Book

Book Review: “Law Of Attraction & Effection: The Secret Ingredient to Wealth Creation”

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Reviewing Vinod Reghunathan’s self-help guide.

Rating: 3 stars

Headline: Economics and spirituality collide in this guide to wealth

Review:

Vinod Reghunathan’s self-help guide, LAW OF ATTRACTION & EFFECTION: The Secret Ingredient to Wealth Creation is a book of two halves. In the first half, Reghunathan covers the basic principles of business growth, including leveraging scale and impact. He refers to this as the Law of Effection. The writing here is economically-minded; it makes strong statements, backed-up with real world case studies of large industries who have leveraged some of the principles to great effect. The second half is more spiritual, focusing on The Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction is a broad philosophic principle founded on the manta that positive thoughts breeds positive actions. Guidance in this part of the book include how to ask the universe for guidance and the art of practising gratitude to others. Case studies focus on individual personalities from popular culture.

Before going much further I am going to tackle the elephant in the room. The word “effection” is not in the English dictionary. When I entered “Law of Effection” into a generic search engine the results were limited to say the least; after three webpages from non-reputable sources I’m directed to the Law of Effect, a concept that bears no relation to Economics. Without supporting clarification, Reghunathan’s choice of title seems clumsy and would put off a lot of perspective readers.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a book covering the disciplines of Economics and Philosophy, the two halves of LAW OF ATTRACTION & EFFECTION are very contrasting. While the first section offers practical advise on maximising potential, profit and growth, the second half advises the reader on positivity and gratitude. According to Reghunathan, it is only through application of both elements that the reader can obtain financial success, however the fundamental differences between the two halves of the book mean the pairing does not quite marry up.

Each half of Reghunathan’s self-help guide is well-written and the content engaging, but combined the book suffers from being overly broad in outlook. The two-for-the-price-of-one approach did not work for me; I would have rather read two books.

AEB Reviews

Links

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – Law of Attraction & Effection

Purchase Link: Law Of Attraction & Effection: The Secret Ingredient to Wealth Creation

Author Website: https://vinodr.com/

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What writing draft zero sounds like, in my head

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, comedy, Humour, Uncategorized, Writing , ,

This is what it feels like forcing myself to write words on a blank page. It feels like this property advertisement.

And I’m not talking about the never ending bit. The production value, the forced lyrics, the “what have I just seen?” feeling, quite literally everything about this video can be translated into what writing a draft zero feels like for me.

Oh, and if you are interested in learning more about this house may I direct you to its page on Rightmove (still on the market at the time of writing).

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Book Review: “The Most Reverend” by JJ Young

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Rating: 1 star

Headline: Regardless of which faith you preach, this book is downright nonsensical

Review:

The Most Reverend by JJ Young is a comedy-satire of a Christian denomination and its plight to establish itself in Britain. Pastor Delilah Wigglesworth, founder of the “PRAISE!” movement adopts a highly informal approach to communicating biblical messages through the use of concert-type congregations, social media and its flagship confessional app. Shortly after arriving in the UK, Delilah, husband Jude and their two children become acquainted with Mary, a small parish vicar who has become fatigued with the Church of England and the Archbishop’s unwillingness to fund the repair costs to her church. In awe of Delilah and Jude, Mary leaves her parish to become the UK’s first pastor for “PRAISE!”

Within this plot summary there is ample opportunity for well-executed comedy and clever satire. Instead, what the reader sadly gets is poorly written dialogue and all too frequent location changes. Surrey, London, Delilah’s seemingly random decision to travel to North Wales to film promotional footage; the scene-setting in this book leaves even the most sturdiest of readers with whiplash.

Alongside Delilah’s global aspirations, there is also a side-plot involving “PRAISE!” being ransomed for millions of dollars after a data hack on its confessional app. Despite this disturbing development, none of the characters react with any sense of concern or urgency. Character traits are also unbelievable, particularly the Archbishop who immediately takes a strong dislike of “PRAISE!” because of the serious threat it poses to the Church of England. And yet, the whole book is leading up to Mary becoming the UK’s first pastor of a morally-questionable denomination run by two people, Delilah and Jude. The Archbishop’s fears just do not seem to add up.

As far as comedy goes, this book is simply not funny. A lot of the jokes are cheap biblical puns, innuendo, or a combination of the two, used at random like a Carry-On film. Humour that strikes of one-liners that popped into the author’s head as they were writing. And while I understand pastor Jude’s character is meant to be extreme right-wing, unfaithful and generally useless, the humour he exerts is at best excruciatingly awkward and at worst, down right discriminatory towards other faiths and cultures.

If not for the rushed pace, then for the tone of voice, The Most Reverend is punctured with so many plot holes and faults that it would take more than Noah’s Ark going viral to ride out this storm.

AEB Reviews

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Reviewing the “Books That Matter” / “Aphra” Subscription Box

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Question: Do you remember that time when a feminist book subscription service was pitched on Dragon’s Den (the UK version of Shark Tank)?

Here’s a reminder if not.

To quote their website…

Books That Matter (alias Aphra) is the award-winning subscription box empowering women, powered by women. We platform marginalised voices by curating unique and inspiring reading experiences through our monthly book boxes which contain a female or non-binary authored book and themed gifts.

And guess which lucky sausage got given a box to review?

That’s right, the actual influencers. But through the wonders of a competition I have no recollection of entering (“you say blackout drunk, I say blackout Googling”) I am now the proud owner of a three month subscription. And boy, am I very excited by this development.

(So happy, I decided that throwing a blanket over my office chair would be enough to blend it seamlessly into the background…)

Then I thought “why stop there, why not do one of those unboxing-type videos?”

I enjoyed putting this quick rough-and-ready video together. No makeup, no regrets! It’s simple but heck, aren’t we all?

Debating whether to do this for the subsequent boxes I receive. Given the amount of cards I’m now in possession of and all the leftover Christmas bath bombs, I have visions of me swimming in bath salts by the time I get to June. And reading wise…well, I guess I just need to start reading more (and more quickly!)

Products featured in my Books That Matter subscription box

Book: Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood

Treat: Greetings cards and bookmark by Sunshine Llama

Treat: 70% coca chocolate by Alter Eco

Treat: Frosting bath slab by Miss Patisserie

See also:

Unboxing April’s “Books That Matter” Subscription Box (April)

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Book Review: ‘Living My Best “Single Mum” Life’ by Louise Mathison

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: This is a book that I will be carrying with me, long after closing the covers

Review:

Detailing her life post separation and divorce, Living My Best “Single Mum” Life is an autobiographical account of the Australian businesswoman Louise Mathison. Over the course of fourteen years, Mathison recounts the struggles of transitioning from a life of relative dependence, working in her husband’s business, to forging a new career whilst raising two daughters single-handed. The overall story presented by Mathison is one of challenge and success, with plenty of guidance for other single parents who may be currently undergoing a similar situation.

I really enjoyed this book. Mathison’s writing style is objective, staying away from the easy trap of turning these 140 pages into blame-pointing, instead choosing to place honesty front and centre. In a section dedicated to the turbulent upbringing of her children, Mathison goes into a level of detail most parents would not dream of doing in a coffee shop with close friends, let alone in a published autobiography.

Of interest to many readers will be the author’s choice to merge characteristic elements of the traditional self-help genre into this book. For instance, in the chapter “Finding Your Passion”, Mathison makes a point of drawing the reader in, flipping the focus from that of her personal experience to encourage the reader to reflect on their own. While not present in every chapter, these ‘flip’ moments, offer a unique and perhaps poignant chance to remind the reader that for those undergoing a similar experience that there is hope for the future. Guidance is gentle and reassuring, as if it was coming from the dear and trusted friend you have known for years.

At the start of this book Mathison states that despite remaining open minded towards dating, at the time of writing she is still a happily single woman. While some of her specific hardships are not directly applicable to my personal life experiences, I felt incredibly humbled to have been brought along on her journey. It is a book that I will be carrying with me, long after I have closed the covers.

AEB Reviews

Links

Reedsy Discovery Review: (AEB Reviews) Living My Best “Single Mum” Life

Purchase Link: Living My Best “Single Mum” Life (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Thar She Blows!” by Klam Burley (Illustrated by Francesca Da Sacco)

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Rating: 3 stars

Headline: Childhood imaginations run wild in this fun picture book of bath time pirates

Review:

Thar She Blows! by Klam Burley (illustrated by Francesca Da Sacco) is a children’s picture book which tells the story of Bobby, a young pirate with a rascally parrot companion and a fearsome sea monster to battle. But is Bobby’s dangerous encounter all as it seems?

There is much to commend this book, including the humorous plot twist halfway through which changed the story’s direction to draw children back to a relatable environment. Children are well-known for having broad, colourful imaginations, although I would probably not have been as understanding as Bobby’s mother if I walked into a flooded bathroom!

The illustrations are nicely done, the bird’s eye perspective of the mythical sea monster flavours on the mildly surreal (think Studio Ghibli) and the slightly cartoonish depiction of Bobby maintains a sweet sense of innocence. The two forms balance each other well. The addition of hidden rubber ducks on each page adds an additional layer of engagement for parents and children; having these peppered throughout hints toward the plot twist to come.

The copy in this book could, however, be tightened. I know a good deal of adults who do not know what a semicolon is, let alone small children. In my opinion the use of this punctuation mark should not exist in a book aimed at this age demographic. The sentences are also long and clunky in places, for me the poetry did not flow naturally and I ended up having to reread pages to marry-up what sometimes could be better described as half-rhymes. Personally I think the writing would have been better as prose.

Thar She Blows! comes from a solid place. It is well illustrated and is full of the heart and charm needed for a picture book of its type. If elements of the copy were addressed Burley could find herself onto a real winner.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/thar-she-blows-kimberly-amboy

Purchase link: Thar She Blows!

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Book Review: “The 10 Habits of Happy Couples” by Tina and Michael LeBlanc

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Rating: 3 stars

Headline: A pleasant read, produced by a couple with sound expertise and a skill for joint-authorship

Review:

When it comes to reviewing non-fiction I often find myself baffled by relationship guides. Conventional relationships are a joint venture, yet so many books present as one person (the author) stating advice to another person (a singular reader).

In Tina and Michael LeBlanc’s book, The Ten Habits of Happy Couples, the pair bring together their professional and personal experiences to create a guide that encourages ten habits to improve connectively between couples. Examples include prioritising relationships and intimacy, setting clear rules and boundaries, and building mutual respect. For each chapter, or “habit”, there contains a quick introductory questionnaire for readers, information on the habit, “our conversation” (where Tina and Michael share their experiences), and then hints and tips for applying this habit into conversation between couples and/or into daily life.

I like the premise of this book, with an inclusive approach that is less finger-pointing and more unified in style. On multiple occasions the authors highlight toxic tendencies and encourage readers to revaluate or walk away from relationships which show signs of harm. That said, this book does suffer in places from excessive copy. When I find myself quickly flicking through twenty four pages (plus the introduction) to get me to the first habit, I know something is amiss. The use of a number in any book title makes me more impatient in nature (a trait shared with many of my millennial peers, with no thanks to the infinite number of “top ten” lists on the internet). Some of this content could have been cut, merged or the title changed to avoid the glass-eye syndrome I feel into.

While I can see the intention behind the “our conversation” sections, the dialogue between Tina and Michael comes across as too staged for my liking and equally, I am not a fan of the habit numbers decreasing from ten to one. It placed a heightened significance on habit number one which I do not think was intentional.

When reviewing the sales of this book, a purchaser commented online that The Ten Habits of Happy Couples would make an excellent wedding gift. While I am not quite convinced that nuptial events are this title’s best market potential, I do see this as having a place in everyday life, for everyday couples. A pleasant read in places, produced by authors with sound expertise and a skill for joint-authorship. I look forward to seeing what they produce next.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “The 10 Habits of Happy Couples”

Purchase Link: “The 10 Habits of Happy Couples” by Tina and Michael LeBlanc (Amazon)

Author Website: Better Yourself 365

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Book Review: “A Teen’s Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief” by Emma Lou Parker

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Rating: 1 star

Headline: A strangely pessimistic-toned approach to self-help

Review:

Life coach Emma Lou Parker turns to writing in this new self-help guide, A Teen’s Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief. The target demographic of this book are teenagers and young adults who struggle with mental health conditions such as anxiety and stress.

The book is broken down into five chapters and includes physical stress reducing activities and recommendations on improving mental health and outlook. According to Parker, reducing anxiety is not a ‘one and done’ activity, in fact readers are actively reminded at every turn that the path to self-improvement will be filled with setbacks and slip-ups. And this is where I struggle. The core tone of voice in this book is very pessimistic.

I fully appreciate mental health is a sensitive topic and one to be approached in the right way, but even with one glance at some of the chapter sub-topics you very quickly identity a theme. “Stop the negative thoughts, stop telling yourself you can’t change, stop predicting you will fail”, there are another three “stops” in this chapter before you reach the topic “acceptance”. After this particularly downbeat chapter I found myself reaching for my emergency stash of chocolate just to lift my spirits.

Tone of voice is made all the harder to stomach by Parker’s choice to isolate readers by referring to them as “you”. Separating younger readers in such a way only makes the author come across as preachy, when anxiety is a very common mental health condition affecting millions of people (of all ages) globally. Reading this you would think otherwise. I felt uncomfortable with the number of times Parker’s activities asked young readers to write down traumatic events, perhaps not considering how this could be quite triggering without the right support.

Other minor but amounting to significant issues, starting with the web-links. Anything that encourages readers to jump to content outside the book is generally not good practice, even in eBooks. Write it well enough in your own words with references or cut it out altogether. Grammar and spelling are off in places, the drawings, while pretty, are hard to read (and I have good eyesight) and, arguably worst of all, there are no page numbers. A contents page is pointless if there are no numbers to match up.

My only hope is that Parker is able to absorb this constructive feedback when moving onto her next project. The passion is there, the writing ability, not quite yet.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “A Teen’s Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief”

Purchase Link: “A Teen’s Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief” (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Another World” by Maximillian Matthews

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Rating: 3 Stars

Headline: A good read for anyone wanting to better understand a minority subsection of American society

Review:

Another World is the autobiographical memoir by Maximillian Matthews, covering his life growing up in North Carolina and forging a professional career during the late noughties. Self-identifying as black queer, Matthews’ memoir aims to provide readers from the same community with the type of material that does not readily exist on accessible bookshelves.

From growing up in North Carolina, to living and working in Boston and Washington DC, Matthews draws on various colourful experiences to convey the highs and lows of integrating himself into both the LGBTQ+ community and broadly within American society. The way Matthews recounts the key drivers behind his actions makes for some touching moments in the book, particularly in scenes where he acknowledges some of the harmful actions and behaviours self-inflicted in the pursuit of acceptance and love.

Good for bringing out some of the general themes around systematic racism and homophobia in America, Another World does tend to lose focus, in places pulling on quotes from external sources to draw in entirely separate debates. In one instance the dramatic retelling of a traumatic break-up is punctured by a tangent on the politics of attraction. Such tangents are all of insightful importance, but their placement sometimes does Matthews’ life experiences a disservice.

The flow of Another World also comes across as a bit hap-hazard. Having been brought on a chronological journey in the first third of the book, readers are suddenly dropped into Matthews’ strained efforts to work hard at his educational studies in High School whilst concealing his true identity. It was about ten or so pages on, when Matthews refers to his mother’s presence while growing up that I wondered if the book would have benefitted from a structural rejig.

Another World is a starting point for anyone wanting to better understand a minority subsection of American society. As someone who self-identifies as a white woman living in the United Kingdom, it has given me plenty to think about. That alone should be treated as a success.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Another World”

Purchase Link: “Another World” by Maximillian Matthews (Amazon)

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Book Review: “14 Lessons in Happiness” by Gina Ross

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: A sweet little read with useful tips and methods to bring out your inner calm

Review:

14 Lessons in Happiness by Gina Ross is a simple self-help guide which aims to give the reader quick, nugget-sized, doses of advice to improve internal positivity and outlook on life. Each of the fourteen chapters is introduced by an inspirational quote, a summary of the topic (sometimes bringing in the author’s personal experiences) and then several step-by-step meditation activities. These activities are, like the rest of the content, intended to be straightforward and quick to apply, the kind of activity that can be sandwiched between daily activities, without the need to carve out hours of time or invest in a back catalogue of whale music and their weight in incense.

There is a lot to admire in this self-help guide by Ross. It neatly draws on the author’s personal experiences without becoming a sob story, the writing style is light and the right side of informal and the activities are numerous (there is plenty of option to pick and choose between different mediative exercises). Ross also clearly notes at the start that this guide is not intended to replace that of a professional practitioner, a nice touch that goes a long way to showing Ross’ intentions with this book is to support, not cure.

What I would note here is that the contents of this book are by no means detailed and exhaustive. The fourteen chapters are each quite brief and the content fairly generic with an intention to be as inclusive as possible to all readers from all walks of life. Those wanting something better tailored to a particular challenge (for instance grief) will most likely not get all the answers they need from the ten or so pages dedicated to this topic. Also, and one that is more of an admin point, the references in the footer are not correctly formatted (it needs to be more than a website link, instead it should also feature article titles, authors etc).

14 Lessons in Happiness is a handy little guide when it comes to self-help and succeeds in being a book which can introduce new readers to the art of meditation. Something for your coffee table, this guide would serve as a great pick-me-up alongside a fresh hit of morning caffeine to start the day off right.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews: “14 Lessons in Happiness”

Purchase Link: “14 Lessons in Happiness” by Gina Ross (Amazon)

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