knowledge of human health. All together, it is an intriguing bit of the past that can take anyone back in time to understand. It reads briefly and articulately covering the whys and hows of every major aspect of the tale.

Additionally, within The Dark Traveler are suitable illustrations to enhance the reader's experience. The most remarkable aspect about this informative work is the amount of detail included that is not common knowledge: from names and lives of actual people that passed away, to the story of a town that sacrificed itself to the disease. It is shocking how many pseudo-cures had been created to fight the Bubonic Plague. Some are sure to make one shudder.

As always, Wright is very concise and factual. In the Dark Traveller, the story of the bubonic plague is ushered forth from antiquated times into a tangible reality. With details found from archives, a very full story of demise and death tolls rising is told. Like a ghost walking from person to person unseen, but perceiving the lives of victims, The Dark Traveler has a different overall aura than most historical texts. It has a bit of closeness to each person that lived as if one has the privilege to run into that person hundreds of years ago before moving on to someone else. The Black Death becomes all the more real.

This highly educational experience will greatly enhance understanding and bring one into a higher plane of knowledge. This is the perfect resource for any research paper concerning the Black Death or health in the 15th century due to its respectability, authority, and convenient briefness. One just might think twice too the next time one is bitten by a flea. However, do not be scared of the moribundity, The Dark Traveler is also a story of survivors who didn't succumb to the Black Death's lethal grasp. The Dark Traveler is meant to take the reader back with such an experience that it is even used as travel companion in London to see all the places where every event did truly happen. Sure to haunt and educate, read for the memory of lethal bygone days.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem: How the Ancient City Ignited Our Modern World - Book Review / Summary

In this book James Carroll, an award winning author, columnist and scholar, discusses exhaustively what lies within the two histories of what the three major faiths consider as their holy city, Jerusalem... the ethological history of Jerusalem and the actual history of the physical city. Throughout the book he distinguishes among the three faiths that occupied the holy city throughout its tumultuous past and how each sanctified the City as their own both literally and spiritually. Unlike any other city... only Jerusalem can claim such inspiration.

"Only Jerusalem, not Athens, Rome, or El Dorado, or the New York of immigrants' dreams - only Jerusalem occupies such a transcendent place in the imagination."

Indeed, the city is standing on holy ground... Carroll will take you on a journey from the "rock" that the primitive sacrificed other humans, "the rock" where Abraham was stopped from sacrificing his own son Isaac on Mount Moriah, where King David built his house on Mount Zion, or where Christ was crucified at Golgotha, and the Rock that Islam's Dome of the Rock enshrines.

What makes this read more engaging is that Carroll goes beyond the history of the city and its religions and characterizes how this city has become the symbol for a universal human condition: violence, which he refers to as "Jerusalem fever". And through human machinations and constructs, this primal and universal propensity for violence infects religious groups, political parties, and economic policy for the whole middle east and beyond. Carroll goes on to explains that while it seems intuitive that violence and religion are separate in their nature, the reality is that they are, in fact, inseparable, and shows the direct correlation of violence and the sacred. He goes on to write that this reality is evident in the historical developments of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which we all can agree have their own bloody story.

Carroll also eloquates how this city stands as "the fulfillment of history". Each of the major monotheistic faiths believe that Jerusalem holds the key to their apocalyptic hope where God finally answers his own mysteries. What began, Carroll explains, as a immeasurable and internal revelation evolved into a revelation centered around a space (the actual city of Jerusalem), and finally into a revelation of time - the End Time. Carroll really does make plain how Jerusalem inspires revelation in all dimensions for all people.

"For Jews, Muslims, and Christians, this real estate - "holy land" - is a magnet that draws to itself, and thereby organizes, the shaving of a million impressions of the transcendence".

This book is beautifully and exhaustively written that exposes the good and bad in religion and personal faith (of any religion), and I don't think that I poured over, or pondered over as much as any book as this one. As one who has read hundreds of history books over the years I will have to read this particular book over and over to peal back each layer of information and understanding. Excellent book! I recommend this read to anyone interested in learning more on the city itself, the Middle East conflict, world history, and yes, maybe even learning a little more about yourself!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Simple Golf Swing Review

Hey guys, today I'm going to talk a bit about The Simple Golf Swing. First I have to start off by saying that I was very pleasantly surprised by this product, because in the golf industry there are a lot of garbage guides and so called pros giving bad advice. The Simple Golf Swing was a breath of fresh air for me because after unsuccessfully trying a lot of online advice, I was finally able to see some tangible results on the golf course.

The package comes with both an e-book and instructional videos, and both were very well presented and easy to follow. Everything you need for a professional level swing is covered, from grips to ball placement to weight distribution right to the detailed breakdown of the swing itself. As an intermediate golfer my biggest goal was to develop consistency with my swing and this guide was perfect for my needs.

That's another thing Id like to address before I get into my results, that there are no miracles in the golf world. You should definitely get out on the range and drill your new swing and take your time, because as we all know golf doesn't come easy and it does take practice so I don't want anybody thinking that they'll be knocking 10 strokes off their game just by watching the videos and reading the guide. I would say a 5-10 stroke improvement for an intermediate level golfer is very achievable within your first few weeks of implementing the guide however. You just have to put in the effort on the course to physically attempt what David teaches in this course.

With that being said, I noticed an immediate benefit to both my long and short game the very same day I got this product when I got out on the range and started trying out what I'd learned. Because the guide is so easy to follow, I had no problem applying the techniques the very same day in practice. Let me add that I'm no golf prodigy or anything, so if I could pull off the techniques and modify my game so quickly then I think anybody could do the same with a bit of practice. Seeing these quick results was exactly the motivation I needed to push on because as a golfer I need more than just book knowledge, I want to see those actual measurable results on the course.

I felt a lot more relaxed and natural and I noticed my swing was much more consistent than usual, I wasn't hitting slices or hooks like I used to. My shots were going straight down the pipe and my accuracy was the best it's ever been. Within a couple of these experimental sessions on the driving range I was pretty excited to test out how I'd fare in a full game of golf, and let me tell you, I couldn't have been more pleased. I shot the best game of my life, and my individual shots held up in a game situation like I'd hoped. I added about 20 yards to my driver, and averaged 10-15 extra yards to my irons. The best part though was having the confidence that I could repeat that solid swing over and over for the entire 18 holes.

My one issue with the course was the price; it is a bit on the pricey side at $67. For me though it was well worth the cost to improve my game so much, so you just have to look at it as an investment.

To wrap up, I would highly recommend you check out The Simple Golf Swing, in my opinion it's the top golf guide on the net.

Check out the full video review at http://youtu.be/7TUGpldJUS4.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Review of Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One

The (somewhat) controversial novel Fifty Shades of Grey is the first book in a trilogy by EL James. It follows Anna, a naïve college senior and her extremely sexual relationship with young mogul Christian Grey.  Anna has a chance encounter with Christian when she helps her best friend by conducting an interview for the college paper with him at the last minute.  He soon makes her his submissive in an S and M lifestyle that Anna is completely unprepared for. They spend the remainder of the novel navigating this world as Anna examines whether she is really cut out for her new role.

 Fifty Shades of Grey is widely known as Mommy Porn because of the explicit sex scenes, of which there are many.  Hardly a page goes by without Christian and Anna having sex- in the bathroom, in the bedroom, and in The Red Room- a scary room of bondage devices where Christian brings his submissives.  However, the book isn't just about sex.  There is also a genuine love story between a young woman becoming an adult and the man she has deep feelings for.  Christian also finds himself caring for a woman for the first time in his life and it scares him to death. The struggle to decide if they can be a normal couple makes for some entertaining reading.

Many have argued that the James' writing is terrible and difficult to get through.  But this is not supposed to be a great literary work.  It was originally written as a piece of fan fiction based on the Twilight trilogy. It received such a huge following that it led to a publishing contract and a brand new life for James, a housewife from.  The rumor is that James will receive a 20 million dollar check this fall as her portion of the profits. Is Fifty Shades of Grey a classic? No.  But does it provide an escape to a world few know about and many are curious about?  Absolutely!

James is not the first writer to struggle with dialogue.  If there is any question, take a look at some early works by Danielle Steel or even at Luke and Laura's conversations in the 80s.  But where are people getting the idea that James takes her own writing seriously?  She has admitted to being stunned by the success of the trilogy. So why does the public feel the need to attack her on a daily basis?

The cultural dialogue about the book has definitely influenced the book's attraction.  And taken for what it is- a love story with a lot of sex- it is perfect for anyone looking to escape their own lives, for a brief time.

Fifty Shades Fan site dedicated to the Fifty shades of grey trilogy for fans to read the latest news on the movie casting and much more.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Shattered Peace Review

The quiet community of Russell Island has suddenly captured the attention of the entire world. On this small island in Chesapeake Bay, Kiril Varga, Deputy Prime Minister of Balkania, has been found dead. After examining the body, the island's one man police department, detective Starrett Knight, discovers that the victim was executed mobster-style -- with a bullet to the back of his head; a discovery that will not only interrupt the Balkanian peace talks occurring in neighboring Oxford, Maryland, but one that will also disrupt the peace of the residents living in the region. In Joseph Keough's murder mystery Shattered Peace Russell Island becomes a point of convergence: as the press, New York City police detectives, and FBI agents all descend upon the previously tranquil hamlet to solve this international case.

Russell Island is a place of retreat for Starrett Knight. Following the death of his wife and child, the detective escaped to this idyllic island to recover from his personal loss. After several years on the island, he managed to slowly recoup from the death of his loved ones; gaining strength from close friends and the serene landscape and living conditions he found in the new location. However, in the opening pages of the novel we see that Starrett (nicknamed "Star") is still in a real sense stuck -- bound by grief and unable to move on with his life. Ironically, it takes the tragic death of a stranger to free his mind from morbid rumination upon his own tragic circumstances.

Early in the investigation a piece of information surfaces that makes this particular case very personal for Star: his friend, Ellen Mannery, an artist, resident of Russell Island, and wife of his best friend Steve Mannery, is suspected of being involved in the killing of the deceased diplomat. Several years before the murder, while she and her husband were separated, she had an affair with Kiril Varga. And although she and Varga were no longer seeing each other, the fact that his body was found on the remote island implicates her in the crime. Consequently, Star, convinced of Ellen's innocence, approaches the investigation in attack mode, vigorously working to prove that she is being framed for the murder; while desperately seeking to uncover evidence pointing to the real perpetrators of the crime.

Although ostensibly a story about solving a murder, the real plot of Shattered Peace revolves around the dynamic and grief-stricken protagonist, Star Knight. The pressing necessity of proving Ellen's innocence reinvigorates a mind that has perhaps grown slightly dull, or at best bored, due to the complete lack of crime on Russell Island. With his investigative skills resurging with a vengeance -- as Star uncovers hidden clues and makes connections that impress (and at times astonish) New York's finest and the FBI agents assigned to the case -- he also discovers that he still possesses other life instincts that had been lying dormant in his body and being since the death of his wife.

The romantic relationship that develops between Star and Stephanie Dolan, the smart and stunning Maryland newscaster covering the case, enlivens Knight's erotic impulses; and amplifies the entertainment value of the story underway. In addition, the emerging friendship between Star and the like-minded New York City detective, Frank Petracci, provides the narrative with another engaging element. The witty banter between the detectives, the titillating romance between Star and Stephanie, and the incredible way in which Star and the investigative team piece together the clues of the case, make Shattered Peace an intellectually stimulating and emotionally thrilling book. In particular, witnessing the beleaguered Star rise from his shell of suffering proves extremely edifying and cathartic.

Reading the surprising conclusion of the story, one is left craving a sequel. It is a work that is suitable for mature readers; and one that would make an excellent motion picture.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Writing Online Book Review Articles

Well, I have a physical library, yes real books, and it is now approaching some 4000 titles. It's amazing how much bookshelf space that takes up, and I have books all over the house. It's beginning to look like a Museum, because no one seems to be buying books anymore, well they are, but they are e-books on their e-readers. About the worst thing I can think of is to read a book cover to cover, especially a nonfiction book, and find myself so underwhelmed after I have completed.

Perhaps like you, my time is valuable, and perhaps this is the reason that as an online article author I'd like to recommend that you prepare book reviews of the books that you have read. Put them online for all to read, you might be saving someone a lot of time, and helping to recommend the very best books, helping the best authors get the word out. Still, if you are going to write book reviews do it honestly and with integrity, we don't need any more shrills out there promoting the wrong stuff.

There was a rather troubling article, at least in my opinion, recently in the New York Times on August 26, 2012 titled; "The Best Book Reviews Money Can Buy," by David Streitfeld which told of a gentleman who had a business doing book reviews for authors and publishers, for a fee. This is a real problem if the individual doesn't state that they were paid for the review clearly in the article, otherwise they are violating the "shrill marketing" rules as per the FTC.

Trust me when I tell you, this is the wrong way to play it instead you should do it right and if you are paid remember we'll need full-disclosure. That is to say that if you were paid or given a free book to read in the auspice of doing a positive review on the title, then you need to let the individual reader of that online book review know that. It might be a simple notation, or a couple sentences about how you were thrilled to receive the free book from the author to do the book review.

This way the reader knows that there could be some inadvertent positive bias in your article. Maybe there isn't, and I certainly hope there isn't, but if there is, you have disclosed to the reader the truth and reality about the situation. That's only fair would you agree? If you are going to prepare and write online articles which are book reviews, I hope you will please consider this and do it right.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks filled with Book Reviews. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

Fifty Shades Freed Review - The Party's Over

We knew it was coming- the Fifty Shades trilogy is complete! Sadly, it doesn't look like there will be any further adventures with our favorite S&M couple Christian and Ana any time soon. EL James has moved on and is busy creating a new couple to steal our hearts. But we must thank her for a fantastic climax to the series.

In Fifty Shades Freed Christian becomes more than just a sex god- who knew he would turn out to be such a good guy? And so damn compassionate? O.K., we all did. I admit I'm a sucker for Christian- even when he is being utterly obnoxious. James allows us to see past the arrogant behavior to the man Christian would have been had he not suffered such a wretched past.

James knows her readers- and what they crave. I have always argued that James developed more than an S&M series in these books. There is an excellent story here, even if many people can't see past the so-called 'bad writing'. Like Edward and Bella in the Twilight series that the Fifty Shades books were based upon, Christian and Ana also get married and learn they are expecting a child. It serves to makes the couple even more human.

James ties up the loose ends from the first two books and it does sometimes feel a little rushed- like she is trying to fit it all in. We find out Jack Hyde's story. It's eye-opening to learn the details of Christian's past and watch him show his vulnerable side when he loses control over ANYTHING. Mia's kidnapping is finally wrapped up, along with the sub-plot: 'Mrs. Robinson and the Subs.'

But don't worry- there is still plenty of hot sex and- yay!- a return to the Red Room. Thankfully James doesn't disappoint- there is also plenty of romance too. Perhaps she has run out of a little steam- the cute bantering back and forth between Ana and Christian isn't the same as in the past. But James also has a lot of ground to cover and manages to do it pretty well.

What is my favorite part of Fifty Shades Freed? Definitely the epilogue. I wanted to find out if they live happily ever after! I also liked the bonus sections- "Fifty's First Christmas" and "Meet Fifty Shades." "Fifty's First Christmas" gives a first-person account of Christian's first Christmas after being adopted by the Greys. And "Meet Fifty Shades" shows us Christian's first impressions of Ana in their first two meetings.

Yes, I am sad to come to the end of the Fifty Shades trilogy. But truthfully, I can't wait to see what James has in store for us next.

Fifty Shades Freed Review dedicated to the Fifty shades of grey trilogy for fans to read the latest news on the movie casting and much more.

Spiritual Questions Answered - Review Of The Spirits Book

Very few books have caused me to really think logically about spirituality, but The Spirits Book by Allan Kardec was one of them. Although it's not a very thick book, it has quite a bit of information about the spiritual realm. The book is presented in a "question-answer" format, so it delivers on directly addressing the readers concerns.

It's very important that the reader doesn't confuse spirituality with Spiritism. This book is not promoting Spiritism, which is the worship of various spirits. What it does speak on is the proper understanding of the spiritual existence; especially the idea of God. The book doesn't shy away from controversial questions such as: How do we prove that there is a god? Allan Kardec attempts to address these answers head-on.

There is some controversy, however, on the origins of the books contents. It is presented in a channeled or automatic writing format, which has been under scrutiny. There are libraries of books that claim automatic writing, many of which I will address in the near future. The Spirits Book was, in my personal opinion, one of the better ones. It does have its moments where it becomes uninteresting, but the vast majority of the book managed to hold my interest. The book also repeats some questions, but the answers are so interesting that one is willing to overlook this little flaw.

When I was receiving my spiritual instruction, this was one of the first books I decided to read. I had so many questions, which most people can relate to, so having a book that addresses these questions was a big help. If you are serious about receiving spiritual answers, this book is a must-read. It shouldn't be considered a religious book, because it doesn't promote any doctrine, but it does assist in pointing the reader in the right direction to continue their studies. After I read this book, I went on to read others books that added to my spiritual growth. There are many books out there, but many of them are a waste of time when it comes to spiritual study. It is very important that you read books that will add layers of understanding to your spiritual foundation. I do understand that many people may not like this book, but those who are serious about stepping out of religion, and into the realm of spirituality, this book will definitely help. This book should be on you reading list if you are searching for spiritual answers.

I am the author of "The Devil in the Flesh-The true origins of the adversary". I am also the founder of The Geary Davis Project, an organization that seeks to clear up spiritual confusion through literary resources. It is my goal to promote truth by destroying the lies of organized religion, and teaching the ways of true spirituality. My website is: http://www.g-d-project.webstarts.com/