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The Greatest Basketball Player I Ever Saw
The Greatest Basketball Player I Ever Saw by Dr. Len Bergantino is a touching mix of sports biography and autobiography. It is likely the most unique biography you’ll ever have the pleasure of reading. Doctor Bergantino is an eccentric writer who has already written on various subjects. However, with this book, he has turned his hand to writing a sports biography. The strange part is he has chosen to write it about a sportsman you will never have heard of who died at the tender age of 18.
The book is a biography of Billy Finn, Bergantino’s high school best friend who died in a car crash before he ever had a chance to become famous. Bergantino spends much of the book explaining why he thinks Finn was the best basketball player of all time. Finn’s abilities are described as almost supernatural. This part of the book will likely appeal to anyone interested in basketball or amateur sports.
The book isn’t just about Billy Finn, the sportsman, however. Instead, it is a monument to Finn, Bergantino’s friend. I think this is the part of the book that will really appeal to most readers. Bergantino shares with us, the reader, touching anecdotes of what he and Finn got up to as young men. His love for his childhood friend, even 50 years after his passing, is evident and touching.
Bergantino’s affection for Finn is almost infectious. The book is written in such a way that the reader finds themselves caring about a young man they had never heard of before. Finn’s personality is described as warts and all. The two young men don’t always see eye to eye, and Bergantino doesn’t shy away from this. Even the best of friends annoy each other from time to time.
The book is a short, easy read. Bergantino’s writing is energetic if a bit frantic at times. He is a fan of hyperbole, and some of his claims about Finn may have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The eccentric style is enjoyable for most of the book, but the final chapter, in which he talks about how Finn has been reincarnated, may leave some readers, myself included, feeling a little cold. It feels like this last chapter goes off on a little bit of a tangent.
All in all, The Greatest Basketball Player I Ever Saw is a touching biography of a young man you more than likely have never heard of. But, whether you’re a sports fan or not, the book is mostly a beautiful monument to a man whose best friend still bitterly misses him.
Pages: 81 | ASIN : B0865X1P48
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward: How To Plan, Achieve, and Enjoy The Journey does not read like any average inspirational book. Author Zander Sprague uses relatable experiences to convey his message. This informative book will enable you to accomplish all your goals in the timeframe you want. The author shares moments in his life that gave him life-changing lessons. Sprague will make you rethink some of the decisions you have made over the years and get you to turn over a new leaf.
What I love most about this helpful book is that the author took the effort to explain how each solution he provides works. As a reader, you feel the presence of the author as he guides you on the right path. He provides many examples, obtained through research and personal experience, to explain why the steps are laid out the way they are.
Zander Sprague’s language is simple and easy to follow. Each chapter is broken down in a way that readers will be able to easily comprehend the information and can reflect on the topic. The author uses humor in parts to convey his message. The author shares his wisdom to help you remove the barriers that are stopping you from enjoying life.
The chapters on planning and achieving your dream were among the best for me. In these chapters, the author provides readers with a step-by-step guide detailing how they can achieve what they previously presumed to be impossible. He makes everything appear doable and straightforward, if one has a strategy. The overarching feeling of this inspirational book is positivity. I also enjoyed reading about ‘epic choices’ and capitalizing on one’s strengths.
EPIC Begins With 1 Step Forward: How To Plan, Achieve, and Enjoy The Journey is a comprehensive manual for hacking the most challenging things in life. This thought-provoking book will guide readers on their personal transformation journey.
Pages: 129 | ASIN : B09KZNJFBD
Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership
![Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership : Creative Strategies and Tactics to become the best Christian Boss (The Diamond Soul Character Book 2) by [George Vasilca]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41zqDSkkDWL.jpg)
Few things get my attention like the subject of leadership. Being a professional soldier for over twenty years so much of my career was based on acquiring a leadership foundation and developing it throughout the years. The Army prides itself on creating leaders of quality, whether they end their service in retirement or go on to attain the highest office in the land. So when I had the opportunity to read Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership I got a little tingly.
The author presents his case with clarity and a well developed thought process, making it easy for those who have had no prior training in the matter. Then he goes an extra step and ties in basic Christian principles for good measure, thus ensuring a leader of moral and spiritual quality if you choose to follow this discipline.
The religious aspect was new for me, but it read well. He flows from one subject to the next, laying out a plan of action while introducing the most important tenets of leadership on a basic level. It might be easy to dismiss the book entirely, as a hefty portion of the population does not consider itself religious, but the strength of his conviction shines through the book with the strength to at least open minds.
Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership is also part of George Vasilca’s Diamond Character series that is intended to produce well balanced people of character. This was a great book and a great starting point for anyone willing to become more than what they are.
I recommend Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership to novice AND experienced leaders. As everyone who has ever been successful in being in charge of others knows, you can never stop learning, adapting, and adjusting your delivery.
Pages: 302 | ASIN: B08MDMD3NB
Mompreneur
Mompreneur: Running a family while being a boss by Tanisha Jamison is a enlightening business guide to help women successfully care for a family and own a business without neglecting one or the other. The author is a mother of four and a small business owner of a childcare center. The intention of this book is to inspire other mompreneurs by offering helpful suggestions and ideas that will improve the work-life balance. Topics covered in this book include how to avoid procrastination and self-sabotage, alleviating stress, gaining positive self esteem, being resilient, treating work as a business not a hobby, and finding a proper balance between work and your children/marriage without feeling guilty.
Tanisha Jamison has provided quite a bit of useful information to help the reader to simplify and improve their busy lives. Although a large amount of the advice given is aimed specifically at working mothers who have a strong support system of family, there were many things mentioned that could be applied to anyone, not just working moms, such as good time management tips, stress relief suggestions, and tips for keeping a clean house. I liked that the author asked questions to help readers use some of the principles in the book in their own lives. As I was reading the book, there were many times where I found myself thinking of how the information provided could help me to reach a better work-life balance. There were a lot of facts and statistics given and various studies mentioned, however, I would have liked to see proper references and footnotes for readers who might like to investigate these topics further.
Mompreneur is an empowering, engaging and educational book that I highly recommend to mothers, but the information in the book can be used by anyone who wants to find a balance between work and life that will ensure they succeed in both areas.
Pages: 162 | ASIN: B08QZNZ6SH
A Foundation for Winning
Solid Ground provides sound guidance and coaching to help readers be successful in both life and work. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote this book as a roadmap to help you find success, purpose, and happiness. There are many confusing messages being promoted today about achieving success, finding one’s purpose, and finding happiness, and many people are given bad advice through social media’s constant bombardment, campus propaganda, and mainstream media. Trying to sort through your life choices while constantly being reminded to “follow your dreams, do what you love, find your passion, and sell your personal brand” can be pretty intimidating. If you are a person who wants to find success and happiness, who has dreams and ambitions, and the talent to achieve them, but in all the noise and nonsense and clutter of modern life, you’re not quite sure how to get where you want to go, this book is for you.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about success?
The most common misconception is that you have to choose between success and happiness. You can have both, either or neither, because they are unrelated. In my experience, happiness and success are two completely different things. To oversimplify, happiness is the natural result of learning and growing as a person and helping others.
Success is the result of hard work, talent, persistence, and continuous improvement. People are often under the impression that success equates to wealth, but wealth can be measured in many ways. You can be wealthy with money, power, and possessions, or you can be wealthy with family, friends, strong faith, good health, a great reputation, and high self-esteem. Success is the gradual realization of a worthy ideal.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?
Find your talent and focus on that. You will always have time outside of work to pursue your passions. But when you find your talent, you’ve found your sweet spot. There are few things sadder than older men and women who didn’t cultivate their talents and in middle age are filled with regret over things they didn’t do. You don’t want to be fifty years old and stuck in a boring job that doesn’t challenge you or make good use of your talents.
I felt like you provided a lot of pragmatic advice. What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
Your foundation for success must be built on Solid Ground. There are still 5 fundamental requirements for long-term success in your life and your career. These qualities will set the stage for a happy and successful personal life and put you in a position to win in your career, and are: Personal Character, Hard Work, Goal Setting, Helping Others, and Self- Awareness.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Twitter
SOLID GROUND shatters the popular myths in today’s culture about how to create a successful life and career. Tom Lewis offers both a road map and a compass for discovering True North. Following these principles will not only put you on SOLID GROUND, it will significantly improve your chances of finding success and happiness.
TOM LEWIS is an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist who overcame career setbacks, tough competition, and a life-threatening illness to reach the pinnacle of success – and more importantly – fulfillment. He shares his journey and his advice in this very personal and profound book.
Ten years from now you will thank yourself for reading this book.
It will change the trajectory of your life.
INTRODUCTION FROM SOLID GROUND:
To be successful in life, I have learned that you have to put first things first, but today’s popular culture has it backwards.
- You can’t find your passion until you develop your work ethic.
- You can’t find your purpose until you discover who you are.
- You can’t find your happiness until you find your talent and help others.
- You can’t find success until you earn it.
What we need today, probably more than ever, is a return to the fundamentals of building a good life—one that is full of goodness, success, and even happiness. And it’s not really that complicated. SOLID GROUND presents a model for success that has worked for centuries—and it will work today.
If you are willing to put in the time and effort to invest in your future, this book is for you.
All proceeds from SOLID GROUND will be donated to T.W. Lewis Foundation which supports higher education, healthcare, youth character education and children and families in need.
Solid Ground: A Foundation for Winning in Work and in Life
![Solid Ground: A Foundation for Winning in Work and in Life by [T.W. Lewis]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41iAszEr6rL.jpg)
T.W. Lewis speaks to everyone in his book Solid Ground; the elderly, young, those who have just started their careers, entrepreneurs, people that want to settle and have families, and many more. Reading Solid Ground: A Foundation For Winning In Work and In Life should be a routine for everyone who wants to change the direction their life is taking as the author has sound advice for everyone. I loved it when T.W. Lewis used his favorite phrases to get his message across. The words he uses enables the reader to connect with the author and the advice he was giving.
The author starts the book by talking about his personal journey. Part one of the book was one of my favorites because T.W. Lewis revealed things about his life that not many people know about. Despite being successful, the author lets us know that he too has had a fair share of challenges during different times in his life. It is encouraging to see a man of T.W. Lewis’ caliber open himself to the world. Personal stories and his individual experiences taught me that with hope, faith, and hard work, everything is achievable.
Solid Ground is divided into five parts. Each part has distinct topics that talk about various life experiences. Apart from the first part where the author talked about his journey, I also enjoyed reading parts three and four which talked about reaching one’s potential and life’s greatest achievements respectively. The two parts spoke to me on a more intimate level as the author made me realize that I can do more for myself. I appreciate T.W. Lewis and his advice as he makes you feel like he is your virtual life coach. His words are gentle and affirming, which is a great element in his writing as he makes the reading experience comfortable. T.W. Lewis makes an excellent counselor not just for students in school, but also for adults who may feel overwhelmed with life’s burdens.
In Solid Ground you will learn about making major decisions, living with people, appreciating what life offers, and aiming higher than the sky. I recommend this book to anyone who feels stuck and has no one to talk to. T.W. Lewis not only offers advice but also cheers the reader up with anecdotes and funny tales in between his narration. The book is perfectly balanced and one can tell when the author is serious about the discussions and when he wants the reader to enjoy some light moments. This is an inspirational personal development book that encourages you to do great things.
Pages: 368 | ASIN: B087H65FF4
Promotion Protocol: Unlock the Secrets of Promotability & Career Success
![Promotion Protocol: Unlock the Secrets of Promotability & Career Success by [Nugent Ed.D., Kim]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/410HfdDoIvL._SY346_.jpg)
Often people work for years without ever being tapped for a promotion or some sort of appreciation for long service. This may prove very demotivating to the person. Others choose to stay in the positions because they feel that that is where they can do the most good. In this instance, the companies provide some sort of appreciation.
This book helps the reader unlock those promotions and appreciations. It helps the reader gain confidence and gain effective communication skills. By applying each one of the tips provided in Promotion Protocol, one can not only become an inspiring person to work with but also a beloved team leader. The tools are practical and simple enough to follow. Dr. Kim Nugent highlights the difference between training and coaching and how the latter is more advisable in an organizational setting. This book is a road map to a more cohesive, more productive, and more beneficial relationship between supervisor and employee.
Dr. Nugent talks about her experience in numerous positions. One particularly important point is the failure of supervisors to appreciate the uniqueness and freshness of the new generation. Their failure to involve the new generation in the administration aspects of the job so that there is a continuous supply of talent to pick from when the time comes for management positions to be refreshed. This is very important. It is something that both managers and employees can learn from. This is not the only instance of the author using her life experiences. These real life stories make for a great learning experience. One is able to learn lessons that stick. She does not window dress either. She lays out her mistakes too. Her ability to realize when she made a mistake is uncanny and inspiring.
The author gives little alphabetized nuggets. These nuggets work like a mnemonic device. It enhances the understanding of subject matter for the reader. This is not a book to merely skim through. It holds many important points that could be instrumental in the path to professional success. The alphabetical resource is absolutely wonderful.
The author has also written the book in a friendly tone. It is engaging. It is conversational. It is not condescending or intimidating. While most cannot reach Dr. Nugent and request mentoring, this book is written in such a way that one feels like they are drinking from the very faucet of advice.
The book is in need of at least one more brush over from an editor. There are several instances of misspelled words and awkward sentences. Otherwise, everything else is good. These little mistakes do not take away from the experience. They do not drop a chip off the gem.
Are you ready to succeed? Are you ready to get out of your own way? Are you ready to be the best that you can be? This book is for you. It will not lecture, it will coach. It will mentor. It will nurture.
Pages: 154 | ASIN: B07DDN1P2F
Anam Cara: Your Soul Friend and Bridge to Enlightenment and Creativity
Humans are on a constant quest for self-actualization. We have a deep need to live in genuine serenity, to discover selves. People always seek to have full control of their mental faculties such that they can meditate without struggling too much.
Anam Cara: Your Soul Friend and Bridge to Enlightenment and Creativity will get one on the right path. To open the floodgates of creativity, one needs to have peace of mind and be free of emotional baggage. This audio book is a road map to using the soul friend to achieve these. The soul friend is a non-judgmental confidante who helps an individual live to their full God-given potential. The book urges the importance of the body in accessing the mind. The science of breathing is used as an example of how one can access their mind. By breathing properly, one relaxes and eventually accesses the deepest parts of their mind. The science of breathing is often used in meditation. One may argue that the soul friend would best be a therapist or religious leader but that defeats the purpose. The point of anam cara is candor and intimacy.
This book also guides the reader through the 42 confessions to the soul, these are essential in spiritual growth. Among the most important aspects of self-empowerment is selfless service. Glenville Ashby talks about being completely used up by the time of death. Giving oneself to the society with no expectations by doing the simplest of things like offering comfort to a troubled friend. Mr. Ashby also talks about thoughts creating reality. God would not punish his own creations by blessing some and leaving others in anguish. Humans are meant to create their own blessings through hard work. This is a very interesting point of view. It makes a lot of sense upon reflection. To further affirm his stand, Glenville talks about Hellen Keller and Stephen Hawking. Their outstanding positivity and contributions to the world are awe-inspiring. The author also introduces the master keys that unlock the portal to the soul. First on the list is gratitude. This is a testament to the adage; no man is an island. The responsibility to be genuinely grateful awakens a flame within humans.
Glenville Ashby has not written this book to malign other therapies but rather to give a counterproductive approach to enlightenment and creativity. The ideas in this book, supported by views from Buddhist principles and Christianity, will force readers to do a thorough audit of their lives. It calls for a shift in practice and thought. The book is well written and inspiring. It is a useful tool for one who seeks to put themselves on a path to true happiness and fulfillment. To live authentically and unencumbered by travelling back and experiencing the magic of humans’ true essence, the soul.
Quality of life is dependent on the choices one makes and the things they focus their energies on. Achieving self-actualization is a great place to start in seeking to live the best life possible. Anam Cara: Your Soul Friend and Bridge to Enlightenment and Creativity is a necessary audio book.
Listening Length: 2 hours and 27 minutes | ASIN: B01DCHO3XW
LITERARY TITAN 