Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga by Joelle Tamraz is an intriguing and harrowing memoir that sheds light on the darker aspects of spiritual pursuit and manipulation. Tamraz's candid narrative takes readers on a journey from vulnerability to empowerment, offering a gripping exposé of the dangers lurking behind the facade of enlightenment. Tamraz's story begins innocently enough, with a quest for spiritual enlightenment leading her to Rishikesh, the renowned home of yoga. However, her encounter with Swami Arun, an enigmatic and manipulative figure, sets off a chain of events defining the next eighteen years of her life. Through Tamraz's vivid storytelling, readers are immersed in the world of deception, control, and abuse orchestrated by Arun. On the surface, Tamraz’s spiritual guide is lovable, but his intentions are far from pure. For how long will she allow him to manipulate her?

The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga is told with unflinching honesty. From the opening chapters, readers learn about the author’s clandestine marriage, juxtaposed with her initial hopes and dreams of a lifetime of love and companionship. The secrecy in her relationship already hints at trouble. The contrast between her longing for familial approval and her mother's unexpected melancholy underscores the challenges of navigating cultural expectations and familial dynamics. The unease is palpable, and readers see someone longing for inner freedom. Her spiritual journey toward freedom thrust her into a form of spiritual slavery, and despite the warning signs, it takes a long time for her to break the cycle. While this is an enthralling memoir, it is also a cautionary tale showing readers how pseudo-spiritual leaders can prey on people and exploit their longing for enlightenment for personal gain. The book offers valuable lessons for readers.

Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite

True Stories of the Philosophical Theater by S. Yerucham chronicles one man’s quest for meaning in a world seemingly defined by contradiction. Yerucham’s sweeping narrative conveys readers across the globe, from Indiana to India, Israel, Thailand (to name a few), and, ultimately, to post-hippie San Francisco, where he at last reconciles his restless questioning mind and his wanderlust with his longing for home and family. This memoir is deeply personal and yet truly universal, with familiar themes such as fatherhood, homesickness, and the struggle inherent in adhering to one’s religious practices and beliefs while immersed in foreign cultures. These are all woven into the narrative with deft precision for clarity, purpose, and reader engagement.

S. Yerucham is a kind of modern-day Everyman, posing eternal questions and finding possible answers in the most unlikely of places. Add into the mix Yerucham’s masterfully inventive use of language and prodigious vocabulary and the result is a rare and singularly appealing literary memoir. Readers will be astonished at how quickly its pages breeze by, with every new horizon offering pure delights and new mysteries to ponder. Yerucham has a marvelously wry, self-deprecating sense of humor which adds a wonderful tongue-in-cheek quality to the text, making the reader feel part of the epic goings-on as the author transitions from a wide-eyed eighteen-year-old self-professed chameleonic shape-shifter to a homeowner and family man. Along the way, Yerucham quotes many of the world’s greatest books and takes us on an armchair tour of a number of the most appealing and exotic locales. It is hard to imagine a literary memoir with more to offer readers than S. Yerucham’s True Stories of the Philosophical Theater.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Retirement comes with its own set of challenges. It also opens the doors to new opportunities. In The Little Black Book of Retirement Wisdom, Mike Kowis offers readers famous sayings, quotes, wisecracks, spiritual adages, and more to help you discover the tools to navigate retirement and find happiness and fulfillment in freedom. Kowis presents some insightful words of wisdom borrowed from a diverse range of people, including notable historical personalities, authors, politicians, comedians, athletes, celebrities, and entrepreneurs, all sharing their knowledge and wisdom gained through years of experience in their respective fields. Aside from the many facets of knowledge, you'll acquire about retirement, this book will gently guide you toward finding purpose and help you build a nest egg, know when to retire, and indulge in your passions and interests.

Discover the joys of freedom and make retirement the best time of your life with The Little Black Book of Retirement Wisdom. After reading this book, one of the things that stays with you is that you'll gain an overall idea of when to retire and whether or not it is the correct decision for you. I think this book is a must-read not only for retirees but also for people who would like to prepare for their retirement years in advance. I found the quotes used by Mike Kowis educational, motivational, and quite entertaining. This is one of those books you want to read to relax and find inspiration to pursue your interests. Some of these quotes will remain etched in your memory long after you've finished reading. And others you'll want to revisit over and over again. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

We often feel our lives get stuck in a routine that never changes. Sometimes, only a disastrous, shocking, or life-threatening event urges us to change our way of life. We hold on to the labels that define us, like the title "Doctor" before our names. We prefer to live in a sphere of comfortable and familiar habits that include the sources of information we receive and we reject any different opinion so as to keep our comfort zone intact. So, what should we do to break the vicious circle we have built around our egos and change our lives for the better? How can we obtain the needed confidence without losing our true identity? The Half-Known Life by Ryan Lindner is a thought-provoking read for fans of the self-help genre and motivational books.

The Half-Known Life is an eye-opening book. Ryan Lindner is almost painfully honest and very open with his readers. Ryan tells about the challenges he faces every day after two cardiac arrests he experienced at a young age. I appreciated Ryan's thoughtful observations regarding our dependence on what others think about us and the roles we play for them at work and home. It is essential to leave our "bubble" or comfort zone and open up to other opinions, even if they seem alien or unacceptable. Otherwise, our perception of the world will be distorted. Thus, The Half-Known Life helps attentive and brave readers become more tolerant and confident. Ryan shares unorthodox views on time, happiness, life goals, and what it means to truly forgive those who wronged us, which deserve to be explored. The Half-Known Life offers simple solutions to break bad habits, make the right choices, and finally start living our lives to the fullest, realizing that our time on this earth is limited.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever wondered why, despite your best efforts, things always seem to fall apart before you can accomplish your goal of achieving something you are passionate about? You may be shocked to learn how many people deal with similar situations daily. The reason for your failure is much closer to home than you may think, despite the widely held belief that failure results from the universe not wanting you to succeed. For years, Vincent Genna honed his skills as a gifted psychic medium and licensed psychotherapist. His investigation produced a compilation of information on why you are not succeeding in your endeavors and how to get past those roadblocks. The Secret That's Holding You Back answers all your questions and more.

The Secret That’s Holding You Back is a thought-provoking manual on how to overcome a pre-programmed defeatist mindset and improve your situation. Vincent Genna simplifies his explanations so that any reader can follow along. Genna uses actual sessions with clients for his research, which gives his work a believable level of credibility. His ideas on the significance of manifesting your desires and the impact of the Adult Made Mind (AMM) and Environment Made Mind (EMM) on a person's decision-making processes are profound, thought-provoking, and deserving of more in-depth examination. Genna supports his claims with thoroughly investigated scientific data, which is awe-inspiring. It offers a sensible counterbalance to the spiritual aspects of the book, which readers of all backgrounds will appreciate. I strongly recommend everyone read Genna's masterpiece, The Secret That’s Holding You Back. This book contains pearls of wisdom that will improve your life.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Travelling Ape: What Travelling (Nearly) Everywhere Taught Me about Humanity, Geopolitics, and Happiness by Michael Mackay Richards explores a diverse array of landscapes and cultures worldwide. Beginning with the eruption of Mount Yasur in Vanuatu, the author contrasts modern travel privileges with historical explorers' challenges. Richards describes adventures across Papua New Guinea, Israel, the Namib Desert, Palau, Bolivia, Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and Australasia in rich detail, with elements like candid depictions of Port Moresby's urban decay and Palau's paradisiacal beauty, along with reflections on Ethiopia's unique history. Richards explores cultural nuances in places like Tokyo, Rome, Jeddah, Central Asia, North Korea, and China, raising questions about wealth, happiness, mental health, and democracy, and concluding with reflections on lifestyle choices inspired by healthy societies and the transformative power of global experiences.

The Travelling Ape by Michael Mackay Richards offers readers an armchair tour of the world and his own personal thoughts and insights on its state throughout, allowing us to connect with his experiences and perspective. I found the book and much of what Richards said to be timely considering where we are globally at this very moment. I felt that the greatest contribution the author makes toward helping us understand how we got here is through his historical contextualization, contemporary relevance, and the present-day implications of past events. Richards does his best to manage a balancing act that is both honest and somewhat objective, more so on religion than on politics and social constructs, and even with swaths of exhaustive research, he writes in a style that is accessible. It's remarkable how much he has traveled and the places he has been, and I have no doubt this book will be a delight for lovers of geography, travel, history, sociology, and pretty much anything relating to the human condition.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Butcher, the Embezzler, and the Fall Guy: A Family Memoir of Scandal and Greed in the Meat Industry (Poetic License) by Gretchen Cherington is an intensely personal and thoughtful memoir recounting her life as the daughter of a famous father. The author’s father was one of the most celebrated U.S. poets of the twentieth century; Richard Eberhart, Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winner, and the recipient of numerous academic honors. While her life was undoubtedly enriched by the company and friendship of some of the most celebrated literary geniuses of the century, growing up in a household such as hers also had its dark and sinister side that would trouble and haunt the author for decades during her adult years as she sought to establish her own life, career, and family. Along with the stories of her celebrated father and her mother, the author delves into the family history to discover where her father had emerged from. She records the travails of her grandfather, a successful executive at Hormel Foods, one of the leading meat producers in the 1920s. A major embezzlement that her grandfather was partially blamed for resulted in the family’s downward slide in wealth and status. Her grandmother’s terminal illness would be a seminal event in her father’s young life and laid the foundation for his character and behavior in later years.

The Butcher, the Embezzler, and the Fall Guy is interesting from the perspective that rather than being a memoir from a famous person, it is a personal account of the effects of that fame and unusual lifestyle on a child of the celebrity. Author Gretchen Cherington takes us inside the hectic life of a poet, his colleagues, and his close friends. What I gained most from this work was the understanding that the effect of even minor abuse can be deep and intensely disturbing, especially when it occurs from someone in whom the child vests complete and utter trust and faith. That Richard Eberhart was a narcissist is without question from this memoir. The author describes him as a man who believed the universe revolved around him and his ideas. The fact that he was comfortable allowing his private and intensely personal love letters to and from his mistress to be part of his public records bears this out. I found it amusing that an analysis of his public works, despite his celebrated status, reveals, as the author so eloquently puts it, “many poems that simply are not that good.” I appreciated that the author chose to explore more of the family’s history in an attempt to understand the behavior and actions of a man who, for many, was greater than life, but who to Gretchen Cherington was a deeply flawed human being. I enjoyed this read and appreciated the cathartic benefit it must have had for the author.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Vital Spark by Lisa Marchiano examines how societal and familial pressures, particularly on women, stifle personal growth by enforcing conformity and suppressing innate potential. She employs Jung’s concept of the "shadow" to illustrate how adherence to societal norms erodes confidence and assertiveness, starting in adolescence and continuing into adulthood. Through examples such as Beth’s self-sacrificing behavior and the "inner Bluebeard"—a metaphor for internalized fears—Marchiano highlights how these pressures lead to inauthenticity and self-neglect. She integrates personal anecdotes, including a childhood experience with a puzzle ring and observations of trickster behavior in daily life, to illustrate creative problem-solving. Marchiano also discusses the importance of integrating suppressed emotions like anger and traits such as assertiveness for personal fulfillment, drawing on fairy tales and real-life examples to underscore her points.

The Vital Spark: Reclaim Your Outlaw Energies and Find Your Feminine Fire by Lisa Marchiano offers a fantastic exploration of womanhood through a blend of classic stories, her own personal anecdotes, and practical advice. I love that Marchiano draws analogies from familiar fairytales like "The Frog King.” Her approach really does make complex psychological concepts accessible and engaging. I found Marchiano's actionable recommendations, such as regularly checking in with one’s body and desires, simple yet empowering, allowing readers a better understanding of how to meet their own needs. Her use of contemporary figures, like Reese Witherspoon's transition to media mogul, further grounds her advice in real-world relevance. Marchiano's insight, reasoning, and practical guidance make for a book that is both moving and educational, offering valuable perspectives on the personal growth and self-empowerment of women. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Diamonds Beneath the Darkness: Life Thru Lyrics… The Journey To Become is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, slice-of-life, and empowering writing subgenres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the presence of explicit language and raw, sensitive issues throughout. Penned by author Nicole Danielle about her incredible life experiences, this honest and emotive narrative explores a profound journey through life's highs and lows and the harsh lessons we learn along the way. A former beauty queen ensnared by crime, a lover touched by sin, and a dreamer stifled by the world, Nicole battles against the noise that insists she is not enough. Bullied, abused, abandoned, and betrayed, she breaks her silence, spurred on by her love for her son. This poignant voyage invites readers to feel the reality of being human and the strength it takes to rise from darkness.

Author Nicole Danielle has crafted a memoir that hits you where it hurts right from the start and takes readers on an emotionally charged experience. The storytelling style is raw and unfiltered, offering an intimate look into the complexities of her life, yet there’s always a sense of confidence that lets you know that, no matter how dark it gets, the author is going to make it. This sense of powerful self-belief infused into the narrative's authenticity makes it a compelling read, and Nicole's resilience shines through on every page. The book explores the hidden strength of the human spirit when motivated by the power of familial love, and it is sure to be a source of inspiration for those navigating their own journeys of self-discovery. Nicole's ability to translate her experiences into relatable and powerful stories is commendable, making this memoir a captivating and impactful exploration of the human experience, and one in which dignity and empowerment ring true. Overall, Diamonds Beneath the Darkness is a highly recommended memoir that resonates with triumph, tragedy, and the undying spirit of self-discovery.

Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing for Christians is a comprehensive manual for writers publishing for the first time and those who have published before but need to learn more before writing their next book. Author Sallie Dawkins is an experienced writer and publisher who leads her readers through all stages of the publishing process. The chapters start with what needs to happen before beginning to write and go through the writing process and to the launching and marketing of books. Dawkins shares much about her writing and publishing journey, including mistakes and what she got right. There is an emphasis on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform. The book concludes with a practice publishing project, a glossary of writing terms, a step-by-step guide to self-publishing, a list of publishing resources and estimated self-publishing expenses, and some recommended books. As the title states, Dawkins stresses Christian writing.

I have self-published eleven books, and I wish I could have read this book before publishing my first one. I'm sure I would have saved much time, effort, and frustration if The Complete Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing for Christians had been available then. The word "complete" in the title is not an exaggeration. Author Sallie Dawkins covers everything writers need to know about writing and self-publishing their books. The legal and financial considerations that Dawkins writes about alone are worth the book's price. They will potentially save new writers from making expensive mistakes that could cost them a lot of money. Whether someone is new to writing and self-publishing or has written and published numerous books, I strongly recommend they read this excellent book. Dawkins is a fine writer and explains her topics in easy-to-understand terms. Whether her readers write Christian or secular material, they will find this book invaluable.