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Monday, September 29, 2014

$229 Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway

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Sunday, September 21, 2014

The Way of the Seal

The Way of SEAL: Think Like an Elite Warrior to Succeed and Lead in LifeThe Way of SEAL: Think Like an Elite Warrior to Succeed and Lead in Life by Mark Divine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the 12 Books Group in exchange for this review.

The way of the SEAL. The Navy SEALs have been an elite force for the Navy for some time now. Their most famous mission was SEAL Team 6 killing Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Author Mark Divine is a retired Navy SEAL, who runs SEALFIT, NavySEALS.com, and started US Crossfit. In this book, he summarizes what he's learned as a SEAL, and how it can be adapted to everyday life.

He establishes 8 principles: Establish Your Set Point, Develop Front-Sight Focus, Bulletproof Your Mission, Do Today What Others Won't, Forge Mental Toughness, Break Things, Build Your Intuition, Think Offense All the Time. He emphasizes 5 areas: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Intuition, and Spirit. (Physical is a book by itself.) He includes exercises to help reinforce these principles. I haven't done the exercises yet. I wanted to read the book through once to see what it is.

Many of the principles in this book have been written about elsewhere. Go into B&N and look at the self-help or management sections, and you'll see all kinds of books on these topics. I recognized some of this book from a section of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. The question on this is how to make the material effective for your life. It helps that he walked the walk, as they say. This isn't just platitudes from someone who pretends to know what to do. I believe these can be effective, if done properly. The challenge with books like this isn't knowing what to do, it's actually doing it. Some books like this are thinly veiled commercials to sell other programs. To his credit, the author doesn't promote these too hard. Doing the exercises in the book will help. The author recommends getting help from local coaches or programs that could help.

The one issue I do have with the book is the same I have with a lot of other books like this. It doesn't recognize limitations, and there are some. For example, I'm 50 years old, have foot problems, and had heart bypass surgery 3 years ago. I will not play in the NFL, regardless of hotw well I improve myself. I also there are other things I will not be able to do. It would be better if it recognized this. All in all, though, a good book.

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

2094

20942094 by John Lauricella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for this review.

This book imagines life in 2094, 80 years from now. To give some perspective, go back 80 years from now, to 1934. In the US in 1934, phones were hardwired to the wall, radio and movies were the main form of entertainment, TV was still in the experimental stage, airlines were in their infancy, the main form of cross-country transportation was by rail, most cars didn't have radios, and about 99% of what is shown on cable now would have been declared obscene. Also, Jim Crow was still in effect, and the n-word was used in polite conversation. If you had written a book back then predicting a phone you could carry with you that connected to a large computer network, regular airline service and a superhighway system that would outpace trains as a means of cross-country travel, TVs that were over 10 feet wide that showed over 1000 channels, cars with TV screens in the back, and any other technology we have now, your work would at best be dismissed as science fiction, or at worst the work of a lunatic.

That was my thought while I was reading this book. Would it be possible to live in this world? It becomes clear, however, that all is not perfect in this world. In the combined North America and Europe, life is a paradise. Anatomically correct androids that can change appearance to anyone you want, TV is on a giant wall operated by a chip in your brain, and anything else you want. However, in Mexico, separated by earthquake from the US, toxic waste is routinely dumped, and anyone not taken for service elsewhere is reduced to subsistence living. Guantanamo Bay prison is still open, with descendants of the original prisoners. On Mars, scientists run an Earthstation, and see Earth only as a source of labor and raw materials.

There are shades of Orwell's 1984 in the book. There is a bit of irony here, because J Melmoth thinks that his world would write 1984 off as improbable fiction. The same chips that give you control of the TV can also be used to control you. The androids are malfunctioning, and J Melmoth is questioning what he's been told recently. Prisoners refuse to work, and Mexicans are swept up to Mars for manual labor.

This book bounces around between plots. It was hard at first to see how they connected to each other. Even at the end, you could see some connection, but not total connection. It continues a trend in current literature, which is present tense. It's a look at a dystopian future. I hope in 80 years not all of this comes true.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

September $229 Kindle Fire giveaway

September $229 Giveaway

229 giveaway   It’s time for September’s $229 Kindle Giveaway Hosted by I Am A Reader. We are giving away 2 great prizes both valued at $229. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!   The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to those share this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.  

Win a Kindle Fire HDX 7", Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)
  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
Each of these bloggers/authors paid to help sponsor this giveaway.   Sponsor List I Am A Reader Feed Your Reader A & E Kirk, Author Inspired Kathy Lori's Reading Corner Talia Jager, Author Mother Daughter Book Reviews Krysten Lindsay Hager Every Free Chance Books Romance Under Fire I Love to Read and Review Books :) Christine's Blog Elizabeth Isaacs Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton Pauline Creeden, Author Author - Cindy A Christiansen Mama Monkey Craftology MoreThanaReview My Devotional Thoughts Author Suzy Turner Jenn @ Bookreviewsandgiveaways Too-Clever Danielle @ Coffee and Characters Author D.E. Haggerty C Family of 6 Bella Street Weird Romance Bonnie Blythe's Pure Romance Sid Frost YA Author Fabio Bueno Read for your future Jennifer Laurens Author Laurie Here - Contemporary Fiction and MORE Reviews from a Bookworm Helen Smith (author) Author Deb Atwood Author Claudia Burgoa Start Publishing Elizabeth Isaacs True North Publishing Whiskey Creek Press Deanna Lynn Sletten, Author Luthando Coeur Bette Lee Crosby Against Idleness & Mischief (BOOKTUBE) BookBunnyPR Victoria Allred
Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 9/30/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Raina Mermaid's new book.

Raina Mermaid's new book, coming out in late September/early October. Here is the mockup cover.