Reviews

Angel and the Enemy by Marnie L. Pehrson

: 23 September 2012

Angel and the Enemy
By Marnie L. Pehrson
Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: C.E.S Business Consultants (November 17, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0972975098
ISBN-13: 978-0972975094

Having never read a piece of work specifically categorised as ‘clean-romance’ I was curious about this novel. I must admit that there was a part of me that thought that ‘clean-romance’ translated into ‘boring’. Truth could not be further from reality. I was pleasantly surprised by how this story was not only deeply entertaining, it contained all of the ingredients for a great story which are suspense, drama and action.

Briefly, the story begins sometime during the Civil War between the States in America. Angelina Stone’s world is falling apart. Her beloved father lies rotting in a Union prison when her Georgia home is invaded by Yankee soldiers. She is traumatised by a particular experience and her saviour is one Elijah Willoughby. It is a long time before Angelina comes to terms with what happened. After the War ends and when her father returns, he convinces her to take up a teaching position in another town. There, she comes face to face with none other than Elijah. Their romance begins but it is not a journey without many obstacles; it reaches a satisfactory conclusion, nevertheless.

Certainly, I was hooked from the first page and I wanted to know more. Classified as a romance, it was easy to follow the plot and I could hazard a guess as to what would happen next. This by no means indicates that the story is without suspense for there were times when I was stunned by revelations made; for instance, I enjoyed discovering just who the man who stumbled along on one leg really was.

Living in the Far East and not having a clue how the land Ms. Pehrson wrote about looks like, I was still able to picture in my mind’s eye the scenes she painted with her words. The landscape came alive and the various scenes were splendidly depicted. I can all but picture the homes of Angelina, Bonnie, Elijah, the school room and other locations mentioned therein. The conversation is dramatic and rather quaint. Care has clearly been taken to picture each and every portion of this book and an example of this is the way in which the ‘ladies of the night’ speak when Elijah happens to visit a place of ill repute. Their manner of speech and description of the place is apt and precise. A scene that requires special mention is the one where Angelina does some shopping in the General Store – the description of the items for sale added to the element of authenticity of the time period in question.

The main characters are developed and easily recognisable. The fear Angelina feels after her traumatic experience comes across as very real and palpable. Her strength of character and yet, that secret desire to have a knight in shining armour come rescue her is certainly something a lot of women would identify with. Certainly, I feel for her and I found myself genuinely wanting the two main characters to fall for each other. Elijah Willoughby is depicted with all of the normal human anxieties and clumsiness of a man in love; the sensitivity with which he handles the situations before him and his acts of kindness all but strengthens the reader’s perception of him.

If there is to be criticism of the book, then I would say that Angelina’s younger siblings somewhat fade into the background soon after the introduction and seem superfluous. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend Angel and the Enemy to anyone who has a soft spot for romance and wishes to pass a few hours in a most pleasurable manner. It will leave a reader feeling all warm and happy with the knowledge that there is still some chivalry left in this world.

In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin

: 23 September 2012

In Patagonia
By Bruce Chatwin
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 25, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142437190
ISBN-13: 978-0142437193

While Bruce Chatwin, who was working as a journalist for the Sunday Times, was interviewing the then 93-year-old architect and designer, Eileen Gray, he noticed a map of Patagonia on her wall.

“I’ve always wanted to go there,” he said.

“So have I,” Gray replied. “Go there for me.”

Chatwin immediately left for Patagonia, and when he got there he telegrammed his employers: “Have gone to Patagonia”. What follows is an amazing trip, mostly journeyed on foot throughout the south of South America, and the accounts experienced there written down in Chatwin’s now-classic In Patagonia.

The book starts off with Chatwin’s recollection when as a child, he sees a piece of old animal skin in his grandmother’s house. His mother tells him it is from a brontosaurus, but later he finds out it is actually from the sloth-like Mylodon. This doesn’t dampen his fascination with the piece of skin and soon he becomes even more fascinated with the person, his great-uncle Charley, who had brought it all the way to England from Patagonia. Zig-zagging his way across arid plains and deserts, Chatwin tracks the history of the people and places he comes across as well as digging up information about his ancestor at his home in Punta Arenas.

In this book, his first, Chatwin writes with variable consistency. Sometimes the prose feels forced and dry: “In the Plaza de Armas a ceremony was in progress. It was one hundred years since Don José Menéndez set foot in Punta Arenas and a well-heeled party of his descendants had come south to unveil his memorial. The woman wore black dresses, pearls furs and patent shoes. The men had the drawn look that comes of protecting an overextended acreage.”

Other times, it feels like he’s riding on a passionate train of thought and one tends to feel Chatwin was as excited writing it as one is while reading: “Never in my life have I wanted anything as I wanted that piece of skin. My grandmother said I should have it one day, perhaps. And when she died I said: ‘Now I can have the piece of brontosaurus,’ but my mother said: ‘Oh, that thing! I’m afraid we threw it away.'”

In Patagonia isn’t just a record of a wandering writer, it’s a history book, a novel and a travel book in one. With this book, Chatwin redefined the genre of travel writing with his little nuggets of historical information weaved intricately together with his search for anecdotes about his uncle and his time. The result is a sometimes wonderful, sometimes tiresome account. But stick with it – you will be rewarded and delighted with Chatwin’s experiences and discoveries.

***

Ted Mahsun works in a local online games publisher as a content writer. When he’s not writing content, he’s either writing short stories, or writing for his literary blog, Ted’s Thoughts (http://tedmahsun.blogspot.com).

Truth, Love and a Little Malice : An Autobiography by Khushwant Singh

: 23 September 2012

Truth, Love and a Little Malice : An Autobiography
By Khushwant Singh
Paperback: 423 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books India (May 30, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143029576
ISBN-13: 978-0143029571

I have observed that with most people, the fascination with reading autobiographies comes from reading the little nuggets of information about someone else’s life. They are partly interested in a man’s view of a war or some historical event, no doubt. However, if the truth be told, before one even picks up a book, questions which form in a reader’s mind are often about the most intimate parts of a person’s life. For instance, “What did Bill Clinton really say about Monica?” or “What did Hilary think of Monica?”. If honesty is to prevail, the need to know the subject’s account of history is really secondary to this innate desire to know about the human elements of other great people. With this book, this particular aim was achieved. Yes, I was interested in the account of one man who was witness to Independence and Partition but what fascinated me was the very personal account of one man who, with his words, showed me his compassion and indeed, great courage. From the very start, what drew me to this particular autobiography was this one sentence in the inside cover of the book:

Among other honours, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 by the President of India (he returned the decoration in 1984 in protest against the Union Government’s siege of the Golden Temple, Amritsar).

I knew from that moment on that I wanted very much to read the story of a man who had the courage to return an award which stands third in hierarchy of civilian awards to recognise distinguished service of a high order to the nation. What was his background? Who were the people who provided him with such a sense of identity and pride in the man he had become? What manner of courage was this?

Presented in chronological order, this story is one that begins safely ‘with the beginning’, after an apology is made for writing an autobiography at all. Born in 1915 in pre-partition Punjab, Khushwant Singh has been a witness to most of the major events in modern Indian history – from Independence and Partition to the Emergency and Operation Blue Star. He came into contact with not only political leaders of the time such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, there were also meetings with people like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. In a career spanning over five decades as a writer, journalist and editor, he also came into contact with some of the more interesting people in the arts field. However, it is his association with the ‘common’ people and the stories he wrote about them with clarity and candour which most impressed me.

The writing style, from the moment go, has been one of the most forthright, honest and above all, compelling. Khushwant Singh writes with unwavering honesty, with deep perception and the tales he tells are most entertaining indeed. He talks of his first awkward sexual encounter, his phobia of ghosts and his fascination with death. He talks of the friends who betrayed him and also the ones he himself failed. The humour with which Khushwant Singh serves up his life’s story is very entertaining indeed. I would unreservedly offer this book as a gift to anyone interested in a good read but in particular, the following three sets of people:

Firstly, the lawyer who has become disillusioned with legal practice and needs some words of comfort; Khushwant Singh writes:

The most important thing that happened to me with the partition of India was that I was able to get out of the legal profession. I swore I would never back to it. Some temptations to continue were thrown my way … My view of the legal profession and those who live by it has not changed. …They were overgrown children with minds of juvenile delinquents. The poet Akbar Ilahabadi summed them up neatly:
Paida huaa vakeel, to Iblees nay kahaa:
‘Allah nay mujhey Sahib-e-awlaad kar diya.’
(The day a lawyer was born, Satan exulted:
‘Allah has blessed me with progeny of my own.’)

Secondly, for a pet owner who is teased mercilessly about allowing his dog/cat to sleep in the same bed; Khushwant Singh writes of his dog, Simba:

Among those who greeted me at home was a one-month old Alsatian pup … I decided to name him Simba … He was as human a dog as I have ever known and shared our joys as he did our sorrows. By the time we moved into our own ground-floor apartment in Sujan Singh Park, he had got over his frisky puppiness and grown into a powerful full-sized German Shepherd. He still shared our bedroom, where he had his own cot. And for his sake more than ours we had an airconditioner put in the room. Often at night, he would sniff into my ears and ask me to make room for him. I did. He would heave himself on to the bed with a deep sigh of gratitude, and take over more than half of my bed for the rest of the night. … If I had to talk of my close friendships, Simba would be amongst the top in my list. We never kept another dog. One can’t replace friends.

And finally, for those writers who are feeling the brunt of a nasty reviewer’s comments about a recent work; he writes :

I also wrote a novel, The Company of Women (Penguin-Viking). I was not very eager to see it published as it was about the sexual fantasies of an octogenarian (i.e. myself). … Without exception, all the critics panned the novel. Nevertheless, it became a bestseller and remained on the top of India’s bestseller list for over six months. It earned me more royalties than any of my other books. So much for the critics! They can stew in their own juices.

In conclusion, Khushwant Singh need not apologise for creating his autobiography at all. It has been a pleasure reading his story.

The Stream by H. Steven Robertson

: 23 September 2012

Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: High-Pitched Hum Publishing (December 10, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0977729079
ISBN-13: 978-0977729074

Good stories are, by nature, meant to entertain; but, what can make a story great is the added bonus a reader gets when the tale teaches a reader something new; The Stream is a great story. What, you may wonder, did I learn from reading this great tale? I must admit that initially, it was with a little trepidation that I approached this novel. Fishing? What do I know about fishing? I thought. It is neither a hobby of mine and really, I could not very well identify with a story about a youth who gets lost at sea when he goes out fishing. But, I was wrong and in for a treat.

I was hooked from the moment I completed reading the Prologue. The main protagonist, Sandy, is in some form of danger and I found that I immediately wanted to know what happened. This desire to know what happened was sustained throughout the tale and is testament to Mr. Robertson’s craftsmanship. The remaining chapters chronicle the events of Sandy’s life and experiences in the two weeks prior to this incident. It is an honest, heart-warming and yet funny account of this teenager’s life in the sea-side town of Mayport, Florida.

In this story, Mr. Robertson has introduced various themes from the preservation of family values, teenage romance, boy-growing up and a rescue mission. To his credit, Mr. Robertson has managed to intertwine all of these themes and the end result is a tale which is seamless and flows beautifully. The language is neither too flowery nor is it too simple – indeed, Mr. Robertson has struck a balance to ensure that the tale is told with great aplomb. There is much humor in this story and it comes across in the many descriptions that Mr. Robertson has given to the characters and places. For instance, ‘Watermelon-on-legs’ and ‘Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum’ immediately create images that makes any further description of these people superfluous. Also, what was intriguing was that Mr. Robertson has succeeded in writing dialogue that is so true and original that it was refreshing.

It is often said of novels that words should be enough to sufficiently convey a tale. When illustrations are included, something does not seem right and more often than not, a reader may become frustrated with the fact that the illustrations do not eventually tally with the description in the book. However, in the case of The Stream, it is the exact opposite for Mr. Robertson’s words already conjure up images that are most vivid and when the strategically placed illustrations presented themselves, I found myself thinking, “that’s exactly how I saw it”- indeed, the illustrations are beautiful and they add to rather than detract from the tale told.

As I started with the idea that readers should learn something new when reading a tale, I think it fitting that I end this piece with what I’ve learned about fishing by quoting what is my favorite passage in the book:

Actually, Sandy already knew that the tide would be low because he kept up with the charts. Good fishermen always considered several natural occurrences when fishing. The tide was one. Sandy liked an incoming tide. The temperature of the water was significant, the phase and location of the moon was another factor. The presence and location of baitfish in an area was also important. The moon would be setting about the time the sun rose, which was perfect. The water was very warm around the inshore reefs and there were lots of baitfish swimming there.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

: 23 September 2012

Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Harvest Books (May 1, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0156027321
ASIN: B0029LHWL8

Pi Patel, an East Indian youngster, has two loves—religions of the world and animals. The son of an owner of an Indian zoo, Pi grows up around the animals of the world. As times worsen in India, however, his father decides it is time to sell the animals and move to Canada. Some of the animals end up being shipped to their new zoos on the same ship as Pi and family are on. Mysteriously, the ship sinks and Pi finds himself on a large lifeboat. He is not alone. His companions are a zebra with a broken hind leg, a hyena, an orangutan and, unbelievably, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. The plot thickens.

Obviously, the carnivores soon attack the zebra and the orangutan and eventually, Pi is all-alone with the tiger, fearfully trying to make plans to keep from being eaten. This saga on the sea goes on for around nine months.

In what seems to be a simple little adventure story, however, the masterful author, Yann Martel, has woven a thread of the mysteries, mysticism, miracles, and embodiments that embody religions of the world throughout the story. Are the animals really on the boat, or has Pi substituted the humans who actually were there, with the animals. The reader will have to decide.

***

Review by H. Steven Robertson

Cut The Strings: the True Story of a Soul Reclaimed by Lynn Grocott

: 21 September 2012

Cut The Strings: the True Story of a Soul Reclaimed
Author: Lynn Grocott
Foreword by Sir Chris Bonnington
Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Lean Marketing Press (July 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0954568192
ISBN-13: 978-0954568191

I was a little stunned when Lynn sent to me a copy of this ebook. I never expected it and I read it with much interest. My attention was grabbed right from the start. It was these words which set me reading this entire ebook in one go: Bryn Jones, who wrote the Preface used these words when signing off: ‘proud friend to Lynn and Glen Grocott.’

I was intrigued and thought that Lynn Grocott must be a special person for a man to write such heartfelt words. And the more I read the more reassured I was about this fact.

The story that Lynn Grocott shares in this book is harrowing, almost. It tells the tale of a girl who lost out on her childhood and was thrust into the adult world well before her time. It is a tale of physical abuse, sexual abuse, being bullied at school, admission to a psychiatric ward, facing the suicide of her parents, multiple sclerosis and even anorexia nervosa. In any ‘normal’ human being, even one of these illnesses could cause the sufferer to consider suicide and yet, Ms. Grocott not only overcame most of these challenges in her life, she has changed her life around and is now helping others.

The most significant part about this entire tale is the fact that she refused to accept that she has refused to accept that she is the victim in any of these circumstances. She says: “This is my story of breaking free from life as a victim and becoming an individual in my own right. It is my story of gaining happiness.”

Furthermore, it is obvious that this realisation is the point where she made up her mind to change her life around. Ms. Grocott says this:

This book does not ask for your sympathy, dear reader; its aim is to show you that you can overcome anything in life. Absolutely nothing need hold you back. Even if now you feel like a victim, you can be a winner, turning unspeakable sexual and physical abuse, violence, deprivation and heartbreak into positive thought and action. We can all become winners instead of victims. We can learn to empower ourselves. We can become aware that we are all unique individuals with something to offer to the world. What is more we owe it to ourselves to discover how magnificent we truly are.

The reason why Ms. Grocott wrote this book is clearly stated when she writes:
I hope to illustrate to you that each human being has an incredible strength, and the vast resources to cope with anything that hinders happiness, peace and joy. I am not for one minute suggesting that by reading this book you will not face another challenge in your life, but hopefully you will be better equipped to deal with adversity when it rears its head.

I can add that without a doubt, Ms. Grocott has achieved her aim.

Reading Ms. Grocott’s tale, I found myself agreeing with all of the steps she took in her life save for one – I did not particularly like the fact that she made a decision to be voluntarily absent from one of her parent’s funeral. It would seem unthinkable to me; however, considering her position, her needs and perhaps the cultural divide between us, I was quick to stop myself from judging her and instead began to understand her position.

The language used in this tale is very easy to follow and the only thing that will stop the flow of reading this book in one go would be tears and having constantly to reach for tissues.

In the end, this is a story that is all together inspiring and worth every penny. It is opportune, therefore, to end by quoting directly from Ms. Grocott:

I have learned that the most important purpose in life is to be happy. Happiness is a state of mind; and despite what goes on around us we get to choose how we feel about it. …

I have learned the true value of happiness, it cannot be bought and it cannot come from other people. Happiness comes from accepting yourself, liking yourself and believing in yourself.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

: 21 September 2012

Memoirs of a Geisha
Arthur Golden
Hardcover: 768 pages
Publisher: Random House Large Print (November 15, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0739326228
ISBN-13: 978-0739326220

At the start of this review, I must admit that I read this book after I watched the movie. Therefore, I found that a lot of the time, when I read the story I was visualising much of what I’d seen in the cinema.

Usually, when I’ve watched a movie or read a book, I’ve been disappointed because the stories would never tally but in the case of Memoirs of a Geisha, this was not so. I enjoyed the movie and I enjoyed the book even more.

One of the most important things about this book I enjoyed was that it was written in first person and when I did a little research into author and the book, I discovered that Mr. Golden had first attempted to write his book in third person. He says, in this interview, “But I did it in third person twice, and really only went to first person when I realized that I wasn’t going to get the book written that I really wanted to write, unless I made this kind of imaginative leap into the mind of the character.”

Mr. Golden, in that same interview stated that he first had the idea of writing the book when he was still living in Japan. He came across a gentleman who was the son of a geisha and that was the moment when Mr. Golden realised that this was an interesting topic to explore.

As a work of cultural import, this novel is exciting because it gives the reader an insight into a world that has remained exotic, even for someone who lives in the Far East. One of the most poignant moments for me was a very small point in the novel – for all of my life I wondered where Malaysians had derived the words ‘Ringgit’ and ‘sen’ to denote our currently and it was to my delight that I learned that the word ‘sen’ came from the Japanese currency and I assume we must have gained the same when Malaya was occupied by the Japanese during World War 2.

Essentially, this is romantic tale and it begins with a Translator’s Note and from first those passages, one is told that Sayuri was indeed one of the most famous of geisha who ever lived. Jakob Haarhuis makes it a point to say that Sayuri narrated the tale of her life in Japanese and that he has taken extensive notes and even recorded her voice. We are then introduced to Sayuri’s own voice and it is she who tells the tale.

Sayuri was born and given the name Chiyo. When she was young, she and her sister were taken from her family, separated and eventually, Chiyo was ‘sold’ to an okiya as a maid, with the view of eventually becoming a geisha. Chiyo faces an uphill struggle for she comes face to face with Hatsumomo, the villain in this story. There are also the lesser characters like Aunty, Mother, Mr. Bekku, Mr. Tanaka, the various suitors and a supposed ally, Pumpkin. However, at the age of twelve, Chiyo comes across a man whom she calls ‘the Chairman’ and is captivated by him. From that moment on, she resolves that she will do all she can to become a geisha and as luck would have it, she is taken under the wing of Mameha, a renowned geisha is Gin, the section of Kyoto where the geisha live.

It is a testament to Mr. Golden’s ability to write successfully in Sayuri’s voice for he says that once the book was published, many people wrote to him to ask him how they may contact Sayuri.

It is a novel that I would highly recommend for someone who would like, not only to be entertained, but to learn about a people, a culture and race that is considered far removed from ‘normal’ life.

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

: 21 September 2012

Awaken the Giant Within
Anthony Robbins
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Free Press (November 1, 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0671791540
ISBN-13: 978-0671791544

It surprises me not one bit that this book has sold over a million copies.

Briefly, this book has, as its subheading, ‘How to take control of your mental emotional, physical and financial destiny.’

There are four parts to this book:-
Part 1 – Unleash Your Power
Part 2 – Taking Control – The Master System
Part 3 – The Seven Days to Shape Your Life
Part 4 – A Lesson in Destiny

Thereafter, each Part is divided into chapters and each one paves the way towards the final goal of teaching a person to have complete control over his/her life.

I must admit that I read this book after being introduced to some of the concepts Mr. Robbins teaches by Paul McKenna’s Change Your Life in Seven Days. As such, I was not reading the words, neuro-linguistic-programming and some of the ideas expounded and examples shared for the first time.

On page 23, Mr. Robbins makes this challenge to his readers:

I challenge you not only to do whatever it takes to read this book in its entirety … but also to use what you learn in simple ways each day. This is the all-important step that’s necessary for you to produce the results you’re committed to.

I took up the challenge and began reading the book all over again and from the Foreword, written by Frederick L. Covan, PH.D., I gleaned this:

As the Chief Psychologist … I see so much human misery … in the “normal,” “healthy” staff that treat them. I also see the same unhappiness in the high-functioning, relatively successful people I treat in my private practice. Quite often, the pain and misery are unnecessary and finally end when the people take charge of their beliefs, feelings and actions in order to modify the process of their lives. Unfortunately, most of the time they don’t. They wait, then try to alter the bad result or, often, go to a shrink wanting just to complain about their awful life or in some way be “fixed” by someone else.

Although some of my colleagues are offended or surprised when I recommend the works of such a young man who doesn’t have academic credentials, those who actually read or listen to Tony come to agree. In addition to comprehensive, good information, Tony has a talent and a compelling style that make his material easy to grasp.

As I progressed through the book, I kept remembering this statement by Dr. Covan and images of people who made it a point to be miserable kept popping into my head. Also, I found that I was remembering all those times when I had been negative myself. The thing is, this time round, I knew how to minimise the negative impact this was having on my psyche and that was brilliant.

One of the most poignant moments for me, reading this book, was this passage on page 348:

For example, let’s say a woman’s highest values are caring and contribution, and she chooses to become an attorney because she once met a lawyer who really impressed her as being able to make a difference and help people through his work. As time goes by, she gets caught up in the whirlwind of practicing law, and aspires to become a partner in her firm. As she pursues this position, her work takes on an entirely different focus. She begins to dominate and run the firm, and becomes one of the most successful women she knows, yet she feels unhappy because she no longer has any contact with clients. Her position has created a different relationship with her peers, and she spends all her time in meetings ironing out protocol and procedure. She achieved her goal, but missed out on her life’s desire. Have you ever fallen into this trap of pursuing the means as if they were the end you were after? In order to be truly happy, we must know the difference, and be sure to pursue the end itself.

For so many years now, I have struggled with my decision to leave legal practice and pursue my dreams. This passage put into words my exact sentiments and I’m much happier just reading this book.

Mr. Robbins qualifications in this field come from devoting more that half his life to helping people discover and develop their own unique qualities and greatness. He has a special passion to make the world a better place to live by assisting individuals in capturing their destinies.

Mr. Robbins has presented his ideas consistently and with every new theory or concept, he has given a wealth of examples, ideas and shared his thoughts on them.

Where the terms become complex, Mr. Robbins takes the time to explain them in detail and where necessary, pictures, charts and props are used. There was never a time in reading the book when I did not understand what Mr. Robbins was trying to say.

I shall end this review by saying that this is a book I highly recommend that anyone who wants a change to take place in their life read. Also, I shall conclude by listing down many of the statements made by Mr. Robbins which touched me.

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.
The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way. I don’t worry about maintaining the quality of my life, because every day I work on improving it.
It must be constant commitment backed up by action.
Once we effect a change, we should reinforce it immediately. Then, we have to condition our nervous system to succeed not just once, but consistently.
The first belief we must have if we’re going to create change quickly is that we can change now.
The greatest leverage you can create for yourself is the pain that comes from inside, not outside. Knowing that you have failed to live up to your own standards for your life is the ultimate pain
The difference between acting badly or brilliantly is not based on your ability, but on the state of your mind and/or body in any given moment.
Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear.
You’ve got to be in a determined state in order to succeed.
My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel tons of pleasure and very little pain
All that you really want in life is to change how you feel.
Plan for pleasure for each and every day.
Remember, ask and you shall receive. If you ask a terrible question, you’ll get a terrible answer. Your mental computer is ever ready to serve you, and whatever question you give it, it will surely come up with an answer.
A genuine quality of life comes from consistent, quality questions.
You and I have that same power at our disposal every moment of the day. At the moment, the questions that we ask ourselves can shape our perception of who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we’re willing to do to achieve our dreams.
Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.
It’s not just getting a goal that matters, but the quality of life you experience along the way.
What kind of person will I have to become in order to achieve all that I want?
All too often, the security of a mediocre present is more comfortable than the adventure of trying to be more in the future.
People will do more to avoid pain than they will do to gain pleasure.
The truth is that nothing has to happen in order for you to feel good.
Never assume when it comes to rules. Communicate.
Repetition is the mother of skill.
Limited references create a limited life. If you want to expand your life, you must expand your references by pursuing ideas and experiences that wouldn’t be a part of your life if you didn’t consciously seek them out.
Loss is imaginary. Nothing ever disappears in the universe; it only changes form.
Leaders are readers.
Expand your references, and you’ll immediately expand your life.
Everything in life happens for a reason and a purpose, and it serves us.
It’s the moments of our life that shape us.
The beliefs that we use to define our own individuality, what makes us unique – good, bad, or indifferent – from other individuals.
Your capability is constant, but how much of it you use depends upon the identity you have for yourself.
Time and again, researchers have shown that students’ capabilities are powerfully impacted by the identities they develop for themselves as the result of teachers’ belief in their level of intelligence.
The kind of person other people perceive you to be controls their responses to you.
We look at what we do to determine who we are.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.

I really recommend that you invest in this book.

FBI: The Fit Body Initiative by Steve Halls

: 21 September 2012

FBI: The Fit Body Initiative
Steve Halls
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Bookshaker (November 17, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1905430086
ISBN-13: 978-1905430086

The title of this book, for me, was immediately arresting. I would hazard a guess that I am not the first person to wonder what on earth the ‘FBI’ has to do with being healthy. However, upon closer analysis, it becomes obvious that ‘FBI’ is short for “Fit Body Initiative’. In the title alone, this book has achieved the aim of catching a reader’s attention.

Furthermore, the ominous colour, black, for the background of the cover design with the words in ochre adds to the attraction of this book.

The purpose of this work is clearly stated on the back cover where Mr. Halls writes:

Imagine What You Could Achieve In 90 Days With Your Own Personal Trainer … Well this book is the next best thing and a lot more affordable – you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home.

The FBI has been specially written to help you change your lifestyle gradually. With nutritional advice, training tips and tasks that build into a comprehensive guide to a healthy lifestyle – you get in the best shape of your life one day at a time.

It is clear from the start that this is a book that you are expected to read once through for pleasure and, thereafter, refer to it each day for the next 90 days. This is evident from the fact that Mr. Halls has separated his book into 90 separate ‘#’s, i.e. the reader would begin with #1 on the first day, #2 on the second and so on. To make it an exciting book to read, Mr. Halls has taken the trouble to give a title to each ‘#’; for instance, #55 reads as ‘Get Fruity’ and right at the end of the page, he asks, “Are you eating a rainbow?” These questions and arrangement add to increasing the interest level of reading this book.

The tone in which the book is written is simple to understand as there is no flowery language used at any time. Also, there are various templates, ideas and tips to follow. In addition, there are exercises which are manageable for anyone. To ensure that these exercises are carried out in a proper manner, Mr. Halls has provided photographs of each and every step that should a reader to do.

From the Foreword written by Janine Machin, you’ll learn that Mr. Halls has an interesting background; it is only right at the end of the book, where there is a short biography of Mr. Halls, we learn more about the author. Perhaps, the most interesting fact about Mr. Halls is that in 2000, after serving for more than 23 years in the British Army, he left after he attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1. The discipline he clearly requires from anyone who chooses to undertake his programme. Mr. Halls is also qualified to present his fitness program as he undertook the Premier Diploma Course in Fitness Training and Sports Therapy.

With all of this information, knowledge, experience and even a plan put in place, I know that after writing this review, I’ll have no other excuse but to start this programme!