Goal Setting for Entrepreneurship

 Goal Setting for Entrepreneurship, Timothy Presley, Independently Published, 2021

Setting goals for a new business is not much different than setting personal goals. That's what this book is all about.

"I want to be rich." It's a laudable goal, but define "rich." How long are you giving your business to get there? Among the requirements of goal are that it be specific, measurable, achievable and timely. "I want to achieve a million dollars in sales in my first year." It's closer to a good goal. The only problem is that it is not very achievable for a new business. "I want to achieve at least $50,000 in sales in my first year." It's measurable, specific and it has a time limit attached. Break that overall goal into smaller pieces, like monthly sales goals, and, every day, resolve to do at least one goal-oriented thing.

Be sure to write down that overall goal, and post it where you can see it every day. Otherwise, it's a dream, not a goal. Tell someone else about your goal, and ask them to hold you accountable. It's much harder to let someone else down than it is to let yourself down. Try visualization, and using a vision board. Consider setting short, medium and long term goals for your business (6 months, 1 year and 5 years).

Here is an excellent book. It is short, about 50 pages, and it says a lot. This belongs on the reading list of every entrepreneur.

Change Your Habits, Change Your Life

 Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, Timothy Presley, 2021, self-published

Habits are how we do things without thinking. They can be good or bad habits, but we developed them over time to supposedly make our lives easier. How do we replace our bad habits with good habits? That's what this book is all about.

The best way to start a new habit is to actually do it, frequently. Your brain will build up the required neural connections, and will remember how to do it. There are several things to do to change bad habits, including changing the environment around you, change your thinking, and making a list of the good things that will happen (including the money you will save) if you stop your bad habit. When you acquire a new good habit, you might feel happier and be better organized, it will be easier to reach your life's goals and your chances of success will increase, along with reducing your stress level.

The book gets specific about actions to take to change bad habits, like an impulsive personality, indulging in too much alcohol or nicotine, or watching too much TV. Exchanging that bad habit with a good habit, like going for a walk after dinner, usually helps.

For most people, this book may be considered common knowledge. Even if a person can do only one of the tips in this book, it will help a lot. This book is short, less than 40 pages, and it is full of information. It is recommended for everyone.

A Deadly Harvest

 A Deadly Harvest, Scott Dovala, self-published, 2021

Set in present-day California wine country, this novel is about one of the last family-owned wineries. The owner, Gio Venetti, has just completed an extremely successful advertising campaign. He chose Peter Lansing, a close friend and world-renowned photographer, to shoot the ad, and English model Emily Taylor to be featured. The sparks between them are immediate (Gio planned it that way). Suddenly, Gio is found dead in his office. It seems that Emily and Peter have attracted the attention of "The Deadly Samurai," one of the world's most ruthless businessmen. Does he want the winery for himself? Did Emily and Peter see something that they shouldn't have seen?

Mystery and film noir fans will love this book. It's got good writing, good characters, and works really well as a suspense/thriller story. This feels very plausible, and is well worth the time. 

Managing Time Effectively

Managing Time Effectively: How to Boost Productivity, Making Effective and Practical Schedules, Embracing Change, Leadership and Organization, Timothy Presley, 2021, self-published

Is there not enough time in the day for everything you need to do? Are you a hard-core procrastinator? This book might just help.

Decide which tasks are important (do those first) and leave the rest for later. Make a schedule, and stick to it like glue. If you really can't do it all, learn how to delegate some of the tasks to others. Set personal goals, and, if necessary, break them up into smaller, more manageable pieces. Stay off the internet, except for certain, specific times of the day. What is your best time of day? Are you a morning person or a night owl? Learn how to manage change, because you can't stop it.

This book is short (less than 100 pages) and very easy to read. For most people, the tips in this book are just common knowledge. Even if a person can do only a few of these tips, it will help greatly. This is very much worth reading.

Fatty Liver and Cirrhosis Diet Cookbook

 Fatty Liver and Cirrhosis Diet Cookbook, Sophia Williams, 2021, self-published

What is cirrhosis of the liver? Do you have liver problems and want to know what foods to eat (and avoid)? This book attempts to answer those questions.

Did you know that the liver has about 500 different functions? This book lists some of them. It talks about the latest research on liver disease. Included is a description of various types of fatty liver conditions, including liver cancer, liver failure, acute viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease.

Much of this book is taken up with recipes to eliminate toxins from your liver, and improve your health and energy level. Among them are: liver detoxifying smoothie breakfast bowls, easy avocado pancakes, low carb berry salad with citrus dressing, tomato basil and brown rice pasta, lemon-pepper tuna bake, lemon olive snack, superfood raw bars and ginger citrus liver detox drink.

For anyone with any type of liver issues, reading this book, and trying a couple of the recipes, is a very good idea. For anyone who simply wants to eat healthier than they have been eating, reading this book is a very good idea.

100 Business Math Questions and Answers

100 Business Math Questions and Answers (The Complete MBA CourseWork Series Book 2), Hicham  and Mohamed Ibnalkadi, 2021

The business problems described in this book (with answers explained) are not bookkeeping or accounting questions. These questions and answers involve calculus and linear algebra.

For anyone who loves math, this book is recommended. It is especially recommended for anyone who is on the journey toward getting their MBA. For the average reader, this book can be skipped.

Diverticulitis Cookbook

Diverticulitis Cookbook: A Comprehensive Diet Guide with 200 Proven and Delicious Diet Recipes to Prevent Flare-Ups and Improve Gut Health, Sophia Robinson, self-published, 2021

You have just left the doctor's office complaining of cramps and constipation, only to be told that it is diverticulitis. An internet search might provide a list of symptoms, along with a list of foods to avoid. Are you stressed about what you can eat without having a flare-up? This cookbook attempts to give some answers.

It talks about the causes and symptoms of diverticulitis, along with the latest science. The book talks about preventing attacks, and dealing with mild to strong symptoms. There is a list of foods to eat, and of foods to avoid. Included are 200 recipes to improve the health of your gut and prevent flare-ups.

This book feels very detailed and accurate. For anyone with chronic gut problems, whether or not you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, reading this book is time very well spent.

Pancreatitis Cookbook

 Pancreatitis Cookbook: The Ultimate Pancreatitis Guide with More than 120 Easy and Delicious Pancreatitis Diet Recipes to Improve Your Enzymes and Health, Sophia Wilson, self-published, 2021

You have just been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. Now what do you do? This book attempts to answer that question.

Acute pancreatitis is a short-term inflammation of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis can lead to lead to gradual fibrosis of the gland, which can lead to it losing the vast majority of its function. This becomes a big problem because your body is unable to produce enzymes to absorb some products of the digestion process, including nutrients that come from fats, and sugars.

This book explores the lifestyle and diet changes that are required of someone with chronic pancreatitis. It includes over 100 recipes to improve your health and the condition of your enzymes. Included is a 21-day meal plan to help reduce the frequency, and severity, of attacks.

For anyone who is frustrated by the results of their online search for information on pancreatitis, reading this book is a very good idea. Try just one recipe, and if you don't have an attack, try another recipe. This book is very much worth the reader's time.

Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners UK 2021

 Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners UK 2021, Michael Williams, 2021

Air fryers seem to be the newest thing in the cooking world. Are they really worth it? Is air frying that much of an improvement over regular cooking? This book attempts to answer those questions.

It contains over 100 recipes, including French toast, banana bread, spicy chicken legs, breaded pork chops, feta spinach and fudge brownies. There are also recipes for those who are on the keto diet. Greatly reducing the amount of oil needed in cooking can only help with weight loss and avoiding high cholesterol and heart disease.

If you have received an air fryer as a gift, and are wondering what to do with it, try one or two of the recipes in this book. The picky eater in your household might like it. This book is worth checking out.

Communication Essentials

 Communication Essentials (The Complete MBA Course Work Series), Hicham and Mohamed Ibnalkadi, 2021

Part of a series that attempts to provide an affordable MBA education, this short book is all about business communications. This book does not cover shaking hands (or fist bumps or elbow bumps) or looking people in the eye or remembering people's names.

Instead, this book looks at advanced persuasive speaking. The goals of persuasive speeches or presentations include stimulating a person to do something, and convincing your audience that your point of view is correct. The types of persuasive speeches are: propositions of fact, of policy and of value. Your audience will range from supportive to hostile. A person connects with an audience through concepts like trustworthiness, being similar to your audience, your reputation and your authority.

Whether you are a politician giving a big public speech, or you are giving a big presentation at work, this book is worth reading. It is very short, less than 30 pages, and can be very helpful.

Piano and Keyboard for Beginners

 Piano and Keyboard for Beginners, Michael Williams, 2021

You have decided that you want to learn to play the piano. This book attempts to take the learner through the whole process of reading music and playing popular songs, starting with the purchase of a keyboard.

It is recommended to start on an acoustic piano. One reason for a real piano is so the learner can see the scales and chords on those 88 keys. The other reason is that, when hammers strike those strings, other strings, called overtones, also vibrate. It is not yet possible for electronic instruments to duplicate that sound. If buying a piano is not an option, then buy a digital keyboard with 76 or 88 keys. The greater number of keys will be useful when trying to play scales with both hands at once. Last, but not least, make sure your keyboard has weighted keys and is touch-sensitive. It matters.

The author also looks at reading sheet music, playing the C Major scale, rhythm, playing both hands together, major and minor keys, playing arpeggios and playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

This books feels comprehensive and easy to use. It all depends on the motivation of the learner. For any journey to learn the keyboard, here is a very good place to start.

The Final Feast

The Final Feast, Andrew Rivas, 2020 (self-published)

Part 2 of a series, this fantasy/science fiction novel takes place in a kingdom where the Families are very powerful (there is a king and queen). Princess Ruby, the leader of the Daughters of Despair (they do the kingdom's dirty work), decides to take down the Families, permanently. Their ability to perpetually stay in power seems connected to their consumption of a substance called honey. The yearly festival where the honey consumption happens is coming soon, along with the hundredth anniversary of the Storm of the Screaming Skies. When all is said and done, will the kingdom ever be the same?

This novel is very different and very good. The biggest difference is that the entire book is written in first person, from different perspectives. It's like the entire book is nothing but monologues and dialogues; there is no narration. The second difference is that the reader had better like being dropped right in the middle of a story, again with no narration or other explanation. Some readers will appreciate it; personally, that is why this book gets 4 stars (maybe 4.5 stars) instead of 5 stars.

Cape Nome: The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope

Cape Nome: The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope, Neil Perry Gordon, 2021, self published

Part two of a series, this novel takes place in Cape Nome, Alaska in 1900. Three Swedes, who were prospecting for gold in the area, hit it big. Practically overnight, the area is flooded with thousands of people hoping that the luck is contagious. Along with the prospectors are drunks, gamblers, crooks whores and all sorts of other unsavory types. Included in this flood of humanity is a man named Percy Hope. He now has a respectable job, as a reporter for William Randolph Hearst's San Francisco Examiner, but he is not new to Alaska. Did I mention that also in this book is a government conspiracy, the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, and an actual sea monster?

This book is like taking a time machine to a different time and place in American history. It will certainly keep the reader interested, and it has lots of good writing. This is very much worth reading.

Introduction to Machine Learning

Introduction to Machine Learning (The Complete MBA Coursework Series), Hicham and Mohamed Ibnalkadi, 2020, self-published

This book is part of a series that attempts to provide an affordable MBA education. It is all about machine learning, the science of making computers act in different ways without being programmed.

For instance, you want a computer to scour the internet looking for pictures of black cats. First, you need to give the computer thousands of pictures of cats of all colors. Then, you might give the computer thousands of pictures of not-cats, so it can learn to distinguish between them. After that, you need to teach the computer the difference between the color black and all other colors. When the computer learns to find black cats in its sample pictures, then you can unleash it on the internet.

This book talks about different types of machine learning, including supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement and deep reinforcement learning. It also talks about decision trees, the Bayes Theorem, natural language processing and neural networks.

Automation, and artificial intelligence, is part of daily life in present-day business. This book provides a very good overview of the field. It will help the reader to ride the AI wave, and not be swamped by it.

Galactic Passages: Requisite Bandits

 Galactic Passages: Requisite Bandits, Dean Vargo, Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2020

 Part two of a series, this science fiction novel is about the plucky crew of the spaceship V-357. After destroying the "bad guys" in part one, the crew suddenly has a very hard time getting home (the portal that they use was destroyed).

There is a mutiny attempt, there is the realization that the science given to them before their mission started is faulty, and there is the realization that they are the most wanted criminals in a new dimension. The crew presses forward, no matter what; going back is not an option.

This book is literally a family affair. It is written by a father and his three children, so it will appeal to young people and adults. It is campy sci-fi (with sound effects!) that will keep the reader entertained.

Dawn of the Elite

 Dawn of the Elite, Andrea Barringer, 2021, self published

Part one of a series, on the planet Vilmos, a psychic connection has been discovered between fraternal twins, like their own private telepathy. Along with several pairs of twins, Rayah, and her brother Ondrous, are brought into the castle. They are to guard the supposedly barren queen, who is pregnant with twins. A crazed murderer named Rancor has just broken out of a maximum-security prison. Those twins, who are born prematurely, are his next target.

Before that, the first half of the book is a teen romance between Rayah, and a young man named Kaled. Things were serious between them; marriage was a real possibility. They didn't just break up, their relationship collapsed like a building in an earthquake. Kaled tries to fill the hole in his heart from losing Rayah with meaningless relationships, and he even sinks into alcoholism. He is reluctant to admit that he still has feelings for Rayah. While guarding the royal twins against Rancor, do Rayah and Kaled ever reach the point of being Not Enemies, even if they can't be friends?

This is a very good start to a series. Romance fans will love it. The author does a good job with the society-building. Perhaps some professional editing will bring this book from 4 stars (maybe 4.5 stars) to 5 stars. This is well worth reading.