Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The FIFO Wives' Tales is a work of non-fiction in the memoir and anthology subgenres. It is suitable for mature readers as it contains true stories featuring distressing content such as assault, harassment, and suicide to name a few, and was compiled by Yasmin Walter from the voices and experiences of many others. As the title suggests, the work focuses on the life stories of women in families where FIFO workers fly out to remote locations for weeks at a time, leaving their families behind. What results is a fascinating cross-section of human culture that shows how some bonds can be strengthened by these absences whilst others fall short and the divide causes irreparable damage.

As this is a subsection of working life to which I have never given much thought, I immediately found the stories within this non-fiction collection to be interesting and engaging, giving an accessible and easily imagined insight into what it’s like to live the FIFO lifestyle. Many of the future, current, and ex-wives in these stories have multiple burdens to bear because of the nature of this high-risk and high-reward life, and the variety of coping mechanisms can be as shocking as they are uplifting. Yasmin Walter does a superb job in compiling the many voices and curating a narrative that flows from rough to smooth but keeps the common themes of perseverance and survival at the forefront. I would recommend The FIFO Wives' Tales whether you know about this lifestyle or not, as it is an education in solidarity, compassion, and making the best of what you’ve got.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

The Adjacent Possible: Evolve Your Art from Blank Canvas to Prolific Artist is a fascinating presentation on the science of artistic creativity by the psychiatrist and abstract artist Nancy Leigh Hillis, M.D. It is written with the stated purpose to “guide, nudge, and inspire” the reader to reach their fullest artistic expression by venturing into the adjacent possible. Dr. Hillis describes this as existing on the creative edge where every brushstroke or artistic expression reveals new possibilities which didn’t exist before. The inner journey of creativity is discussed, followed by topics such as tips for artists, mistakes even the pros make, traps artists face, and the paradox of creation including the value of ugly art. A link to a website and an invitation to join the Artists Journey community are also provided.

As someone who has admittedly produced a few pieces of ugly art, I have to say that in The Adjacent Possible, Dr. Nancy Leigh Hillis has hit a home run. As an engineer, I appreciated the references to science as she explored creativity and the role of attitude. “Art is an inside job,” she tells us. “Your inner landscape, your inner dialogue, your mindset is your most important asset because it affects everything.” It’s not the refining of artistic technique that will have the greatest impact on your creativity, but your willingness to experiment. The well-written narrative flows from one topic to another, using stories that are sprinkled throughout to convey the concepts that are beautifully presented. This book will challenge you to re-evaluate how you approach your creativity and artistic expression.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Taking the Cape Off: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimaginable Grief and Loss is written and narrated by Patrick J Kenny. It is a self-help audiobook for anyone going through personal loss, grief, and battling with mental illness. A comprehensive book for parents recovering from grief, leaders, and any person who wants to shake off the stigma of mental illness. Author Patrick J Kenny shares his struggles as a Fire Chief and a father who lost his son to suicide. Used to being the hero and saving people, Patrick Kenny struggled a lot when he couldn’t protect his son who battled with mental illness for almost all his life. That ordeal led him to look deeper into what we call heroism, protection, and acceptance. After the death of his son, Patrick faced realities that were hidden from him, and in his book, he shares all those life lessons with anyone who needs them.

Patrick Kenny put his heart and soul into this book, and it was apparent in the way he narrated it. The way he talked about his son Sean, how Patrick felt like a failure and not the leader he prided himself on being brought tears to my eyes. The narrative was simple, yet the raw emotions behind each and every sentence spoke to my heart. Throughout the narrative, Patrick emphasizes the importance of communication and how it can prevent, help and heal. It takes a huge amount of courage to share your mind and thoughts with someone, but once you do, it becomes much easier to cope with your grief or your inferiority complex. He led by example, allowed readers deep into his mind, and shared his most vulnerable parts so that readers could take courage from his life. Mental health is still a taboo in many professions, but especially in professions such as firefighting or any life-saving profession. Patrick shared some sound advice and gave courage to readers to look for the positive in life, even when things were devastating. Encouraging and uplifting!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

How to Kiss the Universe: An Inspirational Spiritual and Metaphysical Narrative About Human Origin, Essence and Destiny is a work of non-fiction in the spirituality subgenre. It is intended for the general adult audience owing to its complex philosophical themes and the occasional use of strong language and was penned by author Jozef Simkovic with audiobook narration in this format provided by John Steele. In this eye-opening work filled with revelations and insight into the purpose of life and the universe around us, the audience is introduced to the real-life journey of a journalist, leaving his physical body and traveling by consciousness alone. What results is a fascinating take on spirituality that the curious will not want to miss.

In terms of its content, author Jozef Simkovic has certainly put his mind, body, and soul into this work to excite and engage with readers over the many mysteries of the universe and present his findings on those topics that we have all surely wondered about. Whether you’re a believer in the content of the work or not, Simkovic makes interesting and well-backed-up points from his own experience and resources beyond, and he presents everything in a professional and highly engaging style.

In terms of audiobook presentation, the narration by John Steele adds a new dimension of meaning, intention, and passion to the work, as Steele brings the different concepts and ideas to life vividly. Serious in tone but also highly enthused and inspired, Steele’s narrative quality and the excellent editing of the work only further elevate the content and makes it more accessible and interesting to a wider audience. Overall, I’d certainly recommend How to Kiss the Universe to anyone with an interest in spirituality and life’s biggest questions.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Customer Escalations Management: The Golden Recipe by Nikolaos Zormpas is the ultimate guide on how to provide amazing customer service and exceptional customer experience. Dealing with customers and avoiding escalations is one of the most challenging parts of any business, but the good news is that this book redefines what true customer service means. Is the customer always right? This book tells you that it is not always the case. However, it is an aspirational ideology that, when placed in the right context, becomes the nucleus of the five steps you can take to overcome challenging situations and reach a mutual agreement with your valued customers. There is always a silver lining. Use The Golden Recipe to learn how to handle customer escalations that result in customer satisfaction.

Nikolaos Zormpas puts the human touch back into customer relations and strengthens the connection between people and your business. It is difficult to win customers yet it is very easy to lose them. Customer Escalations Management teaches you how to retain your customers, strengthen your brand, and accumulate more patronage. Zormpas guides you through all this by presenting you with a realistic approach to the subject. I've had my share of customer service experience, having worked at an outsourced call center, and I certainly wished I'd had this book back then. I like the way it teaches you a strategic approach to defusing customer frustration. The Golden Recipe is a huge boost in turning problems into opportunities. Customer Escalations Management is an invaluable reference for anyone who is engaged in a customer-oriented venture.

Reviewed by Dr. Jordan Alexander for Readers' Favorite

Mindfulness Without the Bells and Beads offers exactly what author Clif Smith says it will: Unlocking Exceptional Performance, Leadership, and Well-being for Working Professionals. Without ringing one bell or chanting one Om, the ex-CIA-trained intelligence officer, US Army veteran, and former diplomat shares a spiritual-free version of mindfulness practices that anyone can apply at work and home. Smith first quiets the noise around the concept of mindfulness, then shares examples of practices you can try over an eight-week period. None of them requires any spiritual belief! The overview of why mindfulness is critical today cites various studies of how work gets the bulk of our attention, followed by phone apps and Netflix, asking us what quality time is realistically spent in our lives?

Smith covers the myths of multitasking and the downsides of distraction, like how a three-minute social media break will take an additional twenty-three minutes to get you back on task. Readers will also learn why the wandering mind doesn’t allow proper rest and can create unhappiness; plus how consequences of physical presence without mental presence can increase stress and anxiety, compound health issues, and reduce productivity. So what’s the answer? According to Smith, it is a balance of non-striving (less doing, less should's, and more being), acceptance, letting go, and focusing on gratitude and generosity as a start. The rest is about practice – formal and informal – and patience with yourself, especially learning mindfulness. He urges us to be kind with the stories we tell ourselves about trying new mindfulness experiences.

In Mindfulness Without the Bells and Beads, Clif Smith has brought his teaching to tens of thousands of corporate and government leaders as Ernst and Young’s Global Mindfulness Network Leader. Now you too can gain his valuable insights and perspectives. Each chapter summarizes key learning points and takes you step-by-step on a formal practice to try yourself, like starting simply with an Awareness of Breath meditation. Your informal practices come next and include everything from mindful eating and drinking to catching and releasing thoughts and keeping a gratitude journal. Daily mindfulness practices help you become more aware, happy, and healthy. If the spiritual side of mindfulness has been holding you back, Mindfulness Without the Bells and Beads is here to help you improve your work, relationships, and life, one breath at a time.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Bigfoot, UFO's and the Paranormal: True Encounters by Paul G. Buckner is a compilation of interviews, personal experiences, and Native American lore centered on sharing strange encounters. Have you ever felt a presence lurking behind you or witnessed something you can't explain? This question serves as the basis for this collection of true accounts. Buckner includes interviews with witnesses who share their experiences of seeing strange creatures and floating lights, feeling a presence in the mountains, and time warps. Among the incidents, you'll read about several encounters with a creature of massive size that stalks, hunts, and charges after them, only for them to escape with no recollection of the last few moments.

The catalyst for the collection and Paul G. Buckner's fascination with the concept of Bigfoot was his aunt's encounter when he was a boy that involved a creature standing upright like a man and covered in black hair. While his personal experiences are incorporated, the collection focuses on sightings on a wider basis with various witness accounts featured. From his own observations, he shares the presence he felt beside him and a looming figure standing over him. These are similar to the encounters that other witnesses share and which feature overlapping themes that support the basis of the collection. The collection of interviews also incorporates Native American lore. This section features more background on the origins of Bigfoot which is a fascinating look at how this creature has evolved through various sightings while maintaining a basis of similarity. Bigfoot, UFO's and the Paranormal combine lore, personal experience, and true encounters to showcase the way Bigfoot and the related accounts have helped to shape our culture through these stories.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Reluctant Ninja: How A Middle-Aged Princess Became A Warrior Queen is a work of non-fiction in the memoir and inspirational writing subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Cheryl L Ilov. In this explorative and motivational work taken from her real life, the author explores the transition of personality when, in her mid to late forties, Cheryl experienced traumatic events leading to severe PTSD and mental health issues. After the art of Japanese martial arts is suggested to her as a healthy outlet and coping mechanism, her life begins to change for the better again.

This truly empowering book explains the many benefits of martial arts practices, as well as gives readers the chance to tune in with author Cheryl L Ilov and share her raw account of the lasting and damaging effects which PTSD can have on your life. No matter where you started from, this is a work that proves how anyone can make those incredible shifts in capability, confidence, and emotional resolve, and this particular work really sells the ninja lifestyle too. Another feature of the work that I really enjoyed was its general tone, which balances the elements of the technical, personal, and emotional perfectly. It is a book that highlights the power of the human spirit whilst also being a really motivational how-to guide. Overall, The Reluctant Ninja is a unique and engaging memoir that will certainly enthrall its readers whilst also tugging their heartstrings. A recommended read.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

A Guide to the Climate Apocalypse: Our Journey from the Age of Prosperity to the Era of Environmental Grief by Vítězslav Kremlík is the book that some of us don’t want but all of us need because it takes an open mind and a welcoming heart to swallow the bitter truths that it presents, backed up with data and case studies. This book exposes how environmentalists, or the Greens, manipulate and exaggerate climate issues, stretching them to apocalyptic levels to attract attention and instigate what they perceive is a much-needed change in our lifestyle and business practices. With scholarly devotion to the topic, the book traces the history of climate change, its models, its polarizing effects, and its contemporary ramifications. The author gives you a critical assessment of the subject to arrive at the conclusion of whether or not there is a cause for panic.

There are hundreds if not thousands of conversations about climate change today, but they tend to overwhelm us as they all run in the same vein of doomsday pronouncements. If you do not want to get lost in the noise, I strongly recommend that you arm yourself with proper information before joining environmental crusades and demanding change. The sense of urgency and genuine concern to shed light on a pressing subject, where many are misinformed, makes Vítězslav Kremlík’s writing strongly compelling. In a time when it is difficult to filter out the right information, you owe it to yourself to investigate the persistent and exaggerated claims advanced by those who have their own agendas to push. A timely and thought-provoking work, A Guide to the Climate Apocalypse is a must-read that proves how many are crying wolf when it comes to environmental issues.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Demogra-fate Hypothesis is a work of non-fiction in the social issues subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Nguyen Ba Thanh. The book is a discussion of the idea that the population aging that we see today may indicate an end to the life cycle of our species, and the implications that this idea has on the age-old question of 'are we alone in the universe.' Using data taken from our own censuses and extrapolating the possible implications this would have on other civilizations, the book addresses the paradox of why we haven’t found life in a huge and busy universe.

The idea that the human race has a shelf life and we have no idea what the expiration date is has the potential to be quite horrifying on its own. Could we be years away from our end or millions of years? Fortunately, author Nguyen Ba Thanh is able to bring not just incredible insight on the topic but also just enough wry humor to prevent a discussion on our own extinction from descending into existential dread. The ideas on display here are fascinating and accessible to all, grounding the more abstract ideas in verifiable data in order to constantly remind readers that this isn’t science fiction; this is an issue we should be talking about right now. The Demogra-fate Hypothesis is a must-read for those with an interest in our species' future, presenting a complex and far-reaching hypothesis in a way that allows even casual readers to join the discussion.