Willpower - it is in all of us

Description: 

This book is about getting what you want by having the will power to do so. People often think they do not have willpower therefore it is clever people who gain more from this world. The reader too can be clever and have willpower too; this can be learnt by mastering willpower by following this book.

Highlights: 

This book is set out well and is easy to read. just by picking up the book it gives the reader permission to know they can do this too, it is within their gift and the reader can see progress in as little as three week. This book can be for both professional and personal use.

the book is well set out with easy to read chapters with well researched theory, practical tests for the reader, advice on diet and alcohol intake (easy to reach for the glass of wine on a work night- no willpower needed there but the proof in the pudding is less harm to one’s health.

Strengths and weaknesses:

The author is an acclaimed psychologist writing other books such as Confidence at Work: Get It, Feel It, Keep It. This book has been used by paralympians, athletes and surprising teenagers with addiction.  The book explores theories alongside coaching tips, with interviews with athletes and business people. There is no miracle cure, the reader needs to work at it, but it is about organizing, planning and being positive. For staff working in the healthcare setting, the chapter with a great deal of practical advice was the final section on 'willpower at work'. All too often we find obstacles in the way if it everyday challenges or organizational changes.

The table on page 122 was particularly useful Table 5.2 the caring versus the blaming culture – there still can be a blame culture in organisations. It is about culture, feedback and support from leaders.

This teaches the reader to change habits- carry on as you always did and things will still be the same or adopt good habits and move in the right direction. We all get into a rut and cannot always see the wood from the trees. We need to move on and be positive in our outlook.

There is no over night cure but the reader has the tools to make this happen.  “A new behaviour takes three weeks to form plus another nine to become a habit”.

Potential Readers:

All healthcare staff no one is exempt we all need this to help in out working and personal lives.

 

Good understanding for Patients and Nursing Staff for Type 2 Diabetes.

Description: 

This is a concise guide to understanding type 2 diabetes, giving the background to the disease, understanding how a person may try to prevent this, and how the reader can maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst suffering from diabetes.

Highlights: 

This book is written by a professor who works closely with patients with diabetes and their physicians, who has first hand knowledge and extensive research experience. This person knows diabetes inside out.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Although written for an Australian audience this books is just as relevant in the UK, where patients and nurses can benefit from Professor Merlin Thomas extensive renowned research. This book is easy to follow and each chapter begins with key points, under the headings of ‘Understand’ and ‘Manage’ The key to this disease is a good diet, exercise and medication when required and is this not the philosophy for the nation to keep healthy. The problem with managing this disease, whether this is the community or in hospital is having a good understanding. At times it feels like the healthcare setting do not always understand or have a good working knowledge of diabetes.

The emphasis is on a healthy lifestyle and a good diet, all too often today our diets are high in salt, sugar and we drink too much alcohol.

The second part of this book explores complications that may arise - cardiac, eyes, feet and the renal system. This is set out well for the reader in easy to read chapters that are not overly complicated.

The resource section gives the reader access to further reading – websites by the author, diabetes organisations and useful blogs.

  

  

Potential Readers:

This is a good resource for the patient who will benefit from the information and expert guidance – whether this is healthy living or having the insight into what complications can occur.

This is an excellent guide for students or qualified nurses. It is imperative that nurses have a good grounding in diabetes to ensure this disease is managed effectively. The author quotes the World Health Organization estimates that 346 million people have diabetes, a figure that is expected to double by 2030 without intervention. We in the healthcare setting must do all we can to help patients and try to prevent this from happening to our patients.

Clinical teams do not always fully understand diabetes and this again would be a good tool for clinicians.

Oxford from a different angle.

I was asked to review this book by the publishers.

I love Oxford and we try to visit regularly. This is not Morse and the world of culture and learning this is about seven people and the homes they live in. This is a different slant on Oxford- the real Oxford.

These people have secrets and as the story unfolds so do their secrets, someone maybe watching and there is a eerie feel to this but at the same time there is humour too. it is about morality and personal values.

The residents are students (Oxford has students in the less well healed areas), a bus driver at war with the world and students too, a family with a son, one with a fractious teenager and two Del boy characters. The characters stories are told by the others too so there is a different slant to this story. Be prepared for some shocks too.

The author ties up the story neatly like a parcel at the end really skillfully.

This is an author I have not come across before, checking to see if this is his debut novel , but this was not he has already published in 2014   Martin Harbottle’s Appreciation of Time- which I am now reading now.

Great story telling, great writing for an author up there in the top ten.

You will not be able to put this book down

I was asked to review this by Lovereading.co.uk 

There is a lot around this book at present and of course everyone wants to know the burning question just what did she know. This is discovered early on in the story and will not give this away. This was great to review as I was sent this on Saturday and started the book the moment the postman left. I knew no more than what I had heard.

The story - Alice has a lovely life, career, children and a great husband - it begins by her husband disappearing and a telephone call that is baffling. Who do you trust in this psychological thriller that thunders along not allowing the reader to put the book down -you will not be able to. The reader does not know what is coming next as the story unfolds told by Alice herself. 

This is well written with good descriptive writing.

Although you read reviews that state - I was not prepared for the ending OMG I really did not see that coming- what a twist at the end. 

What a debut novel and a great author- cannot wait for her next novel.

An adult fairytale

I was asked to review this by Inspired by Kathy.

This is total escapism full of fairy tale characters- just how often do you think if there is another world maybe I can have an adventure - although in this case Katie has had enough of the mortal life and tries to end it all, luckily she ends up in another world. There could be a hint of Narnia where the snow queen has kidnapped a friend and then tries to find him. This is a book about finding oneself too. 

Well written, and a good storyline too. 

Published 23rd January 2017.
  

A fun read on a cold day

Was asked to review by Inspired by Kathy- a really fun book reading when the weather is grey and we are longing for some sunshine. 

Having been to Mexico I just snuggled down and enjoyed the trip - it is bumpy the main character is up against relationship issues, beliefs and finding herself. Well written enjoyed the cultural aspect of this also. 

This is the authors debut novel and well worth the read, I am now looking  this author up.

Published 7th February 2017. 

Transported me to another world recommended

This is a well written book for young adults. I was asked to review by Librarything.com. I loved this book, magical and mysterious – a child who wants to see the amazon, a globe connected to the family.
I loved the fact that I too felt I was transported with this amazing globe and sat by the fire visualising this. 
There was an eco-side to this with the Amazon forest with the reader being informed about the plight of the forests although some reviewers thought this may be a bit too heavy but young people need to know these facts and as this was part of this story this is a great way to inform people.

Eco, culture and great imagination 

Recommended read due to be published April 2017.