Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Mother Nature has a way of not only healing itself but wildlife, sea animals, and humans. We're not meant to run after life's material possessions because as we seek more, it's human nature to desire more. These desires are designed to keep you off balance. This imbalance is due to the high demands placed on your life. As a result of stress, you begin to worry excessively, exhibit poor eating habits, show signs of a lack of sleep, and begin to display symptoms of various diseases and illnesses. Hear what author Hannah Powell shares with the reader in her book, The Cactus Surgeon: Using Nature to Fix A Faulty Brain. She fell into the same trap that many of us do by working in a high-level career which resulted in being burned out. Her body began to break down, which resulted in her later being diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND). As she began seeking ways to heal, she realized that the answer to balance was getting in touch with nature, something that had been a part of her life since childhood. This is her story.

The Cactus Surgeon: Using Nature to Fix A Faulty Brain by Hannah Powell is a beautiful story of discovery, relief, and change. As Hannah walks through the several facets of her life in telling her story, she also shares personal parts of herself with childhood, family, and nature photos. You will see several photos of nature from a woodpecker, blossoms, Echinops, snowdrops, sunflowers, and sweetpeas to a jellyfish. By getting back in touch with nature, gardening, and relocating to a calm location along with physiotherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical options, Hannah not only was able to heal but got married and raised a family. If you're seeking a way to get off the hamster wheel and get balanced before a life-defining moment changes the course of your life, get a copy of this book to help you along your journey. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Finding the Missing Peace: A Healing Journey to Wholeness by Chris Duffy-Wentzel is a compelling autobiography you can't put down. What happens when an immuno-virologist is faced with a cancer diagnosis? It sets her on a life-or-death search for her birth parents. But something unexpected also happens, and it's a healing journey of the spirit. For almost 30 years, the author searched in vain for a way to unseal her adoption records, but conventional methods didn't work. She desperately needed her family's medical history, and then a dream revealed the key to the mystery. She needed to try a totally new approach. Her profession taught her to obey guidelines and what she could prove in a lab, and so she had to become her own private investigator of sorts in order to uncover the facts of her adoption and save her own life. Suddenly answers began to reveal themselves in a big way. As she followed the breadcrumbs, she discovered much more than just her biological history: she discovered healing for her inner self.

Author Chris Duffy-Wentzel has created a fascinating journey of self-discovery and peace, and it's all true. From the first page, you'll be hooked on her journey, and will arrive with her at the answers she's looked for, and perhaps those that you've looked for as well. The take-aways from this book are huge and impactful. Most people go through life not finding peace, but maybe they've looked in the wrong places. This author helps you get in touch with the inner you, and it takes a little peace and quiet to get there. I especially enjoyed getting to know Chris through her searching, the stories of her childhood growing up, and the people she met along the way. She didn't give up, even when it looked hopeless. There are lessons here for us all. Besides determination, her great sense of humor sparkles throughout the pages, as does her honesty and warmth. Few autobiographies are intriguing as Finding the Missing Peace: A Healing Journey to Wholeness by Chris Duffy-Wentzel.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Noble Edge: Reclaiming an Ethical World One Choice at a Time, by best-selling author Christopher Gilbert, is the perfect self-help book for bringing ethics and nobility back to human thinking and behavior. Themes of trust, truth, and personal success are also explored, and this is a refreshing change from the my-needs-first approach to being in the world. In the polarized society we live in today, talking about these things may seem a little outdated, but these are the things we need to get back on track. We hear so many versions of what reality and truth are supposed to be, it can be a bit confusing. We look outward for answers and expect them to come from someone or somewhere else when we should be asking what it is we ourselves should be doing to improve things. The author explores the idea of success and what it means, and authentic relationships. Ethical choices aren't always easy, but this book stands as a guide for today's generation of hopefuls.

Gilbert takes readers on a philosophical and practical journey of ethics. What does it mean to be noble? Is it a thing of the past, or something that lies ensconced inside, ready to be mined and brought forth? Can we really become less selfish and more spiritual? The nature of this book is dynamic and easy to read, friendly, personal, and with a definite sense of humor. The anecdotes are encouraging, relatable, and energizing to illustrate the points being made. One example is Grace, who receives $20 more back from a cashier than what is actually owed her. What does she do? How does she process her decision? A strong takeaway from the lessons here is that we can transform ourselves and one another by adopting the habit of making good choices and that ethics can and should play a larger part in our lives and in those choices. Nine principles are discussed and can be used in a professional setting, familial relationships, and friendships/other relationships. No one would argue that businesses, agencies, communities, and families could all benefit from more ethics, but this book actually shows how that can be accomplished. For an accessible guide that will instantly enrich and impact your daily interactions and outlook on your life and the lives of others, the award-winning The Noble Edge: Reclaiming an Ethical World One Choice at a Time, by Christopher Gilbert, is a must-read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

From the Mountaintop is a memoir by author Campbell Bolwell and yet it is much more than just the detailing of one man’s life; it is a journey deep inside the mind of all of us, an attempt to answer those age-old questions – Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? And, of course, what is our purpose here on earth? From a very early age, the author has been asking questions, seeking truth, direction, and purpose. It has been a lifelong search through the world’s established religions, philosophies, and cultures looking for that one spark, the one enlightenment, that one “ah-ah” moment that will reveal all to us. He takes the reader through his own exploration of his inner self and arrives at some truths that although stunningly simple and easy to understand are nevertheless often overlooked, ignored, or misunderstood by humanity. This book will challenge your core beliefs and will force you to stop and take a long, hard look at the journey you personally are undertaking on planet Earth.

As a professional reviewer, I read many books in a year, as well as a number of “self-help” or “new-thought” authors but few have touched me as deeply or resonated so soundly with me as From the Mountaintop by Campbell Bolwell. Perhaps it is that we are of a similar generation; perhaps it is that the book reflects many of my own beliefs; perhaps I feel a kinship with his story (He is an Australian and I am a New Zealander plus he has spent a lot of time in South East Asia, where I have lived for the past 11 years) but whatever the reason, this book spoke to me on a level that few have. I would place this book on the same high pedestal as some of the great “new-thought” authors I have read, such as Wallace Wattles, Rhonda Byrne, Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield – it really is that insightful, that exciting, and that revelatory.

I particularly enjoyed that Bolwell used his personal experiences, his friends and family relationships to underline the fascinating precepts and concepts he expounds. I also loved that this book discusses a complete theory of man’s evolution and development, our purpose, and our direction, but the author was unafraid to openly admit there are some things about this Universe that we still do not understand and perhaps never will. I found it so exciting that if not us, then at least our children will participate in the knowledge explosion which will open up the gates of wisdom to more. I wholeheartedly concur with the author that our purpose on this physical plane as spiritual beings is to garner wisdom. If you are searching, if you are lost, or if you just want to consider an alternative meaning to life than the day-to-day grind, then this is the book to read. I commend the author for his logical and complete presentation of this work and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Life hasn’t changed that much. Politics remains partisan and often volatile. But what of life? Ronald Gruner explores this theme in We The Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century. We still have a world full of differing opinions on everything from climate change to soaring inflation, issues on equity and inclusion, wars and natural disasters, and the list goes on. Yet, when the politicians make their platform statements, it’s all empty promises with only the rhetoric of the party they represent shining through. Presidential biographies focus on these partisan issues: what the president accomplished and how he stood up for the beliefs of their respective political parties. If one were to look at the non-partisan side of presidential biographies, what would the story be like? Perhaps what we’d see, first-hand, is a repeat of the same issues, the same problems, everything that defines what America is now and what it was then. “It’s the intertwined threads of history, rippling upward to today, that have woven the intricate tableau that is America.” What truly makes each of these presidents, the way history defines them, is the people who supported them, voted them in, rallied for or against them – in other words, the real Americans who stood the test of time.

Ronald Gruner’s book, We The Presidents, is a fascinating study of modern American history and the politics that defined it. From Warren G. Harding to Donald Trump, the author has delved into the man behind the scenes, the man who represented the presidential office, and the often volatile issues that played out. The study follows the presidents sequentially, with each chapter beginning with a profound quote from the president being portrayed. From Harding’s, “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration,” to Trump’s proclamation, “Together, we will make America strong again,” the underlying theme is the resilience of the people and all for the good of the people. This is an engrossing look at both modern American history and American political history.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

The Intrepid Brotherhood: Public Power, Corruption, and Whistleblowing in the Pacific Northwest by Gordon Graham is an account of the author's experiences leading up to his controversial filing of a whistle-blower petition with the Chelan County Public Utility District. Organized under state statute as a non-profit municipal corporation, the organization functions as a customer-owned public cooperative energy district. It provides electric, water, wastewater, public utility, and telecommunications services in Chelan County, in north-central Washington, USA. When Sonny Smart announced his retirement as General Manager in 1997 and a new manager was hired under questionable circumstances, an autocratic style of management became the norm. As director of its Information Technology Department, Gordon Graham tried to do his job under stressful circumstances but matters finally came to a head when he was unceremoniously fired. This is his story.

Gordon Graham’s The Intrepid Brotherhood exposes what went wrong at the Chelan County Public Utility District when an ambitious Chief Financial Officer set out to take over its management and succeeded, albeit temporarily. In eight interesting chapters, the author logically and objectively presents the way the organization was manipulated and mismanaged. The aftermath included overspending, irregular payments for work that wasn’t performed, inadequate implementation of a new system, and collusion in approving contracts to preferred vendors. In telling his story, the author provides not only the full picture behind his filing of the whistle-blower petition but also guidelines on how to manage a business or an organization through the use of best practices and ethical leadership. This book is a must-read for all managers and every member of the workforce. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Last Stop by Patricia Street is a memoir that would most appeal to a diverse audience of parents and professionals looking to assist others dealing with addictions and who do not mind some explicit language. Patricia lost her son David to addiction and then later to death when he passed away at the young age of thirty-nine. Patricia shares the story of her struggles with her son, who almost became a stranger to her due to his habit. This raw account of the pain-filled impact of addiction is designed to help others cope with the pain of having a loved one who struggles with dependency.

The Last Stop by Patricia Street is a well-written account that took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride as I followed Patricia while she dealt with her son’s manipulation and deceit following his drug addiction. As a psychology professional, I found this book to be a treasure trove of information on the realities of addiction. It proved more useful to me than any textbook in understanding the emotional impact and the toll it takes on loved ones. I felt connected to Patricia throughout her journey and I could not help but feel her pain and loss. I enjoyed the second part of the book, which featured David’s writings. Reading his essays and poems, his talent and his writing made me feel his loss quite keenly. Overall, while this book was not always easy to read due to the pain within its pages, I feel that it has helped me to become a better psychology professional and that I am now better equipped to help those touched by addiction in their lives.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Reclaim the Rebel: 12 Rebellious Acts to Achieve Unconditional Love for Your Body by Lizzy Cangro is a self-help guide that eschews the messages women have had pounded into their heads their entire lives. Cangro reaches deeply into the female psyche and pulls out all the mental and emotional barriers that keep us from loving our physical selves. The book is broken down into its twelve promised acts, each of which is structured by a unique format. These include a brief overview of the act, the illusion of false ideologies that necessitate a rebellious act, the rebellious act itself, the exercise to implement the act, the battle that will likely rear its ugly head along the way, and a summary of what the act is at its conclusion for quick reference when we need it.

While reading Reclaim the Rebel, I was kind of looking around the room to find Lizzy Cangro. It was as if she knew me so well that she had to be hiding in a closet, spying on me. Lizzy? Are you there? When she was nowhere to be found amongst my one-size-too-small dresses that still had tags, bought in anticipation of losing that bit of extra weight so they would fit, I redirected my attention to what Cangro had to say. This was not a difficult task as the book is styled for ease of reading and the writing is so clean and well-executed, one might feel it is a conversation with a friend and not really a book. The most touching of the twelve to me is called Trust Your Gut. Cangro shares her battle with anorexia and the loss of control in a hospitalization. The advice she received was everywhere. The act when it comes to feeding our body is simple: tune out the chatter and listen to your body. Craving carbs? Have some. Stop dieting. Start rebelling. This is an excellent book that will certainly resonate with those lucky enough to read it.

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life by D. Terrence Foster, MD. is a comprehensive approach to help us reduce our levels of stress. These were already high before the pandemic, and they are (understandably) much higher now generally speaking. This is a burning issue and Dr. Foster wrote this guide to help us navigate the most complicated challenges in the quest for more quiet and calm. The book includes four main sections including the basics of stress and its management, the physical actions, the mental actions, and the community actions we can put in place to reduce our stress levels.

The Stress Book: Forty-Plus Ways to Manage Stress & Enjoy Your Life by D. Terrence Foster, MD. is a completely holistic guide that will help and support many of us navigate life in a complicated world. In fact, the environmental crisis, the pandemic, the wars, and our continued hunger for progress are all factors of aggravated stress. This book helps us deal with stress one baby step at a time, one section at a time. We need to focus on the physical actions we can take to feel better, quieter, then the mental ones and the community ones. This guide is deeply holistic and comprehensive. We are given grids and worksheets to help us evaluate our stress levels, and to identify what really stresses us out. Dr. Foster’s Action Plan is devised for us to implement diverse actions to improve our lifestyles and make us less prone to stress. This book is amazing and simple to understand even if the author explains in detail the science behind stress. The index and list of resources and links are extremely helpful too. Thank you for this gem of a book.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Redhead of Auschwitz: A True Story (Holocaust Survivor True Stories WWII) by Nechama Birnbaum is an addition to the series. Redheads are cursed, isn’t that what they say? Certainly, Rosie was always told that but she brushed it aside. She dreamed of getting married to a man she could love forever but her life changed in 1944. Rosie was sent to Auschwitz, with her beautiful red hair shaved off on arrival. Her dreams and her red hair may have gone but the Nazis could never tame her red-headed spirit, could never hold back her resilience and her determination to get back home, even when all those around her had lost hope of ever being free. No matter what the Nazis put her through, she never lost hope. Rosie was the girl who believed she could survive the horrors of the death camp and sometimes belief is all you need.

The Redhead of Auschwitz by Nechama Birnbaum is another one of those Nazi survivor stories that you must read. Our beautiful heroine, the young red-headed Rosie, teaches us that sometimes hope and belief in yourself are all you need to give you that nudge to keep going. This Auschwitz survivor story is a lesson to all of us and should be on required reading lists at schools and taught in history lessons. It informs us about Jewish culture, about the bonds of family and friends, and it teaches us to have a true, deep belief in all we want to accomplish – believe, and you can do it. This is a harrowing book, as any death camp survivor story is, and it is a hard read at times. Be prepared to cry, fume at injustice, and delight in Rosie’s triumphs. Be prepared to read this from start to finish in one go because you will be hooked. No matter how hard some people try to wipe away all traces of history, no matter how much they deny that these things happened, stories like this must be repeated because one thing is certain – we must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.