This guide shares plenty of principles for success, but it will be up to readers to figure out what to do with them.
A self-help book about using nature’s lessons to achieve an optimal way of life.
Bryan (The BestPossible Enterprise, 2013, etc.) presents a highly optimistic guide to “living with purpose and defining our goals to be the best we believe we can achieve.” The lessons that he shares are drawn from his observation of nature—including human nature. Unlike many authors, who see the human condition as being carnal or evil, Bryan asserts its goodness and positivity, claiming that “we all came into this world as pure moral creatures.” By mixing philosophical commentary with his own personal stories, starting from when he became a young entrepreneur in the 1940s, the author touches on dozens of principles that lead to what he calls “BestPossible” living. These include developing one’s cognition and reasoning abilities by applying them to events regularly, adding depth and color to one’s character by pursuing a diversity of experiences, and “seek[ing] to develop friends…where stress-free win-win situations are likely to prevail.” The topics themselves aren’t tightly organized, but the chapter separators and plenty of subheadings will keep readers oriented. From the very beginning, Bryan shows an air of confidence, both in himself and in his audience, which instills trust in his message. Unfortunately, for a self-help book, it’s very heavy on theory and scanty on application, much like a recipe book that specifies all the necessary ingredients but lacks cooking directions. This won’t be a problem for self-motivated readers, but some might have appreciated more concrete methods for applying the author’s wisdom to their lives, through clear directives and introspective questions. Also, although tying everything back to nature gives the book a nice solidarity, this topical umbrella eventually becomes so wide that it’s difficult to remember what “in tune with nature” means in context. Nevertheless, the principles are solid and eloquently expressed, and there’s certainly a wealth of them.
This guide shares plenty of principles for success, but it will be up to readers to figure out what to do with them.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 135
Publisher: BestPossible Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 31, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.
Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.
During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorkerstaff writer Grann (The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession, 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.Pub Date: April 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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