Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite

A remarkable man who has spent over 60 years pondering and seeking universal truths guides us on a soul-searching journey in Back to GOD, Away from Religion. He has at last found what he was looking for and has made the conscious decision to reveal the profound truth to us through compelling and convincing arguments that provide rational answers to the most challenging and fundamental questions about religion. Religions claim God is compassionate, caring, and forgiving while simultaneously urging us to believe in an arbitrary, judgmental, and vindictive deity. But should we fear God? Does he really punish us when we do wrong and reward us when we do right? Is he vengeful? In his quest to distinguish between religion and our relationship with God, Gopi Menon exposes the flaws in religion that have made humanity victims of fear and manipulation for centuries.

The first thing I admired about this book was Gopi Menon's bravery in writing about a widely confusing and controversial concept and providing an entirely new perspective. Personally, I believe that this was not an easy task, and it is undeniably admirable. My favorite part of the book was when Gopi outlined the practical tips that can be used right away to achieve happiness. One instance is how one could instantly change their mood from being sad and upset to happy. He explains how someone could switch channels and look for a comedy show if they were upset while watching a horror movie. Their attitudes would immediately change as a result, and they might even start laughing aloud at some point. This is just one example of how the aim of this book is to cultivate ultimate reality awareness, the wise application of our free will, and to achieve happiness. Personally, I believe this book is instructive not only in terms of how we can all draw closer to God in a different and simpler way, but also in terms of how we can achieve happy lives, not necessarily through religion, but by looking deep inside and within ourselves. If you're looking for answers to questions about religion that society has never addressed, this book is for you.

Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite

Neel Burton kept my interest in Stoic Stories, even though I spent years studying for my master’s certificate in Ancient And Classical History. Neel taught me more in his book than I learned in my years of study. Not only does Neel explain the philosophy of the ancients, but he also introduces his readers to their life. He made the great philosophers feel human and not some bigger-than-life, unapproachable legend. I enjoyed looking into their personal lives and not just reading about their philosophy. Neel addresses the different philosophical schools, such as the Platonic, Stoic, and Epicurean schools. He also discusses the interaction between the school and the philosophers. Most people study the words of the philosophers, but one of the principles of the Stoics is “action over words.” This book helps the reader learn some of the terms and shows the Stoics’ actions during their lifetime.

Neel Burton shares information about many ancient philosophers such as Zeno, Epicurus, Socrates, Plato, Epictetus, Seneca, Diogenes, Cato, and Cicero. For one not to suffer from hope, fear, envy, etc., they must differentiate between things in our control and those not in our power. Stoic Stories shares the lives of these stoics in their own settings, which combine history and philosophy. How much influence did these ancient philosophers exert on modern society? One of the most significant influences has been Christianity during the past two thousand years. While many feel Stoicism lost out to Christianity, Neel shows that Stoicism influenced Christianity in many ways. For example, St. Paul met Stoics and Epicureans in Athens. Early church fathers (Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen) and even Ambrose and Augustine were greatly influenced by Stoicism. Neel writes in simple terms. This book is a lively introduction to philosophies and philosophers.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

We see natural elements being exchanged daily for man-made products with no end in sight. Could our focus on the material world be the root of our reckless consumerism and other human problems? The Fallacy of Materialism criticizes and offers an alternative worldview to materialism, with scientific evidence and an exploration of spiritual ideology based on various books, discourses, and private discussions between Steven Richheimer and his spiritual preceptor, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. The book exposes the flaws in materialism, which many scientists and individuals have chosen to adopt as a lens to view the world. According to Steven, there's too much evidence from the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity, near-death experiences, telepathy, out-of-body experiences, and more inexplicable phenomena to limit one's view of materialism. Instead, a spiritual union with "cosmic consciousness" is proposed as a more logical ideology.

Prepare to challenge your knowledge of the world, as The Fallacy of Materialism makes a strong, convincing case for embracing a spiritual worldview with a mix of intelligent scientific analysis, numerous evidence of supernatural occurrences, and deeply profound, ancient wisdom. Steven Richheimer speaks the language individuals who choose materialism will understand by examining studies from well-respected names in science, like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and others. Unlike most books that criticize materialism, this one equally criticizes religious fundamentalism and urges readers to free themselves from the two sides of "dogmatic" beliefs. We've tried religion and materialism, but they seem to bury us deeper into societal problems, like war, greed, intolerance, and exploitation. It is time to try something different—like the truly conscious and boundless view of spiritualism that is rationally, skillfully laid out in The Fallacy of Materialism.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Jesus Speaking: Daily Encouragement from His Words by Mike Lutz is a Christian devotional guide for those who are looking for something heartier than the standard daily fare within the same genre. Broken down into each day of the year by date, Lutz provides a piece of scripture to start the section off. This is followed by an anecdote, an explanation, a worldly quote, further scripture, or any number of creative ways Lutz employs to give context to the scripture so a reader can easily connect to its importance in our lives. This continues with deeper probing, reflection, and thoughtful consideration in a second paragraph, and then a prayer to solidify the message within the heart and, most importantly, before God. Finally, a brief affirmation to easily carry throughout the day is provided in a succinct closing.

I'm no stranger to daily devotionals so when I came across Jesus Speaking by Mike Lutz and its promise to dig deeper, I admit that I had a whisper of doubt. Those were quickly allayed almost as soon as I cracked this wonderfully detailed tome open. It does go beyond the generally accepted format of a scripture, some brief context, a prayer, and then a full page of blank lines for note-taking. Lutz delivers on every single page without padding and the length of the devotional is content-rich in its entirety. My favorites are April 6, Tiny But Mighty, which uses Mark 4:30–32 to reaffirm that small beginnings still have a big impact. October 16, Just Do It, and its homing in on John 13:17 to remind us that we cannot just talk the talk—we've got some real walking to do also. This is a wonderful devotional and I honestly would find it difficult to go back to the lighter books I relied on in the past. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

The Blessing Book by Francis J. Shaw is a profound, spiritual look at the blessings that come into our lives. How many times have you heard that you should count your blessings? This admonition appears so trivial that we often go about our lives not giving it a thought. This book will change your perceptions with its anthology of 72 easy-to-read reflections that connect blessings with gratitude, fulfillment, and joy. These are reflections that celebrate your uniqueness and show you why you are placed on this earth as there are certain things that only your uniqueness can provide. It is an uplifting journey that we must all take at some point in our lives because it will help us understand how the blessings we receive become instrumental in our well-being.

There are many things in our lives, both large and small, that we might be grateful for. But the fast and demanding pace of our modern lifestyle doesn’t give us enough time to look back and reflect, so we overlook and take such blessings for granted. Francis J. Shaw’s soothing style is meditative, one that does not require you to devote long reading hours. As a fusion of spiritual and philosophical work, The Blessing Book can be read one reflection at a time, where you can spare a minute or two from your waking hours. If there is anything that you can learn from reading these reflective pieces, it is that without the value of inner wisdom, fear will always find a way to attract our attention. Gratitude and unconditional love that are by-products of our blessings become components of inner wisdom that serves as a powerful healing force in our lives. It’s a must-read book that gives you a conscious focus on blessings and their emotional, spiritual, and interpersonal benefits.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Many people pose the question 'Who am I?' and 'What is my life purpose?' Using science, psychology, and philosophy from some of the greatest thinkers in history, this guide aims to unravel the cause that prevents us from remembering our true Essence. Since birth, we have been conditioned to believe that all we are is our personality but this only constitutes a small section of our true self. Holding this belief causes us to live superficially and unconsciously and only use our conscious minds around 5% of the time. Throughout Becoming Nobody by Rick Branch, you will gain a deeper understanding of your true self. Why do some people avoid the uncertainty that will bring them true happiness in exchange for compliance and obedience to rules they were conditioned to obey? You will also learn why we dwell on our mistakes, judge others unreasonably, and worry about situations that have not occurred. The unconscious mind has an enormous amount of control over your thoughts beliefs and actions and this completely falsifies our true self.

Becoming Nobody by Rick Branch is extremely detailed and insightful. I loved how the author used philosophy, science, and psychology throughout. This guide has truly opened my mind to the possibility that we, as humans, are completely out of touch with our authentic selves. There is far more to our existence than just what we see, feel, taste and touch. The messages are so profound you have to take your time to really process the information and ponder its meaning. I loved the chapters on Traditional or Mainstream Psychotherapy and The Ego Tunnel. There is a quote from the book which states, 'This realization makes me look up at the sky at night with a new sense of wonder and awe,' and this is how I truly felt when I had completed the book. The guide is filled with life-changing insights that will truly awaken your spirituality and make you more analytical and conscious of your behaviors, thoughts, and actions.

I have also discovered how judgemental and unforgiving I can be on a subconscious level. The guide also has some very interesting information on our distorted perception of time. One of my favorite quotes from the book by Jed McKenna states, “There is no now, there is only the intersection of past and future, both of which possess the curious charm of not existing.” It has been truly inspiring to learn the power we all hold within but have somehow chosen to allow that power to be replaced with external conditioning and our unconscious mind.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In The Meaning of Myth, Neel Burton (psychiatrist, philosopher, wine expert) brilliantly discusses and exhibits the meaning of myth. First, he defines it as “a piece of lore” and then separates it from legend, fable, fairytale, parable, religion, ritual, magic, and science. He presents a staggeringly exquisite progression: “Where science ends there is philosophy, where reason ends (end of language)—myth, music, wine.” Professor Burton’s voice in the piece is of an unselfconscious, thoroughly informed expert. The prose is fluid, professional, personal. He talks about the history of myth, and the tools used such as metaphor, personification, and allegory. And he explains the plot structure and content, its heroes/ heroines and gods/goddesses. He also talks about the history and current state of myth, implying enigmatically that sometime in the future myth might be all we have.

For quite some time I have been reading to be entertained, but I started this book to learn. I soon discovered that learning is super entertaining. I was reminded and inspired about the importance of story to mankind. And the necessity of knowing myth as it relates to human history and thought. After Dr. Burton tells us all we need to know about myth in general, he offers specific presentations on 12 major myths (with photographs of artwork), starting with Echo and Narcissus and ending with Plato’s Myth of Er. The stories are spellbinding by themselves, but then there is commentary by Professor Burton, wise, knowledgeable, and enthralled by his subject. I felt as if I’d rediscovered a fabulous world I’d long forgotten, and it’s a world that we must never forget. The Meaning of Myth by Neel Burton is teaching and writing at its most superb and is as entertaining as you could ever want.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

The subtitle of this amazing book, “A True Life Story about an Ordinary Woman who survived Two Extraordinary Near Death Experiences. Her Remarkable Secrets of both Heaven and Hell are finally being revealed!” is a perfect summary of this true-life story. Carrie Kohan, author of The Five Lessons of Life, bravely shares her experiences of dying twice, a year apart. The two NDEs were totally different. The first time was frightening. However, the second time she talked to Jesus, the Council of Men, and other Spirit Beings. Not only did she learn about heaven and hell, but she was taught new perspectives about why we have joyful and painful experiences during our time on earth. More importantly, she was given the five most important lessons that people need to understand, accept and live.

One of the best features of this story is the author’s down-to-earth approach to her fascinating journey. She shares the struggles of addiction, as well as a heart-breaking decision she made in her early 20’s, with honesty. And she shares an incredible synchronicity story, demonstrating how Spirit sends us affirmations when requested. Perhaps, what Carrie has accomplished in her work for child protection in her country is the most astonishing aspect of her life since her NDE experiences. The Five Lessons of Life, written by Carrie Kohan, is unforgettable. Her story contains a great deal of information about the afterlife and the purpose of our lives on earth. It will touch the hearts of everyone who is seeking greater spiritual understanding. A beautiful book!

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

In today's age, many of our problems have advanced beyond the prevalent system of thinking. Do You QuantumThink? aims to enlighten readers about how the mind works and how an individual's consciousness acts to generate their world and their unique experience of life. The book is divided into two sections. The first part explores world views, debunks myths about choice, explains the need to evolve individually and generally, and more. The second part includes the 21 distinctions or principles in thinking in the new quantum way. Making use of ideas from both ancient wisdom and 21st-century science, author Dianne Collins provides deep insights about humanity and consciousness that cover several themes: money, meditation, awareness, attachment, neurology, choice, spirituality, preserving nature, participatory awareness, zero point of consciousness, and more.

You know when you read a book that changes your perspective about life with its profound answers and you wish you had read it earlier to avoid some problems? This was my experience with the book! Unlike other self-help books, Do You QuantumThink? does not tell you what to do but examines what controls what you do. After reading the book, how I deal with negative thoughts changed from fretting about the negative thoughts to simply releasing them and thinking about positive ones instead. There are a lot more life-changing ideas in this book, with quotes from several brilliant minds and artists from different generations, a cheerful and conversational tone, and references to various psychological, scientific, and philosophical concepts. Every human needs to learn the rich lessons in Do You QuantumThink? as they contain a thorough, groundbreaking exploration of the mind and reality.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

"What is the meaning of life? What is the nature of existence? Who am I?" If you have had similar questions to these, Apotheosis Now attempts to shatter the existing belief system you have built to unveil a much greater intelligence that’s already within you, which will eventually flourish and start to take over your life. Both the so-called winners and losers in the game of life only feel more suffering the more they play, but some still believe the other side, or the winning side, is greener. Yanhao Huang exposes the falsehood in the belief that happiness exists in the next achievement. The author points out the merits of living in the present instead of dwelling on past hurts or thinking the best life exists in the future by discussing several profound subjects: the Nature of Existence, Dissolving Layers of Trapped Emotions, the Conflicted Mind, Ego’s Defence Mechanisms and more.

Apotheosis Now is definitely the best self-help book I've read this year. I had to bookmark several sections because I was blown away by the different revelations and how much they made sense to me as I examined myself. While reading the book, it gradually separated me from the perceptions I had of myself due to society; it was a greatly relieving and freeing experience. I enjoyed the carefully constructed sentences, the relatable examples, and the quotes from great names like Sadhguru, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Mahatma Gandhi, the Buddha, and more. Warning! Some arguments in the book may not go down well with people who have certain religious beliefs. In conclusion, if you wish to have life work for you rather than against you, I recommend you read Apotheosis Now.