Book Review Mondays

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The Essestial Laws of Fearless Living: Find the Power to Never Feel Powerless Again
by Guy Finley

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Finley calls attention to and helps people eliminate the fear and stress in their lives no matter how happy, fulfilled, and successful they are. For example, he discusses the fear and stress that comes from thinking and worrying about yesterdays gone by, tomorrows that have not yet come, and circumstances that our minds make up out of thin air (like thinking we are the center of everyone’ conversations, or that people are looking at us in a funny way.) In this collection of 41 essays, Finley’s goal is to "gently lead the reader in step-by-step sections into higher levels of self-understanding." He accomplishes this by using parables, humor, and poetic writing The book is full of practical strategies that can be applied daily. Basically, Finley has written a book full of spiritual truths designed to lead you in your spiritual growth. There is no question that this is a self-help, self-development, self-growth book.

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Plain Secrets: An Outsider among the Amish
by Joe Mackall

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

You must understand at the outset of this terrific book, that it does not necessarily relate to all Amish sects (there are many), nor does it reflect the views of many toward the Amish. Rather, this is one person’s experience (based on over 16 years of living next door to them) with one family of a very conservative sect (the Swartzentruber Amish community of Ashland County, Ohio). Also, it is important to know that Mackall is a professor of English and journalism at Ashland University, co-editor of the journal River Teeth, a writer for NPR’s Morning Edition, the Washington Post, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Why is this important? First, it adds a level of credibility to the insights and observations in the book. Second, it assures you that you are in for a very good read. With four pages of notes, this 202-page (of text) book is full of useful information. For example, you will learn how basic values can guide a life, what a true work ethic looks like in practice, how that same work ethic can bring benefits to both body and spirit, how a community takes care of its own, and what true forgiveness is. The book is not just instructive but engaging as well. You can pick up this book thinking you will read a chapter or two a day and quickly discover yourself so engrossed that you finish it in less time than you thought. It is that good! You will discover what happens to Amish youth who decide to flee the sect, how Amish children die because of inadequate health care, and how Amish families operate on a day-to-day basis. This is a book full of insights, warmth, and reflections, and I strongly recommend it as a choice for book clubs and book circles because it will stimulate discussion, cause intense reflection, and challenge the beliefs and values you live by. Mackall, in this extremely well-written, transparent, and skillfully narrated book ends the book with this paragraph: “Despite how conflicted I am about aspects of the Swartzentruber Amish way of life, I can still recognize beauty and truth when I see it. And the beauty and truth of it is this: That to these plain people, in these times and in all others, the values that reign supreme are community, acceptance, and faith, which can, with prayer and a little luck, lead to peace” (p. 200). Without a doubt, this will be one of the best reads you have experienced in a long time.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.