Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

October 23, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
Publisher: Crown Business
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine?

Is it culture, the weather, geography? Perhaps ignorance of what the right policies are?

Simply, no. None of these factors is either definitive or destiny. Otherwise, how to explain why Botswana has become one of the fastest growing countries in the world, while other African nations, such as Zimbabwe, the Congo, and Sierra Leone, are mired in poverty and violence?

Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson conclusively show that it is man-made political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or lack of it). Korea, to take just one of their fascinating examples, is a remarkably homogeneous nation, yet the people of North Korea are among the poorest on earth while their brothers and sisters in South Korea are among the richest. The south forged a society that created incentives, rewarded innovation, and allowed everyone to participate in economic opportunities.

The economic success thus spurred was sustained because the government became accountable and responsive to citizens and the great mass of people. Sadly, the people of the north have endured decades of famine, political repression, and very different economic institutions—with no end in sight. The differences between the Koreas is due to the politics that created these completely different institutional trajectories.

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– China has built an authoritarian growth machine. Will it continue to grow at such high speed and overwhelm the West?

– Are America’s best days behind it? Are we moving from a virtuous circle in which efforts by elites to aggrandize power are resisted to a vicious one that enriches and empowers a small minority?

– What is the most effective way to help move billions of people from the rut of poverty to prosperity? More philanthropy from the wealthy nations of the West? Or learning the hard-won lessons of Acemoglu and Robinson’s breakthrough ideas on the interplay between inclusive political and economic institutions?

Why Nations Fail will change the way you look at—and understand—the world.

Written by an economist and a political scientist, this book attempts to answer an intriguing question about why some countries enjoy prosperity and other sink into desperation. Economics, politics, and history are the lenses readers will look through to partake of these important insights.

Which factors come into play? The authors compare countries in the present and the past side-by-side, discussing political and economic decisions that shape citizens’ lives. They go over the possibilities of climate, geography, culture, religion, etc. testing differences against prosperity or ruin and convincingly show that factors like these are not the reasons nations sink or swim.

Though many nations are discussed, a particular good look into the differences between North Korea and South Korea serve to highlight their point in an exceptional way.

Using history as a backdrop brings the lofty topic down to a more engaging level. Reading this book is enlightening, and those who are curious about the wider world will get much out of it.

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

If You Ask Me: (And Of Course You Won’t) by Betty White

October 20, 2020 By 1 Comment


If You Ask Me: (And Of Course You Won’t) by Betty White
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The New York Times bestseller from the beloved actress and Hollywood icon who’s made us laugh on shows from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Golden Girls to Saturday Night Live!

With online adult drivers ed courses, you cialis on line purchase can easily fit the course in around work, school and more. Acai has been used cialis without prescription overnight for centuries as a powerful herbal medicine and can be ingested in a numerous ways. It’s more likely to have premature ejaculation, buy cialis in usa Yang fistula, soreness of waist, easy ageing. 2.Do self-examination regularly. In fact, in most cases, it’s probably still a very levitra purchase canada good idea. In this candid take on everything from the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs to her beauty regimen (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), Betty White shares her observations about life, celebrity, and love (for humans and animals). Filled with photos, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and straight to the point—just like Betty.

Want a feel good read? Then this is it.

Betty White is a simple writer, but she’s a funny one. This book was just plain good. It made me feel good reading it and like I was talking with a friend. It’s an easy read and fast one. I’m guessing this is exactly how she talks in conversation and I loved it.

She’s got great little stories. She talks about female empowerment and the fun she had on her various movie and film sets. I like how she built the people around her up. I want more stories about her and Craig Ferguson riffing, too. I also loved her story about her hair color. She’s touched it up and colored it for so long that she can’t remember what color it’s supposed to be. How human is that? It made me grin.

If you’re looking for a book that will take you away for a few hours, will make you smile and just feel good, then this is the book you’re looking for. Recommended.

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

How to Survive the Office by Jeremy Young

October 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


How to Survive the Office by Jeremy Young
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There is an enormous stress and anxiety pandemic spanning workplaces all over the world. To survive this pandemic, we must start by understanding and accepting the dynamics of office life as it really is and then create our path towards a peaceful future.

I have seen the insides of more offices than I prefer to count. I worked for numerous public, private, family-owned American, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian businesses across many different countries, for more than 20 years. The similarities of office life all over the world are striking. The problems experienced by junior associates, executive staff, and C.E.O.s, though at different levels of complexity, are remarkably alike. Equally similar are the promoted solutions in M.B.A. degrees and business books that do not solve office staff’s everyday problems. Why? Because they ignore the core office reality and paint a picture of a non-existent fairy tale.

There is still much drama in the workplace. Most, if not all, of it can be avoided.
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Read “How to Survive the Office” to craft your own way out of the office. Contribute your office stories to www.HowToSurviveTheOffice.com to help heal the office life.

These are the unspoken rules for thriving in an office setting.

Every company has its own unique culture. I appreciated the author’s stories about the various places he’s worked and why he recommends being so cautious, especially in the early days when a new employee is still learning how everything works and what their new coworkers and bosses are truly like. There’s definitely something to be said for making a gentle entrance in order to avoid accidentally stepping on anyone’s toes.

One thing I do wish this book had gone into more detail about was the interview process itself. It would have been interesting to read Mr. Young’s thoughts on the red and green flags to look for when deciding whether one is actually interested in working for a particular company. It also would have been helpful to get more advice from him about how to put one’s best foot forward during the interview process.

Some of the most interesting passages came from Mr. Young’s thoughts on how to identify and manage a toxic work environment. Whether it was caused by one person in particular or by multiple problematic folks, he had a lot of sensible advice about how to minimize the effects of working with people who have trouble relating to and communicating with others.

How to Survive the Office was a thought-provoking and educational read that I’d recommend to anyone who is looking for a new job at the moment or trying to decide how to navigate the social scene at their current workplace.

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

My Sister: How One Sibling’s Transition Changed Us Both by Selenis Leyva, Marizol Leyva

September 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment


My Sister: How One Sibling’s Transition Changed Us Both by Selenis Leyva, Marizol Leyva
Publisher: Bold Type Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A powerful memoir by two sisters about transitioning, family, and the path to self-realization.

When Orange Is the New Black and Diary of a Future President star Selenis Leyva was young, her hardworking parents brought a new foster child into their warm, loving family in the Bronx. Selenis was immediately smitten; she doted on the baby, who in turn looked up to Selenis and followed her everywhere. The little boy became part of the family. But later, the siblings realized that the child was struggling with their identity. As Marizol transitioned and fought to define herself, Selenis and the family wanted to help, but didn’t always have the language to describe what Marizol was going through or the knowledge to help her thrive.

In My Sister, Selenis and Marizol narrate, in alternating chapters, their shared journey, challenges, and triumphs. They write honestly about the issues of violence, abuse, and discrimination that transgender people and women of color–and especially trans women of color–experience daily. And they are open about the messiness and confusion of fully realizing oneself and being properly affirmed by others, even those who love you.
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Profoundly moving and instructive, My Sister offers insight into the lives of two siblings learning to be their authentic selves. Ultimately, theirs is a story of hope, one that will resonate with and affirm those in the process of transitioning, watching a loved one transition, and anyone taking control of their gender or sexual identities.

Touching, riveting and worth the read.

I knew this would be a gut-wrenching book when I picked it up. I can’t imagine being in Marizol’s position–having your body one way, but feeling another inside. Reading about her transition, the bullying, the fear, confusion…I wanted to hug her. I loved that Selenis and the rest of the family gave her the love and respect she deserved on this journey. The parts concerning her birth parents was particularly hard. I can’t imagine what she went through at the hands of her father.

This book has been described as an open letter between sisters or a dialogue between them. It is. This isn’t all from Selenis’s point of view. Yes, she tells of how she felt as Marizol transitioned, but it’s more about Marizol. Truly.

This book shows how one can accept themselves, how their family can accept them and how it’s okay to be authentic. You have to be yourself.

If you’re interested in reading about Marizol’s journey, then check this book out.

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

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

September 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

As America’s Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons.

Annie Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives; JFK made it clear that platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was his favorite; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived with a secret that needed to stay hidden from NASA. Together with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, providing one another with support and friendship, coffee and cocktails.
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As their celebrity rose-and as divorce and tragedy began to touch their lives-the wives continued to rally together, forming bonds that would withstand the test of time, and they have stayed friends for over half a century. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB tells the story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history.

You’ve heard about the astronauts, but have you heard about the wives?

For these women, being a wife wasn’t the half of it. It wasn’t the hardest part, either. I’ve read the books about the astronauts. There’s an immeasurable amount of testosterone going on there. What else would one expect? They’re test pilots. But the wives. Now there’s something interesting that I hadn’t learned. The writing is crisp, but can be choppy at times, but the story is good.

Each woman is different and had her own set of challenges. If you don’t know the women, this is a great way to get to know them. I knew almost nothing about Michael Collins’ wife, nearly nothing about Louise Sheppard, Joan Aldrin…The only reason I remember Annie Glenn having a stutter was that John Glenn was our state senator forever and I remember seeing her on television. I respected each of the wives more and liked how they banded together. Marge Slayton become the mother of the group. Everyone rallied around the See, Basset, Chaffee, White and Grissom families. It’s touching, heartbreaking and interesting.

If you want a book about the unsung heroes behind the astronauts, then this is the one for you to check out. Read it.

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

The History of China in 50 Events by Henry Freeman

August 20, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The History of China in 50 Events by Henry Freeman
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

☆ Chinese History in 50 Events ☆
As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China has a vast, rich history. In order to assist with the study of Chinese history, this book has been broken down into a series of straightforward, easy-to-read vignettes.

Inside you will read about…
✓ The Great Flood
✓ The Great Wall is begun
✓ The Terra Cotta Army is created
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✓ Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution
✓ Marco Polo travels to China
✓ The Forbidden City is completed
✓ First Opium War
✓ SARS outbreak
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This book will provide in-depth insights into some of the most important events in Chinese history while providing an overall context within which these events took place. Designed as an introductory overview of Chinese history, this book is the perfect resource for those who are seeking to expand their knowledge of China and world history.

History lovers will likely appreciate this quick, accessible book about the history of China. Within these pages, readers become enlightened about China, dating back thousands of years. The good part is that this information is compact and straight to the point. You get to the core of the matter.

The topics discussed are chosen for their relevance and familiarity, but even if readers have heard about certain of these subjects, they are sure to learn more interesting aspects about them. Some of the topics brought up are: The Great Wall of China, Confucius, The Terra Cotta Army, the invention of paper, important dynasties, when the Romans first reached China, and many other good themes.

This book is short and an easy read. It is definitely worth the time to advance one’s knowledge in world history. The writing is engaging, not a dry history book, and readers can get through it quickly then feel like they’re taking away something good from the experience.

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

The PSP Chronicles Volume II: Keep on, Keeping On by Tim Brown — spotlight and giveaway

August 13, 2020 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tim Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Readers will recall in September of 2013 and at the age of 57, Tim was diagnosed with early onset dementia. He was referred to a neurologist at London Health Sciences Centre – Parkwood, in south-western Ontario. Further physical and cognitive testing aroused the suspicions of the neurologist and Tim was referred to a neuro-ophthalmologist and a movement disorders specialist. In August 2014, just weeks away from Tim’s 58th birthday he was diagnosed with PSP – progressive supranuclear palsy. Frontotemporal dementia was concerning enough, but now he had to live with the fact of a life limiting illness. A disease that would steal him away bit by bit… inside and out. A journey with a certain ending. With a candid narrative he continues to share with readers his physical, mental wellness lamentations and their effects on the family dynamics. But Tim’s journey is more than these. More importantly for him, it is about a journey of unwavering faith in God, no matter the outcome.

Read an excerpt

There is so much baggage with PSP, some days you require a bell hop. The purpose of my journal/blog is to create awareness, and to keep family and friends updated. As you read and may already know, I infuse humour here and there into the narrative. It’s a coping mechanism for me and there are times and some things you just need to laugh at. I will never be so arrogant as to minimize the effects of this disease on the patient, their family, or friends. They all struggle, and they all suffer. I always say, “if you can’t win, you can always grin,” there are no winners with PSP. “PSP – it’s not a game.”

About the Author:

T. J. Brown – an ordinary family man with an extraordinary story. In 2018 Tim published his first book The PSP Chronicles Volume I. The narrative details his personal journey with PSP – progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare terminal brain disease and frontotemporal dementia. The first book, and now the second in a series, are a platform to raise prime of life disease awareness, and advocacy. Providing support to organizations like CurePSP® and the PSPA – UK through the proceeds of book sales. One of the more popular PSP awareness campaigns is the Ice Cream Challenge. You can see by his Author picture he takes these challenges seriously.

https://www.amazon.com/PSP-Chronicles-II-Keep-Keeping/dp/1699519633
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-psp-chronicles-volume-ii-tim-brown/1136037212
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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Non-Fiction Tagged With: , , , ,

The Dog Diet, A Memoir by Patti Lawson

May 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Dog Diet, A Memoir by Patti Lawson
What My Dog Taught Me About Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress and Getting a New Leash on Life
Publisher: HCI Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Length: Full Length (271 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

We live in a diet-obsessed age, when we lose five pounds just to gain ten, delude ourselves that the next exercise contraption we buy from that midnight infomercial will finally take that extra inch off our thighs, and become convinced that the latest diet fad of beet soup and goat’s milk will help us look good in a bikini. But now you can forget the Zone, Atkins and South Beach! It turns out that the ultimate weight-loss plan is owning a dog: Man (and woman’s) best friend is the fail proof personal trainer-dietician-nutritionist you’ve been looking for you all your life.

That’s just what Patti Lawson found in her dog, Sadie.

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A life that began together with 3:00 a.m. walks through the park, incessant barking and stolen moments of trying to eat just a crumb of breakfast without puppy-interference soon morphed into a partnership of exercise and healthy eating with the added bonus that Sadie taught Patti a thing or two about letting go and stopping to smell the roses.

A memoir-cum-diet, The Dog Diet takes a tongue-in-cheek look at our obsession with weight loss and will have you laughing out loud as you recognize your own dysfunctional relationship with food. In the process you’ll learn a simple and natural method for shedding unwanted pounds without the usual stress and disappointments that go along with typical dieting regimens.

A dog, a diet and the drive.

I picked up this book because I wanted to read about someone’s journey with their dog. A journey to a better them. I’ll be honest, on the surface, this is a cute book. Girl has problems in life, girl thinks she’s at rock bottom, girl gets dog. Life looks up and she’s happy. The writing is paced well and I wanted to learn more about the author and Sadie, her dog.

But things went a tad off the rails for me. I totally understood the author’s hesitancy to get a dog. Some people aren’t dog people. There’s no crime in saying you’re not a pet person. The dog grew on her. Again, I get it. Sometimes you don’t know what you can do until you’re tasked to do it. Where this took some turns I wasn’t expecting and wasn’t a fan of involved how she crated the dog at night. It’s a personal thing. Some readers might not be bothered. I was. Then there was the diet aspect of the book. The lengths this author went to find quiet food so the dog wouldn’t know she was eating was a little odd. Dogs have keen hearing. I swear they know when you’re thinking about opening something to eat and show up. Some of her diet advice was interesting, too. Her advice involved, in a nutshell, moving around before you eat. Cool, but you have to go with the dog’s schedule–at least I do. The author wrote like these discoveries, like not getting your coffee until the dog has eaten and pottied, were revelations. Maybe I’ve had dogs for so long this was all second nature. I don’t know. I thought this would be more of a memoir and that was the part I liked the best.

I did like the book, though. I liked reading about her travels with Sadie, the author’s being slowly won over by the dog and how the author came to realize dogs are work, but they’re not nearly as bad as she thought. The author’s stories and way of writing were crisp, so check this book out. It might be just what you’re looking for.

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

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson

April 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine Johnson
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Genre: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, YA
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.

As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”
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In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.

Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Now in Reaching for the Moon she tells her own story for the first time, in a lively autobiography that will inspire young readers everywhere.

This woman got to the moon without ever leaving the ground.

I’m fascinated by those who can do math. I don’t mean the 2+2 kind. I mean the kind that sorts out how to get a rocket off the ground, geometry, high level algebra… you know, the people who can get things to the moon and back. Katherine Johnson is a bit of an unsung hero. Sure, she’s the subject of the movie Hidden Figures, but there’s a lot more to this woman and the best place to learn about her is from the woman herself.

I didn’t realize right away that this was a YA book. It’s listed in the library as YA, but it reads more like a conversation. Katherine Johnson’s autobiography talks about many parts of her life and doesn’t pull punches. She mentions her first marriage and how Jimmy passed. How it was hard to be a woman in the computing industry and how hard her family fought to get her an education. I loved how she taught her brothers to read because she thought they were behind, but it was more that she was so far ahead!

If you’re looking for a book that’s delightful and reminds the reader what’s important in life–getting an education and being happy while doing your work because you’re doing what you love, then this is the book for you.

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

Around the World in 50 Years: My Adventure to Every Country on Earth by Albert Podell

March 13, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Around the World in 50 Years: My Adventure to Every Country on Earth by Albert Podell
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Recent Historical, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (354 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Around the World in 50 Years is the inspiring story of an ordinary guy who achieved two great goals that others had told him were impossible. First, he set a record for the longest automobile journey ever made around the world, during which he blasted his way out of minefields, survived a serious accident atop the Peak of Death, came within seconds of being lynched, and lost three of the five men who started with him: two to disease, one to the Vietcong.

After that, Albert Podell set another record by going to every country on earth. He survived riots, revolutions, civil wars, trigger-happy child soldiers, voodoo priests, jihadists, robbers, corrupt cops, and Cape buffalo. He traveled through every kind of earthquake, cyclone, tsunami, volcanic eruption, snowstorm, and sandstorm that nature threw at him. He ate everything from old camel meat and African field rats to dung beetles and the brain of a live monkey. And he overcame encounters with crocodiles, hippos, anacondas, giant leeches, flying crabs―and several beautiful women who insisted that he stop this nonsense and marry them.
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Around the World in 50 Years is a remarkable and meaningful tale packed with some of the most memorable, frightening, and hilarious adventure stories you have ever read.

Has anyone been to every country on earth? Albert Podell has, and he wrote about it. He started his travels as a young man and finished them in his twilight years. He left the most dangerous and harrowing countries for last.

The subject matter alone is fascinating. Readers get glimpses of other countries and cultures through the eyes of an American traveler. Podell doesn’t describe all 196 countries here. He mainly goes into his wild adventures in the countries where he encountered real trouble, whether of the natural type—wild animals or extreme desert conditions in Africa—or the human type—dealing with wars and radical politics.

There are only a few pleasant experiences described within these pages, and the author’s words offer great insights into these other lands. One will appreciate getting a peek into how so many other people live. Podell is honest, and his interpretations are laced with humor. This book is not for kids though. There is adult content, telling readers how it really is.

Since it took him fifty years to do this, Podell sometimes updates readers on the situation in certain countries. He also had to backtrack at times because new countries were created or disappeared. One can often feel his stress and surprise as well as feel relieved for him when he barely escapes one life-threatening predicament after another.

This adventurous tale will very likely give readers in certain places a whole new appreciation of where they live. It will make them grateful for what they have and maybe even make them want to stay home. It’s an eye-opening experience going along with this author on his world-wide journeys, and I’m glad I read this book.

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