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The Eloquence of Effort
The Eloquence of Effort: Beware the Path of Least Resistance by Indar Maharaj is a highly intellectual read, perfect for readers who enjoy deeply complex pieces that feed the mind. The intention is to assist in acknowledging the necessity of prioritizing ‘purposeful effort’, to view it as the source of healing, achievement, and long-term well-being for all.
Maharaj uses the lives of successful individuals, particularly their methods of work and the morals and values they lived by to show how a person’s overall nature is a direct influence on their accomplishments during their lifetime. By also including figures such as Robert ‘Iceberg Slim’ Beck, Bruce Reynolds, and Bernard Madoff who were known for their poor behavior and dark leadership styles (those venturing to criminal or anti-social behaviors), Maharaj has created a trustworthy judgment between praising certain figures, whilst ostracizing the lives of others. It is done so intentionally without force or haste, but so evidently it cannot be argued.
The use of figures such as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Albert Schweitzer was a brilliant cipher for how the willingness to forego personal pleasures in lieu of the greater good – through healthcare, socio-political movements, and the environment – can manifest differently, but are all factors which have been possessed commonly by world leaders because they sought to serve selflessly. The three felt a supreme calling to identify with the needs of their fellow man. Maharaj’s analysis of these figures independently followed by a dual and triple comparative analysis marks a transparent maxim: leaders must be the instruments of change, for service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served.
The Eloquence of Effort by Indar Maharaj contains a message for readers that is straightforward: just as work demands effort, effort demands work. This book is for readers wanting an enlightening and thought-provoking read with factual recounts of historical figures and world events, wrapped in a highly intellectual blanket that is done tastefully and tactfully.
Pages: 543 | ASIN: B0784XWJBX
Why Don’t They Cry?
Why Don’t They Cry?: Understanding Your Living Child’s Grief by Zander Sprague (LPCC) is a book dedicated to parents who have lost a child, especially during childhood or early adulthood. Zander begins the book by piquing the readers’ interest with thought-provoking and interesting ideas about siblings. The relationships we have with them are often the longest-lasting relationships in life, but what happens if we lose a sibling at a young age?
Zander lost his older sister early in life and later dedicated his life to becoming a counselor helping people who have lost siblings. These individuals are often referred to as sibling survivors but are often the forgotten mourners years later while their grief continues to impact their lives. The survivors’ grief is often overshadowed by the anguish of their parents’ experience of losing a child. Siblings became the secondary mourners by default, which can bring about unique challenges, including how parents communicate with their surviving children, the healing process, and the side effects of loss, including divorce, marital stress, and family difficulties.
The book is written in a professional but compassionate tone. However, that does not take away from the emotions and stories shared in a beautiful, sensitive manner. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of love, sadness, grief, and reflection. I was impressed with the style of this book and how the author created a helpful guide for sibling survivors and recognized their pain, which is touching and important. It only took a few pages before I felt the full emotional impact of the book and the power of sibling bonds explained so well. I was deeply moved and left thinking about the process of grief and the complex journey of loss.
Why Don’t They Cry?: Understanding Your Living Child’s Grief by Zander Sprague (LPCC) is an excellent read for parents grieving the loss of a child. It’s a great book I recommend to professional child caregivers, counselors, psychologists, and teachers. It’s an essential read for anyone looking to support children or young adults through this harrowing loss. I can’t recommend this book enough!
ASIN B0BSC6B72C | Pages: 80
The Promise of Psychedelics
The Promise of Psychedelics: Science-Based Hope For Better Mental Health is described as a psychedelic therapy guide by Dr. Peter Silverstone, however, if you ask me I would classify it as a crucial academic work that is of high value in the field of psychiatry. Ever since his first day as a young psychiatrist. Dr. Silverstone was faced with patients who were suffering from depression and had tried to commit suicide at one point or another. From that day on Silverstone made it his life mission to find new ways to help people dealing with all sorts of mental health issues.
Studies show that two out of ten adults suffer from some kind of mental health problem, and due to the lack of professionals who can cater to the needs of all patients, a high percentage of patients are given medication. Sadly the medication isn’t always effective, especially in cases such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, addictions, or personality issues. However, thanks to our extended knowledge of the brain and neuroscience our approach to a lot of these issues has changed and will continue to further change and evolve in the future. Here is where Dr. Silverstone comes in with psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, cannabinoids, and LSD. In his illuminating book he explains the existing forms of therapy and treatment as well as some brand new ones that he discovered in his decades dedicated to this subject.
Inside the book, readers will get to read about different intertwined topics from the diagnosis of a mental health issue, to the plasticity of the brain, different psychedelics and where they can be used and so much more, including biographical details about Dr. Silverstone himself, and how he chose his career path.
Even though I’ve described this book as an important academic work, Dr. Silverstone purposefully made sure to write this book in a language that is easily understood by anyone. It does not matter if you have a background in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry or not. A perfect example of this is his comparison of the brain to a pizza sliced into four parts. It may sound funny, but every good teacher is able to explain complex ideas in relatable terms and Dr. Silverstone is an exceptional educator.
My favorite chapter in this educational book, as a reader and as a psychology student, was where he talked about the plasticity of the brain (brain plasticity refers to how the brain can change, how it is flexible and can be molded) because it is a topic I had learned in developmental psychology and it was fascinating to read some new information on that topic.
I believe that The Promise of Psychedelics is an academic work that will become significant in psychiatry as our knowledge of the brain continues to broaden. I highly recommend this enlightening book to any professionals or students in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and medicine as well as anyone interested in mental health.
Pages: 283 | ASIN: B09QWFJWJ5
The Sanctimonious Psychoproctological Invasions
In The Sanctimonious Psychoproctological Invasions: The Handbook for Political Analysis, Dr. Len Bergantino discusses the political climate in the United States while paying attention to the first amendment. The author extensively writes about this constitution clause, enlightening his readers on the political workings, how the government runs its daily business and the life the political class lives. The author exhausts every point regarding political discussions, giving sober analysis in every argument. The reader gets the privilege of reading through Dr. Bergantino’s notes, letters, and opinions on issues that not many are comfortable discussing.
One of the most remarkable features of a good author is his bravado. Dr. Bergantino is bold in his work. He writes his truths and does not shy away from addressing controversial matters. The confidence displayed by the author makes reading this informative book interesting and engaging. Throughout the book, the reader learns about the political world and human stories. Dr. Len Bergantino shares personal tales, writing about his private life, professional life, passions, and the impact modern-day politics has had on his life. I relished reading his personal stories, his interactions with the who-is-who in the political class, and his contribution to his community.
Dr. Len Bergantino displays wisdom in his language and does not openly show partiality when writing about either Right Wing or Left Wing politics. The discussions are balanced, and the analysis is delivered objectively. Even when using strong language, Dr. Len Bergantino ensures that his message is not lost depending on the phrases he uses. America is the land of the free, and even with all its freedoms, American society seems to fall short in some areas. Dr. Len Bergantino does not conceal the evil of the political class, as he writes about it all; the good, the bad, the ugly, the embarrassing, and the pride instilled in Americans.
As an educator and political expert, Dr. Len Bergantino seems to be the ideal person to discuss the status quo and the battement of society. This educational book is arranged in an unconventional manner, which is great as the reader can choose and pick which topics to start reading first. The images of the author’s works shared between the pages give the reader a good idea of how Dr. Len Bergantino’s mind works and thus give one a better comprehension of these thoughts.
The Sanctimonious Psychoproctological Invasions: The Handbook for Political Analysis is a one-of-a-kind book that will expand readers’ scope in politics, help readers to fully understand their rights as a citizen, and enlighten them on how the world works. I recommend this fascinating book to political science students and readers who enjoy political and socio-economic literature.
Pages: 366 | ISBN : 1955691835
When the Light Goes Out
Dr. Lisa Myers talks about one of the most heartbreaking moments a person could ever encounter in their life, and that is of a missing relative. As she describes in her book, When the Light Goes Out, Dr. Myers describes the panic, horrific and painful experience that she had to go through, the constant anxiety and state of not knowing, and the insecurity and trauma relatives of missing people go through.
Through these periods, when a person is in a hyper state of awareness, relationships with the people around are affected, as Lisa’s was. My heart broke when Lisa told her mother and her children the news. Additionally, her father’s death was even more devastating since it was plagued with so much violence and heartache.
This book narrates Lisa’s life-changing loss and how this affected her mental health. It shows emotional suffering and psychological pain that scar someone for life. It offers ways to cope with such a brutal loss within a community.
This book goes from chapter to chapter, with the first part describing immense pain and suffering and how this disrupted their lives. The second part describes healing and comfort in coping with Lisa’s loss. Finally, it neutralizes the shame and stigma that Lisa’s mental health brought up.
When the Light Goes Out is a painful and emotional memoir, but it is also inspiring. The strength that is within people when moments like this strike is shown in how she handles the trauma. This book can be wrapped up in a sentence from her book, “In all moments of darkness, we can find the light of meaning.” As someone who is a fan of emotional true stories, I highly recommend this book. But please remember to carry your tissues when reading the book!
Pages: 272 | ASIN : B0BG9CV2QS
WTF Am I Doing?!
WTF Am I Doing?! Mindfulness Workbook was such a joy to read and work through. Maria Jones constructed this workbook with many resources to help practice mindfulness. Not only are there resources to learn about mindfulness, but there are also activities and prompts to put what you learn to practice.
This insightful book went through several topics, such as discovering what mindfulness is, tips, and intentionality. Included are puzzles to add in a bit of fun. Maria Jones really thought of everything when compiling this book. This workbook changed my perspective on Mindfulness in the best way possible. It put things into perspective and gave me helpful exercises to work through, challenging me to keep mindfulness at the forefront of my mind. In doing so, I was able to think more clearly about my goals in life and work towards those goals with intentional thoughts and purpose.
I enjoyed how this book had prompts and exercises, allowing me to put mindfulness into practice as I learned about the process. By getting into a habit of repetition and practicing mindfulness, I found that one is able to be present throughout the day and truly enjoy all that life has to offer.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to better themselves in the process of being mindful. By working through this workbook slowly, with intention, one can better their mindset about life, personality, and goals. This book provided a healthy challenge and was something I would look forward to working on each day. It is a great resource for anyone and everyone simply for the fact that it will keep you accountable to yourself and your personal goals and achievements.
WTF Am I Doing?! Mindfulness Workbook is a self-help book that can benefit anyone who reads and works through it. Mindfulness is so much more than just taking time to reflect; it is about being intentional and present with the life you have been given.
Pages: 142 | ASIN : B0B7GHYT1N
The Art of Psychotherapy and the Liberation of the Therapist
The Art of Psychotherapy and the Liberation of the Therapist is an academic work by Dr. Len Bergantino, Ed.D., Ph.D. This book educates the reader on psychotherapy and shows how it has progressed throughout the career of Dr. Bergantino as well as the work of many other experts whose work he has carefully studied and evaluated, and the experiences and views of the patients.
At the beginning of the book Dr. Bergantino points out that on the cover of his book is a picture of the American Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry who was noted for his famous quote “Give me liberty or give me death.” Dr. Bergantino explains that the only way to see progress in psychotherapy is if both the psychiatrist and the patient are completely liberated from everything around them and are entirely open and honest in the work that they are doing, and that is the approach he tried to use throughout his career.
This enlightening book is divided into two parts, with part two being a continuation and deeper dive into the topics in part one. This work covers topics from the existential moment, working with children, the holistic approach to psychotherapy, narcissism, couples therapy, schizophrenia, clinical psychology, and more. It also includes experts such as Freud, Whitaker, Frankl, and others. The book is filled with stories from Dr. Bergantino’s career and shows readers how he handled situations with different patients such as a very tall, overweight man who carried a knife with him which made for a very unpleasant, unsafe, and stressful work environment, or a recent widower who was left alone with his young children, and many more.
A key term in this book is ‘existential moment’ which is defined as a full sense of being between patient and therapist. Those two human beings are capable of experiencing the focus of the moment, as it is applied to therapy. It deals with authenticity and the vulnerability that comes from two people facing each other as equals. Readers will also be met with the question that Shakespeare asked so many years ago, “To be or not to be?” The book explores how we interpret that question in our own lives, along with psychotherapy, and more interesting topics readers otherwise may not have thought about.
The Art Of Psychotherapy and the Liberation of the Therapist is an informative and thought-provoking book that I would recommend to readers looking for a compelling memoir or an edifying book on the topic of psychotherapy. This book takes an incredible dive into the world of psychotherapy and will appeal to practitioners, psychologists, or students in the psychotherapy field, as well as patients who want to learn more about psychotherapy.
Pages: 516 | ASIN: B07SKMW57C
Political Psychology Invasions
Dr. Len Bergantino starts this eye-opening book by taking the reader back to the 2020 election. He writes about the Democrat candidates at the time and analyzes Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Joe Biden. He then proceeds to write letters to President Trump, where he explains his aggravation and gives guidance on how certain issues should be handled. I take pleasure in reading Dr. Len Bergantino because of how raw he is. His language may come off as too strong, but the tone is what makes his writing distinct. Dr. Len Bergantino writes like a concerned citizen who wants to see his country run in a better manner.
Political Psychology Invasions looks at the past and current political situation and how today’s events influence the future. In the book, readers learn about governance and how challenging it can be to contain some political elements. Dr. Len Bergantino writes in an informative and authentic manner. He does not mind irritating some people as he is objective and true to his word. I like that the author gives praise where it’s due and also criticizes when necessary. Dr. Len Bergantino analyzes the situations discussed in the book with impartiality and gives facts before concluding on a particular topic. In addition, the author explains the political class and how to perform your duties as a citizen.
Apart from the status quo, Dr. Len Bergantino also wrote about music and its role in society. Music may be a universal language, but to Dr. Len Bergantino, music is more than that. It is intimate to him as it is a family business. Being a professional psychoanalyst and a professional musician, Dr. Len Bergantino writes of how he is concerned by today’s music. Having been introduced to music from a young age, Dr. Len Bergantino does not appreciate today’s music as most of it is noise. Instead, the author writes about the importance of music among the masses and why musicians should improve. The author also advises on how to write better music as he narrates his experiences.
Amidst the political analysis and discussions, the author also writes of his adventures, travels, and life experiences. The fusing of his personal tales with the political talk was a great way of killing the monotony that may have been present. I like Dr. Len Bergantino because he writes with confidence. Even when calling out certain political figures, Dr. Len Bergantino gives a good reason. He is bright and great at analyzing human behavior and events.
Political Psychology Invasion will expose readers to politicians’ dealings and help them better understand and examine future political events. This interesting book will give readers much to think over and help them better understand the political environment.
Pages: 178 | ASIN : B0876QCM35
LITERARY TITAN 