Y.S. Stephen - Reader | Casual Observer

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Molly's Game is a memoir of a woman behind one of the underground high-stakes poker game in Hollywood, detailing how she came to the game and the tactics she used to become almost indispensable in that world. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Contrarians of all shades. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The contents of this book were more outrageous that you would read in gossip magazines. If you already think a Hollywood is a crazy place and runs on different rules than most places in the world, this book would confirm your suspicion. The author did not hold back (she dropped some pretty heavy names too) on some of the excess going on in some celebrity circles. More importantly, she tries to explain the rationale behind some of these weird behaviours and how she dealt with them. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "Eventually Reardon started bringing me to the meetings instead of making me wait outside. I observed him closely. Reardon was a master negotiator. He was able to co...

Tribe of Mentors is a collection of answers to some specific life questions that are designed to help people find clarity as well as make better decisions in their personal lives or in business. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? People who love the self-help genre are bound to take to this as a duck to water. Those who are not into the genre might be put-off (or quite pleased) with the diversity or contradictory nature of opinions in this book. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT I love this book because of the differences of view and opinions in it. The things that some will tell you not to do is what works for others and vice versa. Quite illuminating when you think about it - the fact that nothing is guaranteed and that there is no one road to self-actualisation. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "As a competitive chess player, failure is part and parcel of growth. My most important failure came at a tournament in Bermuda where I needed to win a crucial game in order to finally ...

Photographic is a layout of Graciela Iturbide's childhood background, her past works, and the philosophy behind how and why she takes pictures. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Photographers, writers, painters, and other creatives can benefit from a master photographer's insights about her motivations, how she sees, and her work preparation. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT Learning about what drives us is a lifelong occupation. However, elderly artists have more experience and more valuable things to say about this since they've come way up the road. It is a privilege to catch a glimpse how Graciela perceives herself in relation to she photographs. For me, it is clear see why she's had a long career and still keeps going despite her age. MEMORABLE PASSAGE ....... Photographic: The Life Of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Pena is available to buy from on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Getty Publications for re...

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Etiquette Rules! is a book that seeks to educate on the importance of proper manners in different settings as well as showing ways to acquire such manners. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? CEOs, diplomats, people working in hotel and service industries, Customer Service Advisors... anyone with interest in studying and influencing human behaviour through appearance. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT This is one of the most practical books I've read this year. There are loads of hints on deciding how to appear and conduct yourself when you do not know the situation you are walking into, how to interact properly with a disabled person, the principles of a good handshake, the art of proper listening, and more. If you are in a job or career that deals with people day-to-day, learning the good habits in this book might change people's perception of you as well as take you far careerwise. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "You might be surprised to learn that there is a gauge in...

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Uberworked and Underpaid is an indepth look at the state of digital work place and practices, how it has enriched the few and impoverished many despite its promise of freedom and entrepreneurship for all. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Anyone with a stake or potential stake (work-wise) in today's gig economy. University or college students concerned about getting a job after school would also benefit from having a read. People who get depressed easily should stay clear, there is plenty of sorrow and pessimism to drive a human insane here. There is also a lot of hope and proferred solutions, but the author is quite realistic about the state of jobs in the world at this time. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The author was thorough in researching various methods that "internet-age" companies like Uber, 99Deisgns, Upwork, Amazon, etc use in avoiding the payment of minimum wage to staff. More importantly, this book encourages the formation of staff-owned pla...

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Being A Writer is a collection of information and diverse opinions by essayists, fiction writers, and non-fiction writers of different kinds on the subject of writing. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Writers of all kinds and different stages of development. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The diversity of the collections is impressive. Short story writers rarely feature in a collection like this, but this book has many. Also, this book goes beyond the normal old, dead, white European writers to contemporary African and Asian writers perspectives on the craft - there are many voices to hear from here. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily,  in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself.  I suppose that it begins or does not begin in the cradle. Although I have felt compelled to write things down since I was five yea...

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamn Thing is a graphic novel about the adventures of an underworld clique that transports unknown items for underworld organisations and individuals. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Fans of gritty, fast-paced action and fantasy stories will be thrilled with this novel. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT Memorable characters, believable story, exquisite art, nail-biting cliffhangers...this volume has it all. The action never lets up and the dialogue feels natural. I was disappointed when it ended - I wanted more. MEMORABLE PASSAGE ....... The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamn Thing by Donny Cates is available to buy from the first week of December 2018 on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Image Comics for review copy.

"... explores the love of reading and the life of the librarian who cared enough to keep looking out for children who shared her love of books and have been unjustly segregated." WORLD WAR 2 World War 2 is a popular subject in books, games, and movies. A large proportion of its aspects have been examined and explored - the effects of food, propaganda, weather, weapons, etc have been scrutinised and theorised. Even the exploits and vices of countries involved have been looked at and dissected over and over. However, there still remains few details of that war, especially the consequences, that is not well-known and popular for various reasons. ABOUT THE BOOK In any case, Write To Me by Cynthia Grady and Amiko Hirao is a book (albeit for 4 to 8 year olds) that looks at the treatment of Japanese-Americans at the hands of Franklin Roosevelt-led American government during World War 2. The bombing of Pearl harbour prompted the American government into sending all Japan...