Front & Center

Front & Center Leadership by Brandon Birkmeyer

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

It has been said that a true leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. Being a leader is no easy task and there are thousands of books out there detailing how to step into leadership. In Front & Center Leadership, Brandon Birkmeyer takes a chance and gives us his take on how to be a present leader. With a tone similar to that of a best friend urging you to believe in yourself, Brandon lures us in. He brings in expert leaders from the personal branding industry, shares inspiring stories, reflective activity exercises and a can-do attitude. This book is almost the perfect guide on how to stand out in the personal branding business.  Purchase Here.

From the beginning, Brandon grabs the reader’s attention by sharing his story and explaining how he started, what he learned, and the decisive nature that ignited his dream to be the best he can be. The book is well written, with the 22 chapters perfectly divided into three parts.

The first half of the book talks about his personal journey and explains what front and center leadership is. The second half delves into the art of personal branding and how to go about it. This part is multilayered with each chapter giving step-by-step guidance. The third chapter broaches the four laws of leadership and encourages the reader to step out of their comfort zone and take a seat at the high table. For example, in Chapter 21 “The Confidence Crisis” dares the reader to gain confidence in themselves. It talks about the importance of knowing and trusting yourself. We all have fears that keep us from achieving our goals, and this chapter is quite relatable. It gives us the necessary tools to help us slay our dragons and push ourselves to go after our dreams.

The best part of the book is the activity break that engages the readers to reflect on what they have learned and how they will utilize the information. Each activity break encourages the reader to take a step and audit themselves. It helps the readers get invested in the book as the questions are tailored to inspire them to write their plans and set up the necessary resources, such as social media platforms, to start building their brands. The activity breaks after chapter six helps the readers pick a platform they would like to start.

The book also contains amazing interviews with people well placed in the industry to be dishing pieces of advice. Brandon interviews Nicky Saunders, one of the hosts of the famous Nicky and Moose podcast, and they talk about the importance of choosing the right media platform. He also interviews Kat Norton and many other content creators who happily share their stories and knowledge from years of personal branding.

Ultimately, Front & Center Leadership is an interesting and quick read. Brandon broaches personal branding in a friendly and relatable way that incentivizes the audience to step up to the plate. For anyone looking to become a leader in personal branding, this book is a must read. It is a great guide and will help you decide where to start and how to go about each step. It is a mind-opener for those who are tired of waiting and are ready to take matters into their own hands. If you need some motivation to believe and bet on yourself, then this is the book for you. One of the things I loved about the book is the encouraging tone and Brandon’s choice to include interviews with people who have done it already. It is inspiring to see how they did it and they also share the blueprints of their success. What are you waiting for?  Grab a copy of this book and learn how to become a leader in personal branding!

 

Consciousness is All there Is by Dr. Tony Nader

Consciousness Is All There Is: How Understanding and Experiencing Consciousness Will Transform Your Life by Dr. Tony Nader

Reviewed by Lisa Brown-Gilbert

We are beset in a world that is swiftly spiraling into becoming a world populated by people who are devoid of spiritual, physical and moral wellness leading to many of us experiencing life as often chaotic and disheartening.  Purchase Here.

Meanwhile, offering another way of approaching life which is sure to lead to a happier and more balanced existence, is an empowering text by award-wining author, and expert on Vedic Knowledge, Dr. Tony Nader, titled, Consciousness Is All There Is: How Understanding and Experiencing Consciousness Will Transform Your Life.

As a matter of fact, within this book Dr, Nader shares a work of great scholarship and wisdom.  This is a text brimming with eye opening, mind altering, information and would be best defined as the blueprint necessary for understanding, creating and living one’s best life. Divided into five sections this tome of learned stature includes deep explorations of the aspects of consciousness through the following general scopes including the topics of; What is Consciousness, The Consciousness Paradigm, Higher States of Consciousness, Technologies of Consciousness and Implications for Human flourishing.

Moreover, within this work is a wellspring of pertinent information necessary for the approach towards transcendence.  Each section dutifully presents a well written compilation of thoroughly detailed sub-topics of consciousness, including elements of modern science, philosophy and Vedic wisdom. A profound teacher, Dr. Nader delves into complex transcendent subjects with a relatable but scholarly approach, including but not limited to; the four states of consciousness, king sleeping, dreaming, the brain as a transducer of consciousness, the consciousness of animals, plants and computers, and transcendental consciousness all of which work towards fomenting the steps to a radical departure from the normative mindset of reality which is that the brain creates consciousness, to realizing that, in reality the opposite is the case where consciousness is the basis for everything in life and creates reality.

Ultimately, Consciousness Is All There Is: How Understanding and Experiencing Consciousness Will Transform Your Life by Dr. Tony Nader, made for a phenomenal read.  This is a large compendium of knowledge which leaves an indelible impression on the psyche, chock full of extensive detail, simple meditative exercises and pertinent illustrations and diagrams. This was not just an average read that one can peruse through.  In fact, it is a thesis meant to be savored and studied because what it ultimately offers is divine guidance, not only to those curious minds but to those dedicated to transcending into a better life a better life. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read this dynamic book as it has guided me into expanding my awareness of wellness through a higher state of being and my comprehension of reality, as well as my spiritual knowledge base. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend reading it.  I look forward to exploring Dr. Nader’s other scholarly works.

 

 

Second Place:  Adult Non-Fiction

Keep Quiet Black Boy

Keep Quiet Black Boy: A Leadership Guide to Mentoring Millennials by Rev. Dr. Jerome Frierson

Book Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“Keep quiet, Black Boy” is a nuanced leadership guide to mentoring millennials and a transparent empirical Christian guide whose thought and concept have been drawn from a line of real experience and multifaceted surveys and interviews, which culminate in the author’s passion to break a hideous cycle that has limited many young African American men for decades.  Purchase Here.

Coming from a black community where humiliation, discrimination, oppression, poor economic status, racism, and agony stood paramount, the author carefully carves this book in skill and ardor into an eye opener, whose sole purpose is to enlighten and deliver infinite wisdom and liberating truths to similarly disadvantaged African American young men, who he strongly feels have a greater need for social support than others.

As an experienced preacher, the author bases his research on Christian values and biblical foundation making this a transformative handy guide for the Christian community. The bustling findings derived from well-thought questionnaires and surveys not only draw the reader’s attention to detail but interpretation as well.

“Keep Quiet, Black Boy” is a vast read that has employed candid talk and dialogue, a writing style that makes this read natural and original all through. End notes, biblical testimonials, and a vast list of references qualify this book as authentic and also make readers appreciate the deep and exhaustive research undertaken by the author. The author’s objective to have mentorship as the basis for this sumptuous study not only showcases it as an integral tool for transformation, growth, and development but also as a rewarding and fulfilling tool whose benefits are abounding.

Rev. Jerome Frierson intelligently manages to issue an essential clarion call to the church, school, and community leaders to stand up for African American young men, by creating mentorship and awareness sessions in a world that deeply advocates for sponsorship rather than mentorship. His boundless effort to see a generation thriving and flourishing stands appreciated and valued.

“Keep Quiet Black Boy: A Leadership Guide to Mentoring Millennials” by Rev. Jerome Frierson is, without doubt, a much-necessary read in modern times and an incentive to adduce further discussion on the subject of a complex subject little voiced.

 

Maximise Your Child's Performance

Maximise Your Child’s Performance: A Concise Guide to Unlocking their Potential by Jennie Segar

Reviewed by Dianne Woodman

Maximise Your Child’s Performance: A Concise Guide to Unlocking their Potential is a marvelous book of information. Jennie Segar discusses ways to make a difference in children’s development and benefit them academically, professionally, and socially. The book is an invaluable resource not only for parents but also for anyone involved in the caregiving role of children. Segar is well-qualified in the book’s subject matter, as she has years of experience as a parent and in different jobs working with children. Purchase Here.

The book is divided into ten chapters with sub-headings and the corresponding page numbers, making it easy for readers to explore chapters that focus on issues of interest. The introduction is a wonderful overview of the specific topics discussed in the book. Readers will gain helpful insight into many topics important to a child’s healthy growth and development. Segar shares meaningful experiences from her own life, offering readers a personal perspective on everything the book addresses.

Some of the discussed topics pertain to positive and constructive approaches to guiding children’s behavior and how playing games can help build cognitive skills. The author also includes the advantageous effects of exercise and healthy eating on a child’s physical and mental development, the educational benefits of learning to play an instrument, the importance of shared reading from an early age, the value of a family-owned pet, and the impact of technology on children.

All the material covered in the book is supported not only by the author’s personal experiences as a parent, child-care worker, and teacher, but also by the results of research and case studies. Segar shares her own opinions on ways to encourage and support children in their journey to adulthood. The author provides helpful information that clearly and accurately describes different types of age-appropriate toys, exercises, sports activities, musical instruments, and online games. Segar also talks about the nutritional needs of children and the effects on their health from chemical additives added to food.

At the end of the book, the author includes an addendum with samples of sentences used in teaching students. Segar believes that acquiring the skill of telling and writing down stories is an essential component in the all-round development of children. The author’s insights and experiences, along with a detailed reference list, add to the credible level of authority for Segar to write on a range of topics related to child development. Readers will find the methods advocated by Segar for promoting positive child development extremely useful. Maximise Your Child’s Performance is an inspiring book that provides a thorough overview of ways to motivate children to achieve their best and reach their full potential.

An Antidote to Violence

An Antidote to Violence by Barry Spivack and Patricia Saunders

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

“An Antidote to Violence: Evaluating the Evidence” is not your casual mid-afternoon read. It is a thought-provoking and in-depth presentation of a still-controversial topic, Transcendental Meditation (TM). The authors, Barry Spivack MA and Patricia Saunders Ph.D. have created a monumental piece by critically analyzing decades worth of scientific research on the social effects of the practice. After a careful evaluation of evidence, the authors conclude that there is indeed an antidote to violence. Purchase Here.

This universal antidote is accessible to all and completely free. While this might sound like oversimplifying a vastly complex and far reaching issue, that is not necessarily so. While researchers have linked group meditation to measurable growth in social welfare (under different forms), they do not consider the TM effect the sole cause of these measures. Rather, they view it as part of a complex web of forces which govern the world and life as we know it, yet, often fall beyond our regular conscious grasp.

To those less familiar with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his teachings, there is ample opportunity to acquaint yourself throughout the pages of the book. Barry Spivack and Patricia Saunders take a peek behind appearances and explore the science behind this elusive phenomenon. They gradually walk the reader through different scientific experiments and statistical analyses of growing complexity to answer a set of questions and consequently ask new ones.

By bringing to the forefront a series of socio-psychological experiments that offer perceivable proof of decrease in violence and increase of social welfare, “An Antidote to Violence: Evaluating the Evidence” aims to attract the attention of both individuals and governments to this feasible antidote. Organized groups have ventured into volatile war zones to bring outer peace through their inner tranquility. And they seemingly succeeded time and time again.

The authors discuss in-depth the implication of paradigms in the history of ideas, mainly paradigm shifts. Discoveries and systems of thought that did not conform to the mainstream view of the time were often first ostracized before being accepted as groundbreaking leaps. The historical contextualization outlined by the authors acts as a possible explanation of why the TM continues to be met with resistance by so many. It simply does not comply with our modern Occidental view on reality and the self.

“An Antidote to Violence: Evaluating the Evidence” is somewhat similar to a meta-analysis, in that it collects a vast body of academic literature and analyzes the data and results presented. However, it is far from being a sterile statistical account, as it is deeply infused with the passion of the authors. Although starting from different fields (Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Music respectively), both Barry Spivack’s and Patricia Saunders’ life journeys merge in the blossoming universe of Transcendental Meditation.