The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner

August 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner
Publisher: Perennial Library
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The renowned classic and New York Times bestseller that has transformed the lives of millions of readers, dramatically changing how women and men view relationships.

Anger is something we feel. It exists for a reason and always deserves our respect and attention. We all have a right to everything we feel—and certainly our anger is no exception.

“Anger is a signal and one worth listening to,” writes Dr. Harriet Lerner in her renowned classic that has transformed the lives of millions of readers. While anger deserves our attention and respect, women still learn to silence our anger, to deny it entirely, or to vent it in a way that leaves us feeling helpless and powerless. In this engaging and eminently wise book, Dr. Lerner teaches both women and men to identify the true sources of anger and to use it as a powerful vehicle for creating lasting change.

For decades, this book has helped millions of readers learn how to turn their anger into a constructive force for reshaping their lives. With a new introduction by the author, The Dance of Anger is ready to lead the next generation.

Want to tackle your anger and be a better listener? Then this book is for you.

I picked up this book because I went on a self-help binge and wanted tips as to how to manage my anger better as well as be a better listener. This book did help with that. I liked that the author encourages the reader to be their own self. Be yourself. That’s huge. Many people disappear into relationships or into what they have with the other person, so this bit of information did help. In some ways, this book is a bit sexist, but it’s also empowering. Women are taught to say no, taught to not want things and this book shows that that doesn’t have to be the case. I liked the tips and suggestions. One doesn’t have to suffer in silence and can stand up for themselves.

If you’re wanting to be a better listener, then give this book a try. You’ll learn a lot. It’ll also give you tips about dealing with anger. Give it a chance.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

From Stressed To Best — A Proven Program For Reducing Everyday Stress by by Ruth E Schneider and David S Prudhomme

August 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment


From Stressed To Best — A Proven Program For Reducing Everyday Stress by by Ruth E Schneider and David S Prudhomme
Publisher: Lulu
Genre: Self-Help, Non-Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A proven program for reducing everyday stress that produces remarkable results! Because people are different, a “one-size-fits-all” approach to stress reduction simply will not work. Instead, From Stressed to Best uses definable personality differences to pinpoint specific, individualized steps to reduce your stress.

Want to learn how to handle your stress better? Then check this book out.

I picked up this book because I wanted to know how to better handle my stress. This book certainly did help. It showed me my personality and my traits, but also how to look at the stress once it happens. I learned about my personality – extroverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving. Now I know that when I get stressed, I revert to being an introvert. I try to get away from people. I pull inside myself. Now it makes sense. Now I can figure out how to better deal.

I liked that this book showed me a bit about myself.

If you’re looking for a book that’s going to give a bit of insight about your personality and how to deal with stress, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch

August 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.

Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned–and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.

Science is full of possibilities.

Mario had such a loving and supportive family. They even cleared out an unused bathroom in their house so he could perform science experiments when he was a kid! I smiled as I read about the many other ways they supported his interest in science even when it led to a few unpleasant mixtures of chemicals. That’s exactly the sort of home every child should grow up in!

This picture book didn’t seem to be written with a clear audience in mind. Some portions were lighthearted, playful, and seemed to be meant for preschoolers. Other sections were much more serious and complex and probably would be more appealing to middle schoolers or even adults. As much as I enjoyed learning about Mario Molina’s life and scientific achievements, I’d struggle to figure out who to share this with and how to simplify the science in it for kids who haven’t studied chemistry yet.

With that being said, it was so interesting to learn the history of who discovered that humans were causing the destruction of the ozone layer around Earth back in the 1980s and how he convinced the world to stop using products that were making this problem worse. It was inspiring to learn how everyone pulled together to solve this crisis, and it gave me a lot of hope for all of the current efforts to reduce pollution and slow down or maybe even figure out how to reverse climate change today.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet was exciting.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Go for the Moon by Chris Gall

August 7, 2023 By 1 Comment


Go for the Moon by Chris Gall
A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Childrens, Historical, YA (ages 5-10 yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Written and illustrated by Chris Gall, Go for the Moon! captures the fascinating detail and inspiring adventure of the moon landing. It is a captivating celebration of one of humankind’s greatest technical achievements and most extraordinary feats of exploration.

The Apollo 11 astronauts have prepared carefully for their attempt to be the first men to land on the moon. The young narrator of this book has prepared carefully, too: he explains the design of the spacecraft, the flight from the earth to the moon, and the drama of touching down–while shadowing the astronaut’s voyage with one of his own.

To the Moon!!

I picked up this book because I love space and wanted to see how this author handled that very topic. This is a book not to be missed. If your young person loves space, then this book will be great. There’s a lot of detail, but it’s also got the point of view of the young man at home. It’s how it was to watch the moon landing, facts about the space program, but also how the little boy felt while this all happened. It’s told in a very easy manner, but will entertain older children more because of the detail.

If you want to read a book about space with your young person, or just want a great space book for yourself, then this is the book for you. Check it out!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Black Comic Book History by Demetrius Sherman

July 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Black Comic Book History by Demetrius Sherman
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When no Black comic book heroes existed, Orrin C. Evans took action. The journalist published the courageous Ace Harlem and Lion Man. When no positive images of Blacks existed in newspaper strips, Blacks created them.

Black Comic Book History acknowledges Blacks who boldly created heroes during turbulent times and takes you on a dazzling trip of wonderful facts.

Sometimes a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

It was a wonderful surprise to be introduced to so many comic book characters I’d never heard of before. I had no idea that there were black superheroes created by black artists and writers back in the 1940s and 1950s or that they were as popular as they were. This opened my eyes to a part of the industry I wasn’t aware of, and it made me want to read more about all of the characters the author mentioned.

As I read, I found myself wishing for more details. Each entry gave basic information like the name and origins of the superhero, but they usually didn’t share much more than that. I would have loved to know what audiences thought of these characters, how often there were crossover comics that featured more than one of them, whether they inspired the creation of other superheroes, and how long the comic strips or graphic novels about them lasted. Are any of them still in print, for example? If these sorts of details had been included, I would have happily gone with a much higher rating as I was fascinated by this topic in general.

One of the most interesting things about studying history in my opinion is seeing how change happens. It’s often a gradual process with many starts and stops along the way. There was a lot of information about this era that I wasn’t aware of, and it was eye-opening to piece together just how many people were working on making this industry more inclusive and diverse eighty years ago. These are the sorts of stories I wish had been included in history class! There are many ways to make the world a better place, and some of them involve science fiction and fantasy.

If you love history, comic books, or both of these topics, I recommend Black Comic Book History.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

July 26, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Genre: Non-fiction, Historical
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

For two years before she left Iran in 1997, Nafisi gathered seven young women at her house every Thursday morning to read and discuss forbidden works of Western literature. They were all former students whom she had taught at university. Some came from conservative and religious families, others were progressive and secular; several had spent time in jail. They were shy and uncomfortable at first, unaccustomed to being asked to speak their minds, but soon they began to open up and to speak more freely, not only about the novels they were reading but also about themselves, their dreams and disappointments. Their stories intertwined with those they were reading—Pride and Prejudice, Washington Square, Daisy Miller and Lolita—their Lolita, as they imagined her in Tehran.

Nafisi’s account flashes back to the early days of the revolution, when she first started teaching at the University of Tehran amid the swirl of protests and demonstrations. In those frenetic days, the students took control of the university, expelled faculty members and purged the curriculum. When a radical Islamist in Nafisi’s class questioned her decision to teach The Great Gatsby, which he saw as an immoral work that preached falsehoods of “the Great Satan,” she decided to let him put Gatsby on trial and stood as the sole witness for the defense.

Azar Nafisi’s luminous tale offers a fascinating portrait of the Iran-Iraq war viewed from Tehran and gives us a rare glimpse, from the inside, of women’s lives in revolutionary Iran. It is a work of great passion and poetic beauty, written with a startlingly original voice.

Azar Nafisi left Iran in the late 1990s for America with quite a story to tell. She teaches at John Hopkins University and was a teacher of English literature in Tehran. Why did she leave?

Reading Lolita in Tehran is a touching story of the author’s experiences in Iran, especially as a woman. She defied authorities and prodded others to do so. Her account of this fascinating situation is underlined with discussions of literature and how it can open minds. She brilliantly tied the people in famous books with what was happening around her and tells a very human story of struggle and relationships.

Nafisi’s writing flows and is down to earth, bringing one in the moment. Readers will learn about the dramatic things happening in her country but will also be treated to learning about great works of writing. This author’s emotional narrative is smart and well worth the read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since 1938 by Stephen E. Ambrose and Douglas G. Brinkley

July 19, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since 1938 by Stephen E. Ambrose and Douglas G. Brinkley
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Non-fiction, Historical
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Since it first appeared in 1971, Rise to Globalism has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. The ninth edition of this classic survey, now updated through the administration of George W. Bush, offers a concise and informative overview of the evolution of American foreign policy from 1938 to the present, focusing on such pivotal events as World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and 9/11. Examining everything from the Iran-Contra scandal to the rise of international terrorism, the authors analyze-in light of the enormous global power of the United States-how American economic aggressiveness, racism, and fear of Communism have shaped the nation’s evolving foreign policy.

What are some important events concerning other nations that every American should know? In Rise to Globalism, readers learn about foreign policy over the past several decades. These facts are presented to a general audience and are very enlightening.

The authors begin with the World War II era and take us through to the election of Obama. Presidents had some hard decisions to make. How did Americans at the time react to those decisions. How would you have reacted?

Each president’s positive and negative points are laid out for readers as they happened, giving people lots to think about. Many people will remember living through some of these things. Events will be clarified, and holes in knowledge will be filled in. Why not give this informative book a try?

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Mental Illness by Mary Forsberg Weiland

July 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Mental Illness by Mary Forsberg Weiland
Publisher: It Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary, Recent Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

On the surface Mary Weiland had a fairy tale life. She was a successful model married to a successful rock star—Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland—and a world traveler with a home and two beautiful children. But it wasn’t until her rampage in a Los Angeles hotel room and the resulting media frenzy that the world got a glimpse into Mary’s inner turmoil, self-destructive behavior, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse.

In Fall to Pieces, she reveals the extreme highs and lows of her life, the volatility of which long hinted at her bipolar disorder. Weiland tells her story with refreshing candor, unflinching detail, and more than a little humor. Reminiscent of celebrity memoirs from Tatum O’Neill, Brooke Shields and Valerie Bertinelli, Weiland offers a window into the world of modeling and rock’n’roll celebrity while at the same time providing deep insights into a serious and misunderstood mental illness.

Co-written with veteran journalist Larkin Warren, Fall to Pieces is a blistering, eye-opening memoir of Hollywood meltdown.

Together, they’re a hot mess, but everyone wants the burn.

I stumbled across this book by accident, but it’s no accident I read it. I couldn’t put it down. Weiland’s story captivated me with her sadness and utter confusion. I could feel the way she did and understood both her and her husband better.

Mary Forsberg Weiland never set out to rule the wold. She wanted to conquer her little piece. Unfortunately, it took a lot of drugs, pain and self-destruction to realize the issues were bigger than she could handle alone. I admit I sobbed for her at times. Reading the ways she struggled and managed to right herself was darn fascinating and heartbreaking. Putting her together with her then-husband, Scott Weiland (of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver) was an oil and water situation.They loved each other, but they were toxic, too.

If you’re looking for something that’s sad, but beautiful, toxic, but fascinating, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Words With My Father: A Bipolar Journey Through Turbulent Times by Lowell Klessig & Lukas Klessig

July 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Words With My Father: A Bipolar Journey Through Turbulent Times by Lowell Klessig & Lukas Klessig
Publisher: Medley Park Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

THE DRAMATIC STORY OF A PIONEERING MAN, HIS MERCURIAL MIND AND A SOCIETY IN LIMBO.

Lowell Klessig’s posthumously-released story, infused with reflections by his son Lukas, provides an intimate window into one man’s life in flux with bipolar disorder. As the author narrates a postwar upbringing and describes the manic-depressive travails of developing his identity, he offers us a view into the turmoil of the times – and of his mind.

Through mania- and danger-filled months fighting for Civil Rights, protesting the Vietnam War and furthering the Conservation Movement, we see the purpose that sustained him. Through darkened panes, we witness the isolation and malaise of depressive winters that nearly took his life. This masterful chronicle allows us to peer into a restless and kinetic existence in one moment and a chasm of fatigue and hopelessness on the next page.

It’s a bipolar journey that you won’t ever forget.

Diagnoses don’t determine your destiny, but they are still important things to have.

This was a detailed and honest description of German-Americans who are either farmers or live in farm country. As someone who grew up in that culture, I smiled and nodded along as countless details about it popped up that only someone who grew up in that community would think to include or as I realized what unspoken cultural expectations the authors were probably going to talk about next. There were plenty of explanations of the nuances of it all for readers who aren’t from that background, too, so don’t worry if it’s not something you’re familiar with yet. It will all be made clear as the story advances.

Not everyone is able to be diagnosed with their mental or other illnesses early in life. The social stigma and misunderstandings surrounding certain diagnoses can be just as difficult as the diseases themselves, especially decades ago when doctors knew so much less about bipolar disorder than they do today. I was impressed by the coping mechanisms the Lowell family came up with and how hard they worked to overcome the disruptions that the elder Mr. Lowell’s illness brought not only to his own life but also to the lives of those who loved him as he cycled between mania and depression. You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes in other people’s lives, but this was a fascinating glimpse into the private matters of one such family.

It takes courage to admit one’s mistakes. Some of the most memorable chapters in this memoir were the ones that talked about things the elder Mr. Lowell did and said that he later regretted. He explained why he made those choices not to defend them but to explain how his childhood affected the assumptions he made about the world and how his later experiences encouraged him to rethink some of his previous opinions. Meeting people from other walks of life is a fantastic way to take note of the things we might not fully understand at the moment and work on what our families and communities may not have taught us earlier in life. I liked the graceful and humble way the elder Mr. Lowell discussed these topics.

Words With My Father: A Bipolar Journey Through Turbulent Times was excellent. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Depression: In My Own Words by Mahiraj Jadeja

July 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Depression: In My Own Words by Mahiraj Jadeja
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“Depression in My Own Words” is an introspective and compassionate exploration of the complex and often misunderstood world of depression. In this thought-provoking book, the author delves into their personal experiences, sharing their unique insights, struggles, and triumphs with unwavering honesty.

Through the power of storytelling, “Depression in My Own Words” takes readers on a journey that goes beyond clinical definitions and diagnostic labels. It delves into the depths of the soul, examining the intricate interplay between the soul (battery), hardware (body), and software (brain) that contribute to the onset and manifestation of depression.

With sensitivity and empathy, the author examines the various facets of depression, shedding light on the profound impact it has on individuals and society as a whole. Drawing from personal anecdotes, they explore the common threads that connect those grappling with depression while celebrating the uniqueness of each individual’s experience.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to mental illnesses.

It can be difficult to describe the drudgery and exhaustion of depression to people who have never experienced it themselves. Mr. Jadeja did a good job of sharing allegories like the one in his opening paragraph about being trapped in a “relentless storm” to help explain why some people who are depressed can find it so hard to finish even simple tasks. This is something I wish everyone would read, especially those who struggle to show empathy for anyone who has this mental illness.

I did find myself wishing the author had included a wider variety of explanations for why depression happens. Suppressing emotions could certainly be one of them for some people, but I think it would have been more helpful if this book had explored other causes as well in order to appeal to a wider audience and offer hope to people who might be depressed due to difficult circumstances in their lives, chemical imbalances in their brains, or other factors. This could have easily been expanded into a novella or full-length novel, and it would have made his work stronger to have more details and examples included in it in my opinion.

It was nice to see so many different types of treatment options mentioned in this piece, though. Depression is one of those diseases that can respond well to a combination of therapy, medication, diet and lifestyle changes, and other treatments. I was not expecting to see a warning included about certain alternative treatments that haven’t been proven effective, but I was glad the author included it as well. Desperate people often try all sorts of things to feel better, so it’s important to balance out the burning desire to find a cure with a rational approach to what may or may not actually work for most people.

Depression: In My Own Words was a thought-provoking read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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