Otherworld

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller is a science fiction novel that deals with virtual reality. It tells the story of Simon, the son of wealthy parents who has a penchant for getting into trouble and who's been kicked out of many schools. Simon also falls in love with Kat, but Kat's parents forbid her from dating Simon. After a terrible accident which leaves people dead, Simon falls into a coma. It is during that time, that the virtual reality game Otherworld is introduced. The game's creators peddle it as a fun way to escape reality, but Simon suspects there is an ulterior motive behind it. Simon now must do what he can in order to stop the game's creators and ultimately save humanity.

The main point the author tries to get across is the tremendous and awesome power rapidly-evolving technology has on humanity. When used irresponsibly, it has the power to alter human mind in a frightening way. If you enjoyed Ready Player One, you will certainly love Otherworld.

Chasing Phil

Chasing Phil by David Howard is a true crime story of a cunning conman Phil Kitzer and two FBI agents who are tasked with bringing him and his associates down. The book is an easy read with lots of action and really funny moments. We take a look at Kitzer's motivations as he goes from place to place and tries to trick his pursuers. If you liked Catch Me if You Can and American Hustle, then this is the book for you.

Paradox Bound

Peter Clines' new book Paradox Bound is a fascinating science fiction novel dealing with travels through American history. The main character, a boy Eli Teague sees an old Model A Ford with a woman dressed in a Revolutionary War attire. Before long, a second car comes along and gives chase. Fascinated by this event and wanting answers, Eli takes off on a journey through history that will ultimately decide America's future.

Time travel, which is one of the central themes in the science fiction genre, takes on a new approach in Clines' novel. It's not so much as directly influencing history, as it is a journey of self-discovery. I also liked the fact that the central theme of the book is the concept of the American Dream and the values we hold dear in our exceptional country.

Med School Uncensored

Med School Uncensored by Richard Beddingfield is a valuable guide for those who aspire to go into the medical profession. This book offers a wealth of information and solid advice from the preparation tips for the MCATs all the way to residency and board examinations. If you're in medical school or planning to enroll in one, Med School Uncensored will be a valuable guide as you navigate throughout your medical education. A word of warning, though, the book does contain some colorful language, hence "Uncensored" in the title.

By Far the Best Career Guide Ever

What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles is by far the best career guide for those entering the workforce for the first time as well as experienced employees who are thinking about changing jobs. The guide, which is updated annually is written in clear and detailed language and thus very easy to understand. At more than 300 pages, the book deals with anything from how to effectively search for jobs to salary negotiations and career changes. It is filled with helpful tips as well as exercises that can be helpful in securing your dream job.

What I found about this book is that it can, and is intended to be, read in any order. For example, if your interviewing skills are lacking, you can read the chapter on interview tips. Likewise, if you need tips on how to write a resume that will get on the hiring manager's desk, you can read the corresponding chapter. If you are a looking for your dream job, this book is definitely for you.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Humorous Story About Life in Modern India

Diksha Basu's debut novel The Windfall is a poignant and humorous set in modern India. At the heart of the novel, the Jha family live in a working class neighborhood in New Delhi while their adult son is a business school student in America. When Anil Jha, the patriarch of the family sells his IT company, he practically becomes $20 million richer overnight. Almost immediately, he and his wife move to an upper class neighborhood in New Delhi. Being the newly minted millionaires, the Jhas realize the immense power of money and try to make the most of it. They mingle with other millionaires and billionaires, hire private security, and buy outrageous things, they have a sofa infused with Swarovski crystals shipped from Japan.

Ultimately, this story is about the immense power money holds in our lives. We are so preoccupied with material things that we neglect the smaller things in life which are always free as the old adage goes.

I also liked the fact that the story was set in India and it was interesting for me to experience how a culture different from mine deals with modern life. 

Worthy Sequel to Wells's Classic Novel

Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter is a sequel to H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. Fourteen years after the first Martian invasion described in Wells's book, Earthlings have learned a lot from it and harnessed Martian technology. However, the Martians have learned too, and are preparing for a second invasion which will be even more deadly than the first.

Massacre of Mankind is a pretty good sequel to The War of the Worlds. For me, it was interesting to read a book by a modern author according to his interpretation of Wells's classic.

The Power of Persuasion

To get anywhere in life, one must be persuasive and clearly state their objectives. Unfortunately, not many people know this fine art. That's where Jay Heinrichs's book entitled Thank You For Arguing comes in. Heinrichs uses practical examples from regular people as well as famous historical figures such as Aristotle and Abraham Lincoln to lay out this fine art. At over 400 pages, this book contains a wealth of useful information on how to get your point across. The author outlines various techniques used to persuade people very clearly. He also delves into the why behind the techniques and explains the psychology that makes this particular technique work.

The Art of Negotiation

Negotiation plays a very crucial part in our lives. Whether debating with your family where to go for vacation, making a large purchase, or making a multi-million dollar business deal, it is vital that we reap the maximum benefit while also being mindful of the other party. Thankfully, Peter B. Stark's book The Only Negotiating Guide You'll Ever Need provides crucial information on the art of negotiation. Originally published in 2003, the book has been updated with the latest research in the field. It is comprised of two parts, the first deals with negotiation itself: the psychology of both parties, the styles of negotiation, the skills you need to negotiate, while the second part offers practical situations and describes the tactics you can use to successfully close the deal.

Overall, this book is very informative. It is very concise, yet offers a wealth of advice. 

The Physics of Everyday Things

For those who wondered how things from electric toothbrushes to airplanes work, James Kakalios' book The Physics of Everyday Things explains it. The author's premise is clever; he takes the reader through a person's typical day. After each short vignette with the object in bold, Kakalios then explains how that particular object works and the physics behind it. His explanations are quite clear for those without a science background, however, there could be more diagrams. Nevertheless, The Physics of Everyday Things will serve a purpose to those curious about technology.

Insight

Understanding yourself is key to success in both your personal and professional life. Unfortunately, not many people truly understand themselves. Insight is a great book about self-awareness and introspection. The author presents the topic in a very clear and straightforward manner. She details all the steps one must take to better understand themselves. I would highly recommend Insight to everybody who wants to improve their life. It is truly a timeless and indispensable advice.

Buy This Book: You Won't Regret It.

The New Rules of Work is a great career guide with lots of useful information. From crafting your resume, to negotiating your pay raise, career advancement, and everywhere in between, the authors, founders of The Muse, a well-known career site, offer some very valuable tips. Their book is an up-to-the minute guide on the latest trends in the workforce industry. I recommend this book to absolutely everybody, from recent college grads looking for their first "real" employment as well as seasoned professionals who are looking to advance their careers. 

The Inkblots

The Rorschach Test is one of the most fascinating and polarizing concepts in modern psychology. Some psychologists swear by it, while others hate it. But why is the Rorschach Test so fascinating and what motivated the man behind it? That is the question Damion Searls tries to answer in his book The Inkblots. His book is not only about the test itself, but a full-fledged biography of its creator, Hermann Rorschach. In his 400 page deeply-researched tome, Searls provides minute tidbits of Hermann Rorschach's life in an easy-to-read and entertaining manner. The way that the author presents those facts shows his erudition of the subject and the painstaking process he undertook in order to bring this fascinating story to the reader.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Tell Me How This Ends Well

David Samuel Levinson's new novel Tell Me How This Ends Well takes place in the near future, the year 2022 to be exact when antisemitism is basically ubiquitous. At the heart of the story is Jacobson family's Passover meal. The family includes three adult children, Mo, Edith, and Jacob, their harsh and iron-fisted father and the soft-hearted mother. The book's strongest suit is its character development. All of the characters are complex and multi-layered. with the author masterfully describing their feelings and emotions throughout the book.

Overall, I found Levinson's novel to be an enjoyable read. It's not easy reading, but it's very crucial in today's world.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Writing My Wrongs

Shaka Senghor writes a powerful memoir of his time in prison in his book Writing My Wrongs. He tells his story like it is without any sugarcoating. Shaka Senghor was born in the midst of America's crack epidemic in the 1980's and was an honor roll student at school. However, at home he faced daily beatings from his mother which forced him to run away to the streets and become a drug dealer. At 19, he killed a man and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He spent seven of those years in solitary confinement. During that time, he began to reflect on the choices he made that got him in prison. When he was released, he became a social activist whose mission was to prevent young men from going down the wrong path. In addition, Senghor writes about America's criminal justice system and how it needs to be reformed.

Habit Changers

Habit Changers is a collection of 81 mantras to help you become a better person. The book is divided alphabetically into sections, which range from emotions such as anger and happiness to useful skills such as patience and communications. Within each sections are two or three anecdotes taken from the author's personal experience. M.J. Ryan, the author of the book hopes the reader will apply those skills and become a better person.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blooging for Books in exchange for an honest review.