Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams - No Matter What by Cheryl Melody Baskin is a wonderfully inspiring and motivating way to think with your heart instead of your head, which will automatically have you pursuing your dreams or returning to the lost dreams you've left behind. We're born creative creatures, but sometimes life, goals, work, and other obligations get in the way of building our dreams. Baskin shows us how to return to our first loves - our dreams - to achieve happiness and success. Yes, we all face challenges, and it seems that fulfilling our dreams might be a fruitless venture. But with determination and a plan (and this book, of course) you can head in a positive direction toward healing and personal satisfaction.

Baskin has crafted the perfect guide for those who have lost a dream, and I like her idea that those who think they have no dream can find one if they allow themselves to look inside and are open to it. The author writes with a concise, personal style that is highly enjoyable and relatable. The life advice within these pages can help you attain self-awareness, better health, self-forgiveness, and a solid foundation for moving forward. You'll find inspirational quotes like "A life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit," and other thought-provoking prompts to get you thinking about your own needs, goals, and dreams. I especially like the author's concept of finding your inner child or going back to the joys and dreams you had as a child and using them in your dream journey. The cultural references are entertaining and inspiring as well. This book would be great for anyone in a slump or anyone just starting out in life and wondering how to choose the right path. If that is you, pick up Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams - No Matter What by Cheryl Melody Baskin.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

A Gay Man's Guide To Life: Get Real, Stand Tall, and Take Your Place by Britt East is written for gay men and represents life seen through the lens of a gay man. The author's story is a good tool for gay readers not to repeat the mistakes he made because of their sexual and cultural orientation. The memoir will help gay men own their truths, acknowledge their harms, atone, amend, and then move on so that they are empowered. The author's words are a good way for the community to get to know gay men and understand them better. The book is a good manual that will help gay men implement the practices they require to live their most authentic life so that they can start thriving.

A Gay Man's Guide To Life is straightforward and honest. Britt East speaks of his childhood being lonely. His conflicting emotions, being too tender-hearted, and his masculine and feminine traits that confounded many people he met and how they affected him have been discussed in detail. The importance of self-love is stressed, and he also stresses the importance of having a good relationship with the body. The author's approach to the topic will give confidence to gay men to thrive as gay men, and come to terms with their homosexuality, manhood, and gender identity. The author's personal experiences that shaped him to be who he is today will help readers understand him and his words better - which are insightful, uplifting, and motivating. The techniques and suggestions he shares are helpful to gay readers to take hold of their lives.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Conquering Life's Course: Common Sense in Chaotic Times by Richard V. Battle is a book of practical wisdom to face the doldrums of everyday life and find more meaning and fulfillment navigating the challenges that life throws at the reader. The author defines the reader right from the start and spells out the purpose of the book in simple and clear terms: It’s not a book for the academic, but for the ordinary person and is aimed at providing them with tools that will help them create a better life for themselves and their children. In this book, readers receive lessons the author learned from his parents and lessons he’s passed on to his daughter. It also features stories and essays containing what the author calls “lessons that I learned from my positive and knothead experiences, and the complementary education that I received from observing the lives of others.”

The book is filled with insights and some of the topics are really spot-on and required reading for contemporary readers. I enjoyed how the writing and the message of this book invited me to think about my actions, to become aware of what happens around and within me, and to use the power of observation to steer my actions towards positive outcomes. In this book, readers will understand how hurtful peer pressure can be and how it has gradually become part of our human nature, to the point that very few people understand they aren’t acting out of their own free will. The stories are inspiring, and Richard V. Battle uses humor to augment the delight the reader finds in these pages. The writing is fluid and confident and the popular tone of voice invites readers to indulge in frank conversations with themselves and to be more critical about their choices in life. Conquering Life's Course: Common Sense in Chaotic Times is a gift that will change the way we face life every day and give us the wisdom to navigate life freely, reach deeper levels of success, and experience less stress. It is a must-read for anyone looking for tools to improve their life.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

In every aspect of our lives, we all should have a mentor. You probably had a mentor and didn't know it. A mentor is someone that you confide in and trust from your personal development and business to spirituality. The mentor helps you to navigate onto a better path for the future. In this self-help book, The Mentor In Me: What To Do & What Not To Do by William Todd, the reader will learn about the author as he discovers a lot about himself. Through his own journey, while being mentored by author Bob Proctor (Thoughts Are Things, It's Not About the Money and many other works), he explains how the Seven Levels of Awareness principles changed his life and can change yours too. This book provides the tools necessary for creating and developing a mental paradigm shift in your behavior and thinking. This book offers readers the mentor approach of the deep dive from dos and don'ts to words of wisdom as they embark on their journey without being bogged down with fluff. The reader will learn a wealth of useful information as the author gives real-life examples and quotes.

I enjoyed The Mentor In Me because sometimes I can get buried under things in life that either don't suit, serve, or lead to anything productive. Reading this book has helped to unclog the wheels that are churning in my mind; as a mentor would. Just like William Todd states; with a mentor you may not always listen or agree but the goal is to acquire optimum results with each step that you take. If you're not getting the results that you desire, remember it's insane to keep on doing the same thing. In order to improve your life, you have to work at it. I love this statement by Bob Proctor that sums it up: "The Mentor in Me is not a book that you pick up and read. It’s a book you form a relationship with and you study daily for the rest of your life." Change takes practice so if you're looking for life improvements, add this book to your library. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Do you feel burdened by your life – the life that you were conditioned to live? Do you feel like your life is meeting the expectations of others, but not bringing fulfillment and joy to you? If so, this self-help book is the one for you! By using the concept of life being a game you play, you can decide what the game will be. The author’s personal goal is “Spending the Most Amount of Time in the Coolest Places,” and she is living it now. By developing a business career centered around traveling to different cultures and continents, Robin Moriarty, Ph.D. shares her method in What Game Are You Playing? A Framework for Redefining Success and Achieving What Matters Most.

A great amount of information is contained within this book, and it is imparted in captivating ways. There is a pragmatic and often humorous tone throughout her writing, engaging the reader from the first page to the last. The author shares her own poignant story. The sketches in each chapter are eye-catching and helpful. The worksheets illustrate how to achieve your goals. While every chapter leads the reader through the process of change, two of them are especially beneficial. Chapter 6, Designing a New Game, spells out a practical process. Chapter 10's What Are You Waiting For? is delightfully motivational. What Game Are You Playing? A Framework for Redefining Success and Achieving What Matters Most, written by Robin Moriarty, Ph.D., can be a life-changing guide for anyone who wants to find satisfaction and joy in life.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

I Am Another You: A Journey to Powerful Breakthroughs by Priya Kumar resonated with me and I particularly loved the message and the simplicity with which it is communicated. This book contains the author’s journey towards enlightenment and offers lessons she learned from that spiritual odyssey and answers to the questions that haunt the human spirit. The book discusses themes like inner freedom, true personal growth, the deeper sense of personhood, the meaning of life, purpose, and a lot more. In a storytelling style that grips the reader and provides entertainment, motivational speaker and bestselling author Priya Kumar shares strong insights from a unique experience, one that brought her home to herself.

The book starts with an introduction to the author’s experience with the natives of the Netherlands along with fourth-generation shamans, members of an ancient tribe who practice spiritual processes for their evolution and freedom. For close to a month, she partook in their rituals and learned lessons that transformed her life and that will enrich the lives of her readers. The writing is beautiful and I enjoyed the author’s ability to translate a sophisticated experience into one that readers can easily understand, exploring the heart and using a language that speaks of universal reality, something that everyone can easily relate to. I Am Another You: A Journey to Powerful Breakthroughs is a jewel for readers who want to honestly confront themselves and find answers to the most important questions about their life. It is a very inspiring read.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

A Century of Secrets by Teresa Syms is a gripping story of a family, covering its history over a century and the main players that have given it the visage it has. Readers are introduced to a character who has been through a lot of pain because of the lies, abuses, dark secrets, and intrigue played out in her family over the period of a century. The story explores the conflicts, the deceptions, and the protagonist’s struggle to redefine herself and reconquer her inner freedom. Here is a story that many readers will relate to, the story of a family with its own struggle to function normally.

The reader will be surprised at the honesty of the narrator whose voice comes across powerfully. Teresa is a character that readers will love to know better because she carries in her a pain that many people bear in silence. But how she overcomes depression, finds her voice, and stands up for herself is a lesson that will speak volumes to readers. Just after describing a horrible scene in which the protagonist gets violated by a medical doctor, the narrator notes that: “Teresa’s life was a tortured hell without her love. She became moody and very depressed.” The writing is beautiful, featuring powerful and vivid descriptions that allow the reader to clearly imagine the scenes, the characters, and the action. It is well paced and Teresa Syms has succeeded in getting the reader interested in following the characters. A Century of Secrets is a story that powerfully documents what repression and abuse in the family setting can lead to; it’s a courageous story that explores freedom and the determination to create a life of meaning. Highly entertaining!

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

Job Joy: Your Guide to Success, Meaning, and Happiness in Your Career is written by Kristen J. Zavo. She encourages people to find success and happiness by doing work that matters. Her aim in writing this guide is to provide strategy and tangible action items to help people get the rewarding jobs they want. The pros and cons of staying in a good paying job is good advice to ponder. When you’re unsure what to do, ask your future self for advice. The more reflective you are, the more effective you are. Sometimes one has to think outside the box to evaluate and appreciate their work or seek other careers. When looking for a new job, think of yourself as the product and market it accordingly. One of the productive tips states that we should make quality time for ourselves while working to reduce stress.

A lot of information in this handbook comes from Kristen J. Zavo’s personal experience from several career changes, as well as friends. The chapters are divided into sections with encouraging and motivating step-by-step guidelines that are very helpful. One always has options and it is never too late to use them. The benefits of working part-time, networking events, money concerns, fears, and insecurities are a few of the interesting subjects discussed. Job Joy: Your Guide to Success, Meaning, and Happiness in Your Career is a book you will be thankful for to help make the right changes in your life for a more positive future in the workforce. The key to happiness is the decision to be happy.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

A motivational self-help workbook, 15 Minute Pause: A Radical Reboot for Busy People is written by Michelle Burke and Lilamani de Silva. Burke is an author, speaker and motivational coach, and is the founder and president of Energy Catalyst Group. De Silva is a work/life coach with a background in public relations, film production and biochemistry. She also provided the illustrations for the book. Although geographically separated, the authors worked together to compare their “discoveries, tools and insights” which they used to develop the 15 Minute Pause. Life is meant to be a joyful experience, but most people are just too busy to actually experience those sensations of joy or wonder in this modern work-a-day world. While the authors get that most people do have busy lives with obligations both at work and in their personal lives, they argue that everyone can give themselves 15 minutes out of each day. With that short amount of time, one’s entire outlook on life and capacity for joy can be radically changed for the better.

Those 15 minute breaks can help people get off the treadmill mentality and give them the opportunity to practice mindfulness. From there, they can begin to see where they’re failing to provide themselves with adequate self-care, which, for example, can be in the form of skipping lunches or outings with friends in order to finish a job or impress a boss. Once one’s gotten reacquainted with their sense of self-awareness, the authors offer advice on how to make conscious choices about life and how to make positive changes. What do you really want from life? The authors' 15 Minute Pause: A Radical Reboot for Busy People is an interactive workbook that helps you rediscover the dreams you had as a young adult and make them viable again. Each chapter presents a topic, gives suggestions for working with the material covered, and includes an interactive section called Reflection that helps you make that material your own.

Michelle Burke and Lilamani de Silva’s motivational self-help book, 15 Minute Pause: A Radical Reboot for Busy People, offers readers unlimited potential and opportunities for growth and joy, and it all starts with only 15 minutes a day. I was most impressed with the ideas presented in this workbook, and enjoyed working through the chapter-end Reflection sections. Each aspect of their work is clearly presented, and their suggestions make it easy for anyone to feel engaged and involved with making their lives more joyful and fulfilling. The authors’ writing style is smooth and conversational, making it feel as though they are working directly with you, making 15 Minute Pause: A Radical Reboot for Busy People a highly recommended read.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

A Better Human: The Stoic Heart, Mind, and Soul by George J. Bradley is a thought-provoking and insightful book that tackles the philosophy of Stoicism, which is not only relevant to modern life but offers the keys to success and fulfilment. This philosophy was said to have developed through a succession of Greek teachers and thinkers, but blossomed in Rome. The book draws heavily on the thinking and writing of three philosophers: Seneca (an advisor to Emperor Nero), Epictetus (a freed Greek slave who did well as a teacher in Rome), and the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The amazing transformative power Stoicism can have in life, and the basics of the heart, mind, and soul of how to live a Stoic life have been discussed with expertise, and will help readers to experience the benefits of Stoicism.

The book is encouraging, uplifting, and will motivate readers to look into themselves, change their mindset, make rational choices and thereby progress towards self improvement. The author has broken it up into three sections, heart, mind, and soul, making it easy for readers to comprehend the Stoic mindset and lifestyle, and encourages them to work towards self control. The author discusses a philosophical topic in a simple way that makes it easy for readers to understand and practice this naturally in daily life. The author's writing style is fluid and he handles a philosophical topic easily. The practical examples shared make it easy for readers to connect with what the author is trying to convey, and will encourage readers to learn more about Stoicism and its philosophy, and perhaps to read more about Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.