tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5879180352161769232022-07-07T01:21:36.984+01:00Y.S. Stephen - Reader | Casual ObserverI read a lot, write a bit, ...occasionally play at illustrationY.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.comBlogger560125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-49903961950714745242022-06-14T04:00:00.017+01:002022-06-14T04:00:00.200+01:00 Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator by Sofia Warren - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv65-M_Lma5V4hD7fQgimSnR5Uk1WfuPlXeGekghNeh0_qqwZYwdC6LItaywuOC4Eyv6LrZtSllJWPW5MzEgi_bJQEXuK8Tf0uL16guZu8vHWuccsEuKTvtdFs3Gn3HWAgN1ukGwyFpVBRZJ4M9KRaSmQeE8Tiv97D-mNCQeLkRZxM4_daoYHaUngdQ/s800/Radical%20by%20Sofia%20Warren.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator by Sofia Warren Top Shelf Productions" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv65-M_Lma5V4hD7fQgimSnR5Uk1WfuPlXeGekghNeh0_qqwZYwdC6LItaywuOC4Eyv6LrZtSllJWPW5MzEgi_bJQEXuK8Tf0uL16guZu8vHWuccsEuKTvtdFs3Gn3HWAgN1ukGwyFpVBRZJ4M9KRaSmQeE8Tiv97D-mNCQeLkRZxM4_daoYHaUngdQ/w640-h480/Radical%20by%20Sofia%20Warren.png" title="Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator by Sofia Warren" width="640" /></a></div>Books that discuss politics can be boring to some, but such people might want to make an exception for this one. <br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781603095129" target="_blank">Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator</a> is a first-hand witness account of a cartoonist's time with Julia Salazar, a 27-year-old democratic socialist running for state senate in New York. Most of what the book material is about are what the cartoonist witnessed during the first year of Salazar's term by embedding herself with the young senator's team for about a year.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK</span><br />One of the best tools of journalism is witnessing a situation about which you are reporting first-hand. This way, you get to understand your subject with little or no filtering. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781603095129" target="_blank">Radical </a>is a book with lots of eye-opening information on politics, money, and how these forces have an impact on everyone's lives... more than we know or care to admit.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />This is for any adult who wants to understand politics without getting bored.<br /><br />Many thanks to Top Shelf Productions for providing a review copy.</p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-82946464575168426262022-05-17T04:59:00.005+01:002022-05-17T04:59:00.190+01:00 Forgotten Blade by Tze Chun & Toni Fejzul - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnFNnioahAFGWY_--cNNq6lM7KQgwQIqEBj-HtLNN-9JY_tHaC_mHNphmnO0NRwbEtBcLSe2HNvUo4DFijyTQ1r5c2wNHv-ZlPW2MvdGWO-LDrN0RiDgWeyEJMH9DnGySFKXY0XPVq7SySf8tWGC5miZG4iXcjaZws1Y6ZKp8weahhB0NLk1AFm78gw/s800/Forgotten%20Blade%20by%20Chun%20and%20Fejzula.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Forgotten Blade by Tze Chun & Toni Fejzul - A Review" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnFNnioahAFGWY_--cNNq6lM7KQgwQIqEBj-HtLNN-9JY_tHaC_mHNphmnO0NRwbEtBcLSe2HNvUo4DFijyTQ1r5c2wNHv-ZlPW2MvdGWO-LDrN0RiDgWeyEJMH9DnGySFKXY0XPVq7SySf8tWGC5miZG4iXcjaZws1Y6ZKp8weahhB0NLk1AFm78gw/w640-h480/Forgotten%20Blade%20by%20Chun%20and%20Fejzula.png" title="Forgotten Blade by Chun & Fejzul" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781952203084" target="_blank">Forgotten Blade </a>is a fantasy story set in the land of Five Rivers. It is a tale of a female magician who enlisted the help of a mercenary to topple a theocratic government in revenge for the curse placed on her two children.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK</span><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781952203084" target="_blank">Forgotten Blade</a> is a beautifully drawn book. The uniqueness and style of the art stand out in the midst of a tale that seems familiar.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />The plot is predictable and holds little or no surprise.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />Fans of epic fantasy may enjoy the art and possibilities <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781952203084" target="_blank">Forgotten Blade</a> has to offer. <br /><br />Many thanks to TKO Presents for providing a review copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-67303236791330349092022-05-10T21:42:00.018+01:002022-05-15T19:51:50.478+01:00 Yellow Cab by Benoît Cohen & Christophe Chabouté - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhT-iLFYlZgxS99pa0n9cw0NhsqUbgZ7Pta31FE_sQCGkenQSV4_-1AQOB7-Yfb2V6Z-B23amQCPMxUf19RZFcn1AySFTnbAHIgpyFP0BJxrdifC_kRdBn5pyFkK0PwmeDQWtvdLsLNM67XbyOxDE4KijtF0VOLnct3RRIL9bggdjwJ7IY3_i-2P-Hg/s800/Yellow%20Cab%20by%20Benoit%20and%20Chaboute.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yellow Cab by Benoît Cohen, Christophe Chabouté" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhT-iLFYlZgxS99pa0n9cw0NhsqUbgZ7Pta31FE_sQCGkenQSV4_-1AQOB7-Yfb2V6Z-B23amQCPMxUf19RZFcn1AySFTnbAHIgpyFP0BJxrdifC_kRdBn5pyFkK0PwmeDQWtvdLsLNM67XbyOxDE4KijtF0VOLnct3RRIL9bggdjwJ7IY3_i-2P-Hg/w640-h480/Yellow%20Cab%20by%20Benoit%20and%20Chaboute.png" title="Yellow Cab by Cohen & Chabouté" width="640" /></a></div>Going into a new career as a middle-aged person can be disorienting or empowering, depending on your circumstances or outlook on life. One thing that cannot be dismissed is the insight and understanding a new career or employment gives. It has the potential to open us to a side of life we may have overlooked or never noticed before.<br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781684058921" target="_blank">Yellow Cab </a>is an autobiography (graphic novel) of a filmmaker called Benoît Cohen who, devoid of inspiration for his next film, decided to become a New York City taxi driver. What follows is his insights and documentation about the streets of New York - its people, its prejudices, and its politics.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK</span><br />The characters in the book are interesting and mysterious. Even though some of them appear for a brief time, there is a liveliness to them that makes me hang on to their every word. The art has this kind of depressing quality to it... I expect it to bum me out but I quite like it actually as it fits the mood of the book.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br />Whether you are familiar with the work of Benoît Cohen or not, I think this is a non-fiction most fans of the genre will appreciate. <br /><br />Many thanks to IDW Publishing for providing an advance copy.<br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-39312477293133044242022-04-26T04:10:00.000+01:002022-04-26T04:10:00.175+01:00The Bogle Effect by Eric Balchunas - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_sx9lfWZFzq9sdGHuBFFQxWCrA_-PxMHfeNB6S3VHGVzEZ7TBBy6X6IwNZTxVMisCUWRAlinoB8eV9fpfx_1WTAUvEW0FjsRJOswbl7KeRXk1PxgVPw3hzYU9hbEc_UQmRdjY1Gx801uSK7OKlkKCkWGcnnVde0NOAxA9PZXk2-BiSNx6j6s4Os2_kw=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Bogle Effect: How John Bogle and Vanguard Turned Wall Street Inside Out and Saved Investors Trillions" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_sx9lfWZFzq9sdGHuBFFQxWCrA_-PxMHfeNB6S3VHGVzEZ7TBBy6X6IwNZTxVMisCUWRAlinoB8eV9fpfx_1WTAUvEW0FjsRJOswbl7KeRXk1PxgVPw3hzYU9hbEc_UQmRdjY1Gx801uSK7OKlkKCkWGcnnVde0NOAxA9PZXk2-BiSNx6j6s4Os2_kw=w640-h480" title="The Bogle Effect - Book Review" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781637740712" target="_blank">The Bogle Effect </a>is about Jack Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard Group, an American investment management company. The book explores Bogle's life as well as his financial and trading philosophy. This is a book that delves into the betrayal that made Bogle start his own investment management company. It details the company's (Vanguard) growth, challenges, and the influence it has over present-day investors.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BOGLE EFFECT</span><br />The book is expansive and included some of Bogle's own words, giving us not just a third-person view but a first-person's as well. Also, the author did not paint his subject as some kind of saint. This is a book that did not only focus on Bogle's accomplishments - it does examine his dark side and its influence on his work.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781637740712" target="_blank">The Bogle Effect</a> is for those who know the man and want to know a bit more about his early days and the way his investing philosophy came together. Those not familiar with the man might be the ones to benefit most from this book as there are many tips about efficient investments and what made Bogle one of the best in the world.<br /><br />Many thanks to Matt Holt for providing an advance copy.<br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-38943310749693122842022-04-21T04:00:00.010+01:002022-04-21T04:00:00.191+01:00 The Way Forward: From Early Republic to People’s Republic (1912 – 1949) by Jing Liu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrV-xWCwMu6ct1sxSbo1C54lQeJMunMTGNwURayght-ewnwmUN6awZNWH9L3VSIPy5fAXaFyMbtaSybmvCLXROiJczQwD7lZr7v8kaMhXCl_vkAbsYGnFDgphyEdflm3jVZkBSb-C_86uWeHw3L_8411-Lyhh8uillY1beu7-iCYG72YahbQq0ku_iw/s800/The%20Way%20Forward%20by%20Jing%20Liu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Way Forward Jing Liu" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrV-xWCwMu6ct1sxSbo1C54lQeJMunMTGNwURayght-ewnwmUN6awZNWH9L3VSIPy5fAXaFyMbtaSybmvCLXROiJczQwD7lZr7v8kaMhXCl_vkAbsYGnFDgphyEdflm3jVZkBSb-C_86uWeHw3L_8411-Lyhh8uillY1beu7-iCYG72YahbQq0ku_iw/w640-h480/The%20Way%20Forward%20by%20Jing%20Liu.png" title="From Early Republic to People’s Republic (1912 – 1949) by Jing Liu" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>History is messy and complicated. Every country has skeletons in its cupboards and will give you different justifications or reasons as to why they are there. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781611720709" target="_blank">The Way Forward</a> is the fifth volume of the Understanding China Through Comics series. The series seems to be aimed at simplifying the history of China as a country, without losing the essence and vital details of the events that formed the country into what it is today.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK</span><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781611720709" target="_blank">The Way Forward</a> makes effort to explain the nitty-gritty of macro-events, especially how it affects the common man or woman in China. We are not just told who or what made a decision at the highest level of government, we are shown how it impacted the citizens and the ramifications for the common man. This level of detail kept me engaged and invested.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />While this book does not shy away from some uncomfortable subjects, there is an element of excuse for most mishaps or ill-actions caused by China. In my opinion, history books ought to stick to facts and not be apologists for any country's ideology.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />This is a good introductory book for those interested in the history of China. It serves as a good entry material for those willing to learn more about one of the modern-day world powers.<br /><br />Many thanks to Stone Bridge Press for providing a review copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-192432563333361782022-04-05T05:16:00.002+01:002022-04-05T05:16:00.185+01:00 Navigating Ambiguity By Andrea Small And Kelly Schmutte - Book Recommendation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGnHrewWYsS-8amEcky6GxiU5NJgQzqQeOioLrVET7t-q1FX6QmxL2cJkUUN7V29iQyt4Zb5JtVO_BGOBZBflf56C-xc5M92me07ArC-HwAdJFFNXj7cLows7bmUWEt4iUQFJPK1lV16jg6LqSxVKvsFROVLD82Pp2hbI9ip2Nowd6DXsNUbH1FHHu_g=s998" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navigating Ambiguity Creating Opportunity in a World of Unknowns by Andrea Small; Kelly Schmutte;" border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="825" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGnHrewWYsS-8amEcky6GxiU5NJgQzqQeOioLrVET7t-q1FX6QmxL2cJkUUN7V29iQyt4Zb5JtVO_BGOBZBflf56C-xc5M92me07ArC-HwAdJFFNXj7cLows7bmUWEt4iUQFJPK1lV16jg6LqSxVKvsFROVLD82Pp2hbI9ip2Nowd6DXsNUbH1FHHu_g=w331-h400" title="Navigating Ambiguity by Andrea Small; Kelly Schmutte;" width="331" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/business/navigating-ambiguity-creating,andrea-small-kelly-schmutte-9781984857965" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Navigating Ambiguity</a> is an attempt by a group of artists to share their perspectives on how we can thrive when we don't have a full picture of what is in front of us or what to do next in our lives and endeavours. This is a book that tries to help manage life uncertainties and ambiguities by teaching us the right kind of mindsets to adopt and how to adopt them.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHAT I LIKE IN THIS BOOK</span><br />This is a book by designers and it shows. The graphic designs enhance the understanding of the subject matter. It makes reading the book easier and fun to navigate. More importantly, this is a book with lots of real-life examples of ambiguities and how to live with them.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />This is a self-help book by designers for everyone. These are professionals with something to say about life and their experiences are worth listening to by every adult grappling with the unknown.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-92200724996640830892022-03-17T04:53:00.009+00:002022-03-23T15:32:46.317+00:00Regrets of the Dying by Georgina Scull - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8jdQ99tEDG4q8_ozcX9laptwkaHlRbXt8LfQ94cH84tr4fOuG0K6pLj-WRBViG22D88fAH6GD6DyPORM1-PSWPBJNZREg4XqoJJYfm-KaUSke6YB_KqImyi5UjzWobQ66xZNd8m6XHJu4VA7RpwFymFdaf2-jWas5IzaNAi43WGSf0dAa0kb2de-0WQ=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Regrets of the Dying by Georgina Scull" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8jdQ99tEDG4q8_ozcX9laptwkaHlRbXt8LfQ94cH84tr4fOuG0K6pLj-WRBViG22D88fAH6GD6DyPORM1-PSWPBJNZREg4XqoJJYfm-KaUSke6YB_KqImyi5UjzWobQ66xZNd8m6XHJu4VA7RpwFymFdaf2-jWas5IzaNAi43WGSf0dAa0kb2de-0WQ=w640-h480" title="Book Review: Regrets of the Dying by Georgina Scull" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Real-life stories sometimes have the disadvantage of not being fluid or neatly packaged narratively. Having said that, such kind of stories does hold valuable lessons for those who can sift through its ambiguities to find what they need. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781787396838" target="_blank">Regrets of the Dying </a>is such a book. It is a book that contains stories of people who, like us, have made lots of mistakes and, given the chance, ponder on what they could have done better.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE </span><br />This is a book that reflects the messiness of life and the ways in which life situations can spiral out of control. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781787396838" target="_blank">Regrets of the Dying</a> contains a lot of stories that might not resonate with everyone, but there is no doubt that it has something for everyone.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />A few of the stories are depressing and aren't for those with a particular set view of life. <br /><br />Many thanks to Welbeck Publishing UK for providing a review copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-59237738559229760792022-03-10T04:28:00.003+00:002022-03-10T20:04:07.489+00:00The Struggle Bus by Julie Koon - Book Recommendation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP33ClfrSiipt4wPGmtWVMg76h9SFhDNGTSp9jFl9fdHHv-2Up8SdqqNe1Ht7kFLVEf6vgNaG78_7jMHekYqlZtASWxqJFFWJbbJOU-1nRBWcmshYhYniNJTgalredSpmBnvgoSy2FxZRAz6uP-WMXvs47gXhuG_b0e3eTIrjk4um451NloVjgjQcWAA=s2039" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Struggle Bus by Julie Koon" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2039" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP33ClfrSiipt4wPGmtWVMg76h9SFhDNGTSp9jFl9fdHHv-2Up8SdqqNe1Ht7kFLVEf6vgNaG78_7jMHekYqlZtASWxqJFFWJbbJOU-1nRBWcmshYhYniNJTgalredSpmBnvgoSy2FxZRAz6uP-WMXvs47gXhuG_b0e3eTIrjk4um451NloVjgjQcWAA=w640-h502" title="The Struggle Bus - Book Review" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781638940012" target="_blank">The Struggle Bus</a> is a short illustrated book that acknowledges the inevitability of life struggles and proposes ways of coping.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE STRUGGLE BUS</span><br />The light-hearted nature of the book brings fresh clarity to a dark topic. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR</span><br />Anyone.<br /><br />Many thanks to Kind World Publishing for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-44461898597558761912022-01-25T04:48:00.006+00:002022-01-25T04:48:00.189+00:00 The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future by Sebastian Mallaby - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDUILd-nPnDy6h4i1DMEUzgWI6O39bmyZv8SHJDSTYgJlhJEJsDh3Xl4j87IDSoyXwS5xyRB5YZUlSol8D9nUpUlph-Qvs_DqqsOlMuKKSyz3B3EWBPGhIsGRdNk5I_ucnczJorpcPAbl5MOckFM53LwGnVhjXGLoJUzQ8V6k768iAAg-BChXI-OcEuA=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Power Law Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future by Sebastian Mallaby" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDUILd-nPnDy6h4i1DMEUzgWI6O39bmyZv8SHJDSTYgJlhJEJsDh3Xl4j87IDSoyXwS5xyRB5YZUlSol8D9nUpUlph-Qvs_DqqsOlMuKKSyz3B3EWBPGhIsGRdNk5I_ucnczJorpcPAbl5MOckFM53LwGnVhjXGLoJUzQ8V6k768iAAg-BChXI-OcEuA=w640-h480" title="The Power Law by Sebastian Mallaby" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780525559993" target="_blank">Power Law</a> is a recollection as well as observation of how venture capital works, its impact on the modern economy, and the psychology of the people who have made a success of it. This is a book that tells us stories about how a lot of the most successful companies today got their start and the profile of those who funded them.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE ABOUT POWER LAW</span><br />A lot of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780525559993" target="_blank">Power Law</a>'s contents contain quotes and interviews from the power players themselves - the venture capitalists - thus we are not relying on hearsay or third-party quotes.<br /><br />I also love the background stories and the improbabilities of some of the encounters. They add a conspiratorial flavour to the book.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />This isn't necessarily a criticism but I felt the book was a bit too long. Still, it was a good read.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS POWER LAW FOR</span><br />Anyone with interest in investment, whether it is in form of venture capital, stock trading, ETFs, or otherwise will love the insights<a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780525559993" target="_blank"> Power Law</a> has to offer.<br /><br />Many thanks to Penguin Press for providing a review copy.</p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-70104584039167325682022-01-25T04:28:00.003+00:002022-01-25T08:38:48.647+00:00How To Profit From Bitcoins After 2021 by Minerva Singh - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIafq0-E1aJrb2rCucIqMwsQJAa3t1lYS3mjcPkYm0ijO6KNFfVbh_8GE9HAKFr_KjQvlRvpFKCMgc5bvSshi98S50PNdS0x8E1psQoOTOImdvHaNP-3zVyG_4QA0RvKEuHUmvqnm4o9GUYBaIt1NElgMaxZvqu9epwJq4mvcsQopoLeXvOw4RkV6zwQ=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How To Profit From Bitcoins After 2021" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIafq0-E1aJrb2rCucIqMwsQJAa3t1lYS3mjcPkYm0ijO6KNFfVbh_8GE9HAKFr_KjQvlRvpFKCMgc5bvSshi98S50PNdS0x8E1psQoOTOImdvHaNP-3zVyG_4QA0RvKEuHUmvqnm4o9GUYBaIt1NElgMaxZvqu9epwJq4mvcsQopoLeXvOw4RkV6zwQ=w640-h480" title="How To Profit From Bitcoins After 2021 - Minerva Singh" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M453YG3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Profit From Bitcoins After 2021</a> is an introductory text to Bitcoin - its history, nature, and how to profit from it. This is a book for beginners. It delves into the early days of Bitcoins, its mechanics, how it is mined, why it has become popular, and how to make money investing in it and other similar cryptocurrencies.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE </span><br />If you dislike technical jargon and heady financial phrases, then this is the book for you. It is one of the simplest and straight-to-the-point manuals I have ever read on cryptocurrencies. Reading the whole book would give you a solid foundation on cryptos and how to start making money from them. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M453YG3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Profit From Bitcoins After 2021</a> is for those who want to understand cryptocurrency and probably would like to invest in it. <br /><br />Many thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing a review copy.</p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-63216810498519615612022-01-24T04:18:00.000+00:002022-01-24T04:18:00.173+00:00Living On Your Own Terms: The Odyssey Of Björn Natthiko Lindeblad<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGdrfGNOtiU/YU3C2xr1iXI/AAAAAAAALVs/j3n_MlkxrtA-ofgev2uvopD3gZ8qsaI-gCPcBGAYYCw/s800/I%2BMay%2BBe%2BWrong%2BNatthiko.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGdrfGNOtiU/YU3C2xr1iXI/AAAAAAAALVs/j3n_MlkxrtA-ofgev2uvopD3gZ8qsaI-gCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/I%2BMay%2BBe%2BWrong%2BNatthiko.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>We all have our fears... scenarios where everything goes wrong and we are hanging out on an electric pole, metaphorically naked with the whole world jeering and seeing us for who we are. Sorry... that image might not be yours but you get the idea. While most of us are sometimes paralysed by these mental images, some do manage to transverse these dark alleys of the mind, shutting off doubts and following their own positive promptings to its conclusions. Lindeblad seems to be in this latter category. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/May-Be-Wrong-Wisdoms-Forest-ebook/dp/B09BG2HNC5" rel="nofollow">I May Be Wrong</a> is a book that chronicles Lindeblad's journey and how he found himself in a forest monastery in Thailand after leaving a promising career.The author tells us what drove him to a monastery, what he learned on his journey, and what impact these strange decisions have made on his life. </div><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfQIzcq6cyc/YU3CoAZfVMI/AAAAAAAALVg/IDGNJR0LPnYAdIEqpfyCgpguGaswYymZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Living-Free.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Living Free" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfQIzcq6cyc/YU3CoAZfVMI/AAAAAAAALVg/IDGNJR0LPnYAdIEqpfyCgpguGaswYymZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Living-Free.png" title="A woman on a swing" width="640" /></a></div>WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK</span></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/May-Be-Wrong-Wisdoms-Forest-ebook/dp/B09BG2HNC5" target="_blank">I May Be Wrong</a> is a book that tries to avoid the clichés of a well-to-do young white man trying to find himself in a third-world country. The account here is honest, self-deprecating, and eye-opening as to the condition of the human mind regardless of where you live in the world.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS THE BOOK FOR? </span></div><div>This should be ideal for anyone seeking their own place in this world. This is a book that offers insight into human nature, our innate restlessness to assert ourselves in this world, and a way of finding a sliver of peace in the midst of it all. </div><div><br /></div><div>Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing a review copy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div> </div>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-38942608774108271312022-01-18T04:25:00.000+00:002022-01-18T04:25:00.179+00:005 Lessons From Erasmus' "Praise Of Folly"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GydFLXXa6Nk/YZvEuty8tEI/AAAAAAAALYw/yDKypBqQbdwUe4IbInZSqKmKUHV6dGvcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/In%2BPraise%2Bof%2BFolly%2BErasmus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="In Praise of Folly by Erasmus" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GydFLXXa6Nk/YZvEuty8tEI/AAAAAAAALYw/yDKypBqQbdwUe4IbInZSqKmKUHV6dGvcQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/In%2BPraise%2Bof%2BFolly%2BErasmus.png" title="Praise of Folly" width="640" /></a></div><p>Desiderius Erasmus wrote <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780486426891" target="_blank">In Praise of Folly</a> in 1509 as a Christian satire that pokes fun at everyone, especially ridiculing those who take life too seriously. <br /><br />In the book, Erasmus presents Folly (idiocy or foolishness) as a god who dishes out admonitions, criticisms, and other observations of humans. Most of the lessons in the book are timeless and would benefit most of us today. Here are a few I've found:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE BEST OF HUMANS IS AS SIMPLE AS A CHILD</span><br />Folly claims she loves children because they take nothing seriously, hence, the weight of this world does not stick to them. She observes that most people want to play with children because their joy is infectious.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">BE WHAT YOU ARE</span><br />Folly dismisses philosophers and priests with stern faces and other superficial layers which cover up who they really are. According to Folly, all these trappings contribute to personal suffering and, in the long run, take humans far away from joy.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">FRIENDSHIP </span><br />Folly says she is essential to long-last friendships because she is the reason some people are able to overlook occasional slights. She explains that fools, by nature, find it difficult to hold on to grudges because it interferes with their happiness. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">FUN AND FESTIVITIES</span><br />Folly says wisdom is a buzzkill at parties because no one can really have fun without allowing themselves to be silly and forgetful. Also, women are more fools than men, which is why festivities are much fun with them around. Folly believes the ability to let go and enjoy the moment is what makes women possess more common sense than men and hence, better off in terms of quality of life.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">SELF CONFIDENCE</span><br />Folly believes that at the centre of many words is a lack of confidence. She thinks people's desire to find the 'truth' in everything points to some sort of anxiety about life and a lack of direction. Folly declares that fools do not take on such burdens as they love themselves fully. <br /><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780486426891" target="_blank">In Praise of Folly</a> sold lots of copies and was translated into many languages. Its popularity astounded Erasmus so much that he partly regretted its publication. Pope Leo X found the book amusing, but his successor was not happy with it and thus banned the book for many years.<br /><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780486426891" target="_blank">In Praise of Folly</a> is one of the few books from the 1500s that still enjoys modest popularity today. It is a work in a long tradition of religious satire that seeks to entertain, chastise, and educate - a rarity, by today's standards.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-75835253185245752362022-01-11T04:36:00.025+00:002022-01-11T04:36:00.167+00:00On The Intricacies Of Living With Monsters<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XH8sn65wY5E/YT7xr8DfxDI/AAAAAAAALUo/JFg0DPVbjmEXP72ZR-K7PsKx5iTefUkDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Monster%2BMind%2BCasas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XH8sn65wY5E/YT7xr8DfxDI/AAAAAAAALUo/JFg0DPVbjmEXP72ZR-K7PsKx5iTefUkDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Monster%2BMind%2BCasas.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>We all have that voice that nags us when we do something inappropriate like making a cutting remark to someone when we don't mean it or overreacting to something so small that we end up making an okay situation worse. For some, this nagging voice can go on for minutes, for others... days, even weeks. <br /><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781950912476" target="_blank">MonsterMind</a> is a graphic novel that opens our eyes to how this process plays out in Alfonso Casas (the author). By using himself as an example, the author informs us of how he interacts with his inner monsters without losing himself. This is an autobiographical book that explores the debilitating thoughts that goes on in the author's head and how he sometimes succumbs or copes with it.<br /><br />One of the strengths of great literature is how it holds up a mirror to see ourselves clearly. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781950912476" target="_blank">MonsterMind</a> achieves this by making me identify with the author and his experiences. More importantly, I gain new perspectives and tools to live with my own inner monsters. As far as mental health books go, this has to be one of my favourites.</p><p>If have ever had trouble getting out of bed at any time of the day, unmotivated, and weighted down by anxieties real or imagined, then <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781950912476" target="_blank">MonsterMind </a>is for you. This is a book for every adult and young adult dealing with life's ups and downs.<br /><br />Many thanks to Ablaze for providing a review copy.</p><p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-81880326688463651932022-01-06T04:09:00.000+00:002022-01-06T04:09:00.181+00:005 Lessons From Josh Waitzkin's "Art Of Learning"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad1aeN-Q6RA/Yad0M3A7PzI/AAAAAAAALZw/kpdVscMcAywG-lYQS-iEUMJ1XpAP7eQ3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/The%2BArt%2BOf%2BLearning%2BWaitzkin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Art Of Learnng By Josh Waitzkin" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad1aeN-Q6RA/Yad0M3A7PzI/AAAAAAAALZw/kpdVscMcAywG-lYQS-iEUMJ1XpAP7eQ3ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/The%2BArt%2BOf%2BLearning%2BWaitzkin.png" title="The Art Of Learnng" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780743277464" target="_blank">The Art Of Learning</a> is a semi-autobiography about Josh Waitzkin, the former chess prodigy, and martial artist. The book contains the experiences he accumulated about efficient learning - how to pick up crucial learning skills that will deepen your knowledge of your craft, no matter what it is.<br /><br />Most of Waitzkin's experiences stem from his time playing chess at the highest level, winning Tai Chi Push Hands championships around the world, and his observation of top competitors like himself. A lot of important life lessons reside in this book, a few of which are: </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">POPULARITY CAN BE HARMFUL TO MASTERY</span></p><p>After Josh won a couple of prestigious chess competitions his father wrote a memoir titled <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780140230383" target="_blank">Searching For Bobby Fischer: A Father’s Story of Love and Ambition (1988)</a>. A movie was released based on the memoir (same title) in 1993, drawing attention to the young Josh Waitzkin and his talents. The attention generated by the movie distracted young Josh from what mattered to him and his performance dipped. According to Josh, <b>"After the movie came out I couldn’t go to a tournament without being surrounded by fans asking for autographs. Instead of focusing on chess positions, I was pulled into the image of myself as a celebrity. Since childhood I had treasured the sublime study of chess, the swim through ever-deepening layers of complexity. I could spend hours at a chessboard and stand up from the experience on fire with insight about chess, basketball, the ocean, psychology, love, art. The game was exhilarating and also spiritually calming. It centered me. Chess was my friend. Then, suddenly, the game became alien and disquieting.</b><br /></p><b>"At a young age I came to know that there is something profoundly hollow about the nature of fame. I had spent my life devoted to artistic growth and was used to the sweaty-palmed sense of contentment one gets after many hours of intense reflection. This peaceful feeling had nothing to do with external adulation, and I yearned for a return to that innocent, fertile time. I missed just being a student of the game, but there was no escaping the spotlight. I found myself dreading chess, miserable before leaving for tournaments. I played without inspiration and was invited to appear on television shows. I smiled."</b><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">ALERTNESS IS PRICELESS</span></p><p>The ability to be aware of your own presence and immediate environment is valuable to high-level competitors. This level of attention fuels self-knowledge as well as the ability to learn from anyone and anything. According to the author, <b>"Once a simple inhalation can trigger a state of tremendous alertness, our moment-to-moment awareness becomes blissful, like that of someone half-blind who puts on glasses for the first time. We see more as we walk down the street. The everyday becomes exquisitely beautiful. The notion of boredom becomes alien and absurd as we naturally soak in the lovely subtleties of the 'banal.' All experiences become richly intertwined by our new vision, and then new connections begin to emerge. Rainwater streaming on a city pavement will teach a pianist how to flow. A leaf gliding easily with the wind will teach a controller how to let go. A housecat will teach me how to move. All moments become each moment... Presence has taught me how to live."</b></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">BE ALL YOUR EMOTIONS</span></p><p>There is a common notion that anger, sadness, even tiredness are enemies of competition. However, Waitzkin believes these emotions are vital to performance and life if you do not shy away, bottle, or shut them up. He writes,<b> "Once you are no longer swept away by your emotions and can sit with them even when under pressure, you will probably notice that certain states of mind inspire you more than others. For some it may be happiness, for others it may be fear. To each his own. Petrosian was very flexible. Miller, Hernandez, and Robinson worked well with anger. Kasparov and Jordan were intimidators: they inspired themselves by wilting opponents. Once you understand where you lie on this spectrum, the next step is to become self-sufficient by creating your own inspiring conditions."</b><br /><br />Situations are never ideal and the world always comes up with unconducive scenarios that make us uncomfortable and distracted. Having said that, Waitzkin believes people who understand who they are will always create conditions that would allow them to survive or thrive. According to him, this is the key to rising beyond difficult circumstances and maintaining sanity where others might wilt or give up. He writes, <b>"Most of us are a complicated mix of greys. We have areas of stability and others in which we are wobbly. In my experience the greatest of artists and competitors are masters of navigating their own psychologies, playing on their strengths, controlling the tone of battle so that it fits with their personalities."<br /></b><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780743277464" target="_blank">The Art Of Learning</a> is a frank dive into what makes a high-level competitor as well as how to acquire true self-knowledge which seems key to learning of different kinds. Highly recommended.</p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-53589946229217975362021-12-14T04:26:00.003+00:002021-12-14T04:26:00.198+00:00Writers' Letters - Jane Austen To Chinua Achebe by Michael and Orlando Bird - Bok Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KTAPE2UsHgU/YbXr3izBnVI/AAAAAAAALao/r8mi1V-JvlotHmY4jTV_cFC9Wvwem3NfwCNcBGAsYHQ/s800/Writers%2527%2BLetters%2B-%2BJane%2BAusten%2Bto%2BChinua%2BAchebe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Writers' Letters - Michael Bird & Orlando Bird" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KTAPE2UsHgU/YbXr3izBnVI/AAAAAAAALao/r8mi1V-JvlotHmY4jTV_cFC9Wvwem3NfwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Writers%2527%2BLetters%2B-%2BJane%2BAusten%2Bto%2BChinua%2BAchebe.png" title="Writers' Letters - Jane Austen to Chinua Achebe" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780711248755" target="_blank">Writers' Letters</a> is a collection of personal letters from writers to friends, lovers, family, and foes. From Samuel Johnson's letter to his adopted ex-slave Jamaican heir and Mart Twain's adorable letter to Walt Whitman, this is a collection for lovers of all things literature. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780711248755" target="_blank">Writers' Letters</a>is a book exposing the struggles, foibles, and inner lives of writers when they are not professionally crafting a narrative for the public.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHAT STANDS OUT</span><br />The diversity of writers here is a good thing. From differences in ethnicity to genres, you are likely to find one or two of your favourite writers here.<br /><br />I love the background provided for each letter. This gives each correspondence some context, enabling the reader to understand why it was written, to whom, and under which historical circumstances.<br /><br />It was nice seeing prints of the original documents in the book. It gives this collection an authentic flavour.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br />Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for providing a review copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-65775193269833850012021-12-09T04:38:00.006+00:002021-12-09T04:38:00.198+00:00School Of Love by BeKa & Maya: Book Recommendation<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpfXysBYf9k/Ya9I5ehzCNI/AAAAAAAALaM/U61eQ0Vv91gM0-gtjIHK1kaywlfyYskPwCNcBGAsYHQ/s800/School%2Bof%2BLove%2BMaya%2BBeka.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School of Love - Beka and Maya" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpfXysBYf9k/Ya9I5ehzCNI/AAAAAAAALaM/U61eQ0Vv91gM0-gtjIHK1kaywlfyYskPwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/School%2Bof%2BLove%2BMaya%2BBeka.png" title="School of Love - Beka and Maya" width="640" /></a><br />I believe the best of stories are the ones that give you an insight into other minds, presenting a glimpse of what reality is like in the eyes of others. <a href="https://www.europecomics.com/serie/school-of-love/" target="_blank">School of Love: Secret of the Heart </a> is such a story. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.europecomics.com/serie/school-of-love/" target="_blank">School of Love</a> is a fiction that explores what love and relationships look like to middle school students and how they navigate its murky waters. Through the eyes of two friends (Linon and Garance) and their fellow students, we see how love can hurt, or mislead, or heal.<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LIKE IN SCHOOL OF LOVE</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>There would be lots of praise for the quality of the artwork on display here and rightfully so. I'll give the crown to the colour scheme in particular. The illustrator managed to find colour blends that look bright yet not bright enough to distract us from the essence of each panel composition. The whole project looks wonderful and any art lover could spend time admiring the artwork without even bothering with the story. <br /><br />Outside of the artwork, what elevates <a href="https://www.europecomics.com/serie/school-of-love/" target="_blank">School of Love</a> is the dialogue between the two protagonists - Linon and Garance. It is like eavesdropping on two real-life characters. The camaraderie between the two leaps off the page and makes the story believable.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />Call me old-fashioned, but I am not particularly sure about 11-year-olds kissing in public or wherever. As much as I understand the kinds of questions kids of that age might have when it comes to relationships, I am not sure some of the affectionate display between Linon and her crush is something to encourage. Other characters engaging in the same act seem a little older, which is okay.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br />This is for teenagers of all ages as well as adults who love to read good middle school fiction (regardless of whether they have kids of that age or not).<br /><br />Many thanks to Europe Comics for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-87965401647814260212021-11-16T04:02:00.016+00:002021-11-16T04:02:00.166+00:00The Genius of Guillermo Del Toro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fVxoqxFOIA/YYkSY2NLjOI/AAAAAAAALX0/NhjrtDftFb8ixxTNrKBGMafgAs4UMtkpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Guillermo%2BDel%2BToro%2Bby%2BIan%2BNathan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Guillermo Del Toro by Ian Nathan" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fVxoqxFOIA/YYkSY2NLjOI/AAAAAAAALX0/NhjrtDftFb8ixxTNrKBGMafgAs4UMtkpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Guillermo%2BDel%2BToro%2Bby%2BIan%2BNathan.png" title="Guillermo Del Toro by Ian Nathan" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780711263284" target="_blank">Guillermo Del Toro</a> has been one of the most unique movie directors for the past 15 years. His works have an authentic and unique feel that is rare in western cinema. Watching most of his movies has always been not just a treat for the eyes, but always has something for my mind to sink its teeth into.<br /><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9780711263284" target="_blank">Guillermo Del Toro, The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work</a>, is a book that delves into the beginnings of Del Toro, his interests, and how he developed his aesthetic. It examines the movie's director's development, his missteps, and how he almost lost his sense of self thanks to the cutthroat environment of Hollywood.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK</span><br />I love how the author allowed space for the director's own words about his processes. I love reading Del Toro's words about what was going through his mind during the creation of his ideas.<br /><br />The images in the book illuminate what kind of director Del Toro is. Being able to glimpse into a few pages of his actual notebook to see how he constructs his ideas in words and pictures was exciting.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS THE BOOK FOR?</span><br />This is for Del Toro's fans, both newcomers and long-time admirers. It gives an insight into what makes the director tick as well as what he considers as good movies.<br /><br />Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for providing a review copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-28448842895584402582021-11-09T04:41:00.010+00:002021-11-09T04:41:00.187+00:00Art As An Elevated Form Of Communication<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wk9dzVvHhUo/YYQ3rCzTgYI/AAAAAAAALXc/Xs_lQyDYdy4aGSKx7V8LwPH_FxhewmzTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Teaching%2BArtfully.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching Artfully by Meghan Parker & Craig Yoe" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wk9dzVvHhUo/YYQ3rCzTgYI/AAAAAAAALXc/Xs_lQyDYdy4aGSKx7V8LwPH_FxhewmzTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Teaching%2BArtfully.png" title="Teaching Artfully by Parker & Yoe" width="640" /></a></div><br />Art is usually considered inferior to text - an examination of people's attitude to comics versus normal textbooks is a testament to that. However, what if art is actually an elevated form of communication? What if the medium has more to offer us if we open our minds and allow it to show us its secrets. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781951038205" target="_blank">Teaching Artfully</a> is all about the exploration of the possibilities of art for both the artists and the people who consume it as a medium.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKES</span><br />This book reminds me of Nick Sousanis' <a href="https://www.ysstephen.com/2015/10/nick-sousanis-unflattening-on.html" target="_blank">Unflattening</a>, hence I was not surprised to see his name at the bottom of the foreword. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781951038205" target="_blank">Teaching Artfully</a> is a meditation on the nature of art and how it can help us understand ourselves and the world as well. It is a book that points out the potential of art to inspire out-of-the-box thinking and perspectives.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br />It does not matter if you are an artist or not, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781951038205" target="_blank">Teaching Artfully</a> is for anyone who is open to learning what art has to offer for their self-development as a human being.<br /><br />Many thanks to Diamond Books for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-14022084590140347112021-10-26T04:02:00.007+01:002021-10-26T04:02:00.198+01:00Mafiosa by Barbito, Carita, and Pattison - Book Recommendation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5G4FmBrBlB4/YTJxbTtTcXI/AAAAAAAALTY/VM_z2Kw0waEfk2C3h2yoFM15vCDsEN_OgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Mafiosa%2BBarbito%2BAlfano%2BRobins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mafiosa by Barbito, Carita, Pattison" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5G4FmBrBlB4/YTJxbTtTcXI/AAAAAAAALTY/VM_z2Kw0waEfk2C3h2yoFM15vCDsEN_OgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Mafiosa%2BBarbito%2BAlfano%2BRobins.jpg" title="Mafiosa Dark Horse" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mafiosa-Sunshine-Barbito-ebook/dp/B0989JNKLX/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=mafiosa&qid=1630696067&sr=8-11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mafiosa</a> is a story of Nicoletta, a young lady in a Sicilian-American crime family, who is deemed unsuitable for taking a big role in the family business because she is a woman. Determined to prove herself, she engages in a few reckless ventures that turn out to be profitable yet attract enough trouble to plunge her family into crisis.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKES</span><br />The colour scheme is used well to suit the overall theme of crime, blood, and deceit. The dark tones used to depict the overall mood in some of the panels are top-notch.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />The characters are hard to get into, and that includes the protagonist. I find it difficult to sympathise with her though she has good reasons to be agitated. I wish the plot is worked a bit more to make us care about her feelings.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br />For fans of crime novels, of course. Though the protagonist might not be everyone's cup of tea.<br /><br />Many thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-43286996162906103642021-09-30T04:52:00.019+01:002021-09-30T04:52:00.224+01:00On Tyranny (Graphic Edition): 20 Lessons From The Twentieth Century by Snyder & Krug - Book Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13snM9EjIJ0/YLebOpHAduI/AAAAAAAALFc/Pvd6srg_n90N7cTHiFdwfSyJraMDJ9bwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/On-Tyranny-Snyder-Krug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13snM9EjIJ0/YLebOpHAduI/AAAAAAAALFc/Pvd6srg_n90N7cTHiFdwfSyJraMDJ9bwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/On-Tyranny-Snyder-Krug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote>"To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle."</blockquote><p><br /><br />In penning <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781984860392" target="_blank">On Tyranny</a>, Snyder and Krug created a masterpiece of a graphic novel that presents historical lessons from nations that have fallen into dictatorship in recent past. This is a book that calls us into action to defend our countries against influence(s) that may seek to take it over in the way of division and hate.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK</span><br />There is always an unconscious assumption about people living in countries that are under despotic rule. We think they are weak-willed or easily led. We assume any normal person ought to see the kind of disaster that befell them coming a mile away. <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781984860392" target="_blank">On Tyranny: 20 Lessons From The Twentieth Century</a> shows us how hard it is to spot despotism when it is looming over us, especially if we are not the ones feeling the pinch. It tells us that tyranny appeals to a very deep-seated desire within us for order and certainty. More importantly, ruthless leaders know how to harness this desire and use it to their benefit.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91qohk2qIfL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" height="458" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91qohk2qIfL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br />Ultimately, this is a book for anyone living in a democratic country. It is a warning that a state of peace and security in any nation never lasts unless most citizens work to sustain it. It teaches us that this role is even more important today in a social media age where anyone can either contribute to falsehood or promote truth and kindness. All in all, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781984860392" target="_blank">On Tyranny</a> is a timely book for our times and worth a read for everyone that is of voting age.<br /><br />Many thanks to Ten Speed Press for providing a review copy.</p><p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-19304785041520348602021-09-07T04:58:00.007+01:002021-09-07T04:58:00.212+01:00The Keeper of the Little Folk (Fairy Balm) by Carbone, Barrau & Forns - Book Recommendation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJf8wEX-AI4/YTZzpYFofUI/AAAAAAAALTw/b4yINq4rEFYXDosZArYPZP0TzKAwZL45QCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/the%2Bkeeper%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blittle%2Bfolk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Keeper of the Little Folk" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJf8wEX-AI4/YTZzpYFofUI/AAAAAAAALTw/b4yINq4rEFYXDosZArYPZP0TzKAwZL45QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/the%2Bkeeper%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blittle%2Bfolk.png" title="The Keeper of the Little Folk by Carbone, Barrau & Forns" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the tale of Elina who, discovering that her ill grandmother is <a href="https://www.europecomics.com/album/1-the-fairy-balm/" target="_blank">the keeper of the little folk</a>, had to step in for her in stemming a threat that is about to send the fairy community into crisis.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKES</span><br />The art evokes warm feelings in me. The colour combination and the detail that went into the paintings make this book a collectible.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />The story is a bit cliche and predictable but charming nonetheless.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br />This is for lovers of fairytales of all kinds, though this story is as traditional as they come. <br /><br />Many thanks to <a href="https://www.europecomics.com/album/1-the-fairy-balm/" target="_blank">Europe Comics </a>for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-76575552865090947362021-08-31T04:31:00.006+01:002021-08-31T04:31:00.190+01:00The Decagon House Murders, Volume 1 by Ayatsuji & Kiyohara - Review<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2TKLf6nqgM/YSX_-7sTYII/AAAAAAAALSc/Qa5eKIGZkuMFceP3RDgBVSMl25ood752wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Decagon%2BHouse%2BMurders%2BKiyohara%2BAyatsuji.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Decagon House Murders Vol 1" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2TKLf6nqgM/YSX_-7sTYII/AAAAAAAALSc/Qa5eKIGZkuMFceP3RDgBVSMl25ood752wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Decagon%2BHouse%2BMurders%2BKiyohara%2BAyatsuji.png" title="The Decagon House Murders Vol 1 - Yukito Ayatsuji, Hiro Kiyohara" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781782276340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Decagon House Murders (Volume 1)</a> is based on Yukito Ayatsuji's 1987 mystery novel. The plot is about a university mystery club whose members took a vacation on a remote island where they stayed in a house that happens to be a crime scene. An unknown assailant had killed a family in that house many years ago in a manner that attracted the nation's attention. The manga focuses on the characters within the club, their individual theories about the murder case, as well as the strange happenings that are occurring both on and off the island.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKES</span><br />The art is good to look at and the characters are distinct enough. The dialogue flows very well and the background to the story is well-explained. In short, this is a tale that is easy to get into.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />I find it difficult taking <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781782276340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Decagon House Murders</a> seriously. Apart from the weird codenames that are forced on many of the characters, the plot seemed contrived as some of the situations the characters are put in aren't realistic nor believable.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />WHO IS IT FOR?</span><br />This seems to be a book for any kind of mystery novel fans. The enjoyment factor might be debatable.<br /><br />Many thanks to Kodansha for providing a review copy.</p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-39886103174604122932021-08-24T04:13:00.012+01:002021-08-24T04:13:00.199+01:00Championess by Zekas, Shanker & Puentes - Boook Recommendation<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPUdJqBVIE8/YR5LCzow8_I/AAAAAAAALRw/VYdVErqwVXQLR3cvcMquikNTaUcIu0h5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/championess%2Bshanker%2Bzekas%2Bpuentes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Championess by Shanker, Puentes, Zekas" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPUdJqBVIE8/YR5LCzow8_I/AAAAAAAALRw/VYdVErqwVXQLR3cvcMquikNTaUcIu0h5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/championess%2Bshanker%2Bzekas%2Bpuentes.png" title="Championess Graphic Novel" width="640" /></a></p><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781681160764" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Championess </a>is the story of Elizabeth and Tess, based on the real-life story of Elizabeth Wilkinson, an 18th-century mixed-race bare-knuckle female boxer living in London. <br /><br />In this graphic novel, we explore how Elizabeth fought against poverty, betrayal, racism, and many other obstacles to establishing herself as one of the best pugilists of that period.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">LIKES</span><br />The story flows like a movie. The plot is smooth and there is a bit of surprise sprinkled here and there, keeping me invested all through.<br /><br />Also, the colour scheme fits the overall mood of the story and the fight scenes are dynamic enough to make readers pause long enough to enjoy the art.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br />Fans of boxing, historical graphic novels, and seekers who want to learn what it takes to build their own stuff amid stiff opposition will find interesting stuff in this book.<br /><br />Many thanks to Legendary Comics for providing a review copy.<p></p>Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-72657927802940870462021-08-19T04:50:00.006+01:002021-08-19T04:50:00.190+01:00The Secret Of Chocolate by Franckie Alarcon - Book Recommendation<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvcNZ_7uGw/YRo1CcVkA9I/AAAAAAAALRM/LuZqOn6yqQoNjCHbwyeuT4cG6bNubBxHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/The%2BSecret%2Bof%2BChocoloate%2BAlarcon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Secret Of Chocolate by Franckie Alarcon" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfvcNZ_7uGw/YRo1CcVkA9I/AAAAAAAALRM/LuZqOn6yqQoNjCHbwyeuT4cG6bNubBxHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/The%2BSecret%2Bof%2BChocoloate%2BAlarcon.jpg" title="Franckie Alarcon Chocolate" width="640" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3keMqbp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Of Chocolate </a>is an author's journey through the process of making chocolate. It details the process and procedure of making chocolate confectionery and the care that goes into it. Through the eyes and hands of chocolate makers and cocoa producers, we are able to share the joy of growing a crop that goes into making one of the most delectable treats in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK</span><br />The enthusiasm of the author is infectious. It is clear he loves chocolate and the process of making it. Through his eyes, the reader is able to appreciate the efforts and techniques that go into creating some of the most popular treats on the market today.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">DISLIKES</span><br />The font choice for this book is not suitable for the eyes. It is curly and requires extra attention to decipher some of the phrases used. It is a poor choice of font, if I may say so.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIjd7OVzgA8/YRo24f5AI3I/AAAAAAAALRU/AKa5aBOmJJkU21nm5NZICpaI4yhL14HSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/9781681122786.IN01_7dd9c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Secret of Chocolate" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIjd7OVzgA8/YRo24f5AI3I/AAAAAAAALRU/AKa5aBOmJJkU21nm5NZICpaI4yhL14HSACLcBGAsYHQ/w522-h640/9781681122786.IN01_7dd9c.jpg" width="522" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br />If you love chocolate and are curious about the level of creativity and toil that goes into making it, there is a high chance you will enjoy reading <a href="https://amzn.to/3keMqbp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Of Chocolate</a>.<br /><br />Many thanks to NBM Publishing for providing a review copy.<p></p><br />Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587918035216176923.post-68654005582301164772021-08-17T04:42:00.001+01:002021-08-17T04:42:00.198+01:00Crossroads: I Live Where I Like by Benson, Trantraal et al - Book Recommendation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBi7Vzbwh_U/YRKCa-Pq7HI/AAAAAAAALP8/PFMtyaNDwZUNe6g1a4gHDoqCvVqzQg7xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Crossroads%2BI%2BLive%2BWhere%2BI%2BLike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crossroads: I Live Where I Like" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBi7Vzbwh_U/YRKCa-Pq7HI/AAAAAAAALP8/PFMtyaNDwZUNe6g1a4gHDoqCvVqzQg7xwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Crossroads%2BI%2BLive%2BWhere%2BI%2BLike.jpg" title="Crossroads by Koni Benson" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781629638355" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crossroads: I Live Where I Like</a> is a graphic novel that retells some parts of the South African apartheid story through the lens of gender and housing. In this book, we see how South African women organised and resisted the government's attempt to bulldoze Crossroads, a settlement created by women who had nowhere to live because of the government's segregation policies.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK</span><br /><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/969/9781629638355" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crossroads</a> contains diverse accounts (more than 50 witnesses) of the atrocities committed during the apartheid period. The book explains the origins of the underhanded tactics used by the government to sow distrust and division within black communities.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uH8XYr8Jrjg/YRKDUQvg0-I/AAAAAAAALQE/Oiw7MVaE4YY239hI4IFf7J4J95stfEQDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s828/Crossroads%2BKoni%2BBenson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crossroads Koni Benson" border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uH8XYr8Jrjg/YRKDUQvg0-I/AAAAAAAALQE/Oiw7MVaE4YY239hI4IFf7J4J95stfEQDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w464-h640/Crossroads%2BKoni%2BBenson.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>DISLIKES</span><br />None.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHO THIS IS FOR</span><br />Those interested in the historical happenings during the South African apartheid regime will find new perspectives and narratives here.<br /><br />Many thanks to PM Press for providing a review copy.<p></p><br />Y.S. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00450558014725101721noreply@blogger.com0