Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

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The King and Dr.Nick

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I’m one of 3 people in the entire world who aren’t obsessed with Elvis Presley.
I’ve never really understood what the big deal was about Elvis although I have to admit his moves impressed me.
I’m also one of 5 people who didn’t know the back story and controversy behind Elvis’ death until I picked up a copy of The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me.

Regardless of what you think about Dr.George Nichopoulos, you have to hand it to the man for being loyal to Elvis and staying loyal to him even years after his death. This man clearly cared a great deal about Elvis Presley and it shows in every line in his book. Its sad he lost his career in the aftermath of the King’s death but flipping through the book,you don’t detect any anger or bitterness…just an underlying tone of regret that he didn’t have the knowledge he has today.Too bad he can’t turn back the clock and re-do everything.

The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me is a special loving tribute from a wronged friend to Elvis Presley.In the book,the doctor gives his side of his life with and after Elvis.Whether you believe him or not,you owe it to yourself to read this book–if for nothing,to at least catch a glimpse of Elvis at his best,while performing for the adoring crowds.



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The Sweet By and By

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

When I heard country music superstar Sara Evans had written a book,I rolled my eyes – seriously.I’m just being honest here.I know she’s an amazing singer but I didn’t think she could write.I’m glad to report back to you that not only can she write but The Sweet By and By,her collaboration with Rachel Hauck is a surprisingly entertaining page turner.

The book has a solid theme and it is well written.I can say for certain its one of those books you will read in one sitting because once you start,you wont want to put it down until the very last page.Will the book win any literature awards?No…and I doubt thats what Sara Evans was aiming for when she worked on The Sweet By and By but for a first time author,Sara Evans did a really good job and hopefully this is just the beginning of many more great stories to come.

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Obstacles Welcome

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

If there is one thing I learned from reading Ralph De la Vega’s Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life, its the fact that sacrifice is a necessity in order for one to achieve any type of success.



To achieve true greatness,one must combine sacrifice and a tightly focused vision.Ralph De la Vega emphasizes the importance of having a plan and discipline to follow through with the said plan.Let’s face it,most of us are excellent at making plans. Execution however is a whole different beast mainly because following through means encountering obstacles and frankly most of us would much rather avoid obstacles than deal with them head on.

This is where Obstacles Welcome comes in.Ralph De la Vega encourages us to look for the opportunities in each obstacles as oppossed to just throwing up our hands in defeat.

Obstacles Welcome is a well written book that wont make a you a million bucks richer (nor does it promise too by the way) but it will certainly change the way you view and deal with obstacles.

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The Power Of Respect

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

I’m about to reveal a very important secret so pull your chair closer to the computer screen and pay close attention: Want to be respected?Try respecting others.

Turns out your mother was right when she said “treat people the way you want to be treated”.
Sadly respect is a concept that so few people in the world today are familiar with.Can you imagine how better off the world would be if we all took the time to respect each other – in our homes,at our places of work,in our schools and even in places of worship?
That is where Deborah Norville’s brilliant book The Power of Respect comes in.




The Power Of Respect explains what respect is and the multiple benefits that come with it. Using stories based on interviews with the people she’s met as the Inside Edition anchor, Deborah Norville makes a rather compelling case for The Power of Respect.The book is straight forward and it’s filled with respect tips and reminders at the end of the chapters that clarify the core message and reinforce the personal benefits that come with respecting not just oneself but others as well.

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Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently

Monday, October 5th, 2009

I hate Marcus Buckingham.
I hate statistics.
I hate cute men with dazzling smiles who think they’ve got women figured out.
I hate cute statisticians with dazzling smiles who think they’ve got women figured out.
Marcus Buckingham is a cute statistician with a dazzling smile who has got women figured out.
So,I hate Marcus Buckingham.



The first time I glimpsed at the cover of Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently,I literally rolled my eyes and thought “who is this man and what gives him the right to think he can write a book about women finding their strongest life?”But still I had the book and I’m very curious by nature so I dug in.

A few pages into Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently,I found myself literally screaming-yes,I can totally relate to that and that and that and darn it,that too.Everything Marcus Buckingham wrote was on point,backed by research and statistics and at the end of it all meant to empower women everywhere.

The only negative for me about this book was that it was filled with percentages and figures to explain situations and like I mentioned earlier,I’m not a numbers kind of girl.If you’re like me,fear not because Marcus Buckingham breaks every percentage and number into “regular language” so you don’t feel like you’re missing out on some important data.

I love the fact that Marcus Buckingham filled Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently with examples of real women struggling with real issues we all deal with on a daily basis and most importantly how the women dealt with these issues and succeeded in finding some kind of healthy balance and fulfillment in their lives.

Marcus Buckingham has proven with Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently that you don’t have to be a woman to actually write about women’s strength and happiness.Simply put this book is about that very old cliche:”….life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it” in my opinion except Marcus Buckingham breaks it down beautifully in a book guaranteed to give you many “aha” moments and open your eyes to the endless possibilities that lie before you if you have the courage to follow your instincts.

Okay,so I hate statistics but I don’t really hate Marcus Buckingham because he knows his stuff and deserves a standing ovation for such an awesome book.Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently should be on every woman’s reading list.

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Knockout Entrepreneur

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

I badly want to sit here and lie to you that George Foreman’s Knockout Entrepreneur is all that and alot more but the truth is while the book covers the basic widely known business principles,it doesn’t reveal any new secrets and strategies.

Knockout Entrepreneur actually comes off as an extended never ending pitch for the George Foreman grill,a shameless and often times nagging plug for The George Foreman Youth and Community Center and a constant reminder of the fact that Foreman became a world champion again while in his forties.

I did love the conversational tone Foreman uses in Knockout Entrepreneur and the fact that he seems to emphasize the fundamentals of running your own business : always show up,work hard,deliver more than expected,embrace change,know your enemy,don’t take short cuts,positive thinking,always give back etc,etc.

Although I admire what Foreman is doing for the amateur wanna-be boxers of Houston,I didn’t appreciate having his Community Center being shoved down my throat in every other chapter.

Intentionally or not,what started out as a good business book ended up being a big billboard advertisement for the Foreman girll and Foreman’s community center.Still,if you’re looking for an easy read to re-inspire you in your entrepreneurial pursuits,Knockout Entrepreneur might just be what you need.

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Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

All my life I’ve been paralyzed with fear and worry (they always seem to go together,don’t they?).I was afraid to learn how to drive,it seemed so scary–but I did it and after a few tries (long story) I now have a driver’s license.I was afraid something would go wrong when I was expecting my son and I was worried I would never ever in a million years be able to give birth to another human being–well,nothing went wrong and I delivered a very healthy baby.I worry about bills each month and yet,month after month the bills have been paid even when I’ve had to pull the rent out of a hat at the very last minute.I could go on and on about the things that keep me tossing and turning each night but I am here to talk about a break through I had courtesy of a wonderful book titled Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado.



In Fearless,Max Lucado dares you and I to literally imagine our lives without fear.What would you set out to accomplish if you didn’t let fear paralyze you?In today’s world when it seems like everything around us is falling apart and everyone’s situation seems even more hopeless than ever before,Max Lucado,in his wonderfully written book offers us a glimpse of hope and reassures us that there is really nothing to be afraid of.Everything will be okay if only we learn to trust in a much higher power and believe in ourselves long enough to let go of fear and live our lives to the fullest.

Fearless couldn’t have been written at a better time.I honestly believe everyone out there — christian,muslim,atheist,black,white,green,whatever..everyone needs the message this book delivers.I also agree whole heartedly with Max Lucado,the best way to beat fear is by doing..take action.Whatever your fear is,by facing it,analyzing it and taking action,you will not only conquer that fear but you will triumph!I give Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear two very big thumbs up and I highly recommend it.

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