Personal Finance for Young Adults

 Personal Finance for Young Adults, Leon King, 2022

This book attempts to explain the basics of financial literacy, for all those young people who never learned about it in school.

 

It looks at alternatives to a regular 9-to-5 job, how to make more money in a job and setting financial goals. A budget, of some kind, is a very good idea. The first step is to know how you are spending your money, so, for the next couple of days, write down every expenditure.

 

Debt is not always a bad thing. The author introduces the reader to the world of credit cards and interest rates. At some point in a person's life, a car, and then a mortgage, will be needed. The book gives the basics. It also talks about investing, and planning for retirement.

 

Don't try to "get" this book in one sitting. It's OK to read it more than once. This book does a first-rate job of exploring the world of personal finance. For any young person who asks "What is financial literacy?" this book provides the answer. It is very much worth the time.

Eversion

 Eversion, Alastair Reynolds, Orbit Books, 2022

Silas Coade is the ship's doctor on an 18th century sailing ship. It is heading for the north of Norway, looking for the rumored Edifice, with the possibility of lots of money to be made. They are also looking for any sign of a ship called "Europa," which made the same trip several years previously. Coade dies, and a short time later, wakes up on a zeppelin heading for Antarctica. He is again the ship's doctor.

 

The zeppelin is looking for evidence that the earth is hollow, and for any sign of a ship called "Europa," which made the trip several years before. Coade dies, and wakes up on a steam-powered schooner on the southern tip of South America. He is again the ship's doctor.

 

After several such incidents, Coade, and Ramos, the head of security for these expeditions. begin to realize that something very weird is happening. Along for the journey is Ada Cossile, who turns out to be more than just the plucky lady reporter sent to document the expeditions. The book ends in the underground sea on Jupiter's moon Europa, with Coade understanding just what he is.

 

This book deserves more than 5 stars. The first part of the book works very well as a pulp/adventure story. It has plenty of thought-provoking science, good characters and first-rate writing throughout. This is very highly recommended.

Fire

 Fire, Pat Daily, 2022

This young adult novel continues the story of SPARK, a virtual reality Disneyworld in California. It also continues the growing relationship between Will and Feral (real name ShaChri), two underage runaways who sort of live in the park.

 

SPARK just fought off a major terrorist attack, with many casualties. While dealing with a law enforcement jurisdictional nightmare, the Will-Feral relationship keeps growing. They also experience the price of fame. Everyone at SPARK knows that the bad guys will be back. This time, their assault is more specific and targeted. Along the way, Will is trapped in a cave after a cave-in and Feral is kidnapped (not at the same time). Do either of them survive? Does their relationship survive?

 

This is an excellent novel. It has VR, it has action and it has teen relationships. It is also very easy to read. Here is another story that may be intended for teens, but adults will also enjoy it.

Civil Service Vocabulary: 510 Essential Words

 Civil Service Vocabulary: 510 Essential Words, JK Smith, 2022, ISBN 9798356206924

You have just applied for a job with the Federal Government. Among the requirements is the taking of the Civil Service exam. This book is here to help.

 

Each vocabulary word is followed by its pronunciation, and the type of word that it is (verb, noun, adjective). Next is a short definition of the word. Then comes a pair of sentences using the word. It is followed by synonyms and antonyms of the word. The there is a "Further Information" section (the word comes from Latin or Italian or Middle French). Review questions (with answers in the back of the book) help to solidify the learning.

 

This book is very much recommended for anyone about to take the Civil Service exam. It is also recommended for older high school or college students who need some vocabulary help.

Crypto for Beginners

 Crypto for Beginners, Hudson Lee, 2022

Cryptocurrency is the newest way to make (or lose) money very quickly. This book gives an introduction.

 

The first thing to do is create a crypto wallet. It is where you will store your currency, and it is also required. The book explains the process, step by step. You will be asked for a password of random letters and numbers, and a secret phrase. It is imperative that you keep them in a safe place, like on a flash drive, or on a piece of paper in a safe deposit box. Lose your password, or your secret phrase, and your crypto riches are gone, forever. There is no re-setting your password.

 

There are hundreds of currencies available, with more created every day. Which one do you invest in? It's called "research." You wouldn't buy shares in a company just because you like their commercials. Don't invest in a currency just because it's the most popular, or the cheapest. Are you a short- or long-term investor? Don't invest more than you are prepared to lose. Don't panic if the price suddenly drops by a lot.

 

Crypto scams are everywhere. Don't give your password, or secret phrase, to anyone. The IRS wants their portion of your riches, so don't forget about them. Cryptocurrency losses are tax deductible. Many exchanges offer trading accounts on paper, so you can learn the process before spending real money.

 

This book does an excellent job at taking the reader through the process, one step at a time. Keep this book nearby during your journey through the world of cryptocurrency. It is well worth reading.

Out of This World: Awakening

Out of This World: Awakening, Specializzi.x and Friendz, 2022

 

Nicole is your average office worker whose life takes a bizarre turn.

 

She meets a presence in her house who does not do well in light, whether sunlight or lamp light (no, it's not a vampire). His name is Arik, and he says that they have been together for many lives all throughout time and space. Nicole and a friend hold a seance with a local witch; it will put everything back to normal. The seance does not go well.

 

Nicole starts to regain memories of the past, along with acquiring three cats who can talk. Suddenly, Arik is whisked away by strange forces who do not want them to be together. Does Nicole go after the man she loves, and look for information on her past, or does she return to work, and forget Arik?

 

This story is surprisingly good. It rates very high on the Weird Meter, with enough science fiction for anyone. It is very easy to read and understand, and I hope that a sequel is in the works.

The Ideation Equation: How a Handful of Habits Can Make You a Creative Genius

 The Ideation Equation: How a Handful of Habits Can Make You a Creative Genius, Linus Bille, 2022

Some people are just born creative, and the rest of us are permanently out of luck, right? Wrong, according to this book.

 

Everyone has heard the term "think outside the box." This implies that there is a "box," that human thought has somehow been suppressed. It implies that thinking differently than everyone else is a bad thing. The author does not suggest getting rid of the "box," but find some way to exit it on occasion. Schools do not exactly kill creativity, but they certainly don't do it any favors, pushing it into a kind of deep hibernation. Something else which should change is the concept that there is one correct answer for all questions. This ranges from questions like "What is 2+2?" to "What is the best way to. . . ?"

 

This book contains exercises to help anyone raise their creativity level. It shows that there is not a "creativity gene." This book is very easy to read and understand, and is highly recommended for everyone.

Special Skills Teens Need to Survive High School

 Special Skills Teens Need to Survive High School, M.A. Gallant, 2022

Even under the best of circumstances, a person's high school years can be a very challenging time. This book is here to help.

 

If this book can be reduced to a couple of sentences, it might be "Don't be afraid to establish emotional boundaries in your own life (certain behaviors are not acceptable around me). There are considerate and non-insulting ways of saying that a person has breached those boundaries."

 

Look around inside yourself, and see what kind of person you really are. Come up with your own personal Bill of Rights. When asking your parents to raise your allowance, or extend your curfew, show some evidence that you are responsible. Don't say "Because I deserve it." The book also looks at teachers and potential bullies, your job and setting boundaries while dating.

 

This is an excellent book. It provides plenty of ideas to make a person's high school years easier to navigate. It is recommended for all high school students, for those not yet in high school, and for their parents.

Belonging to Yourself

Belonging to Yourself: How Self-Love, Wisdom, and Simple Changes Can Transform Your Life, Christopher Terzakos, 2022

 

This is the story of one person's journey from pain and heartache to love and transformation.

 

A native of New York City, the author's parents divorced when he was a child. Mom did the best she could, raising four children. As teenagers, the author and his older sister ran away from home. One day, Mom drove him to his father's house (he had re-married and started a family) and basically said, "He's all yours" as she drove away. He was immediately accepted by his step-family. It was his first exposure to what a family is supposed to look like.

 

He worked in the construction business, and quickly rose through the ranks. Later in life, he helped build the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. Life was good. When it came to relationships, life wasn't so good. He got married too early (it ended after a couple of years). Another relationship ended when he learned that she was a drug addict. The author decided that the world won't end if he isn't in a relationship; it's OK to concentrate on yourself for a while.

 

Throughout his life, he had several mentors or father-figures that he could look up to. Whenever someone need help, emotional or financial, they could count on the author to be there. Whenever he needed such help, he certainly found out who his real friends were.

 

Here is a very inspirational story that is recommended for everyone. It is very much worth reading.

I'll Sit This Right Here

 I'll Sit this Right Here, Brian Welch, 2022

The author was in a serious, same sex relationship, until he found that his partner had been cheating on him (more than once). It hit him like an atomic bomb. Simply getting out of bed, and going to work, required superhuman strength. His co-workers knew that something was very wrong.

 

How does one even start to recover? With a lot of soul-searching and therapy, the author began to put himself back together. He had a difficult childhood, so he also had to deal with a number of old emotional scars. This is a very honest, and heartfelt, tale of one person's emotional journey from darkness to light. For anyone going through an emotional hard time, consider reading this short book. It is very much worth it.

The Universal Rules of Life

 The Universal Rules of Life: 27 Secrets for Managing Time, Stress and People, Nabil Fanous, 2021

Developed by an Egyptian plastic surgeon living in Montreal, these rules will help anyone to navigate through this thing called "daily life."

For instance, if you want a better table at a restaurant, there is no harm in asking. You have a 50 percent chance of getting it. If you are going to criticize someone, no matter how mild it may be, compliment them first. If someone is talking to you, actually listen to them, with your ears and your eyes and your brain.

If you are in a situation where you don't know what to say or do, then say or do nothing. Put your problem on paper - the solution will usually show itself pretty quickly. Forget multitasking and try unitasking. Think of what you have, not what you don't have. Always have a Plan B. Last, but not least, stand up straight.

To some people, these rules may be common sense. There will always be those for whom these rules a revelation. Reading this book, and adding even one or two of these rules to your daily life, is a very good idea.

How to Build Your Influencer Brand

 How to Build Your Influencer Brand, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

There are many things to consider before a person can become a social media influencer.

What is your subject (food, travel, beauty and makeup)? What is your method of communication (blogging, podcasts, videos)? Who is your target audience (please be more specific than "everyone")? Don't try to spread yourself all over social media; pick one or two platforms and stick with them. The Facebook audience is different than the YouTube audience which is different than the TikTok audience?

How often are you going to post new content? Whatever you choose, be consistent. Know your competition, and find some way to be different than they are. Why should a person listen to you, or buy from you, over someone else? Define your brand. What colors and font will you use? What is your mission (aside from making a lot of money)?

This is an excellent introduction to the influencer world. Other books go into more detail, but for anyone just starting out in social media, reading this book is a very good idea.