The Power of your Subconscious Mind

The Power of your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book. Even though there is a lot of information imparted in the book and it is, it is broken in to many small sections (chunks as I call them), making the book much easier to read. Even though this books was written many year ago (first published in 1963), everything in the book is still true.

I have always been interested in the topic of the of the subconscious mind, to my it is where ideas are born from, where people conscious personality and actions stem from. I like the idea of being able to program it to work more for my in my daily life was intriguing. As the author say our Subconscious is at work 24 hours a day for every day of our lives. Breathing and heartbeat and all our bodily functions we do not give a second though about even when we are sleeping are controlled by our subconscious.

Being quite a spiritual man Joseph Murphy also builds in many biblical quotes with his case studies, and examples of people he had met. though I do not wholly agree internalizing God as part of the subconscious, I do see where the idea id divine knowledge comes from. Example we are bone we breath are bones and organs are formed, we do not know or have any knowledge of this at the time so how does our body and internal functions know how to function and what to do since birth? I do like the idea of the subconscious being a conduit to the divine how many times do we have something in the back of our mind and it comes to pass exactly as we envisioned it. Other thing like instinct and intuition also come from the subconscious.

This is an great informative, easy to read and most of all helpful book. The difference for me between a good and great self help or psychological book is how many of the idea in the book could be used in everyday life, I did not find anything in this book that could not be used in anyone's everyday life. Also it has stood thee test of time already.

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Spirits of Vengeance: War at the Gates of Hell

Spirits of Vengeance: War at the Gates of Hell by Victor Gischler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book the last issue on its own would have been 5 stars. The other 4 issues I would have given probably 3 stars average. Ge story is ok I have to say though I am not a great fan of the art work, and the dialogue. For such dark, conflicts and angry characters the art and dialogue just seemed to kiddie-ish. I don’t think it worked for me in X-Men and I don’t think it worked for me in this book.

Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze of course), is one of my favorite characters so I was happy he got a big role in this story. Hellstorm grew on me as the series moved on. Satana I did not particularly care about, but she did her small role well. Then there is Blade. Another of my favorite characters but I don’t think he was really needed in this story. I would have really liked for him to be used more or have a bigger contribution.

A good mini series with great promise, and I would not mind seeing these guys team up again, or star in their own series based on this (but with darker artwork), or a sequel to this story. Also a variant cover gallery or issue 1 at the end.

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Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1

Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 by Gabriel Hardman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not a bad adaptation of Green Lantern. I think this is one of the better Earth One books. I have to says my favorite is the Superman Vol 1. I am not the biggest GL fan so the changes made to the character do not bother me.

I like the darker art work. I hope Gabriel Hartman is available to do the artwork for the next volume of Batman Earth One (hint). I am glad the bulk of the story takes place in space (or on different planets). I personally think this suits GL best.

Hal Jordan is my favorite GL, but this is not the traditional Hal Jordan. This version is a disillusioned astronaut, instead of a hot shot fearless fighter pilot. This suits Hal as I always thought of him as the not mature Lantern compared to Kyle. In this universe the rings themselves do not choose their Lanterns and are more weapons.

Also in this universe there is no longer an established Green Lanterns team, so they have a lot to learn and find out and history to rediscover.

This is a good intro story, and sets up more stories for the future, but is coves everything it needs to if you just want to read this volume on it’s own. At the end there is a couple of pages of bonus art, as well as a page long summary of the whole story.

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Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living by Bruce Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book by a great a great person. Though Bruce Lee is most famous for being a martial arts actor, he was a great thinker which definitely enhanced his martial arts prowess. First of all this is not a Martial Arts book. The book is Bruce’s thought process on life.

Though it is written like a philosophy book, it is very easy to read. To quote Bruce himself, he says great thinkers and philosophers have a ways of making what they have to says more complicated then it should be. Bruce takes the opposite approach. Everything he says is straight to the point with no waffle.

Even though I there are many great points in the book and I do take a lot away from it, I don’t agree with every point Bruce makes, but that is part of his philosophy he wants his ideas to be challenged or built on because this shows thinking over blind following, or progress which he was all about. As he says:

“a teachers is never a giver of truth- he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.”

There are testimonials at the beginnings of this book of what a great person and teacher Bruce was, but the end of the book I had no doubt about how good he was as a teacher. Not just about physical techniques but about the mental and spiritual aspects of martial arts as well.

As with any ideas I could see many of Bruce’s views in this book were colored by his life expectancies. This is a great book with a philosophical contradiction, though Bruce Lee is a great and successful person to look up to. His message is not to emulate him, but to learn/know yourself honesty, and use this knowledge to be the best you can be.

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The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark #2)

The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I got this on the strength of Divergent not the last book in this series. This was a lot better then the first book. I wanted to give it 3.5 stars but is it such an improvement on the last book I thought it deserved a round up rather then down. It is still very slow paced, and there are probably less fights in this book then there were in the last book, but the story is much better and fills in many of the holes/problems in the first book. There is a lot more political intrigue, maneuvering, and manipulation along with some big plot twist.

The book is written in the first person for Cyra, and Cisi (Akos' sister), and in the third person for Akos himself. This I think was a good choice as in the past Veronica Roth has said she write better in the voice of her female characters.

Since the last book the brutal war on the planet Thuvhe, between the Thuvhe and the warrior nomadic Shotet has been notices and taken center stage in the interplanetary politics. Everyone has their own agenda. With the return of the most ruthless leader for the Shotet people causalities are mounting on both sides. Is all hope for peace gone?

Akos, Cyra and Cisi has seen their fates as both a curse and a burden. Now they might has to accept that their fates were just the start of their journey and their gifts/powers can be used for so much more. Maybe it is the comic fan in my but I love when people push the boundries or find new applications for their powers. These characters current gifts develop as much as their characters in this book.

The book starts off as slowly as the other book left off, you have to get past the first 150 pages for the book to really get going the last 200 or so pages is where it really turner into a page turner. However they are still parts that are drawn out or not the best thought out plans. This could be put down to the characters being quite young and reckless, so no knock on the writing. I good book I am glad I persevered with it.

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vercoming Anxiety & Depression : A step-by-step guide to overcoming anxiety and depression, lower stress and learn how to practice self-love, self-compassion while creating habits of mindfulness

Overcoming Anxiety & Depression : A step-by-step guide to overcoming anxiety and depression, lower stress and learn how to practice self-love, self-compassion while creating habits of mindfulness by Lydia Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite an informative book, and definitely worth the £1 price tag, (probably a lot more). The only problem I have is it is a bit too short. Till the last chapter the ideas talked about in the book were not built on. I the last chapter was excellent if the rest of the book was like that this would have been an easy 5 stars.

Going back to the length of the book, think they might have been intentional as it is supposed to be a quick and simple read so I that might not be a bad thing. A good book that, I got much more then I paid for it built on things I had read in other books, I would look at this as companion then a main book. However the important message is in there.

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Anything is Possible: My Story

Anything is Possible: My Story by Eddie 'The Beast' Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoy this book. I always enjoy books where I feel the author is being fully honest about their experiences and stories wart and all I am told it is called.

I think every man in the world a one point in their/our lives though we were or could quite easily become the strongest man in the world. In this book Eddie Hall tell us exactly what it takes. There is no magic formula, it is physical and mental toughness bordering on torture. Then there is the sacrifice. This burden is not carried alone but must be shared by friends and family members alike. There is also a big difference between strength and health.

The book covers Eddie early and family life and of course his journey to becoming the strongest man in the world. The road is not easy. It takes someone like Eddie’s do or (literally) die attitude to make it happen. Eddie calmly take about injuries and situations that probably would have killed most people. The only thing that is not covered in this book is specific training me. Eddie vaguely says the number of hour he spends in the gym. but not specific of the exercise. The story is more about Eddie life experiences and the sacrifices along the way.

A great story and hard earned achievements and success. Many of which almost cost Eddie his life. A great story but Eddie is not shy talking about cost to himself and his family. A great story as long as you don’t mind a decent sprinkling of f-bombs, though that is just Eddie’s personally and speech so it adds authenticity.

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