Jefferson Barracks by Sandie Grassino

 

Jefferson Barracks by Sandie Grassino-128 pages

Like many of us, I have loved ones who are buried in Jefferson Barracks.  My dad shipped out on a train from there in 1942 to head to Indio, CA to train under General Patton.  So, when this book came across my desk I grabbed it!  It is short and sweet with a lot of fascinating historic pictures. I enjoyed learning the history of Jefferson Barracks.

Founded in 1926 it was home to America's first permanent Dragoons (later the United States Cavalry), first school of Infantry, and first regiment of buffalo soldiers.  The largest induction and mustering-out center during both the First and Second World Wars. 

It is now home to the Missouri Air National Guard, the VA hospital, the Historic Park, a national cemetery and many museums.  It also has many wonderful walking trails that I highly recommend.  We are fortunate to have so much history so nearby.  I enjoyed this book very much.

This Book is Cheaper Than Therapy

 

This Book is Cheaper Than Therapy by Liz Kelly, LICSW  242 pages

Tired of feeling like shit but can’t afford therapy?

Finding a good therapist is hard. Finding a good therapist you vibe with―and who won’t break the bank―is even harder. In This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy, seasoned therapist Liz Kelly brings the therapy office to you. So even if money is tight, your insurance doesn’t cover therapy, you can’t find quality practitioners in your area, or you’ve been stuck on a therapist’s waitlist for months, you can still feel better now.

With her cheeky humor, undeniable wit, and perfectly timed f-bombs, Liz has a talent for explaining complex mental health concepts in a way you can understand and can put into practice immediately. And don’t worry―at no point in this book will you ever hear the phrase “healing journey,” “your truth,” or any other over-used therapy platitudes.

She didn't get deep into anything, but it was a good overall read. You can tell a future therapist to skip the preliminaries and jump to the 'third appointment' stuff.

Love Your Life, Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want

 Love Your Life, Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want by Rachel Cruze 272 pages 

More than ever with the rise of social media, people are trying to keep up with the Joneses. Problem is, the Joneses are broke. It is so normal in todays world to go into debt for things like new furniture or a fancy vacation, but it doesn't have to be and shouldn't be this way. Rachel gives you practical advice on how to get out of the rat race and start winning with money. 

Rachel is the daughter of Dave Ramsey. If you have read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover," this book does not present a lot of new information. However, it is more relatable for a millennial audience. I have read both and I still enjoyed this. 

French Women Don't Get Fat

 French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano 263 pages

Mireille gained 25lbs when she lived in America for a year. When she came she felt very insecure and her mother discreetly had the family doctor put her on a "diet" plan which she shares in this book. There is also a lot of examples of just how the French lifestyle makes for a healthier living even though they do not deprive themselves.

The book was a little inspiring as far as making you want to add more movement into your daily life and watch your portions. Although some things were unrealistic. I live in the Midwest, I can't make a daily walk to the grocery store to pick up fresh ingredients for dinner. I don't live in a high rise apartment where I can choose to take stairs over the elevator. Sure, I can vigorously clean my house and take regular walks, but she almost shames Americans for going to gyms, but sadly it has really became a way for people to get their movement in when they live in a certain culture. 

You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap)

 You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap) by Tammy Strobel 224 pages 

Tammy talks about her personal journey simplifying her life and downsizing to live in a tiny house. She also shares personal stories from other people who have made the journey. 

I have read a lot of these books, so although I have a fascination that keeps drawing me to pick these types up and read them, I don't expect to learn much new information. I really enjoyed this book though! I loved her writing style and the way she incorporated other peoples journey "going tiny" as well. 

The Private World of Tasha Tudor

 The Private World of Tasha Tudor by Tasha Tudor and Richard Brown 144 pages 

Tasha Tudor is a beloved author and illustrator of children's books, but what she may be even more known for is her unique lifestyle. Tudor is a step back in time. She raised her children on a farm without electricity or water until her youngest child was five years old! She loved being a mom and a homemaker and was an avid gardener, in fact, her home and garden are a well sought after tourist attraction- that only allows tours to select individuals once a year. She loved and kept many animals- particularly corgi dogs (she said at one time she once had up to 13 corgi's). She was an incredibly interesting woman who wanted to live like people did in the early 1800's, so she did, and it made her very happy, which makes her an inspiration to many. 

Crib Sheet

Crib Sheet by Emily Oster 352 pages

This is a follow up to Emily Oster's popular book, "Expecting Better," that went over a bunch myths and old wives tales during pregnancy and provided a considerable amount of data to either prove them correct, incorrect, or let you decide for yourself based on the data. This book does the same thing, only with parenting topics such as breastfeeding, sleep training, potty training, ect.
I really love the concept of this book and her writing style breaks up all the information with relatable stories from her own experiences which makes the book easier to digest.

The Montessori Toddler

The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies 256 pages

Montessori is a form of education that is more child lead than teacher lead. The book gives examples of how to encourage Montessori education in your home through what toys you bring in, making everything child height, routines, "discipline," and more. The goal is to create a better relationship with your toddler and add more calm during a not so calm time in your life.
I really enjoyed this book! I have already started implementing some of the suggestions such as letting your toddler help more with daily chores. My 19 month old now helps pull her laundry out of the dryer, helps dust some furniture, and waters our big plant. I never thought to have her help with  chores this young but it really does seem to make her happy that she is being apart of the family and helping.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Shaunti Feldhahn, Jeff Feldhahn

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Shaunti Feldhahn, Jeff Feldhahn -- 192 pages



Women: Complicated and impossible to understand? Do you love and want to please the woman in your life, but just can't seem to figure her out? That was before For Men Only. Now at your fingertips is the tool that will unlock the secret to her mysterious ways. Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and "mapped." In fact, much to men's delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and please-as long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved.



Okay, yes, I read the book for men about women, mainly because I was curious to see how accurate it is. It's decently accurate, but very, very general. They had to make very broad generalizations to make this book work. When it comes to your significant other, you'll have to learn who they are as an individual and what they struggle with. At best, this book will help you consider things that you haven't and prompt you to ask questions that you ought to ask.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi -- 296 pages


Nabeel explains the difference between an eastern mindset and a western mindset. It may be hard for us to full comprehend here in the west just how fully those in the east rely on their elders and those in authority. For first generation eastern immigrants in the US, it is very hard to connect with those here, because our thinking is just so foreign. For second generation eastern immigrants, it is very hard to continue in their parents' ways when the western world tells them not to rely on authority, but to examine the evidence themselves.
That's what Nabeel was finally confronted with, the challenge to examine his own beloved faith and find out for himself just what he believed.
The journey costed him everything, but it also gained him happiness he had never dreamed of.
His story is incredible as well as very enlightening. I listened to it within days and hung on to every word. I'd recommend this book to anyone.

A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent  -- 97 pages

Preach the Gospel to Yourself Daily
God did not give us His gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted. He offers it to us every day as a gift that gives to us everything we need for life and godliness. This book includes 31 "Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily."

A Colony In A Nation by Chris Hayes

A Colony In A Nation by Chris Hayes - 256 pages

America likes to tell itself that it inhabits a postracial world, yet nearly every empirical measure--wealth, unemployment, incarceration, school segregation--reveals that racial inequality has barely improved since 1968, when Richard Nixon became our first -law and order- president. With the clarity and originality that distinguished his prescient bestseller, Twilight of the Elites, Chris Hayes upends our national conversation on policing and democracy in a book of wide-ranging historical, social, and political analysis.

Hayes contends our country has fractured in two: the Colony and the Nation. In the Nation, we venerate the law. In the Colony, we obsess over order, fear trumps civil rights, and aggressive policing resembles occupation. A Colony in a Nation explains how a country founded on justice now looks like something uncomfortably close to a police state. How and why did Americans build a system where conditions in Ferguson and West Baltimore mirror those that sparked the American Revolution?

A Colony in a Nation examines the surge in crime that began in the 1960s and peaked in the 1990s, and the unprecedented decline that followed. Drawing on close-hand reporting at flashpoints of racial conflict, as well as deeply personal experiences with policing, Hayes explores cultural touchstones, from the influential -broken windows- theory to the -squeegee men- of late-1980s Manhattan, to show how fear causes us to make dangerous and unfortunate choices, both in our society and at the personal level. With great empathy, he seeks to understand the challenges of policing communities haunted by the omnipresent threat of guns. Most important, he shows that a more democratic and sympathetic justice system already exists--in a place we least suspect.

A Colony in a Nation is an essential book--searing and insightful--that will reframe our thinking about law and order in the years to come.

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau -- 268 pages

This is a collection of stories as well as guidelines for starting a small business from nothing. I found it very inspiring and informative.

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin -- 337 pages



Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America's first, most notorious traitor, but if he had died at the Battle of Saratoga from his near-fatal injuries, he would have gone down in history as one of our greatest war heroes, reckless, adventurous, and tremendously brave.

What happened that turned Arnold from General Washington's trusted ally into his betrayer?

When I first started this, I didn't realize it was YA Nonfiction. Even so, I felt it detailed and informative. I greatly enjoyed listening to the audiobook.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas -- 304 pages

This is a biography of William Wilberforce, the man at the heart of the end of the British slave trade. Not only did Wilberforce help to end the slave trade, he also changed the hearts and minds of the British people, who before then never valued service to the poor or help for those less fortunate.
William Wilberforce has always been one of my heroes, and Eric Metaxas does a wonderful job portraying his life, his work, and his passion.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance by Joshua Harris

I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance by Joshua Harris -- 221 pages

Recreational dating: find someone who makes you happy, brings you pleasure, makes life exciting and then when their charm is gone, or when you find someone else, or, heaven forbid, when your partner leaves you, then it's over, leaving your heart intact or otherwise. More often otherwise.
Is there a better way to find a life partner? Is there an alternative? Joshua Harris presents one.

Published in 2003, I Kissed Dating Goodbye is still widely read in Christian and homeschooling circles and continues to be a source of counsel.

Harris is very good at explaining problems with worldly dating and also very good at getting to the root of the problem, the heart issues. I greatly appreciated it.

When the Hurt Runs Deep: Healing and Hope for Life's Desperate Moments by Kay Arthur

When the Hurt Runs Deep: Healing and Hope for Life's Desperate Moments by Kay Arthur -- 240 pages

Where can you turn for hope when the hurt runs deep?
At some point in life, every one of us will face the dark pain of heartache and despair, a hurt that pierces so deep we're left gasping with questions:
"Why me? Why now?"
"What have I done to deserve this?"
"Will the pain ever go away?"
"How can God just stand by and let this happen?"
"What do I have left to hope for?"

If you know Kay Arthur's Bible studies and devotionals, you know that a lot of her content is simply guiding you as you study the Bible, highlighting and underlining different words, verses, and themes. She truly draws her content from the Bible as well as from her own past experiences. 

Listening to the audio book was a bit different, since you can't journal in an audio book and often you listen to them while your hands or feet are busy, so you don't have opportunity to sit down and study the scripture with her. Although it was moving to hear her voice telling you her stories, the audio book just didn't work for me as well as the physical copy. 

Even so, the truths in this little book are wonderful. 

Girl Defined: God's Radical Design for Beauty, Femininity, and Identity by Kristen Clark, Bethany Baird

Girl Defined: God's Radical Design for Beauty, Femininity, and Identity by Kristen Clark, Bethany Baird -- 240 pages

Most of the principles that sisters Kristen and Bethany share in "Girl Defined" are not new or novel to a lot of Christian girls I know, but compiled in this easy-to-read (and pretty) little book, it is certainly ideal for young girls who seek to discover their purpose as a girl. Along with the same themes that run in other solid Christian books, Kristen and Bethany share their own stories that drive home different points, and leave journal space to write your own similar experiences or thoughts.

The Calamity Papers: Western Myths and Cold Cases by Dale L. Walker

The Calamity Papers: Western Myths and Cold Cases by Dale L. Walker -- 288 pages

Spur Award-winning author, Dale L. Walker continues what he started in Legends and Lies, by uncovering the truth around some of the American West's most famous and infamous figures. Leaving no figure sacred and no stone unturned, Walker dives deep into some of the most enduring myths and legends of the Old West. 

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti -- 176 pages

"I begin with the young. We older ones are used up . . . But my magnificent youngsters! Look at these men and boys! What material! With them, I can create a new world." --Adolf Hitler, Nuremberg 1933

How fascinating that so little of what Hitler did was actually illegal and how readily people followed him! In the breakdown of families and morality, and the inflation of young people, Hitler's rise to power in Germany happened swiftly, leading up to World War II. 

This book details the lives of several young people, some who resisted Hitler, and some who passionately betrayed their own parents to him. It isn't long or tedious, and it's pretty good. 

While reading relating book reviews, I was rather glad that I, among few, did know of the atrocities that this book recalls, but perhaps I didn't know quite the extent of them. I hadn't realized that so much of the violence was done by the Hitler Youth. Neither had I realized that the euthanasia program (briefly talked about in this book) was kept so undercover so that parents had no clue that their children were being murdered. 

I listened to the audio book.