Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Our world is filled with several distracting and attractive elements. The emergence of social media and the internet—which facilitates constant connection to the world—makes it harder to stay focused on a goal or even to choose the right ones in order to achieve a meaningful life. According to Brett Atlas, the most important things in life are time, relationships, and money. His book, Three Things Matter Most, provides a detailed guide that explains why this is so and how to prioritize these three most important aspects of life while surrounded by increasing distractions. Three Things Matter Most provides readers with different valuable life lessons that shed light on how to get your priorities right, the importance of saying no, how to meet people confidently, having the right attitude about money, and many more key insights.

As an avid reader of self-help books and a lover of philosophy and mindfulness, I completely agree with Brett Atlas' stance on the most important things in life, which is neatly laid out in this book. With insights from psychologists, ancient philosophers, and the author's personal experiences, Three Things Matter Most reveals the steps to take and the mindset to cultivate to achieve a life that is free from unnecessary baggage and time traps. Prepare for an enthralling, memorable read because the book contains several interesting stories and folklores. The action exercises and questions are structured to personalize the lessons and fast-track readers toward actual positive change. I can't emphasize this enough: Three Things Matter Most is perfect for readers who wish to find a meaning to life or wish to manage their time, money, and relationships better.

Reviewed by Michelle du Plooy for Readers' Favorite

Gavin Seah is a young author who believes that if people know the steps to follow to improve themselves, they will automatically become happier, healthier, more steadfast people. In his book True Humility, he feels that if he can teach a person to focus on what matters in life, they are halfway to peace and wellness, which are, in his experience, the fundamentals of true humility. Gavin couples his knowledge acquired through his life journey from childhood to adulthood to inspire and encourage a person to grow into a humble well-grounded individual. He bases his teachings on sayings he learned from Gandhi's inspirational writings. He tells about his growth and how he asks himself what he can do to make himself happy now. It’s all based on the ‘now’ Y_O_L_O (You only live once) principle which stems from self-indulgence. You do whatever makes you happy at the moment. You enjoy life at all costs with no regrets. This is the message Gavin would like readers to hear and follow through his stories.

He tells of how people should not pay attention to false humility in different forms, because it will lead to depression and in the end self-destruction. Instead, do the opposite and focus on and practice true humility. As people change and evolve one by one using this method, he believes the world will become a better more balanced place. I feel that Gavin Seah is one of many young authors trying to develop a better lifestyle through learning. His writings in True Humility are true and honest with a heartfelt touch of goodness, giving you the feeling that he stems from humble beginnings. He does not seem to feel the need to fit in, but rather to stand out in the crowd as an individual with a difference. Gavin’s writing is very inspiring for young and old, mainly because every story feels like you can relate to it in one way or another. He writes from experience and there is nothing better than true non-fiction through self-experience. I will be reading more from this author in the future. I can easily recommend this book to those seeking true inner peace and those who would like guidelines to follow on how to obtain it.

Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite

Dr. Nancy Stella deals with six fear traps that bother most people in her book Fear Traps: Escape the Triggers That Keep You Stuck. Through personal experiences and years of counseling, she has developed the Courageous Brain Process (CBP). This process is a six-step program to create new neuropathways in the brain to change how you respond to fear. The book contains a chapter for each of the six common fear traps (Being Alone, Rejection, Confrontation, Being Ignored, Failure, and Fear of the Unknown). Not only does she explain the fear trap, but she also includes a real-life case study before she explains how to use the CBP to overcome the fear. Finally, at the end of the book, Nancy includes guided meditations for each of the six traps. This book is beneficial for anyone struggling in one of the fear traps.

Every fear trap has its triggers. Nancy Stella teaches her readers how to identify triggers and then moves on to solving the fear traps. In Fear Traps, Nancy shares her Courageous Brain Process (CBP) model. CBP allows those who struggle with a fear trap to create new neuropathways and overcome the vicious grip of the fear trap. Psychology can be a technical subject, but Nancy knows how to explain the topics that can be complicated. In addition, she has over twenty years of experience working with clients. As a result, this book is simple enough to help everyone who struggles with fear. Nancy’s compassion for those who suffer comes through in her writing. There are no condemnations in this book, only positive encouragements.

Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite

Chauncey McGlathery is a man of many talents. In his book, The Hero’s Journey: Deliver Yourself from Evil, he shares his theories on improving yourself and saving yourself from the performance trap. His method includes embracing the performance mentality and using it for good. Chauncey believes (to paraphrases Shakespeare) that all life is a performance. He shares how he learned to love genuinely and that love allowed him to look to the needs of others. If one thinks life is all about themselves, they lose. Chauncey turned his lifestyle and philosophy around before he was able to start winning. His winning was because he began to head in the right direction. The correct style of living leads to generous giving. Chauncey learned that it is not about what he receives but about what he can give.

The Hero’s Journey: Deliver Yourself from Evil by Chauncey McGlathery describes his journey from the performance trap of love based on one’s performance to living to serve and help others. Chauncey shares his journey to reinvent himself into a more loving and kinder person. He writes in the first-person narrative. He shares how he came to realize the error of his ways and how he went about fixing himself. Chauncey writes in a style that will cause you to think. You will examine your own life to see if you might be living in some of the same traps in which Chauncey lived. Take your time reading this book and use it to help guide you into a new and improved lifestyle. Drawing on a life of stage performances, Chauncey teaches that the best way to live is by being generous and giving. Investing in others is the best investment one can make.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Do you believe you could be an artist? Are you creative? Or, do you believe that you “don’t have a creative bone in your body”? Or, perhaps you believe “you are not good enough”? This is a very serious syndrome, perhaps one that should be described as a “form of Post-Traumatic Art Disorder.” Believe it or not, we all have it within ourselves to be creative. How we find and use that creativity is unique to each and every one of us. And we need this creativity to help de-stress the rest of our lives: “We have placed personal fulfillment and the nourishment of our sacred inner selves on the back burner, and as a result, we find ourselves facing burnout and internal emptiness.” We need to find that inner self once again, the freedom to be creative in our own unique way.

Mary Potter Kenyon’s inspirational book, Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity, is part memoir, part self-help, and motivational. The author speaks to us like a friend, telling her stories, her mother’s stories, all the things in her life that inspired her and made her find her own creativity. She parallels her story and her inspirational notes with the one person who truly inspired her: her mother, a strong woman who worked hard to care for a growing family of ten, impoverished in the monetary sense but rich in faith and creative energy. As the author leads the reader through a step-by-step approach to encourage us to find our inner creativity, she shares with us countless stories, personal vignettes, cherished memories. She includes multiple quotes from great minds and lesser-known great minds, quotes that encourage creativity and seeking our inner creative power force. One of the more profound quotes she shares is from Oscar Wilde: “To live is the rarest thing in the world, Most people exist, that is all.” We need our creative inner self to blossom to help us do more than merely exist.

The author provides interactive worksheets to allow the reader to follow some of her proven steps. She provides numerous resources for further reading and aptly sums up her presentation with yet another compelling quote from her mother’s journals: “Whether my life and death was for good or for nothing, it is you who must say this. I leave you my death. Give it meaning. Remember me.” An engaging read and a powerful tool to spark our creativity.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Since his youth, author Geoffrey Saign has been on a journey of balance. Throughout his journey, the pathway of knowledge and understanding of mindfulness in various forms was being strengthened. As he became more experienced with the different teachings, he learned how to manage his stress and enjoy life more. His latest book, Smile More Stress Less: A Playful Method to End Anxiety, Be Calm & Achieve Happiness with Awareness, is a self-help tool and resource for you to learn from his trek on how to stabilize and control your stress and live life. You will learn how to create a paradigm shift of thought by focusing on and grasping where your thought patterns originated. The author takes your hand and carefully guides you through the process, procedures, and solutions for overcoming stress, particularly Self-Created Stress which is where his theory of HERE, Intelligence, Illusions and Mind comes in to help bring the point home.

Smile More Stress Less by Geoffrey Saign is a gem. Immediately it challenges you with the HERE, Intelligence, Illusions and Mind theory; it offers some examples to reflect how we think; it thoroughly explains the aspects of stress, its influences and impact; and it provides a quiz to determine your Self-Created Stress level. I believe that the games, questions, and exercises are essential because these got me fully engaged and involved in not only reading the material but in understanding how it applies to my life and living. With the right recipe, you can improve how you visualize and see the world around you. Just like I did, after reading this book you will smile more and stress less. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Tough: Building True Mental, Physical and Emotional Toughness for Success and Fulfillment, by Greg Everett, is a powerfully motivating book about strengthening your wellbeing from the inside out. The principles and themes explored in this book can be applied to many walks of life because most people would like to see improvement in certain areas, whether physical, mental, or emotional--if you only had the right tools. Well, this book is one of those tools. Highly praised and well-reviewed, the author encourages readers to find the toughness they have inside in order to achieve goals, be healthier, and find happiness.

The world can be a harsh place at times, and in order to make it, sometimes some toughness is in order. A toughness of the mind, body, and spirit. These motivating chapters are brought to you by an author who has lived a rugged life and has the experience and expertise to get his points across. You'll learn how to face adversity, learn how to rely on yourself, how to contribute to others, look inside yourself for answers, and turn failure into lessons learned. If you have trouble deciding or committing, this book will boost your confidence, strengthen your willpower, and overcome challenges. Even if you think you aren't tough or don't see yourself wanting to be tough, Everett explains his definition of the word, which doesn't necessarily mean being rough or tough toward other people--it's more of being in control of yourself and your nature. This book would make a great motivator for students, those facing career or relationship challenges, or those seeking a life coach. If you're ready to make positive changes in your life, let Tough by Greg Everett be your guide.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A stable and balanced walk with zero falls should be everyone's goal, but as we age, our agility and steadiness decrease. Can we prevent the loss of our stability? Is there anything we can do to restore our balance and once again enjoy moving? Falling Is Not An Option (A Way to Lifelong Balance) by George Locker provides the principles behind excellent balance and methods to move without the fear of falling. Included in the book are exercises that everyone of every age can practice to help them improve their balance and stability. With Postural Retraining exercises focused on activating and using postural muscles to ensure stability, taken from techniques used in the martial art form of T'ai Chi, this book gives the reader the simplest tools to create a secure lifestyle. Even if you are using a walker or other means of support, this book is meant for you as well as the athlete. Including instructions and clearly depicted exercises, everyone has the opportunity to enjoy an upright and fall-free life!

Falling Is Not An Option (A Way to Lifelong Balance) by George Locker is a revolutionary health and fitness reference manual that benefits everyone who wants to build and maintain a steady and mobile lifestyle as they age. Mr. Locker has created an enlightening and uncomplicated guide that explains why we need to work on our balance and the detailed instructions on how to improve it. Presented with photographic illustrations and easy to follow instructions, the exercises are simple enough for everyone to understand and execute. The glossary at the end of the book is the perfect addition that assists those who are unfamiliar with some of the words and terms used in the text. Informative and inspiring, everyone who wishes to grow old gracefully without the worry of falling will want to own this book. Beautifully presented. I can hardly wait to try the techniques!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Be A Mensch: Unleash Your Power To Be Kind And Help Others by Elisa Udaskin is an uplifting and thought-provoking book that speaks about relationships, how we interact with people, and how we 'show' up. This applies to people close to us and also to strangers. The book is for everyone who has an open mindset, wants to grow, strengthen their relationships, and has a good sense of humor. The word 'mensch' is of Yiddish origin and means a genuinely good person. The concept of a mensch is to reach out and be kind and the tools and techniques in the book will help everyone access their inner mensch. The book has a collection of stories with the mensch concept of kindness running through them and is a good way to help us understand how to incorporate kindness into our daily lives and help others.

The approach to the topic of being kind and helping others by being a mensch has been tackled well by the author - kindness can help make our relationships better and inspires more kindness. The physical benefits of being kind are shared by the author through one of the stories, showing how much better we will feel emotionally, psychologically, and physically when we share kindness with others. Elisa Udaskin's inspirational journey will make us fall in love with her family members too. Be A Mensch is a well-expressed book and the author's neat and elegant style and humorous way of handling the topic make it easy for all readers to connect with her words. There are some interesting Yiddish words and expressions for readers that sound interesting.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Unshakable Awareness: Meditation in the Heart of Chaos, Taught by a Master of Four Samurai Arts (Total Embodiment Method TEM), by Richard L Haight, is an award-winning, dynamic self-help book to help you achieve mind/body/soul awareness and control. It comes at a time of uncertainty, change, and disruption, and has something for everyone. It doesn't ask you to give up your own personal beliefs, but to factor in new ideas that are based on being present and calm during challenges. The author uses ancient tenets of the four Samurai arts, and you'll be amazed at how easy and enlivening the advice is, especially in the area of meditation instruction. One advantage is that you don't have to go to a studio to practice it, you can do it in the comfort of your home, and this is helpful to those who may be isolated due to illness, quarantine, or depression.

Haight distills his expertise into usable information, and it is easier than you think. He explains how you can gain insight through active meditation, going about your everyday business. Whether a novice or experienced in meditation, you can use the contents of this book. Having a positive attitude is only part of the equation. You'll gain awareness, feel better, and this will hopefully lead to better health and contentment. You won't have to wonder what to do because the author provides step-by-step instructions and a schedule, which is helpful to those who have trouble sticking to routines and need greater motivation. Although not to be mistaken for official medical advice, this book hopes to improve health in a number of areas, from physical to psychological, like stronger immunity, lower stress levels, a positive outlook on life, and more. I found the information to be encouraging and positive, and the parts about the Four Samurai Arts are intriguing as well because they give foundation and perspective to the author's advice. The exercises and games make this an energetic read. If you're looking to turn over a new leaf, take your first step with Unshakable Awareness by Richard L Haight.