Summer Friday Book Review features yet another nonfiction book:
Title: The 5 Keys to the Great LifeAuthor: Dr. Tomi Bryan and Dr. Jerry WhitePublisher: R2 Media Group Publications
ISBN: 978-0-9824587-0-9
Reviewed by: Karen Cioffi for BookPleasures
The 5 Keys to the Great Life is unique in that it is written by a brother and sister team. Both authors have impressive credentials in their chosen fields of law, management, education, and psychology, combined. With the number of self-help books out there written by every Tom, Dick and Harry, it’s refreshing to read one from writers who actually have an educational background and job experience in the area they are advising others on. In addition to all this, they have both been through burdening health and family problems. These personal experiences provide them with additional insight into coping mechanisms and tools that they impart to the reader.
The Foreword and the Introduction to the book both make reference to the speed at which life is changing, and to the overwhelming amount of information that is bombarding our senses, and to our incapability of absorbing the changes and information as fast as they come. The authors explain that with so much change, the family unit and individuals are now being affected. They devised The 5 Keys to the Great Life to help people not only cope with life in today’s fast paced societies, but create a better…a great life.
One of the aspects of the book I like is that the authors, in a couple of sections, use two familiar movies and a television show to convey their points. Using these shows, the authors are able to bring out the importance of knowing who you are, what your values are, your current status; the importance of knowing where your boundaries are so others don’t overstep them; and the importance of knowing what you want. This engages the reader and allows for an easier understanding.
While the book offers many of the same tools to improve one’s life that other self-help books offer, such as positive thinking, changing harmful or stagnant thoughts, setting boundaries, and forgiveness, the authors add their own personal touch to the topic. They provide a number of assessment quizzes or tools that are geared to make you search deep down for the answers. And, they offer many quotes from qualified and even famous people and philosophies.
One point in The 5 Keys to a Great Life that I like in particular is the MapQuest analogy, “In order to obtain directions from MapQuest, you must enter a starting point and an ending point.” The authors explain that you need to know where you currently are, and you need to know your destination in order to find the path and tools to get there. If you don’t have these two points, you have no direction.
In the self-help arena of books, this one holds its own. While I don’t agree with everything the authors reveal in the book, on a whole I think it is a worthwhile read.
About the authors:Dr. Tomi Bryan’s professional experience includes working in the legal, compliance, and educational fields. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with a Specialization in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University, a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina State University. She has been a practicing attorney since 1989, and is a huge ACC basketball fan.
Dr. Jerry White’s professional experience includes working in the education, psychology, technology, and training fields. He holds a Ph.D., Ed.S., and an M.Ed. from Georgia State University and a B.S. from North Carolina State University. Currently, Dr. White serves as an adjunct professor teaching Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree students. He has dedicated his life to helping people reach their highest potential through training and counseling.
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For a change of pace - Children's Book ReviewsHow the Moon Regained Her ShapeWhat is Electricity and Magnetism?Walking Through Walls Review by Kristin J. Johnson~~~~~~~~~~
To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars - signup for The Writing World newsletter on the right top sidebar!Karen CioffiMulti-award Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter, Editor, Marketer
Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012
Find Karen’s eBooks on writing and marketing at:
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com (see the sidebar for titles)
Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/
This Summer Friday Book Review is another doosy. If you think raising your children is a tough job, and that it's over once they're married . . . LOL
Title: The Mother-in-Law’s Manual: Proven Strategies for Creating Healthy Relationships with Married ChildrenAuthor: Susan Abel Lieberman, PH.D.Genre: Nonfiction/Family Matters
Publisher: bright sky press
ISBN: 978-1933979410
The Mother-in-Law’s Manual is a wonderfully insightful and at times humorous advice manual for dealing with not only in-laws, but also other family members. Having recently seen a commercial for Monsters-in-Law, with Jennifer Lopez, it was refreshing to read a much more realistic portrayal of mother-in-laws, especially since I am one myself.
Lieberman’s first chapter explains that when our children are young we are afforded an abundance of advice from professionals such as Dr. Spock. But, when our children are grown, leave the nest and marry, we are left to fend for ourselves. Lieberman’s analogy for the marriage is: “They are moving to a new country that they will create together. Yes, we get territorial. Use my bill of rights. Celebrate my holidays. Serve my food. Even if we don’t see it like a competition, we are likely to consider each deviation a loss.”
Situations that never existed before are now ones that can cause hurt, sadness, and even anger, along with satisfaction and happiness. This book delves into all the emotions that come into play. The child who was once yours now belongs to someone else. The author alludes to the fact that this is more of an issue when it is your son and you are dealing with a daughter-in-law. But, whether son or daughter, the dynamics of the family change.
The Mother-in-Law’s Manual is jammed packed with bits and pieces of wisdom. One of my favorite gems comes right after the “10 most recommended rules” for mothers-in-law which are all the same, “Keep your mouth shut.” Lieberman cleverly explains: “Even if we could follow the rule(s) and not say one word that would be heard as contentious, judgmental, argumentative, or critical […] our children would still hear contentions, judgments, arguments, and criticisms.” As a mother and mother-in-law, these are words that ring true. At times it seems you just can’t win. I thought this section was so funny, I had to read it to my husband.
It is difficult to do justice to all the pearls of wisdom in this book. It explains not to fret over the small things, our perceptions and our intent matter, when not to offer advice, and so much more. It even considers the roles of grandparents, children’s relationships to aging parents, and the aging process itself as Lieberman coins as “zippy to droopy.” She even includes a glimpse of her relationship with her own mother, the frustrations and sometimes guilt that is inevitable when a parent reaches an old age or is ill. Having taken care of a quadriplegic mother my experiences are somewhat different, but in some aspects they are the same. When watching your parent age, you wonder if you’re looking at your future.
Lieberman’s efforts produced an impressive book that all family members should read. Her research involved interviews with as many mothers-in-law across the country and from different backgrounds as she could. She even interviewed a number of daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Many of these interviews are in the book. Some of their stories/advice sounded familiar, others were surprising. But, they all brought another element of enlightenment. Adult children who read this, married or unmarried, will hopefully gain insight into their parents as not only Mom or Dad, but as individuals with a life of their own including hopes, needs and feelings.
One final gem from the book that struck a chord with me is in Chapter Ten: “I understand my children are not my friends, that our relationship is that unique connection between parent and child. But, there is a way in which we are candid and honest with close, old friends, yet show a carefulness, a respectfulness that can be forgotten with parents. As soon as we begin to feel superior to a friend, the nature of the friendship shifts.” Lieberman hit just about every nail on the head with The Mother-in-Law’s Manual. I give this book 5 Stars and highly recommend it.
About the author: Susan Abel Lieberman currently lives in Houston and works as an executive coach. She has written five books, including New Traditions: Redefining Celebrations for Today’s Family. The Mother-in-Law’s Manual springs from the realization that her assumption that anyone would be thrilled to have her for a mother-in-law was off base. Rather than accepting family tension, she put her skills as a researcher and an executive coach to work to improve the situation. Ordained as an interfaith minister, Lieberman also holds a master’s from Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburg. As a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, she is well-versed in the challenges presented by every stage of family life. The Mother-in-Law’s Manual brings her personal and professional insights together to help mothers-in-law everywhere start a new chapter in their family life.
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More ReviewsHoratio Humble Beats the Big DReview of When Teachers Talk~~~~~~~~~~
To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars - signup for The Writing World newsletter on the right top sidebar!Karen Cioffi
Multi-award Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter, Editor, Marketer
Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012
Find Karen’s eBooks on writing and marketing at:
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com (see the sidebar for titles)
Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/
Title:
When Teachers Talk Author: Rosalyn S. Schnall
Publisher: Goldenring Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-578-00563-8
Reviewed by: Karen Cioffi for BookPleasures.com
Anyone who works in, or has worked in the Public School System will love
When Teachers Talk. While I am not a teacher myself, I have a number of family members and friends who are. This book tells it like it is. It reflects the whispers and thoughts of thousands of teachers across the country.
Schnall, a retired teacher with 35 years experience with the Chicago Public School System, realizes our education system is lacking in many areas, including effective and just management of teachers and children. Schnall rose to the occasion and decided to create a survey of teachers within the Chicago system. She focused on principal abuse of teachers.
When Teachers Talk is a compilation of 500 interviews that Schnall conducted with Chicago public school teachers. It covers overt abuse of teachers; the quality of education’s decline; lack of administrative support for teachers; politics and the school system; how the children suffer; teacher attrition; what good teachers feel about the profession; and it touches on those principals who actually do their jobs with humanity, fairness, and proficiency.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the teachers involved in the survey all wanted and needed to make sure their responses would be anonymous. This was for fear of reprisal from their principals.
When Teachers Talk reveals that it is apparent there is a crisis in the school systems across America. The majority of teachers involved worked under stressful and at times unbearable conditions due to their principals’ abuse. There were some who actually left schools because of the principals’ actions. Some ended up sick from the stress. And, there were those who knew teachers who just up and left the profession as a direct result of principal abuse.
Along with the abuse teachers suffer at the hand of principals is the lack of support from administration and the teachers’ union. Many of the teachers voiced concern that their principals do not support them when it comes to issues with the children or their parents. Knowing a number of teachers, this is a very common complaint. Some teachers work in dangerous areas, and each year it seems the problem and uncontrollable children increase. It’s essential that teachers know the administration is there to support them.
Schnall includes a random survey and interview of ten additional teachers from the largest school systems across the country. This small sample reflects the larger Chicago study. She also includes a section that provides the teachers an opportunity to suggest solutions to this widespread problem.
When Teachers Talk is an enlightening and sobering read. It makes clear our education system is in dire need of repair. I recommend this book; I think it’s vital that everyone is aware of what’s going on and insists on change.
About the author: Rosalyn Schnall holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, and holds additional Certification in Early Childhood Education. She completed thirty hours of Graduate work at Loyola University of Chicago, Graduate School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, which included a course in “Survey Research Methodology.”
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0 Comments on A Review of When Teachers Talk as of 6/5/2010 5:45:00 AM
This sounds like an interesting book. I'll pass the information along to my son-in-law who works in a school system.
Hi, Jane,
I found it very interesting. And, he should check out The New Book Review (http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com) tomorrow.
My review of When Teachers Talk will be posted.
Thanks for stopping by!