Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

Who Told You That You Are Naked? Genesis 3:11: Live Without the Bondage of Sickness and Suffering by Guy Right My rating: 4 of 5 stars Do you understand the nature of God? Do you think of Him as a cosmic killjoy, an enforcer, or not paying attention up there? Do you wish that God would save you from your circumstances but find yourself wondering if He even wants to? Who Told You That You Are Naked? Takes Genesis 3:11 and explains why the question is both necessary and revealing (pun fully intended) of the true nature of God. In short chapters author Guy Right - ok honestly, this pen name annoys me, despite how much I liked the book - breaks down the context of the verse and shows the application in other Biblical stories, and more importantly, uses it to reveal how much God really does love you. Not you in the collective sense, although He certainly does, but you as an individual, in the circumstances you find yourself in right now. Each chapter contains Scripture references alr...

Get Organized. Get Focused. Get Moving. by Cynthia Kyriazis My rating: 5 of 5 stars Are you good at what you do but not good at managing the business side of it? Or is something holding you back from moving up to the next level in your business, but you can’t put your finger on what the roadblock is? Enter Cynthia Kyriazis, professional organizer and motivator. In Get Organized, Get Focused, Get Moving. Kyriazis breaks down the basics of organizing as it relates to productivity in your business. Her advice works whether you are a solopreneur or manage a large department in a Fortune 500 company. The chapters are short and efficient; they give you practical steps to take to identify and correct productivity problems. She also gives a great list of helpful tools at the end of the book, both paper and electronic. I can’t tell you how happy I am to read this book, as my agency is in an organizing transition now, as our long time secretary left recently. I am tasked with reorganizing...

From a criminal mind to the mind of Christ by Melody Wolfe My rating: 4 of 5 stars Melody has battled addiction, been incarcerated, survived the death of her husband and faced mental health diagnoses head on. She admittedly struggled to walk the straight and narrow, and wondered if it could even really be done. As a Christian, she knew she was a bad witness. But how do you work your way up to walking the walk? Of course the answer is you don’t. Melody found that only when she embraced the mind of Christ and let him do the directing could she walk the walk. Melody writes From a Criminal Mind to the Mind of Christ from a very open, raw perspective of someone who has been through it and while far from perfect, has embraced the radiant person that she is meant to be in Christ. I should note, this is written specifically from a Christian perspective and is intended for those who can embrace Christianity as part of their recovery process, if you are not already a Christian. There is a...

Heartbreak: New Approaches to Healing - Recovering from Lost Love and Mourning by Ginette Paris My rating: 5 of 5 stars Heartbreak is common occurrence, a shared experience as part of the human condition. The thing is, when we experience it, we are sure that we are the only one, or at least we are the worst example of it. We are not of course, and the way your brain processes this type of loss can greatly affect future relationships. How do we move past our greatest traumas, and not only survive but thrive? I am a social worker, and deal with clients who experience grief, loss, heartbreak and trauma. I LOVED this text, and at certain points - particularly when talking about “Big Mommy” and staying in an infantile state rather than moving past your grief - made me quite literally applaud. I think that while academic, this is written in an easily accessible, conversational style that anyone can understand. Indeed, I think it is quite critical for those of us in the helping profess...

I have had glasses since I was in third grade, and my prescription has always been pretty bad. If I’m not wearing glasses or contacts I quite literally cannot see my hand in front of my face - it’s just a flesh colored blur. Naturally, I was interested in improving my eyesight, and the freer the better, since I can’t afford Lasik even though I’m apparently an ideal candidate. This is not a quick cure, but there are some solid points in there. I can’t say that my eyesight is vastly improved, but your health will improve overall with some of the suggestions and points given in this book. I need to be more consistent with these exercises, but bottom line is they will not harm you, so they are absolutely worth a try. I have been slowly detoxing my life and health, using more natural cleaning products and essential oils instead of OTCs, so this fits right in with my new approach. Good luck to all who try it! Please note, while there may be affiliate links or payment for reviews, all...

Once Saved, Always Saved: Satan's Greatest Trick by Stephen Pippin My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you prayed the prayer (preferably at an altar call while strains of Just As I Am or I Surrender All are harshly banged out on the organ) but later give in to the urge to smoke a doobie, are you really saved? Is your get into Heaven free card revoked? Can you really backslide but maintain your salvation? Pippin contends that there really is no such thing as a saved backslider, either you’re following Jesus and living as he commands or you’re going to hell. It’s a fascinating topic and one that stirs up heated debate. Mr. Pippin tells his own story of backslidden youth and how he came to understand the error of his ways and embraced true repentance, but he also cautions that had he not done so and died during that time he would not have gone to heaven, despite his fervent belief at the time that he was a Christian due to a childhood salvation experience. If you are looking to chall...

I have 3 kids, and am always astonished when utter strangers tell me how polite they are. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think my kids are awesome - duh, I’m their mother. But kids are kids, and they are definitely still learning not to talk with their mouth full, not to shriek and push each other when one of them takes the toy that the other one didn’t want until the thief took it, and that mommy might completely lose it if they interrupt one more time during the one sentence I’m trying to get out. Yet I still hear, “My goodness what polite children you have!” What amazing super powers do I have, you ask? I taught my children to say thank you. Seriously, this is the common denominator behind every instance of my mom ego boosts. Admittedly, this doesn’t happen all the time, and sometimes it even happens immediately preceding one of them doing something to cause a rescinding of that statement. But every time I hear that it makes me wonder just how bad are all the other kids behave that th...

The Devil in Modern Eden by Tom Graneau My rating: 4 of 5 stars Is the Devil real? Does he really manipulate his minions to interfere in the lives of your average citizen? Would a good God really send people to hell? Yup. The Devil in Modern Eden explores many of the common questions about hell and evil, and what Christians can do to rebuff it. It should be noted that this comes from a blatantly Christian perspective, and focuses on the Christians interaction and reliance on God to combat the wiles of the devil. Knowing that, it is an interesting history lesson and really a very thorough explanation of salvation and how to act out your Christianity in modern life. Aside from the acknowledgement that there is a real devil, and that he influences you through evil thoughts and uses modern versions of old institutions (media, drugs, sex, etc.) I was actually surprised about how light the information on Satan was. I expected more than a very basic intro, and yet this is what I foun...

Stop Talking & Start Selling Your Book by Terrance Zepke My rating: 4 of 5 stars I will fully admit to being terrible at marketing myself. I’m a good advocate for other people, but it feels weird to ask people to buy something I created. That being said, I did write an ebook in a niche market (adoption) and I have done a few things to sell it. Like I posted on Facebook once or twice. I know that’s probably not enough, but wasn’t exactly sure what the right amount of self promotion is. This book really gives you lots of ideas and kicks you into gear about selling your own product, and I appreciate that. Zepke points out that you can’t rely on traditional publishers and there are thousands of books published annually, so you have to stand out. Everyone has to be their own marketer, whether you are represented or totally self publish. I had read a few of the suggestions he makes, but not all by any means. If you are looking for some good resources and honest opinions of what work...

I’ll be honest and say in general poetry isn’t my thing. I like a good, thought out poem occasionally, but have never devoted my time to reading volumes of poetry. That said, I really enjoy reading poetry occasionally particularly when it offers insight on a particular subject that prose doesn’t quite capture as effectively. I found Wiskup’s anthology had some excellent selections and some very mediocre, but the poems that I was most drawn had the anti-establishment vibe, even more than specifically supernatural themed, which was what I assumed would be the focus based on the title of the anthology. I tend to push right past poetry with love as the subject, because it’s overdone and often very specific to the author and situation, although I did enjoy some of the scans of the original, handwritten work (I’m kind of a process nerd that way.) But some of the anti-establishment poetry really evoked a lyrical quality reminiscent of 70’s protest songs. Those seemed more natural and free f...

  Ever wonder how our monetary policy developed over time? I mean a looonngg time? Author Robert Schuler gives a history of how money developed and influenced in trade and war. I’m a huge history buff and married to one of the rare (according to Schuler) men who  has a degree in both economics and history, so this book was right up my alley. While I don’t profess to be an expert I found Schuler’s explanation intriguing, if a little academic for the uninitiated, but still really interesting. I think that applying it to personal finance is a bit of a stretch, although I loved the focus on building intergenerational wealth, as I think this is a sorely overlooked priority in most western mindsets. If you want your paradigm challenged and enjoy historical context don’t pass this one up! Please note, while there may be affiliate links or payment for reviews, all opinions are my own. You can't buy a good review from me, people. I am way too mouthy for that.

Think Round: How To Own The Future By Focusing 100% Of Your Company On Customers & Consumers 100% Of The Time by Martha R. Pease My rating: 4 of 5 stars Are you struggling in your business but can’t quite put your finger on what is causing the stagnation? I know that one of the keys to not just marketing but client satisfaction is constant reevaluation of your company while looking through the eyes of your clients or customers. Think Round, authored by two marketers with decades of experience, will give you the tools you need to do just that. I love how they put the emphasis on research from the POV of your clients/customers, and give you real world examples of how to do just that. As someone who manages a small business I think this book is invaluable to those who have to take on the task of doing just about everything themselves. I’m very glad I picked up this book and heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh view on their business marketing. View all my revie...

Lights of Madness: In Search of Joan of Arc by Preston Russell My rating: 4 of 5 stars As fascinating historical figures go, Joan of Arc ranks up there among the most inscrutable and the most tragic. Convinced that she was hearing the voice of God and a few saints, Joan of Arc took off to take back France from the English, and reinstate Charles VII to the throne. While she enjoyed early success, and even had the British on the run, she was eventually captured at Compeigne and burned at the stake in 1431 after a lengthy and far from fair trial. Eventually, Charles VII was successfully reinstated, he initiated a trial of reclamation to clear her verdict of heresy, and centuries later Joan was decared a saint in the Catholic Church. Joan of Arc has been examined from many different perspectives and millieus. She has been the subject of theater, feminist essays, religious festivals, and medical models. Author Preston Russell begins with a blow-by-blow of her trial, and delves a litt...

Your Family Tree! What's in Your Roots? by David L Cole My rating: 2 of 5 stars This is an interesting little e-booklet about how to research your family tree and ancestral line. There are some really useful tips and tricks about which websites are worthwhile and which are kind of a waste of money, and some information about less than reputable aids. While I appreciated the enthusiasm of the author David L. Cole, there were a number of outdated grammatical errors (such as an overuse of hyphens in words like pro-gram rather than program) and organization was somewhat lacking. I think that the process he presented was a good one but I would love to see more of his process and some of the personal pitfalls and successes included rather than just general statements about how he traced his line back to England. I also would love to see more images included, as I really enjoyed the ones that were there, perhaps examples of census records or graves. However if you are really unsure o...

A Descendant of Adam or Progeny of Apes -Which Are You? by David L Cole My rating: 3 of 5 stars Creation vs. Evolution has been a hot topic for a long time, and recently come to the forefront again with the debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham . A Descendant of Adam takes the creationist position and argues against evolution. While some compelling evidence was presented, particularly the reproduced article on carbon dating by Dr. Kent Hovind, the rest of the ebooklet I thought was a little light on persuading facts. While I lean creationist myself, in trying to put myself in the position of an evolutionist I have to conclude I would not be compelled by most of the arguments presented. It is common knowledge that Piltdown Man was a hoax, but still the theory of evolution is taught and accepted. Particularly if you are not a Christian, it is not too important that people were executed for trying to translate the Latin Scripture into the vernacular, so why does that matter in the ar...

Black Sheep in Tokyo by Bruce Stark My rating: 3 of 5 stars If you have ever wondered what it is like to work behind the scenes on robotics and animatronics this book has some interesting anecdotes and stories. It follows Robotics Electrician Bruce Stark primarily as he participates in building Tokyo Disneyland, as well as some of his work on a few movie sets like Jurassic Park and Lake Placid, both of which prominently feature large creatures. It starts in the late ‘70s and goes through the early ‘90s. Although some of the stories are really interesting, it is clear that Mr. Stark is an electrician and not exactly a writer. It’s a little disjointed at times, and there is not really an overarching story, just strung together memories. It ends a little abruptly. There are some really neat pictures, and I would love to see more of those because they really serve to illustrate some of the more complicated aspects of Mr. Stark’s work, which aren’t always easy to picture in your head...

Voodoo Intersection: Poverty, Crime and Disease in Haiti by Yonie Richard My rating: 4 of 5 stars Voodoo Intersection explores the cultural relevance of the voodoo religion in Haiti, and places the poverty, crime and government corruption squarely upon it. Author Yoni Richard, a Haitian immigrant to the US, pulls no punches when describing the devolution of voodoo (what she calls inbred voodoo) and how it permeates the culture, usually to the culture’s detriment. It is a very quick read, and explains the basic tenets of voodoo and how they impact the Haitian daily life. It is a very blunt explanation, and very helpful to those who don’t know much about it. It is not a pleasant or politically correct tale, but accurate from what I know of history, and obviously poignant and meaningful to Richard, as it is the life she led and fled. What I find interesting is the juxtaposition of the Haitian democratic revolution - did you know that Haiti is the world’s longest-running modern demo...

Within a Presumption of Godlessness by Tom Dauria My rating: 3 of 5 stars In Within A Presumption of Godlessness author Tom Dauria explores the shifting views of modern society from the traditional basis of the assumption of a supreme deity or deities to the the presumption that there is no god. This modern interpretation of the metaphysical realm assumes that science offers the only explanation of origin, purpose and the afterlife, and that religion is the opiate of the masses. Dauria explores such topics as the theory of evolution and its origins, modern media dismissing and even demonizing Judeo-Christian culture, and revisionist history that writes God and faith out of what is taught in academia today. I was thrilled to see a book that takes on some of the modern cultural myths that have somehow permeated our ethos, particularly straightening out some of the revisionist history. I was a little annoyed by the constant referencing of the “too smart” and “educated stupid” as ...

HEAVEN IS IN YOUR FUTURE: The gift you cannot refuse by David Arthur DuRocher My rating: 2 of 5 stars The conclusion of the book offered the theories proposed in the book as an alternative to the traditional Christian theory of salvation. I’m glad that was clarified, because this is definitely quite a different interpretation of a traditional Biblical view of souls, salvation and the Cross. DuRocher offers his personal revelation that in fact reincarnation is consistent with Christianity, and Christians are only here to aid others on the easy passage to heaven rather than be burned into heaven by fire. We all make it, however, as evidenced by the title. There is no hell in store for any soul, only the Kingdom of Heaven. While I appreciated that multiple translations were cited and stated in the text, the reading became a little redundant because of the verses written several times each. I think that it would have been simpler to cite what was changed in each translation rather t...

Showdown at Shinagawa: Tales of Filming from Bombay to Brazil by Bill Zarchy My rating: 4 of 5 stars There actually was a showdown at Shinagawa, detailed in the first chapter, but many more stories unfold as noted photographer, cinematographer and blogger Bill Zarchy delves into tales of global escapades while shooting documentary footage for corporate clients. At least mostly documentary footage for corporate clients, one of the best accounts describes a doomed sci-fi thriller that was supposed to be his big break. Each chapter tells a different story of shooting on various projects, and they all offer a snapshot of what that particular film was like. He also helpfully offers links to some of the footage, which I think is a great way to deliver an additional punch to a great description. Zarchy writes in a laconic but engaging style, and doesn’t shy away from poking fun at himself - especially his height in some of the Asian communities - or describing his reactions to touching...