Book Review: Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A.J. Jacobs

A.J. Jacobs is known for his experimental style that occupies many of his narratives. The author once again makes his life the center of his experience in Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection. In this case, he composes his entire body to be the focus of his inspection, submitting every cell to scrutiny. He seeks to revamp each part of himself in a pursuit to become the healthiest man alive. Triggered by a medical issue, A.J. aims to make himself more robust so that he will have a better quality of life with his three young sons. Advising him along the way are individuals spanning those in his own family to world-renowned experts. Furthermore, he enlists assistance to make his living environment itself safer for himself and his young family.

He utilizes various tools to encourage him to make satisfactory choices. Some of these methods include aging himself electronically as encouragement to take care of himself for the future and writing a check to a grievous organization so that he will not consume sweets. Additionally, he uses small plates and mirrors to persuade himself to ingest smaller portions and consume fewer calories. To promote his physical fitness, he samples an assortment of gym classes. He even enrolls in a triathlon along his quest. At the end of each chapter, he gives a brief summary of his current progress.

One of the many areas that A.J. explores is the damaging consequences of noise pollution. Around 26 million adults suffer from noise-related hearing loss. Persistent exposure to sound effects stress levels, the cardiovascular system, and concentration. The author implements noise-canceling headphones in his daily routine to protect his ears against the harsh byproducts of noise pollution. Over the course of his research, he encounters a woman who silenced her refrigerator to minimize her exposure to sound pollution in her own home.

Germs are a particularly compelling issue for the author as these microbes are the source of a significant majority of our communicable illnesses. Meeting with a doctor dedicated to microbiology and immunology, A.J. aspires to answer some of his persistent questions regarding germs. He learns bacilli are present in our gut, mouth, and eyebrows. Thus, concluding that most bacteria are harmless. The author observes the benefits of using regular soap and water versus antibacterial soap and when which formula is more appropriate. On the other side of the “germ equation” are those that believe the immune system needs exposure to a certain number of microbes to develop properly. Again, the author interviews an immunologist to support this theory. Thus, there are conflicting views on the need for exposure to pathogens in our daily lives.

Another tract that A.J. examines is skincare. This first line of defense to the outside world acts as a literal barrier to pollen, pollution, microorganisms, U.V.A. and U.V.B. rays and other potentially harmful toxins. The skincare industry is a multi-million-dollar industry with people spending hundreds of dollars each year in an endeavor to appear younger and to prevent skin damage, and potentially skin cancer. He applies shot glasses full of sunscreen to his entire body to avoid the harsh, aging effects of sun exposure, even exposure of sunlight during cloudy days. Over the course of his investigation, A.J. discovers that no single moisturizer is any better than any others.

To assess the importance of sleep on the human body, he performs a sleep study to evaluate his own individual sleep patterns. Irregular amounts of sleep are associated with heart disease, hypertension, immune system issues, even car accidents. While there is the significance of snoring on the body, like heart disease and depression; sleep apnea, in which the air passages become constricted and prevent a person from breathing altogether, is especially detrimental. During these moments, some may noticeably awaken or simply jolt themselves into breathing. Accordingly, approaches for proper sleep are very important and surveying one’s own sleep is highly relevant.

The author leveraging himself as the subject of the experimentation is commendable. In much of his analysis, he goes to the extreme reaches to try out some of the inspected methods. There are lively interactions between the author and his wife. It was fascinating to note how distressed she became by his testing, given that customarily women tend to be more consumed by issues related to fitness, health, and appearance. At times she would participate in the techniques, like trying the juice fast, but predominantly she would roll her eyes in incredulity. Equally valuable was the author’s desire to pass on the lessons learned to his children, thereby giving them a solid foundation for the future. Since he began the research of being the healthiest man alive for the sake of his children, it is deserving he is using that new-found knowledge to better the lives of his sons.

The fact that the author covers all the areas of the body seeking to approach every facet to make each one as strong as possible is noteworthy. It is extraordinary that the author becomes somewhat addicted to the action of becoming healthier, gathering increased data about himself and the ways in which he can become an improved person. This leads to an extremely riveting plot twist.

Altogether, this is a brilliant publication filled with remarkably beneficial information. The author cautions he is not a medical provider. Therefore, the information contained within is for entertainment purposes only. Some of the results elicit practical responses that might direct one to facilitate an informative dialogue with their own medical provider, so that would be a beneficial initiation point. It is a magnificent work in that it traverses all the areas of the body, inside and out. Overall, the story is engaging while being enlightening about areas of health that could be enhanced and the ways in which people choose to make those advancements. The author connects several different philosophies on health and passes that knowledge forward to the readers while keeping the text captivating. This is a particularly splendid title for those involved in learning more about complete wellness or reading about someone who analyzes with their own well-being model.

Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

When small-town writer Margaret Lea receives a direct request to write Vida Winter's life story, she is unaware of the contorted journey that awaits her. The reclusive author has been mysterious, specifically surrounding the enigma of the thirteenth legendary tale. Mrs. Winter has published an analogy of stories totaling twelve with reference to a mystical thirteenth saga, yet no one has yet uncovered this sacred story. Given that several scribes have come before, Margaret becomes intrigued regarding the possible justification that she should be entrusted to compose the infamous author’s memoir.

Filled with unique twists and turns, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is an unforgettable fictitious tale of twins, family mysteries and sordid tales that defy modern logic. While devoted sections of this sinister book generate a frightful work of fantasy, the story itself is quite intriguing. The initial premise of the book intimately connects two unique sets of twins together. Sufficiently separated for a marked period, one set becomes reconnected with dire consequences. Since Margaret is similarly a twin, albeit her twin died in infancy, she sincerely feels an enduring fascination with Vida’s fantastical story. The unspoken details surrounding the death of Margaret’s twin lay like an impenetrable veil over the Lea family. Mired in phenomenal secrecy, much like the clandestine nature enveloping the thirteenth tale and Mrs. Winter's mysterious seclusion, Margaret unintentionally stumbles upon the documented existence of her twin.

Rather than speaking of her own biography Vida dictates the incredible tale of Adeline and Emmeline March, two girls who were born under extraordinary circumstances stemming from a strange lineage. Once Isabelle March appears on her brother’s doorstep with two small babies, Charlie Angelfield is astonished by this intrinsic change in his life and his family. The girls do not retain any secure connection to their vulnerable household, despite the possessiveness of their maternal uncle towards their mother early on. The girls barely note her profound absence while their mother is a resident of an asylum. Bizarre happenings dominate despite the loosely watchful eye of the Missus and John-the-Dig. Given the fundamental abandonment of their uncle, Adeline and Emmeline evolve tremendously into undisciplined youths. Allowed to run amok in their own home and local neighborhood, the children wreak havoc everywhere much to the chagrin of the community. At one point the girls steal a pram, remove the baby, and push themselves down a hill. As the unpredictable behavior of the girls reaches reckless proportions, a private governess arrives in an apparent attempt to tame their behavior. This employment proves a detriment to both as the governess soon separates them. Each of the girls suffers horribly as a direct result. Upon reunification, the girls thrive; however, the cryptic activities of Angelfield Manor abound. The children mysteriously appear and disappear while objects react almost as if they have taken on a life of their own.

A commonality that resonates powerfully throughout the ambitious novel is the peculiar notion of apparitions and unexplained events. While the Angelfield Manor endures its fair share of unusual happenings, from disappearing items to fierce attacks with phantom spirits, similar occurrences seem to travel through the Winter Estate as well. Things are similarly obscure as objects go bump in the night and ghostly figures appear. Margaret finds herself awakened by puzzling feelings, including sensations of being surreptitiously watched. Notwithstanding, the enduring mystery of the thirteen tale, a number itself riddled with superstition.

The continuous flow of the complex narrative as told from several principal characters’ perspectives is delightful. The striking fiction within the legend of the March children as recited by Vida Winter naturally generates a profound dimension to the story itself. The incredible complexity behind the pedigree of the Angelfield dynasty, including the children’s genealogy, evolves throughout the descriptive book and progressively develops as the novel advances. Each alternative story narrated by Vida Winter powerfully builds upon the previous information disclosed. The author moves seamlessly between the present-day storytelling of Mrs. Winter to Margaret and the narrative past with the March twins. The storyline sustains the reader's interest until the final page. This literary suspense produces a bewitching novelty.

The book is skillfully composed with a superb plot, flourishing with incredible complexities throughout the entire book. Some pivotal scenes between the family members are graphic in nature, lending itself to a thriller genre. If one prepares for the menacing sections from the onset then the prospective reader would likely thoroughly enjoy this book. This could be an excellent novel for someone anticipating a spooky treat to supplement their fall reading list or anytime for suspense that steadfastly keeps the reader in eager anticipation until the ultimate conclusion.

Book Review: Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

When Annie O’Neill’s nearly lifeless body arrives through the doors of the Kill Devil Hills Emergency Room Dr. Olivia Simon is struck by two coinciding reactions. The first is to sprint into action bound by her duty as a doctor to rush to the aid of her dying patient. The second response is one of disbelief. After all, this is the woman with whom she has been competing, the one with whom Olivia will never measure up. Thus, begins Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain. This intricate story evolves as the narrative reveals the web that joins together two diversely different women, Olivia and Annie. Olivia's husband Paul's involvement with both of these women complicates matters significantly. As the plot expands, Annie’s husband, Alec, becomes entrenched in a friendship with Olivia, searching for an explanation for what forced Annie through the emergency room doors from the beginning.

Olivia discovers herself equally on a path for answers, hungry to determine the rationale behind the community and her own husband’s infatuation with the illusive Annie as well as the grasp that she has over everyone she encountered. Olivia struggles with her own psyche, attempting to find an identity in comparison to Annie including how she can fit into the life that Annie once lived. Olivia wonders at the fascination that her own husband has with Annie, struggling against the strain this mirage of a creature has had on her marriage. She discovers many sordid secrets about herself, her husband, and the illusion of Annie.

In the backdrop lays the ancient lighthouse and the public’s quest to salvage it. Alec and a team of dedicated followers stand strong to spare the lighthouse from destruction. Along with the aging caretaker, they seek to preserve the history of the historical landmark that stands as a beacon of light for their populace. The lighthouse symbolizes a guiding star for them, ushering in lost sailors and lost souls. For those that are without a direction, the lighthouse provides a refuge. For those that possess secrets, it offers shelter to keep those confidences safe. When all is revealed, will the Pharos be strong enough to weather the storm or will everything come crashing down around the feet of these fragile characters?

The interwoven personalities are poetic as their storylines converge into one overarching plot. The author demonstrates an aptitude for maintaining tension throughout the book. The characters and their conflicts throughout the story are accessible. For instance, as Alec attempts to relate to his adolescent daughter while she wants nothing to do with him, this is a developmentally appropriate response in the teenage and parent relationship, especially given extreme circumstances. The complexity of the relationships is navigated throughout the various plot twists. These individuals and their interactions develop in predictable and unpredictable ways as the novel progresses.

As Olivia is examining herself and journeying to decipher why it is that she does not measure up to Annie, these sensations are completely understandable. When she engages in her quest to uncover the mystique of the overall fascination with Annie, Olivia is relatable in that many people would experience the same emotions in her position. In her doubting of herself and her marriage, she is vulnerable and emotional, reacting in predictable ways. In her inquiring of Paul’s willingness to throw away his marriage on a figment of his imagination, the reader identifies with her through the ability to sympathize with her heartbreak.

The love affair with the lighthouse is very endearing. As the committee unites for the universal cause of saving the beacon from certain destruction, this demonstrates the spirit of the population. The enduring spirit of the lighthouse committee and the commitment to their cause, including preserving the past is inspirational. The dedication to the lighthouse is admirable given that the fixture of the land has been there longer than any of them. It is affecting they are so committed to conserving it.

While there are many intriguing aspects to this book, there are a few aspects that are not as engaging. Some of the action of the saga is unbelievable. While these aspects are meant to keep the plot moving, the actions could polarize the reader. People are much more complex than those revealed in this book. Conversely, individuals are sometimes illogical when they are emotional. For the purposes of fiction, the deeds might be exaggerations of irrational behaviors. For instance, Paul’s response to receiving startling news by running out of the lighthouse leaving everyone behind appears nonsensical. This does not seem like something that people would do in a traditional society, however people behave harshly in extraordinary circumstances. Undoubtedly, the activity of the narrative is produced from the perspective of preserving the drama.

This book emerges as an excellent timeline of a community in the midst of a crisis. As they move through the action of the fiction, they are predictable yet emotional in some areas and understandably unpredictable in other areas. The image of the lighthouse as a beacon for the citizens is poetic. The characters coming together intertwined in a tapestry is exceptional. It makes for an engaging read as the author has thoroughly developed each character and created them to each fit into each other person’s story. Each of the individuals evolves over the course of the book. This feature maintains the reader's engagement in the narrative until the end, providing a mystery of interconnections throughout the novel. This book is a complex tale that correlates aspects of romance, suspense and the struggles of family life. As this is the first in The Keeper Trilogy, it would be intriguing to follow these characters to note how their stories evolve over the ensuing books.

In Memoriam: William Goldman

In honor of the incomparable William Goldman, we offer the following quotes from one of his most popular, quotable novels:

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure

“My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!”

“Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” 

“Have fun storming the castle!” 

“Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.”

“Westley: This is true love — you think this happens every day?” 

"As you wish...."

Dear Mr. Goldman, your precious words have left their indelible mark on generations of people young and old. Your books, manuscripts, and messages will be written on the hearts of many for years to come. You will be missed.

“Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.”

Book Review: The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain’s Journey by Linda Greenlaw

The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain’s Journey by Linda Greenlaw is the first-person account of Captain Linda Greenlaw. The book covers her early career fishing in the Newfoundland area of the East Coast up to and including her commanding the fishing vessel Hannah Boden. The sister ship to Andrea Gail, both of these crafts were made infamous by the novel and movie The Perfect Storm. Over the course of the story, Linda interweaves her current fishing expedition with previous voyages to give a full-fledged account of commercial fishing in the Grand Banks area of the North Atlantic. The eccentric cast of characters that make up her current crew range from the even-tempered middle-aged cook to the ornery kid. They represent the caricature of individuals who come across her deck over the course of seasons that she is a captain. These varying personalities clash on the high seas as they struggle to get the fish on board in a timely fashion while battling against fellow fishermen, the elements, owner demands, and port restrictions.

For the reader inexperienced with the vernacular of the commercial fishing lingo, the extensive description of catching and processing of fish can make comprehending these concepts somewhat complex given the industry-heavy tendency of the book. A previous exposure to fishing would likely facilitate the learning process. None the less, the acquisition of specialized language associated with the vocational aspects of the field provides the reader with an education of the fishing community and the art of commercial fishing. These descriptions also give the reader an appreciation for the exhaustive work of Linda and her crew in addition to the others in the industry.

The equipment is the most significant aspect of a fishermen’s success. Leaders are an essential component of this type of angling. A leader is an assembly of metal snap, a length of 300-pound test mono fishing line and a hook. Since driving fish to the craft is the top priority, the fishermen use a variety of tactics to get the fish on the line and the money in their coffers. Furthermore, the fleet utilizes slammer baits. Slammer baits consist of Styrofoam pipe insulation cut into slices and soaked in cod-liver oil. When setting at night a light stick is fastened to a leader, then a hook is strung through the slammer bait and finally, a squid is put on the hook. The specific method allows the slammer bait to float up and down between the hook and light. Distributed along the 40-mile long line the combination bait attracts the swordfish to the area.

Since the gear is so long beeper buoys are necessary. Standing at 3 feet tall and holding an electronic bundle in its base, the buoy receives a radio signal from the radio direction finder (RDF) in the wheelhouse. Each buoy has its own frequency. Connected to the fishing line beeper buoys are set at intervals of approximately every 3 ½ miles. A piece of gear between two beepers is referred to as a “section.” A typical set is 10-12 sections or 35-40 miles.

When fishing, depth and distance are two meaningful measurements that the captain tallies at regular intervals. The first measurement is the fathoms, which constitute the deeps of the ocean. A single fathom is 6 feet. In the case of Hannah Boden and her rival boats, the intended fish is the swordfish. The leaders fished on Grand Banks are 7 fathoms, which gives an indication of how deep the swordfish swim and how far the gear must be set. Distance on the ocean is a further component that the captain and crew monitor over the course of their fishing excursions. Proficiency with the fishing equipment and calculating the correct nautical mileage helps the captain to communicate with fellow skippers, decipher where the fish are and thus the best location to lay the gear and at times communicate with the Coast Guard when needed. A single nautical mile is 1 minute of latitude. Thus, 1 degree of latitude is 60 minutes or 60 miles.

The issues of being a captain are immense from getting the correct gear to relations with the crew while on the fishing grounds. “Crew problems” could refer to a range of issues from seasickness to homesickness. Most often the euphemism elicits descriptions of laziness and personality conflicts. The ability to compensate for the difficulties of the crew and the demands of commercial fishing is a necessary component of the job. As the captain and her crew state throughout the book that is why Linda is "on the pointy end" of the boat, referring to the stern and the position of the wheelhouse where the captain drives the boat.

At times the “crew problems” jeopardize the fishing itself, though. For instance, when Captain Greenlaw allows one of her crew members to use the radio to speak with a fellow crew member on a different fishing vessel, he inadvertently makes the blunder of announcing to the entire fleet how many fish they are catching. Until that point, Captain Greenlaw had been downplaying their actual numbers to keep the competition from imposing of their fishing grounds. The fishing fleet works together interchangeably exchanging information to capture fish when needed, but they must give significance to their own financial considerations for getting as many fish as possible for themselves. Their paychecks depend on how many fish they catch, so they can ill afford mistakes or sharing too much information with their fellow fishermen. When too many in the fleet are in one area the fishing grounds become overrun. When too many fish come into port at one time, the price of fish drops, which likewise creates lighter paychecks for the captains and their crew. In turn loss of profit causes downward pressure from the owners of the boats onto the captains and crew to catch more fish. In some cases, the captain and the watercraft owner are one in the same. In which case the pressure is as high, if not higher because they are directly aware of how much the in fishing is costing them. Every day they spend at sea is another day that the cost of fish goes down. Concurrently, the owner wants the holds to be overflowing. An outstanding paradox in played in the minds of the captain. Many factors go into catching these fish, when to catch them and when to come into port.

The author does an excellent job of bringing the reader along for the ride on Hannah Boden. The reader is an honorary sixth crew member for the duration. The story expands and contracts from the captain’s current excursion to previous fishing tours. The captain presents stories of times when the crew had wonderful catches and others when she had miserable fortune on the seas. She feels lucky for her crew members, despite their flaws, recognizing that all the members of her team have something to contribute in their own unique way. She can use hindsight to recognize those journeys that were not so pleasant to recognize a good crew when she sees it. For instance, at one point one of the crew members is disrespectful to another. When confronted, it becomes apparent that he is behaving poorly because there is not a "green guy" on the fishing vessel, referencing her experienced crew and thus a lack of a low man in the pecking order to harass. She is grateful for her knowledgeable crew while still understanding that there might be a place for a newbie in the fishing world culture for proficient deckhands to pester.

The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain’s Journey would be an excellent read for anyone who is inquisitive about commercial fishing. Also, the story provides a unique perspective on the commercial fishing world, from the viewpoint of a woman captain. Given that this is a nontraditional role for women, readers intrigued by gender studies would likely find the nonfiction account to be fascinating. The narrative takes the reader through the new days of a deckhand all the way through to the author’s experience as a captain, which is a wild ride wrought with highs and lows, elation and absolute despair. Some details give explicit descriptions of medical procedures done on board, which might make some readers uneasy. Even an account of placing a man in a bait locker when he passes away in his bunk is described. Additionally, the descriptions of the cleaning and processing of fish can be unsettling for those who are faint of heart. Despite these depictions, the book is well written with a fresh voice in the commercial fishing industry. Linda Greenlaw knew from the age of 12 what she wanted to be. She worked her way up the ranks and she is now living her bliss on the sea.

Book Review: Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman

In Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World, Rita Golden Gelman goes on a quest spanning the globe to find herself after the breakdown of her long marriage. The author takes to the world to find her place, both figuratively and literally. In the process, she makes connections with people from all cultures. She finds a commonality among the places that she journeys from Mexico, Israel, Indonesia, and Australia, traversing the globe several times in this pilgrimage. The concept of connection is the prevalent undertone that resonates in these places. Also, Rita finds that she feels the need to give back to the communities that contribute so much to her. At times she is more dependent on her fellow citizens than she feels she can contribute back. For instance, when she is gravely ill in Mexico she must rely on her host family, and when she is traversing mountains in Indonesia the author leans heavily on her women’s group. When she is able she participates in traditional ceremonies of the places she visits, immersing herself in the culture, or she teaches English to the citizens. While she is involving herself in the daily life of these communities along the way she learns their customs and language. She plays with and cares for the children in the areas she visits. Additionally, she participates in communal cooking and helps a few of the people to help to tell their own stories through writing.

The author has conflict not to impose her western cultural norms on the nations where she travels. She wants to be in the role of the observer, so she feels that it is important to accept the cultures for their own norms without putting her American expectations upon the society she is observing. The author has an advanced degree in Anthropology thus her interest is in the civilization that makes up the communities that she visits. In an effort to better understand these societies Rita seeks to immerse herself directly into each of the groups. By becoming a global citizen, she is able to blend into these different situations and broaden her experience even further.

As the author leaps into the great unknown without a plan of where she is going to stay she is daring in each point of her travel. Many of Rita’s travels are determined spontaneously. For instance, on a whim, she decides she wants to live in a Zapotec village based upon a visit to a museum. Even some of her physical undertakings are sometimes impetuous and she faults herself for not preparing better, even for those physical events she plans. Despite her ill-planned pursuits, Rita’s ability to act based upon her instincts leads her to have beautiful experiences around the world and to make deep connections with many people.

The author states that connection requires participation, which is a life lesson she learns early based upon her experience living in the Zapotec village. In this community, Rita experiences a connection to a sisterhood among the women. The impulsive connection unites each experience that the author has throughout the book. A connection is what bonds each person to another and connection brings together communities of people, much like the banjar in Bali who come together to support each other. The author states that we all share sensations of human emotions and a need to affirm sameness. Through her travels, she is able to gain friendships with people all over the world, cementing old friendships and gaining new friends. She defines friends as people with whom she connects.

Filled with vocabulary relevant to the different areas where the author visits, the book is educational about different cultures. For instance, huipils are blouses found in Mexico and Central America. These garments are made from rectangular weavings with openings from the head and arms. Each hupil defines a woman as each garment is different depended on each village. Also encountered in the author’s travels in Mexico is a comal. A comal is a rectangular steel griddle used to cook tortillas. In Israel, the reader learns that a cholent is traditional Sabbath stew. During the author's time in Bali, she stays in a puri, which is a compound of a royal family also thought of as a "palace." The adat of Indonesia refers to the tradition.

While the author is traveling in Nicaragua she encounters the political turmoil of the time. Given that her travels began in the mid-1980s, she experienced the tumultuous political climate taking place during the Iran-Contra affair. The author states “thank you for a country that honors the freedom of the press” referring to the United States. Nicaragua suppressed their press releases, by any means necessary, therefore the author was thankful for being a United States novelist where she had the freedom of the press to support her work and musings. Since the majority of the author’s communication takes place through the written word, this statement is rather poignant.

Another place where Rita experiences political turmoil is in Papua New Guinea. It is here that she encounters the OPM. OPM, which stands for Organisasi Papua Merdeka, is an organization formed for the freedom of Papuans against the Indonesians. Under United Nations order, West Papua New Guinea was brought under Indonesian order in the 1960s. This order led to the Indonesians flooding Papua New Guinea with immigrants, leading to the rebellion by the native peoples. The Indonesians are the police, army, businesses, government, and many teachers in immersed in the culture of West Papua New Guinea. OPM is a rebellion group to fight against Indonesians who seek to oppress the Papuans. The Papuans want to have their autonomy to protect the indigenous people instead of being associated with the overall Indonesian classification.

When Rita was traveling in Israel she made use of an international organization called Servas. Committed to building peace and understanding this organization is a network comprised of hosts and travelers from different cultures. She stays with a range of individuals from a woman whose family helped to hide Menachem Begin during the 1940s to a woman living on a kibbutz, a collective community-based in agriculture, among others.

One of the personal stories that Rita attempts to tell is the story of Dr. Birute Galdikas. While in Indonesia Rita has the opportunity to meet Dr. Galdikas and observe the orangutan camp at Camp Leakey in Borneo. The rescued orangutans of Camp Leakey come from a variety of sources. Some were kept as pets while others were orphaned by poachers. A percentage of the orangutans lost homes when the loggers cut down their canopies. During Rita’s stint in the camp, she tries unsuccessfully to connect with Dr. Birute Galdikas to complete a book about Dr. Galdikas’ work in the Camp and the Camp itself. After meeting once, Rita drafts a copy of the book. Following several complications, the publisher cancels the contract and the book is never published.

Another dimension that Rita encounters on her journey around the world in exploring her sense of self is the dimension of the spiritual. In Bali, she discovers the concept of two worlds, the sekala, the world you can see and the niskala, the world that you cannot see. The sekala is the world of the tangible, the world that we walk around every day. The niskala is the world of the spiritual. This is the world that we transcend when we pass on. In Bali, she learned to listen to spirits, the inner one that is a part of her and the ones from the other invisible world. She ultimately experiences serenity through a series of significant events that take place during her time in Indonesia.

When Rita returns to the United States for an extended stay she feels that she is closer to her family and making new friends, yet she has equally felt that she is losing her spirituality and the gained awareness she received in Bali. For instance, when she goes to REI and she buys “labels” she does not feel connected to her source. Ultimately, she decides to return to her nomadic lifestyle to get back to her newfound roots of self, spirituality, and connection.

Throughout much of the author’s travels, she practices what she refers to as “experiential learning.” This technique of learning through doing and hands-on learning is the ultimate in living in the moment. It is also a great way in which the author is able to connect with the people she meets and cultures where she travels. In the places she goes, she is repeatedly invited to take part in ceremonies and side trips that take her on other journeys. She says yes to each of these experiences she remains open and allows herself to be guided to each new experience. This practice allows the author to expand her horizons far beyond her wildest expectations. By continuing to travel the world, persistently learning and immersing herself in the cultures she encounters she has developed connections throughout the world, developing a legacy.  

Book Review: Living An Inspired Life: Your Ultimate Calling by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Living An Inspired Life: Your Ultimate Calling by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer is an inspirational book filled with personal anecdotes from the author himself as well as testimonies shared from historical accounts and experiences. He gives suggestions on how the reader can use tools in his or her own life to implement mantras, meditation, and actions to live a more inspired life. The result is to live in the reader’s own truth and to live his or her best life.

The author describes his own tumultuous upbringing and his own personal struggles and how he implemented some of these tools in his own life to come into his own divine truth, his own ultimate calling. Even though Dr. Wayne Dyer has passed away since the writing of this book, the statements therein still hold true and have profound significance. His statements are as valid in the present day as they were when originally published and the suggestions are still quite inspirational. The reader could repeatedly use the guidance as he or she saw fit, coming back to the recommendations as needed.

The theme that resonates continually throughout this book is the concept of staying “in-Spirit,” meaning we are in tune with the energy that resides in us all. The mantra that is used in the book to demonstrate this force is, “I’m first and foremost an eternal spiritual being.” This spirit is described as the power that is responsible for all things, something that is within each of us and connects all of us. When we remain in-Spirit we are being true to ourselves, to our Ultimate Calling, as the book is titled. Dr. Dyer gives suggestions on how we can stay in this Spirit, such as reading books by or about individuals who we might find inspirational or who are in-Spirit themselves.

Another concept that is repeatedly mentioned throughout the book is to be still. In today’s chaotic world of being constantly on the go, it is easy for us to lose track of our own inner voice, so the author suggests that we take time each day for meditation. It is further proposed that when we take time for meditation we will automatically become a person who is inspirational not only to ourselves but also to others as well. When we take the time to be in stillness and to listen to our inner voice we can hear what we are meant to be, what we destined to do. The art of meditation gives us opportunities to communicate with Spirit. When we are still Spirit is able to speak to us and we are able to hear without the distractions of the outside world, such as the media, other people or our surroundings. When we relax into this stillness, Spirit can also hear our own inner thoughts.

The act of asking for what we want, whether it is in quiet prayer or meditation, takes the form of a vibrational shift in energy. When we ask for anything we are co-creating with Spirit. When we create it is best if we are in a place of harmony for when we are in the process of shaping our creation what we actualize becomes a reality. Thus, we should generate from a place of peace so that our desires can be the product of peaceful abundance, creating what we want rather than what we do not want. We can look for ways for Spirit to communicate with us. We can ask for those ways to be shown to us through this quiet prayer and meditation.

The overarching concept to remember is that all things are possible. This is noted in several texts, ranging from philosophical to biblical. The most poetic of which is perhaps “With God, All Things Are Possible.” Thus, whatever form God takes for the reader, with God all things, anything that one might imagine in life, all things are possible. This can be encouraging and empowering or it can just be a simple mantra for the reader to repeat when he or she might need.

Dr. Dyer has done an excellent job of taking metaphysical concepts and breaking them down into easy, practical, easy to understand concepts. From the individual’s perspective, these higher concepts might seem complex, but he has done a profound job of uncomplicating the complex, unconfounding the mysterious. In the book, he suggests that we come back to our original purpose for coming into being, our intention for coming into our bodies. It is clear that Dr. Dyer’s aspiration was to educate and communicate to his community, to bring love and light and to connect these concepts to light for the rest of us. This book is highly recommended for anyone who is in a transition in their life. Dr. Dyer’s heartfelt directions on how to apply the concepts in an individual’s life could definitely prove helpful to anyone who is seeking guidance in the face of transition.

It is with profound respect that we review this enlightening book.