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The Savior/Shadow Principle: A Self-Help Technique and Philosophy Using Archetypes
The book is both a personal memoir and a guide to a self-help technique the author calls the Savior/Shadow Principle. It blends mythology, psychology, and spirituality, drawing especially from the figures of Hekate and Jesus. McAfee takes readers through her journey from traditional Christianity into ChristoPaganism, then back into a reimagined Christianity. Along the way, she shares how she developed a meditative practice that uses archetypes of light and shadow to encourage self-honesty, growth, and healing. The book weaves in Jungian psychology, mythological parallels, and personal reflection, while offering readers practical ways to explore their inner lives through story and symbol.
I didn’t expect the writing to be so approachable. The author’s voice is warm, even when she’s discussing heavy topics like shame, fear, or midlife crises. She doesn’t hide behind theory or pretend to be an expert. Instead, she writes like someone who’s been in the dark, stumbled around, and finally found a lantern worth sharing. That sincerity resonated with me. At times, the language wanders, especially in sections heavy with history or myth, but that wandering matches the subject. The whole book is about exploration, so the digressions feel more like trails branching off a main path rather than distractions.
I loved the emotional undercurrent. I could feel the author’s vulnerability, her wrestling with faith, and her refusal to gloss over contradictions. That gave the philosophy weight. When she described Hekate lighting the way through shadow, or Jesus pulling someone into the light, it didn’t read like fantasy; it read like a relatable metaphor.
This isn’t a book for someone who wants a neat formula or a rigid system. It’s for seekers. It’s for people who are tired of shallow answers and who want to dig into the messy mix of spirituality, psychology, and story. If you’ve ever felt caught between belief systems, or if you’re curious about how myth and archetype can help uncover truth about yourself, this book has something to offer. It’s personal, heartfelt, and comforting.
Pages: 174 | ASIN : B0F8PLQMJB
Intentional Choices
The Ten Permissions invites readers to tear up the old rulebook for what it means to “be an adult” and instead write their own permission slips by offering up ten guiding principles to help navigate a world that feels more uncertain and chaotic than the one prior generations knew. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I’ve spent my whole life helping people navigate profound change – and we’re all navigating pretty profound change right now! I wanted to take all of my learning and experience to help people better navigate this world – when the old rules no longer apply, but we’re not sure we’re allowed to write new ones. My message? We are allowed! In fact, we have to – we have to update how we operate in order to thrive in these fluid times.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I’d say my message around self-permission comprises three ideas: firstly, agency – we need to claim our own agency, to make intentional choices that serve us and suit this moment. Second, adaptability, we need to design much more adaptive life paths in a world where change is now a constant. And thirdly, personal authority or self-authoring – we’ve got to back ourselves, to give ourselves permission to make choices that fit life today rather than defaulting to what’s always been done.
What advice do you have for those who want to redefine their future but are afraid of taking that first step to make meaningful changes?
Start small! Start on a Saturday. Start with things that are low risk or low consequence. You don’t have to blow up your life in order to start making meaningful changes. Think in terms of how you manage your days before you think about how you manage your years.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Ten Permissions?
It’s OK if your life doesn’t look or feel the way you expect/ed it to – whether you’re 24, 44, or 64! – You’re navigating adult life during seriously disruptive times. So give yourself permission to do your life differently – it might not look like your parents’ life, and that’s more than OK.
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We need a new approach to being an adult in the 21st century. The old formulas for success no longer add up. Yesterday’s rules no longer apply. The world has transformed, but our internalized operating systems haven’t kept pace. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious, unsure of what life path you’re allowed to take and what choices you’re supposed to make.
It’s time to give yourself permission to step confidently into this fluid world—to design a life that takes advantage of today’s opportunities rather than defaulting to yesterday’s expectations. The Ten Permissions offers ten specific ways to let go of outdated ways of operating and
• adopt a diverse, adaptive approach to your career;
• redefine the metrics of success and security in a volatile world;
• build the capabilities to remain relevant and responsive amidst nonstop change.
As a global change facilitator and international aid veteran, Jillian Reilly offers bold, counterintuitive advice to help you thrive in a world that shows no sign of slowing down—and to imagine the kind of future you want to be a part of creating.
Becoming Unstoppable: On Your Terms
Becoming Unstoppable lays out a clear and heartfelt guide for taking ownership of one’s health, mindset, and life. It is divided into three major sections: inner work, the pillars of clarity, and the journey itself. Each part weaves together mindset practices, practical tools for nutrition and fitness, and step-by-step processes to translate intention into lasting action. Rather than promising quick fixes, the author emphasizes consistency, discipline, and patience as the real drivers of transformation. He grounds his advice in both personal experience and coaching insights, making the material approachable and relatable.
Reading this, I found myself moved by the sincerity in his voice. The writing is plainspoken and warm, almost as if a friend is walking beside you rather than preaching from a stage. I liked how he stripped away the glossy clichés of the fitness industry and instead invited honesty. Some passages were simple, even repetitive, but I didn’t mind that much because the tone reminded me that growth is often repetitive too.
What stood out most for me was the balance between practicality and compassion. The journaling prompts, the encouragement to pause, reflect, and reset, all created a rhythm that felt doable. I felt less pressure while reading, more acceptance, which is rare in self-improvement books. There were moments when I caught myself smiling at a line, as if the words landed exactly where I needed them. Other times, I felt a quiet sting of recognition when the author described the traps of doubt and comparison. Those sections made me stop and think about my own patterns.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who has tried and failed before, or who feels tired of the noise of quick-fix fitness culture. It’s not for someone looking for a rigid plan or a flashy secret. It’s for people who want steady encouragement and a grounded path back to self-trust. If you’re ready to hear that you don’t need to be perfect, only consistent, this book may be the companion you’ve been waiting for.
Pages: 300 | ISBN : 978-1-7635555-3-2
Climb Greater Heights: How to Accelerate Your Business Growth, Amplify Your Success, and Build a Legacy of Significance
Tony Jeton Selimi’s Climb Greater Heights presents a structured and inspiring framework for entrepreneurs seeking to build purposeful, profitable, and enduring businesses. Centered on his 12-Step Growth Accelerator Method™, the book guides readers through clarifying values, cultivating resilience, defining vision, and aligning professional goals with a broader sense of meaning. Selimi integrates practical strategies, such as pitching, marketing, and partnership development, with deeper reflections on mindset, leadership philosophy, and philanthropy. What distinguishes this work is its insistence that success cannot be measured solely in financial terms but also by the legacy and contribution one leaves behind.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Selimi’s discussion of “voids,” the unmet needs and gaps in life and business that shape our priorities and values. This idea resonated with me because it reframes challenges not as failures but as indicators of what truly matters. His six-step Values Clarification Process provides a structured exercise that encourages entrepreneurs to ensure their decisions align with their authentic values. I found this section both practical and thought-provoking, as it bridged personal development with business growth in a way that felt both relevant and actionable.
There are moments, however, when the book feels somewhat dense. In his chapter on reprogramming the mind for business and life, Selimi blends research, client anecdotes, and motivational guidance in rapid succession. While this breadth demonstrates his wide-ranging knowledge, I sometimes wished for greater depth in fewer examples rather than a fast-paced layering of many. That said, the momentum of his writing is undeniably energizing and reflects his passion for guiding others toward ambitious goals.
What I appreciated most was his emphasis on credibility and authority. His argument that publishing one’s ideas, whether in books, articles, or public forums, can transform expertise into tangible influence was especially persuasive. His candid acknowledgment of the struggles entrepreneurs face, including financial strain, exhaustion, and doubt, adds authenticity. His advice is grounded in lived experience rather than abstract theory, which makes his encouragement far more convincing.
Climb Greater Heights is an ambitious and thought-provoking book that blends strategy with personal growth. It is particularly well-suited for entrepreneurs and business leaders who feel stalled or overwhelmed yet remain committed to pursuing meaningful success. Those seeking a purely tactical manual may not find it here. Still, readers who seek a comprehensive guide that integrates business practices with values, mindset, and purpose will find Selimi’s work both insightful and inspiring.
Pages: 274 | ASIN : B0FH9D8FD3
Life Is Lifey: The A to Z’s on Navigating Life’s Messy Middle
Sarah Shahi’s Life Is Lifey is a raw, funny, and unapologetic blend of memoir and advice that doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. The book weaves through her personal journey of divorce, self-discovery, and career pivots, while also doling out blunt yet compassionate lessons about courage, boundaries, aging, sex, self-love, and learning to actually live your own life rather than the one others expect. It feels less like a self-help manual and more like sitting down with a brutally honest big sister who mixes tequila shots with therapy sessions, making you laugh even as you cry.
Reading this book felt like an unexpected jolt of energy. Shahi’s writing is conversational, raunchy, and full of personality, which is what makes it so compelling. I loved how she knocked down the polished façade of self-help and leaned into the chaos instead. Her stories are sometimes shocking, sometimes tender, and always relatable. The honesty is refreshing. I found myself nodding, laughing, and pausing to underline lines that hit uncomfortably close to home. It doesn’t read like something written from a pedestal, and that made me trust her voice even more.
I enjoyed the boldness, but sometimes I wished the narrative slowed down so that certain insights could breathe. The profanity and sex-heavy sections might turn off some readers, but for me, that unfiltered edge is exactly what gives the book its charm. Shahi’s refusal to sand down her experiences into something polite is what makes it ring true. She is vulnerable without being sappy and hilarious without being flippant, which is a balance that not many writers can pull off.
Life Is Lifey isn’t for people who want a neat list of steps to fix their life. It’s for those who are tired of pretending everything is fine, who want to laugh through their tears, and who need a reminder that the second act of life can be wilder, richer, and more authentic than the first. If you’re someone who craves honesty laced with humor, and you’re not afraid of a little mess, this book will feel like a permission slip to live unapologetically and on your own terms.
Pages: 256 | ASIN : B0DYZZDKHG
Maximizing Organizational Performance: A Guide to Effective Performance Coaching
Maximizing Organizational Performance is a practical guide that dives deep into the power of performance coaching within organizations. Dr. Patrick Behar-Courtois lays out a clear, real-world approach to building coaching systems that help people grow and perform at their best. The book covers everything from understanding coaching fundamentals and identifying performance gaps to measuring success and adapting to hybrid work environments. Each chapter is full of case studies, personal stories, and actionable tools meant to empower leaders, HR professionals, and coaches alike to create high-impact coaching cultures.
What stood out most to me was the author’s voice. It’s rare to find a book that mixes business savvy with raw honesty in such a relatable way. Patrick’s early career failures and triumphs set the tone right away. It didn’t feel like he was preaching from a mountaintop. Instead, it felt like sitting across from someone who’s been through the trenches. Someone who learned the hard way that performance isn’t just about pushing people harder, but about supporting them smarter. The stories about his early coaching experiences gave the book emotional depth. I found myself pausing at moments just to reflect on my own leadership habits. His writing struck a balance between tough love and genuine care. It made me think more deeply about how I show up for my team.
As for the ideas themselves, they’re refreshingly no-nonsense. The book doesn’t try to dazzle with corporate buzzwords or theories. Instead, it’s packed with down-to-earth advice that works. I appreciated how Behar-Courtois emphasized tailoring coaching plans to individuals, respecting each person’s unique strengths, struggles, and pace. He also tackled common leadership blind spots like overestimating one’s impact or skipping structured feedback, with clarity and candor. While some concepts like SMART goals or 360-degree feedback aren’t new, the way they’re applied here, layered with real examples and plenty of practical detail, makes them feel fresh and worth revisiting. I also loved the emphasis on creating a coaching culture, not just one-off interventions. That shift in mindset is key.
I think this book delivers what so many leadership guides promise but rarely accomplish, it teaches you how to help people get better in ways that actually stick. If you’re an HR leader, coach, or people manager trying to drive real change, Maximizing Organizational Performance is a must-read. It’s perfect for those who want to grow their people with purpose.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B0FDGT5PZZ
True Leadership Begins Within
Mental Toughness for Leaders is a deep and thoughtful guide on building inner strength and resilience, all wrapped in a clear framework called the SPEAR model—Self-awareness, Path to vision, Emotion regulation, Attention management, and Result visualization.
How much research did you undertake for this book and how much time did it take to put it all together?
This book has been a long journey—it was first started in 2017 and took over eight years to complete as I also practically applied this model in workshops and coaching sessions. That said, between 2020 and 2023, I took a break from working on it to focus on another major project: my award-winning leadership book, “Rise of the Warrior Leader,” which was published in 2023. So, in effect, Mental Toughness for Leaders took around five years of focused writing and research.
The research for this book was both extensive and deeply personal. It draws from my lived experiences—from serving in the South African military to working in the high-pressure, competitive corporate world of London as a banker. Mental toughness wasn’t just a concept I studied—it was something I had to live daily. It played a vital role in overcoming real-life challenges, including those that led to being honoured with the Business Leader of the Year Award in London by the Chamber of Commerce and the New Leader Award in Geneva, Switzerland.
My journey was also deeply inspired by the wisdom and example of African warrior-leaders, whose stories I studied closely. These were leaders who, often facing enemies with superior resources and firepower, knew how to win the battle in their minds before stepping onto the battlefield. They taught me that true leadership is about showing up—with courage, clarity, and inner strength—even when the odds are against you. Their ability to remain mentally composed under pressure and their discipline in staying true to their purpose served as powerful examples of mental toughness in action.
Beyond my own experiences and historical influences, I grounded my insights through extensive reading of leadership literature and by conducting interviews with numerous leaders across various sectors. This combination of personal narrative, practical insight, cultural depth, and academic research forms the backbone of this book.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
- Self-Mastery Is the Foundation of Leadership
I believe that all effective leadership starts with self-mastery. Before we can lead others, we must first lead ourselves. This means developing self-awareness, learning to regulate our emotions, and cultivating personal discipline. These are not just buzzwords—they are core elements of mental toughness. When we strengthen these qualities, we equip ourselves to stay calm under pressure, think clearly in uncertainty, and act with resilience no matter the challenges we face.
- Mental Toughness Can Be Trained
One of the central messages I share in this book is that mental toughness is not something you’re simply born with—it can be developed. Like a muscle, it grows stronger with intentional practice. That’s why I introduce practical frameworks like the SPEAR model, which help you build focus, manage stress, and sharpen your resilience. My aim is to provide you with actionable steps to develop your inner strength, so you can grow both personally and professionally.
- Leaders Must Align Vision with Action
In my experience, the most impactful leaders are those who align their vision with their actions. It’s not enough to dream or strategize—you must also take consistent, focused steps toward that vision each day. I explore tools such as visualisation, strategic planning, and reflective questioning to help you stay grounded and on course. When your actions match your intentions, you not only build momentum but also inspire others to follow your lead with confidence and clarity.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Mental Toughness for Leaders?
If there’s one core message I hope readers take away from Mental Toughness for Leaders, it’s this:
True leadership begins within.
Mental toughness is not an exclusive trait reserved for the few—it’s a skill we can all cultivate. Through self-awareness, emotional regulation, and intentional action, anyone can lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. My hope is that this book equips readers with practical tools and inner strength to not only lead others but also to lead themselves through life’s inevitable challenges.
But leadership doesn’t stop at the individual. The “me”—when strengthened—contributes to the strength of the “we.” When many resilient, self-led individuals come together, they create a powerful collective. This connection between personal mastery and collective culture is where the true transformation happens.
This idea lays the foundation for my next book, No Blame Culture, which I intend to release in the coming year. It explores how fostering accountability and emotional maturity within individuals contributes to healthier, more effective teams and organizations—shifting us from “me” to a more empowered and responsible “we.”
Author Website | Instagram | Amazon
What if your greatest strength lies not in your circumstances, but in your ability to harness the power of your mind?
Drawing inspiration from the mental toughness of African warrior leaders who thrived in the face of adversity and overwhelming odds, this book reveals that resilience is not reserved for the battlefield—it’s available to anyone willing to cultivate it.
At the heart of this journey lies the SPEAR model, a practical framework designed for coaches, facilitators, and individuals seeking self-mastery. Starting with Self-awareness and Self-acceptance, this model empowers you to connect with your True Self and uncover what you truly want in life. With a focus on Emotion and Attention Management, SPEAR helps you build the mental resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges with clarity and strength.
The SPEAR model provides actionable tools to enhance performance, foster personal growth, and achieve lasting transformation.
Whether you’re a leader, a coach, or simply someone seeking to unlock your potential, this book offers a proven formula to face adversity with the mindset of a warrior.
Mental Toughness for Leaders
Mental Toughness for Leaders is a deep and thoughtful guide on building inner strength and resilience, all wrapped in a clear framework called the SPEAR model—Self-awareness, Path to vision, Emotion regulation, Attention management, and Result visualization. Through stories of warriors, psychological research, historical accounts, and hard-earned lessons, Author Claudio Chistè gives readers practical tools to face adversity head-on, whether in leadership or life itself. He weaves wisdom from Carl Jung, Viktor Frankl, and even Chief Maqoma, a Xhosa military leader, to drive home the idea that we all have a warrior within, one that must be awakened, shaped, and harnessed through disciplined reflection and emotional control.
From a soldier’s lens, this book resonated with me. The chapter on self-awareness struck me like a rifle butt to the chest. Chistè dives into the psychological landscape with surgical precision, showing how our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality. That part where he talks about sealing your mental container, avoiding “leaks” that drain your emotional and spiritual energy, that’s something I wish I’d known back in Afghanistan. We’d lose good men not to bullets, but to the weight they carried inside. That metaphor of “leakage” explained so much about burnout and disengagement in high-stress teams. He also digs into identity through stories like that of Chief Maqoma, showing how setbacks don’t define us, it’s what we do after that matters.
The SPEAR model itself is strong. Each letter isn’t just theory, it’s backed with real-life stories and reflective exercises. The section on emotion regulation, chapter three, reminded me of my first leadership role under fire. You don’t learn to manage fear; you learn to act through it. Chistè echoes that, but adds a crucial layer: understanding the emotional roots behind our triggers. Too often, we glorify stoicism and call it strength, when in reality, we’re just shutting down. As he says, don’t mistake petrifaction for resilience. That line alone should be on every leader’s wall.
This book is for those who’ve stared down tough moments, whether in combat, business, or personal crisis, and wondered how to bounce back stronger. I’d recommend it to junior leaders in the military, seasoned executives feeling stuck, and anyone struggling to align their identity with their purpose. It’s not just about pushing through pain, it’s about knowing who you are, what you want, and having the tools to stay focused when everything around you is chaos. Mental Toughness for Leaders doesn’t just hand you a sword, it teaches you how to wield it.
Pages: 261 | ISBN : 1037051718
LITERARY TITAN 