I picked up this book on meditation not sure what to expect. While reading it, I sometimes felt like I know all of this, however, when I sat down to write this book review I realised I had actually learnt quite a bit.
Continue reading “Meditation Now or Never”
I started reading Buddhism for Mothers while on holiday. On holiday its really easy to take on board all the exercises outlined and even to try out some of the meditating exercise. Since coming back, even though I’ve tried being mindful but its not that easy. However, the best thing about Buddhism is not to berate yourself about it but peacefully move along and carry on when you can again. Continue reading “Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Naptoli”
This post summarises my top 5 business books reviews. 
Over the years I have read and reviewed lots of books. Some are business type books, some are related to parenting and education type and although I like reading lots of fiction, I have only reviewed a few fiction books on my blog. The following books that I have read and reviewed are my favourite ones that have a more business focus.
The amazon links below are all affiliated to my account which means that I earn a small commission if you were to buy a book using my link. It is at no extra cost to you.
Continue reading “My top 5 Business book reviews”
City of Sinners is the third book in Harry Virdee series by A.A. Dhand. Considering I’ve read all three of his books this year, I think I’m getting slightly obsessed with him. Continue reading “City of Sinners by A.A. Dhand”
This book was written by my new blogging idol Aby Moore. I’d like to say this is going to be an objective review of the book but I really can’t find anything to fault. The start of the book has her personal story on how she started blogging as a diary to record her daughter’s life. It then developed from there into a business with opportunities to go travel and receive things that were earned from her hard work and dedication to her blog. Continue reading “Blogs Change Lives”
The Wealth Chef by Ann WilsonThis is a practical book showing you how to get your personal finances sorted. It’s not a wishy-washy book saying here are all your options, now go and find something that works for you. The book has a step by step guide like following a recipe to get out of debt and start saving. Continue reading “The Wealth Chef”
Refuse to Choose by Barbara SherI came across this book, Refuse to Choose, while I was looking at different VA services website and one of them had recommended this book. I am so glad I found this book. It’s a lovely book about how to follow all the things that interest you and you are passionate about. The author calls these people ‘Scanners’ and it makes being indecisive and wanting to do everything acceptable.
The things that she suggests you do are not really new concepts but they way she writes about it makes it all feel ok. As with nearly every single book or course I read now, they all start with buying a brand-new journal in which to write in. For this book, your notebook or journal needs to be new and special for you to write, draw and doodle all your fantastic ideas. Something like Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. I dutifully complied.
Even though I did start my new notebook, I haven’t actually kept up to date with it. It’s currently sitting pretty in my bookshelf along with my notebooks on accounting, tax, blogging, writing and the 3 page a day(!) diary.
The book is split up into two parts and 19 chapters. The first part describes what is a scanner and the second part describes what kind of scanner are you? These are the chapters in the book:
Part one
1. All about Scanners
2. What’s Wrong with me?
3. Scanner Panic
4. Commitment Phobia
5. Too busy to do What I Love
6. I won’t do anything if I can’t do everything
7. I can’t get started
8. I never finish anything
Part two
9. About Cyclical Scanners
10. Are you a Double Agent?
11. Are you a Sybil?
12. Are you a Plate Spinner?
13. About Sequential Scanners
14. Are you a Serial Specialist?
15. Are you a Serial Master
16. Are you a Jack of all Trades?
17. Are you a Wanderer?
18. Are you a Sampler?
19. Are you a High-Speed Indecisive?
In Part two, at the beginning of each chapter is a list of questions about that particular type of scanner and if you can answer yes to a lot of these questions then that is the type of scanner that you are. You can be more than one type of scanner. When I went through this, I got Jack of all trades and Double Agent. It then gives a few examples of people in that group and what they do and then lists out potential careers of types of careers and finally what type of tools a scanner needs. There is a list of tools for a scanner in the appendix which is useful as most of these things I’ve not really ever heard of. Some of favourites are the portable dream deck where you can keep several different projects going at the same time, the scanners day book, A ring binder for all your different projects and a catalogue of ideas with potential. Actually, I think I would probably like them all.
Another big theme I found in the book is to find a good enough job if you can’t find the perfect job and then you can spend the rest of your time pursuing the things that you enjoy. There are several chapters that I want to go back and read again but it really does make you feel better that its ok not to have a niche figured out and pursuing. You don’t need to be a specialist and focus all your energies on the one thing, if you enjoy doing several things at the same time.
If, like me you are wanting to everything that you find interesting without giving up anything, this book is for you. I can see why the VA feels like this book is a must for all other VA’s out there because you can offer lots of different services that you are good at as a VA.
The author, Barbara Sher, also has a website and mailing list which can be found here: http://barbarasclub.com/
Go and enjoy this book as I try and figure out how to organise my life so I can do everything I want to pursue!
Buy the book from amazon here:
‘
‘
Hands Free Mama is an amazing book and Rachel has a way of writing which is very emotional and very raw. The book starts with turning off your gadgets so you can spend more time with your children and partner. However, it goes into more depth and just turning off your mobile phone is not enough, you need to connect and be present for your kids. Continue reading “Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford”
The Price of Privilege is another parenting book highlighting the plight of parenting in this day and age. The author is a psychologist who treats a lot of wealthy family kids – especially teenagers. The case studies themselves are enough to make you feel unbelievably sad and unhappy. It gets you thinking about your childhood and that of your kids. You hope and pray that you are doing everything right and the doing your best is enough. But there are so many little incidents that ring true that make you think, is that me? Will that happen to my girls? Continue reading “The Price of Privilege – Madeline Levine, Ph.D.”
This book, ‘How to live on 24 hours a day’ is about how to use your time more effectively during a working week. It assumes you get home for about 7, eat and rest and then you still have about 3 hours to do something productive. I’m not too sure what I think about this book. At times it can be a little condescending and patronising but I have to remember that it was written in 1908 originally. Continue reading “How to live on 24 hours a day by Arnold Bennett”
An accountant and a Mum 