Self-Help Book Reviews

Review: From Woodstock to Wisdom by Vicki Thomas

From Woodstock to Wisdom by Vicki Thomas

A thoughtful reflection on choosing happiness and remaining relevant, no matter how many candles are on your cake, From Woodstock to Wisdom: A Boomer’s Journey to 80 by Vicki Thomas is a nostalgic and timely roadmap to the good life.

In this collection of “snackable” essays, the author artfully offers the wisdom she has gained through the trials, travels, and tribulations of a humbly impressive life, with a focus on maintaining a purposeful and satisfying existence in your golden years. Marked by sardonic humor and the willingness to laugh at her own expense, Thomas has a pitch-perfect narrative voice, making […]

Review: The Character Route Tree by Marc R. Schneider

The Character Route Tree by Marc R. Schneider

A self-help guide focused on the development of moral integrity and internal strength, The Character Route Tree: A Memoir, a Method, a Mastery of Obsessive Character Development by Marc R. Schneider is an innovative manual for growth, resilience, and situational success.

Penned by an author with a lifetime of experience in navigating the challenges of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, this book is more than a strict resource for others with this diagnosis; it contains his remarkable personal story and the highlights of his life’s work, distilled into a usable reference for people of all walks of life, not only those with […]

Review: Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory

Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory

Exploring everything from childhood development patterns to humanity’s meaning and purpose in the universe, Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory offers a curious and compelling new lens for life.

The book begins with an accessible introduction to popular science, the nature of our universe, the unique history of our planet, and humanity’s immeasurable impact on it, coupled with lesser-known concepts – e.g., holarchies of evolution and developmental thought. These “holonic structures” refer to the ubiquitous interconnections between the whole and part that shape every aspect of life, from “atoms—>molecules—>cells—>organs” at the physical level to “core being—>inner […]

Review: Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys by Bill Harvey

Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys by Bill Harvey

A compelling, optimistic, and original approach to mental focus, Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys by Bill Harvey is an innovative tool for self-discovery and creative liberation. With the stated aim of helping readers to best utilize the skills and knowledge they already possess, this is an ambitious but undeniably edifying read.

Framed as a second essential piece of his “Mind Magic” methodology, this book explains why his established techniques have proven effective for tens of thousands of people in recent decades. Expanding on the author’s extensive experience working with the “Flow State” – namely, how to access this graceful energetic […]

2026-03-11T14:14:16+02:00March 11th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Being Human: A User’s Guide by David Ellis

Being Human: A User’s Guide by David Ellis

A timely consideration of the foibles, failures, and turning points that define our lives, Being Human: A User’s Guide – Past Performance is Not a Guarantee of Future Results by David Ellis is a revealing combination of memoir and self-help manual, and a testament to the liberatory power of self-knowledge.

As a psychologist of more than four decades, Ellis sets out to answer some of the biggest questions that have been brought before him over the course of his career. From uncovering the root causes of our myriad existential problems and seeing the positive side of mistakes to eliminating despair […]

2025-12-01T14:33:27+02:00December 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon

For Such a Time As This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon twitter

A fearless collection of uplifting lessons and stories about the powerful potential we each possess, For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon is a rousing call to life-changing action. Reflecting on her own biographical journey and the legacy she intends to leave behind, the author artfully distills a bounty of wisdom she has gathered along the way.

Structurally, the book presents ten Appointments – philosophical and personal truths that “will reframe your identity, restore your hope, and reignite your purpose.” These include embracing the purposeful “yes” in your life, choosing courage no matter the cost, […]

2025-11-26T13:55:57+02:00November 26th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |

Review: The Half-Full-Glass User’s Manual by Richard A. Meyers

The Half-Full-Glass User's Manual by Richard A. Meyers

A unique and effective blueprint for self-improvement that aims to simultaneously educate, amuse, and inspire, The Half-Full-Glass User’s Manual: Mindfulness Meets Playfulness: A Guide to Joy, Gratitude, and Guffaws by Richard A. Meyers is a breezy and thought-provoking guide to maintaining a healthy mental space.

Cleverly designed as a rediscovered philosophy (The Manual) linked to a long-lost tool (The Glass) that can grant access to a higher level of awareness (The Consciousness), the book insistently nudges the reader into a journey of self-discovery. With the central conceit that using The Half-Full Glass, which we all possess in some form, and […]

2025-11-11T15:08:13+02:00November 11th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: It’s Time to Grow by Freddie Floyd Jr.

It's Time to Grow by Freddie Floyd Jr.

A provocative collection of sacred riffs and existential essays, It’s Time to Grow: How Focusing on Spiritual Growth Can Transform Your Life and Relationships by Freddie Floyd Jr. is a fount of healing wisdom that doesn’t hold back. Combining a healthy dose of tough love with impassioned reasoning and sound interpretations of Scripture, this is an unfiltered guidebook for spiritual and personal growth.

Building on humanity’s established need for more maturity, kindness, and self-awareness, both as believers and citizens of the world, the author presents a wide-ranging collection of essays about areas of life where improvements can be made. He […]

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