Empowering Voters

 Empowering Voters, Maggy MacNikol, 2024

This book looks at ways for the average voter to feel like they really can change things, Locally or nationally.

Part of this book takes place in the fictional town of Greeneville. Bianca, the new mayor, realizes that the education system is very uneven. What can be done to help those in the underserved part of town? She can't impose a solution from above; no one will go along. She organizes a series of town halls, bringing together everyone, including students, parents, teachers and local businesses. People will care a lot more if they have a hand in crafting the solution. Deciding on the right answers is half the battle; implementing them is much harder. Every town has multiple "issues;" just do one at a time.

There are bigger issues; the book gives the example of a proposed high-speed train between two cities in Europe. Some are opposed for environmental reasons; the proposed route will go through a pristine mountain valley. Others are in favor because of the jobs it will provide. It will also take all those cars off the road, which will help the environment. This is where civil society organizations (CSO) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) come in. They can help find a middle ground that everyone can accept. Also very helpful are advocacy groups and lobbying organizations.

This book is recommended for everyone who has the passion to change things, but is less sure about just how to do it.

101 Mediterranean Recipes Everyone Craves to Cook

 101 Mediterranean Recipes Everyone Craves to Cook, Alicia Read, 2024

For anyone who has never heard of the Mediterranean Diet, it is all about foods from countries on the Mediterranean Sea, including Spain, Italy and Greece. It is plant-based, with small amounts of fish and lean meat. Olive oil should be the main source of fat, and fresh fruits should be consumed for dessert. Trans fats, processed food and refined grains (the typical American diet) are to be avoided.

Among the dishes in this book are: summer fruit salad, classic basil pesto, pan-seared cod fillets, feta and shrimp macaroni, classic Italian chicken piccata, lamb stew with figs and lemon amaretto almond bars. It is probably a good thing that there are no pictures in this book. What comes out of the oven rarely looks anything like the picture.

For anyone interested in trying the Mediterranean Diet, or just trying something different in the kitchen, this book is a very good place to start. Cook just one recipe, and, if you like it, try a second recipe. Yes, this book is the money.

Gambling Lion

 Gambling Lion, Antoinette George, Brangwyn Press, 2021

 

Set in Western Europe of the Napoleonic Era, this novel is about Nicholas de Bresancourt, a French duke whose lands were confiscated by the French authorities. Working for the British (in their war against France) as a courier and spy, he spends a few days in London, waiting for his next assignment. He catches up with his adoptive family, and visits Mayfair's hottest gaming club, Le Lion D'Or.

 

Run by a masked woman who calls herself La Lionesse, she invites him upstairs, where they can be alone, all night. She turns up the seduction "dial" as high as it will go. This goes on for several nights; Nicky would be very angry if he saw her face.

 

Meantime, he is given a new and secret assignment. He is to find a notorious French agent who has been causing a lot of trouble for the British in Spain. This Frenchman will not hesitate to torture, and then kill, Nicholas if he is discovered.

 

This is an excellent start to a series. It has adventure, high society, danger and lots of seduction. There is also a lot of good storytelling. It is very much worth reading.

LMSW Exam Prep 2024-2025

 LMSW Exam Prep 2024-2025, Ariadne Blaine, 2023

 

Do you want to become a licensed social worker? This book is here to help.

 

Be very sure of the requirements to become a social worker in your state. Every state has different requirements. Taking the ASWB exam is a good idea, but not mandatory. Be aware that it is reputed to be a very difficult exam; nearly half of all test takers fail the exam. If you fail, you have to wait six months to take it again, and pay the several hundred dollar test fee.

 

This book covers areas like human growth and development, self-care and burnout prevention, assessment and intervention planning and advanced ethical dilemmas. There are practice tests in the back of the book (with answers and explanations).

 

Knowing nothing about the social worker field, this book feels very comprehensive and straightforward. For anyone looking to become a social worker, this book is very much worth the time (and money).

Wall Pilates Workouts For Women

 Wall Pilates Workouts for Women, Madison Gray, 2023

 

Are you looking for an easy exercise plan that does not involve buying expensive equipment, or going to a gym? Welcome to wall pilates. All you need are loose workout clothes and a wall.

 

The exercises in this book will not just tone your physique and sculpt your muscles. They can also improve your mental clarity, raise your endurance and vitality and reduce your levels of stress and anxiety. There is a complete description of each exercise, along with clear illustrations (to remove any thought that you might be doing it wrong).

 

Whether you are a novice or veteran exerciser, this book is very much recommended. If you can do only a few of these exercises, it is still worth the time and money.

NHA Phlebotomy Study Guide 2024-2025

 NHA Phlebotomy Study Guide 2024-2025, Robert Cliven, 2023

 

Have you ever had someone take a sample of your blood while you are at your doctor's office or an urgent care clinic? That person is a phlebotomist.

 

There is a lot to keep in mind as a phlebotomist. It starts with finding a usable vein, usually in the crook of the elbow, and inserting the needle at the right angle and depth. The patient may be apprehensive or have a fear of needles, so being able to answer all questions from the patient is important. After the sample is taken, it must be properly labeled. Mislabeling a blood sample can lead to the patient not getting appropriate health care. A phlebotomist must also safeguard a person's private health information, and ensure that it stays private.

 

This book explores each of these areas, and answers many FAQ questions about phlebotomy. It also has a sample test, with answers and explanations. Experience as a phlebotomist is necessary to be qualified to take this test. This book feels very comprehensive and easy to understand. For those who want to become a certified phlebotomist, this is an excellent place to start.

I Spy Animal Book for Kids

 I Spy Animal Book for Kids, DreamWorld Press, 2023, ISBN 9798398245394

 

This coloring book will help young children learn the alphabet and the names of animals that start with a particular letter. Each letter is on a separate page, with pictures of five animals. The next page has the correct animal, plus a fact about it. The pages are nice and thick, so seepage from markers will not be a problem.

 

This book is recommended to begin a child's education on the alphabet. It is also good for downtime at home, and to keep the child occupied during those long car rides to Grandma's house.

Postal Exam Study Guide 2024-2025

 Postal Exam Study Guide 2024-2025, Talon Redwood, 2023

 

There is a lot more to the US Post Office than just mail carriers.

 

Especially at the larger mail sorting facilities, it is vital that those sorting machines and conveyor belts be kept operating. The maintenance staff needs more knowledge than the average person about electronics and mechanical issues. There is a standardized exam just for that category. Of course, there is a standardized exam for mail carriers, who, for most people, are the "face" of the post office. Postal workers, those who run those sorting machines and conveyor belts, have their own exam. Last, but not least, there is a separate exam for customer service clerks. They are the people who deal with the public every day, selling stamps and accepting packages.

 

There are many questions and answers, and a practice test, for each category. For anyone interested in a job with the US Post Office, this book is well worth adding to your list of study materials. It feels very complete, and is worth the money.

The Deadly Samaritan: Good Intentions, Tragic Results

 The Deadly Samaritan: Good Intentions, Tragic Results, Michael Geczi, 2023

 

Morristown, New Jersey is being menaced by a serial killer, but this is not your average serial killer. Drew McLogan is a former TV producer in Manhattan. He is visiting Stan Kaminsky, Morristown's Chief of Police (the two are old friends). After another body is found, and Kaminsky dies from a sudden heart attack, McLogan decides to stick around, and get involved.

 

Not everyone in town is happy that McLogan is playing amateur detective. Does he attract the attention of the killer/killers? Is there someone or something else behind the murders? Who is still alive at the end of the story?

 

This is an excellent psychological murder mystery. It has plenty of twists and good writing. It will easily keep the reader interested.

Say No to Negativity and Win the Fight In Your Head

 Say No to Negativity and Win the Fight In Your Head, Jonah Okpara, 2023

 

An Uber driver can meet all kinds of people, good and bad.

 

On one trip, the author (a recent emigrant to America from Nigeria) met an older man who felt like a failure. He was totally unable to work due to a severe health condition. Another passenger was a young woman in tears because her boyfriend was treating her horribly. The author talked to them, and gave them some encouragement, some common sense and a bit of religion. Both passengers left his car feeling a lot better.

 

This book explores subjects like how not to be depressed, how to reduce your anxiety, how to deal with seasonal affective disorder and how to relieve stress in your life.

 

The author is not an academic or theologian, but an average person. This book is surprisingly good and very inspirational. For anyone having an emotional rough time, regardless of the cause, reading this book is an excellent idea.

Composting: The Garden Gold

 Composting: The Garden Gold, Oliver Thorne, 2023

 

The first thing to learn about composting (turning grass clippings and fallen leaves into mulch for your garden) is to Be Patient. It might take weeks, or months, for air, water and bacteria to complete the transformation.

 

You need a certain ratio of "green" items (kitchen scraps and grass clippings) to "brown" items (straw and fallen leaves). Too much of one or the other, and you might create a bad smell, or the composting process will seem to have stopped. It is necessary to use a pitchfork, or other such tool, and turn the whole pile every so often. This guarantees that air will get to all parts of the pile. You also need water, but not too much. There will be false starts, and setbacks. Don't worry about it; it's a learning process.

 

If you live in the city, there are smaller size composting kits available. You can still compost for the plants that are on your balcony, or to contribute to a community garden.

 

There are many upsides to composting, including reducing landfill waste, and helping your children to get up close and personal with the environment. This is a first-rate book that painlessly goes through the whole process. For anyone who wants to get into composting, reading this book is an excellent place to start.

Winners' Guide to GMAT Critical Reasoning

 Winners' Guide to GMAT Critical Reasoning, Jay John, 2022, ISBN 9798369851142

 

Critical thinking is an important skill in daily life, and when taking the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), a central part of any graduate school education. This book is here to help.

 

It covers a variety of topics, including logic, the major components of critical reasoning, kinds of arguments and fallacies, like either/or and inconsistency. The book also explores the best approach for dealing with certain types of questions in the test. As always, there are many practice questions, with answers and explanations.

 

Like the other books in this series, this book is highly recommended. It is good for anyone taking the GMAT. It is also good for anyone whose interest in learning is not satisfied in the average high school or college. This book is very easy to understand.