Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 2011)

336 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $9.56)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Outliers sets out to dispel the myth that great success is achieved through individual talent.  It argues that success is achieved through hard work, culture, and a lot of luck.  

Even though the book is pretty short (336 pages), Malcolm Gladwell does a great job outlining his argument and citing the latest research.  The book is an easy read, but provides great insight.

The Prodigal by Michael Hurley

The Prodigal by Michael Hurley

Publisher: Ragbagger Press (May 2013)

358 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Mild Swearing and Implied Sexual Situations

This is a mystical tale involving a mysterious ship named the Prodigal, the colorful inhabitants of Ocracoke Island, and the ragtag crew that came together determined to win a big race against all odds. A beautifully crafted story, both poetic and picturesque, with great characters, all realistically-flawed, and drawn together with the improbable twists of fate, all against the magical backdrop of the sea. I was riveted to the end and would recommend this story to anyone looking for a good adventure. Great read!

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch

The Hangman's Daughter Series, Book 1

Publisher: AmazonCrossing (December 2010)

448 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars
Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

Despite the title, this is a story more about the hangman, Jakob Kuisl, then the hangman's daughter, Magdalena, but she and her suitor, Simon (the physician's son), do help the hangman in his quest to exonerate the town midwife of the charges of witchcraft and murder that have been wrongly leveled against her. A great murder mystery with a bit of social commentary leads to an interesting partnership that develops between two men who have been pushed to the fringes of society, the hangman because of his occupation and dabbling in medicinal elixirs and the physician's son because of his interest in controversial modern medical theories and practices as well as his interest in the hangman's daughter. The hangman was a great character, stoic, introspective and largely free to do as he likes due to his social outcast status, yet holding a position in society that grants him access to many places without question and a fearful respect that avoids needless hassle. Great read and I can't wait to read his next adventure! The next book in this series is The Dark Monk.

Tapping the Source by John Selby, Richard Greninger and William Gladstone

Tapping the Source by John Selby, Richard Greninger and William Gladstone

Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC (November 2010)

208 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $9.56)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Tapping the Source: Using the Master Key System for Abundance and Happiness is a great modern day take on Charles Haanel’s legendary Master Key System.  As it takes you through the major points of the system, it gives you focus phrases to help you connect to “the Source” and expand your spiritual and creative abilities.

The first quarter of the book is mostly a biography on Charles Haanel and the authors of the book.  Even though it is helpful to the entire concept of the book, it is a bit dry.  If you can get through it, the book is totally worth it.  Having applied the focus phrases in my life, it has greatly helped in reducing my stress levels both at home and at work.  

Read it and apply it...it’s worth it!

Ghost Detective by Scott William Carter

Ghost Detective by Scott William Carter

Myron Vale Investigations, Book 1

Publisher: Flying Raven Press (June 2013)

267 pages, eBook (provided by Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Infidelity and Violence

Myron Vale is about to leave on a much needed vacation when a ghost arrives seeking to hire him to find her murderer, suspecting it may have been her husband, and Myron is surprised to find her husband is the man who shot him in the head. In all honesty, I find the premise of this book a bit depressing. The idea that everyone who has ever lived and died here on earth, remains here in a new immortal form, visible only to a select few, but retaining all the flaws they had in life and unable to escape the cruelties of the world or the people in it that caused them grief, with no possibility of ever crossing over to something better, is not comforting. I did like the main character. Myron is an easy character to like. I felt bad for him in his problems dealing with his 'condition' as he calls it, as well as the tension between him and his deceased wife and the complicated nature of their relationship. I thought the murder mystery portion of the story was great, and I liked how Myron went about his 'detecting' in an easy, off-hand sort of way. I was glad to have the matter with his wife sufficiently settled, so he can move on from there in further adventures, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

The Haunted Breadbox by Scott William Carter

The Haunted Breadbox by Scott William Carter

Myron Vale Investigations, Prequel

Publisher: Flying Raven Press (May 2013)

19 pages, eBook (available for Free on Amazon)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Great introductory tale to Myron Vale, a man who is able to see and otherwise sense ghosts and the paranormal, and has become a professional paranormal investigator/exterminator of sorts. Reminded me a lot of the early books in the Odd Thomas series, and I have no doubt anyone who enjoyed those would like these. I thought it had an easy flow and great descriptive writing. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Ghost Detective!

Legend of an Iron Tower and Other Fables by Natalia Dobzhanska

Legend of an Iron Tower and Other Fables by Natalia Dobzhanska

Publisher: Knight Publishing Company (September 2012)

154 pages, eBook (available for Free on Amazon)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Great little collection of inspirational tales, some about people overcome by despair and self-pity only to find happiness, others about the struggle and give and take between natural forces or elements, and a few about warnings gone unheeded. The description of the tales as inspirational originally gave me pause, but I was glad to find them spiritually-themed without being overly religious or preachy. Many of the tales were written with such realism of circumstance that I couldn't help but relate to them. Great read and I believe most anyone could find a tale or two in this collection that inspires further thought.