The BestSeller She Wrote - Book Review

 Ravi Subramanian has been in my favorite authors list for very long. And with The Best Seller She Wrote, he just managed to bag a lifetime membership there. Though The BestSeller She Wrote was significantly different from his earlier works in terms of plot and mildly predictable at certain points, it does not miss the thrill, the twists and superlative storytelling which are Subramanian's trademark. There is also an uncanny similarity between the lead character and famed author Chetan Bhagat. At some point during the first few pages, I had to stop and check that I wasn't reading his bio. However, the character developed on its own as the story progressed.

Aditya, is a successful banker and an illustrious author. He has had a near perfect personal and professional life till Shreya Kaushik comes into picture. This vibrant, aggressive and aspiring author initially criticizes Aditya for considering books as product that need to be marketed. Later on, she falls in love(?) with the banker cum author. Now the feeling mentioned here is genuine or derived out of the prospective benefits that this relationship could bring to Shreya is for the reader to decide. Aditya, completely in awe of Shreya's youth and beauty finds himself falling for her almost instantly. The thrill of this illicit relationship soon overtakes the guilt of cheating on his wife. The story takes amazing turns as the manipulative character of Shreya slowly over-shadows Aditya's life so much that he risks everything. The turning point was where you find out that it was someone else who was playing the master here and cashing in on the vulnerabilities of Shreya, Aditya and his wife. This twist was the high point of the plot.

The BestSeller She Wrote for me was a notch lesser than any of his older works. At many points I felt that the story was highly predictable. Now this may also be due to the reason that when you read an author over and over again, you start thinking on the same lines. But all credit to the author to maintain the thrill and brownie points for the pace at which the story gushes forward. Love,betrayal, redemption at its best.

I think that I as reader I have come at a level where I prefer profound and meaningful books rather than thrillers. But I confess here unabashedly that I will never be too old for Ravi Subramanian's works.

Ask for the Moon and Get It by Percy Ross Philanthropist

 Ask for the Moon and Get It

Percy Ross the author of the above book began life in poverty but through hard work became a millionaire and philanthropist, giving all his money away before he died, relatively recently. He wrote the above book when he was 70. He was known for giving away silver dollars as a symbol of hope to poor children and had a column in newspapers called "Thanks a Million", from which he helped countless people with their requests.

His parents were Jewish immigrants, his father was a scrap merchant, and scraped by hardly making enough to feed his children. At the age of 7 Percy was taught how to sell eggs to neighbours to help put food on the table. Lessons he learnt that helped him all his life, he developed ten rules for success and the correct ways to ask for what you need.

As a child he disparately wanted a bicycle like other boys, but his father couldn't afford it, eventually he got him a very old bike but Percy was overjoyed with it. Bicycles featured strongly in gifts to underprivileged children. By 1977 he had given away 100 new bikes but in 1971 he held a Christmas party for needy children and gave away over a thousand shiny new bikes.

Percy put his success down to learning from his father the right way to ask for what he needed. The book dwells on his ten lessons for success. It is a beautiful book to stimulate and inspire, I hope it is still in print. Yes, it is still available in book stores! So you can enjoy it too and study his 10 rules 

to bring you your success

Percy's Rules:

Know what you want 

Ask the right person 

Prepare a good case 

Give in order to receive 

Overcome the blocks to asking 

Ask artfully 

Request don't demand or beg 

show respect 

Ask and keep asking 

Go beyond me to we.

Percy goes into great detail how he chose whose dreams he fulfilled according to the way they asked and the needs of the people who wrote in for help. I'm not sure if I unknowingly asked in the right way but I have managed to fulfill two of my dreams I have an online business and we are living in the sun.

If an online business is one of your dreams the easiest way to start is with affiliate marketing with the guidance of a successful mentor. Excellent products sales pages and training will be provided to reduce the amount you have to learn before you start earning. It is a great way of life and gives time freedom and choice of location, you just need a laptop.

In Defense of Traditional Books

 In the midst of the digital era, I'd like to step up and defend the traditional book. Don't get me wrong, I love the latest in book tech, but nothing beats a book in its purest form. Here are a few reasons why.

1. The Feel

There is just something about holding an entire book in your hands and feeling the pages as you turn it. There's a connection to the material that doesn't seem to happen when you read on a mobile device. As books age, they also sort of pick up a book-y smell that is quite comforting. The whole process of reading becomes an immersive experience.

2. They're Better For Your Health

We've all heard it so many time before. The eerie glow from our electronic devices is slowly killing us. Sure, that's probably a little extreme. I mean, just about everything is "killing us" these days, but it really does affect your health. Especially if you're reading at bedtime with all other lights off. Your body responds to the light your electronic reading device and it can dramatically affect your ability to fall asleep and also how you sleep throughout the night. In fact, the best recommendation for bedtime is to read a traditional book until you get tired. If you've been having trouble sleeping lately, just take a week to read an actually physical book instead of looking at an electronic device thirty minutes before you fall asleep. I guarantee you'll start to sleep much more soundly.

3. The Feeling of Accomplishment

Each books you finish is sort of like a trophy that you can keep forever. You can proudly display it for guests as a conversation started. You can do this with three or four books or you can have an entire room devoted to it. Personal libraries are quite impressive and there is an air of intelligence and sophistication that comes with a room like that. Build it up, take pride, share your favorites with your guests. Good luck doing that with an eReader. Or, if you don't care to build your collection, you get to pass it along to someone else who will enjoy it.

4. The Ability to Completely Disconnect

This might be just me, but I'm guessing it's not. If I attempt to read on a mobile device, it takes me forever to get in the zone. I'll get distracting by every little thing whether it be email, or Facebook, or any other app that is just an easy click away. A physical book allows me to put all of that aside and really dive into the world the author has prepared for me. Number 2 on this list also plays a role here.

5. Nostalgia

A lot of the books I own have a story behind how I obtained them, whether it was given to me by a friend or family member, or is a special edition, or happens to be a signed copy. Nostalgia gets pretty lost with eBooks and I'll take nostalgia any day.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

 I have recently re-read the above book. I was hoping it would deal with phobias like spiders, but it has reminded me it is more about fears that prevent you living life to the full. It is about 20 years since I read it and I had forgotten most of it, but it is surprising the impact it must have had, as it may have helped me bring about changes in my life. As you will see later. Perhaps I should look at NLP to rid me of my dread of spiders!

However what it does cover is finding out what you are fearful about, why and how to eliminate them. Susan Jeffers phD writes of her journey to rid herself of her own limiting fears. Having developed various systems for herself she decided to teach these methods to others. Her methods are to help you gain confidence in all areas of your life.

There is a chapter on moving from pain to power where changing your vocabulary from negative to positive will give you power over various states of mind. By saying, for example "I could", rather than I should, or "next time", instead of, "if only I had... ", you change your thinking.

There are many exercises within the pages that can take you from a state of fearfulness to power. These will help you feel "you can handle anything".

The book helps you take charge of your life and make decisions. It teaches there are no wrong decisions only different results, which can be changed by future decisions. She also recommends a life of balance, making time for all areas of your life, all your needs, to give you peace and satisfaction.

It is an easy to read little book, full of helpful ideas to enrich your future, and although this could mean your changes will necessitate making new friends. As you grow and change, existing friends may drop away. Or maybe you will even change career paths, but you will find out what is really important to you, and have the courage to follow through.

Maybe in the past you have toyed with the idea of setting up your own business, but have resisted the idea through fear of the unknown. The book and the exercises could make you more adventurous, more confident.

The first time I read the book I had no idea of changing careers but it may have subconsciously influenced me as now I have set up an affiliate marketing business, which has enabled me to work anywhere with my laptop. We now winter in the sun in Spain.

If you would like to work anywhere and make new choices it could help you change your life too! If you are interested to find out more about affiliate marketing, which is the simplest starting point online, there are many books on the subject and YouTube videos.

Affiliate marketing with the guidance of a coach, means products are provided, and up-to-date training. This means that you are in a position to start earning as you are learning the techniques and do not have source your own products, test them for best sellers or learn all about marketing before you start earning.

Begin part-time and see if online marketing is for you. I love the time and location freedom of the lifestyle it gives me, maybe you will too!