When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler

 

When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler

Revell

Published in 2003

ISBN 9780800787424

156 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

BOUGHT THE BOOK AS A GIFT, BUT READ BEFORE GIVING AWAY.
BOUGHT THE BOOK THROUGH AMAZON.COM.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up will help you know when it is better to speak or remain silent by teaching through biblical stories, personal stories, and historical examples.

At first, I didn't know it was Christian book until I started reading the book, but I'll tell you this, I found this book much tolerable than the 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, which was a bit more religious than I could stomach. Anyways, I found this book much more helpful and tolerable than the other book on how to tame your tongue. This book is like a chapter in 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, but a much better version with actual help for non-religious people or non-Christians in it. :)

Unlike 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, instead of just giving a biblical passage, this book gives the passage from whatever (personal, biblical, or historical) then explains (or psychoanalyzes) what he thinks it means, how to use it in your life, and questions to ask yourself. This book also has more personal and historical examples than the other book, so it isn't just biblical stories the author gives examples on.

Another thing I like about it is if you aren't as fanatic-religious as the other author is, you can read this book and not be drawn into the zombie like persuasion of "COME BE A CHRISTIAN, IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE". This book may have a little of that, but it isn't as noticeable as the other book --- or as annoying. The tone of this book is much more gentle and makes anyone feel welcome --- I think even people of different religions can read this and use it in their lives, just tune out the parts about Christian religion.

Go ahead and read it. If you aren't religious, you can ignore the pray parts and substitute it with "think about it", "ask for advice", or something along those lines. It has the perfect balance between for anyone who's not that religious and for people who might be too religious. :D

Out of the three books I got, I found this one and Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People to be the most helpful and insightful. If this is how all the help books this publisher publishes are, I think I will order all the help books I need from them. :X

Oh, one last thing, this author has another book like this, but it is mostly about gossiping and things like that. I don't know if I will read it or not, so, we'll see. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Dr. Michael D. Sedler
Goodreads: When to SPEAK Up and When to SHUT Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler
Library Thing: When to SPEAK Up and When to SHUT Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues

A 30 DAYS TO ____ BOOK

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues

Harvest House Publishers

Published in 2005

ISBN 9780736915601

141 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

BOUGHT THE BOOK AS A GIFT, BUT READ BEFORE GIVING AWAY.
BOUGHT THE BOOK THROUGH AMAZON.COM.

Review/Rating:

1 out of 5



With Deborah Smith Pegues using biblical scriptures as your guides, this book will (or should I say, won't) help you with what you say and how you should say it, in order to improve both your personal and business relationships.

Let's see... what to say about this book? All right, let's start with the reason why I bought a religiously infused (or what I say, "BOOKS WHICH TRY TO MAKE YOU INTO EVEN MORE OF A RELIGION-FANATIC," how to book. I honestly didn't read the summary --- shame on me, but oh well. I ordered this with two other books, When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up and Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People, which are much better books in my opinion.

The only parts I liked are: some of the metaphors and similes, sayings, (very few) scriptures, able to finish it in one day (and not because I liked the book), and the poem at the end. I think When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up and Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People will help you more than this book. Only if you are a religious fanatic do I think this will be of help to you. >.>"

Worst parts: Too much religion to be any good for non-religious fanatics. Too much quoting and not enough explaining of how that particular part of biblical story matches what we should learn and how to put it into use. Also, the book just quotes the scripture without analyzing it or how to ask yourself questions on how to conduct yourself that much. Oh, it had some good points, but nothing really to show how to get to those good points. You can definitely tell it is a religious propaganda --- not that there is nothing wrong with that, but it's a waste of money for something you could get or hear from church. Also, during the beginning part, it says something about how only God can help you tame your tongue --- not your own hard earned efforts. Okay, this is me after reading that, "You mean nothing I do will matter, unless I become a mindless zombie of 'If you don't follow this, you'll go to hell.'" Do people really only need divine assistance in order to say and do the right thing?

While this book would be good if you are a heavy religious person, these "lessons" will not work with those who believe in a little of both self-efforts and beliefs (God, divine figure, morals, consciousness) will help you succeed. I rated it an one because I found it unhelpful, too religious, not enough real life examples or explanations over the biblical story quotes, and some of the information is kind of altered. If you research some of the fact parts, you'll know what I mean.

And no, I will not listen to comments along of the lines of "I shall pray for you. You are going to hell." Why? Because I have my own opinion and my own mind, I don't need you telling me how to think. Also, if this offends you because you are one of the ones where God is the total aspect of your life, then don't let it, because as I said before, you have your opinion, and I have mine. I'm sorry, but I can't help how I am. Let's just agree to disagree, and don't shove your views done my throat. Be smart, not confrontational. ^^

Oh, there is also a workbook for this book, but I don't know how it is since I didn't buy it along with this books. But if you are like me, I would suggest just going to your church and ask your leaders there to give you some counseling on how to improve your speaking skills and how to "tame" your tongue --- and then donate whatever you would have used to buy this book to the church.

Another note, this book isn't really apart of a series. The author just has a lot of "30 Days to ____" books, and no, I won't be reviewing or reading those since they aren't a series like in fiction.

Out of the three books I got, I found When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up and Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People to be the most helpful and insightful. If this is how all the help books from that publisher publishes, then I think I will order all the help books I need from them. :X Go read those books instead of this one --- it really is just a waste of money when you can learn it from your church for free.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Deborah Smith Pegues
Goodreads: 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues
Library Thing: 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

 

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Pseudonym for Stephen Coonts

St. Martin's Press

Published in 2005

ISBN 0312323638

338 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



When Sam Neely graduates from State Police academy, he is assigned to the small village of Eden with the population of 47. He has been thinking that it is just a dull little town with nothing going on, but things suddenly get interesting when Ed Harris finds his wife in bed with his best friend, Hayden Elkins. Afterwords, Ed gives Hayden his wife and tells him that he now has two wives, but it then more things spin out of control. Can the community come together and bring peace back to their little town?

What can I say about this book? Hmmm... it was... ummm... odd --- in the good way, I guess. Though, I really don't know what genre to put on this book. It's mostly about life in the village of Eden, which has a population of 47, and how the community can come together through mostly gossip and trouble. So, I guess, it's mostly a slice of life genre. >.>"

The writing was almost like a diary telling the life of people in the village of Eden --- missing on some details, skipping some parts that would make it more interesting, and a lot of gossip things. ^^; It is told through the point of view of several characters --- Sam Neely, Ed Harris, Anne Harris, Hayden Elkins, Junior Grimes, Diamond Ice, and many more. :| For me, the book would have been better if it was told through the point of view of a couple of them. Though, through telling it through several characters, they were almost like real life people and very believable, and at times, sort of funny. So it has a good point and a bad point --- you got to know the personalities and descriptions through different eyes, but there were so many that it skipped some things that could have made the book better. :(

Also, I like the descriptions and details that the author used, and it seemed liked there was enough, but it could have been more enjoyable. It felt like the author skipped some major scenes that would have made the ending have more sense. It feels like he was trying to write it as a way to understand women since they were pretty much the focus of the books --- but it didn't succeed much. :| Even though some people won't believe that a spouse wouldn't take their other half back after they cheat, I believe it because it happened with my parents. :D Though, I don't think they pretend it never happened --- like the characters do in the book. Though, since I'm their kid (no matter how old I am), they won't discuss things like that with me ;)

So I like how he put the forgiveness in there, despite on how unbelievable it is. The author makes the characters seem human and not hold a grudge, but we all know that isn't likely in real life. Everyone holds a grudge against something --- whether it's another human, country, animal, etc --- sad, but mostly true. So, the no holding grudges and forgiving everything is not like real life, but kind of like utopia. Amazing thought, but with humans being unpredictable, it won't happen anytime soon. :)

Things I didn't like were the fast paced events, which didn't really satisfy you, the off topic things, and kept on adding new problems instead of focusing on just one and build on that (and then add more problems), the amount of God in there --- it's mentioned, then it goes poof, then it appears again (like the author couldn't decide really to add God in the solution of the problems), and how the author made the women's personalities --- gossips, cheaters, nagging, etc.

I will only rate it a two star because it was an enjoyable read, but no higher because of the problems above, which irritate me the most. :| It is pretty much a good summer read since it won't take that much time to finish it.

Oh, just a warning, there are some sex (smut) scenes, but they aren't describe in that much details. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Stephen Coonts
Goodreads: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams
Library Thing: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Traveller by Richard Adams

 

Traveller by Richard Adams

Alfred A. Knopf

Published in 1988

ISBN 0394570553

270 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Currently out of print.

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



The Civil War, not only a time of despair and strong emotions for men and women fighting/helping the war, but for the animals as well. As told through the eyes of Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveller, to a cat named Tom.

I love history novels or novels that are shaped around history --- like this novel and the Dear America books. :) If history fiction novels aren't your cup of tea, then I suggest not reading it. :| Though, I hope you will since I love how it is told through the point of view of Traveller, General Robert E. Lee's horse. :D

The thing I liked the most about the book is how creative the author was by telling the story and a piece a history through the eyes of an animal --- and managed to make Traveller seem human. Also, I liked how Traveller sounds like a grandpa telling a war story, forgetting some things, not getting parts accurate, changes the subject towards the end or the middle; and Tom seems kind of like the grandchild who asks questions, changes the subjects, falls asleep towards the end of it, and things like that. Another thing I like was the amount of details and the characters' personalities. :D

Some things that I didn't like were how the novel got really boring during some parts of Traveller's telling. :( It really felt like a grandpa boring me to sleep. I would have finished this book sooner if the book went into less details about pretty much all the battles. >.>" Other than this one thing, I think this book is pretty good. :P

Though, warning, it is in a Southern dialect, so it might be a little hard to read. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Richard Adams
Goodreads: Traveller by Richard Adams
Library Thing: Traveller by Richard Adams