How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright
Published by Asymmetrical Press on 06/11/2011
Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Business
Pages: 125
Format: eBook
Buy on Amazon

Travel is unexpected and uncomfortable and often the opposite of what you were expecting. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
Click To Tweet

Published 7 years ago, How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright still relevant today. It is not a complete how-to book but rather more of Colin’s philosophy on what makes him want to travel the world and earn to cover costs of travel or save money. Colin started traveling full time in 2009. Along with that, he was blogging and has already published a few ebooks but the main motivation that was that on his blog, he would ask his readers to vote for the country which they’d like him to move to. Sounds crazy, right?

The type of person who excels at long-term travel embraces these situations and sees them as opportunities. They’ll do what needs to be done, whether that means pulling new plans from thin air, hopping on another train, or finding…
Click To Tweet

How To Travel Full Time is a pragmatic approach to kickstart your own journey. It is straightforward. The book clearly targets a mindset. Colin Wright has clearly stated in the book that traveling full time is not about reaching out to tourist places but is about getting lost intentionally. Learn about the new cultures, language or food, and provide a value wherever you go. The author of this book talks about common sense that I see few full-time travelers over YouTube and on their blogs still do not get, even in 2018 when there is so much content, advice, suggestion and resources to become one while you work your ass off.

To a person lacking dreams and causes and imagination, money is just another expensive bottle of liquor or VIP seat at the club; borrowed dreams from generations of advertising. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
Click To Tweet

Colin is one of the first few digital nomads I would say. He has written a lot of books and is an advocate for minimalism. He offers how most people think traveling will turn in to a journey of nirvana and they will find a new self. If that is the mindset you want to set off, you are completely wrong. You will face problems with no conscious confidence and boldness. It is going to be uncomfortable. That is why I said, the main ideology behind this book is to observe and understand a mindset that you can merge along with your current one.

The idea most people have about travel is wrong. It’s not going to solve your problems. You aren’t going to go on vacation and become a person reborn. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
Click To Tweet

Interesting read, the context is still relevant. It is inspiring because it makes me want pursue a similar journey. The writing style is simple but there are some glimpses that Colin Wright can be a good storyteller. Even though the book is around 125 pages, there is a lot to think about.

4 out of 5

Visit Colin on his website. If you’d like to read the book, you can buy it for $1 from here.

My notes and highlights from Colin’s Book are available to Read on Goodreads.

The post #BookReview: How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Sitanshu by Anita Shirodkar
Published by The Write Place on 01/06/2018
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology
Pages: 314
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

Sitanshu is the second book in the series of Guardians of Blue Lotus in continuation to the first book Aryavir. Set in ancient India, it tries to provide a perfect blend of Indian mythology and fantasy fiction. Does it succeed in that? To find the answer to the question, please continue to read the review.

The plot revolves around Sitanshu, an Ashtradhari and a friend to the protagonist of the first book, Aryavir. In their kingdom, it is considered an omen, a sign of danger when a Blue Lotus Indivara springs. Sitanshu and his friends are harbored on the border of Kalipura for a war against Chandraketu King Divyendu. With hidden secrets of its own, the Old World is in danger. It is now in the hands of Sitanshu’s army to face the consequences and save their own lives as well as their kingdom.

The storyline starts with a prologue and it continues to develop the characters from the first page in order to help the reader to get him to familiarise. In some cases, this might not work, as some fantasy authors try to introduce the main cast in parts to provide an element of surprise. That element of surprise is rare to find in this book but nonetheless, the method author of this book has adapted works well enough. The story shifts between different characters to provide a complete outlook of the happenings of the Old World. The theme of war zone used by the author also leads to a few bold female characters. This is a bigger improvement itself for the Indian literature. Overall, the storyline is well thought and constructed.

The characterization is a strong point of this book as they drive the plot further. Switching between the context of many characters is actually an advantage I find this book to move ahead and it does make things interesting in the end. Since it is fantasy, there are hardly any dragging elements and the book constitutes of a little above 300 pages. The narrative voice is in the third person and the writing style is at its peak.

If you are a fantasy lover or interested in mythology, you must grab a copy of this series.

4 out of 5!

If you want to learn more about the author Anita Shirodkar, you must check the Interview with her.

The post BOOK REVIEW: Sitanshu by Anita Shirodkar appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

The Inheritants Saga by K. M. Mackmurdie
Series: Inheritants Saga
Published by Burton Brown Enterprises on 01/05/2018
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
Format: ARC, eBook
Goodreads

Kristy Mackmurdie’s latest trilogy, The Inheritants, an urban fantasy, is her debut work. The book is divided into three parts namely: The Funeral March, Invisible Man and The Offering. I recently got the chance to read all three parts.

My experience as a reader with urban fantasy is limited and I am glad I could get my hands on The Inheritants Trilogy. The plot revolves around Meredith Earl who is an Inheritant orphan. Her lover is recently found dead and now his corpse is missing. Meredith is recently feeling lonely after his death and gets obsessed to find the dead body. She embarks in the journey of cruelty, backstabbing, loss and a struggle that needs constant sacrifices from herself. Moreover, her is past is explored and many secrets are revealed.

The storyline in this book starts on a slow note. We are introduced to the main set of characters in the first part and a mystery starts to loom. However, the mystery can soon be solved by the reader as the events inside the novel advances and then starts a journey of a chase and run and hide and revenge. This adventure picks up speed and we as a reader get more insight into the lives of different characters, especially the Meredith and her lover Sloane.

The writing style in this trilogy is excellent and is flawless. The narrative voice sometimes did get in my head comfortably and made me realize that it might leave an impact at the end of it. The main characterization is deeply explored and is given proper time for the reader to absorb the information. Another thing I like about this novel and want to point out is that the constant back flashes provide immense details about these characters. There is R rated content and that upon completing the trilogy, I think to define the nature of some characters is important and also fulfills the nature of a modern day fantasy writing style. I could not find any drag elements that are just there to fill up the pages and a common practice in this genre but I do think supporting characters could have been a bit better.

If you are into fantasy reading or its subgenre urban fantasy or have never read one, this can be a great start.

4 out of 5!

The post BOOK REVIEW: The Inheritants Saga by Kristy Mackmurdie appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Such is Her Life by Reecha Agarwal Goyal
Published by Fingerprint! Publishing on 20/04/2018
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir
Pages: 184
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

Such is Her Life is the debut work of writer Reecha Goyal published earlier this year. It is a heartwarming collection of thoughts. These thoughts are based mostly on reality and presented to us as a reader in the form of musings. It is as clear and raw as if I, the reader is picking on her brain.

Expressed over 184 pages long, the whole concept works well as it contains around 150 musings. The common theme of these musings is the role a woman plays in lives of everyone as a mother, daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, but societal norms do not appreciate all the effort to the life giver herself. I know that the western world has accepted or adapted or changed for the better over the period of time with some force but societies in countries like India are still retrograded. Some of these musings are short and some are long enough to make you think what a woman has to go through in every phase of her life.

Life kept changing and she kept accepting it. Until the day she started questioning. And that changed the game. Changed her life. - @AgarwalReecha
Click To Tweet

Some of the author’s thoughts are bold for the society to absorb and I think this is what we need. Some of the highlights of this book are honor killing, dowry, neglection, societal expectations, gender discrimination and the tenderness of a mother or a woman in love. It talks about these realities in lesser words that will make one think hard. Written in simple language, some of these proses are going to stay with me for a long time. Hats off to the publishing team by coming with a genuinely themed book that does match with the theme of the book.

4 out of 5!

The post BOOK REVIEW: Such is Her Life by Reecha Agarwal Goyal appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Check out my new ebook A Blogger’s Manifesto. 

A Blogger’s Manifesto is a short ebook (around 100 pages) about blogging written by a blogger. It covers the story of my book blog Confessions of a Readaholic and other essentials for an individual who is getting started with blogging or is a new blogger.

The book in detail covers:

• Starting a blog with zero followers
• Writing a compelling blog post
  
• Why Comments are essential part in blogging community
  
• How to reach your milestones with your blog
  
• Social Media and money making tips

Are you looking to #kickstart a #BookBlog?
Click To Tweet

Since I am a book blogger, I have covered topics that are essential to know before if you are getting started or recently started in Book Blogging.

• Writing a Book review
  
• Blog Tours
  
• Getting an ARC
  
• Interviewing Authors

If this interests you, grab your copy now from Amazon IN | Amazon US only for $0.99.

Note: If the title is unavailable on the Amazon in your country, let me know, I will be happy to send you the copy. 
Everyone will get future updates for free, especially the second version which is coming out soon.

The post Looking forward to becoming a #BookBlogger? appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Pages: 232, Kindle Edition

Published: October 2017,  by Harvard Business Review Press

Cover Rating: 4/5

We see startups everywhere. Being a part of the fastest growing economy the word startup is now on the mouth of everyone. Some have their own definitions of it, but as Jeffrey Bussgang mentions it is hard to define the word startup in mere words. To help reader understand the concept and those aspiring to work for startups will definitely get some help by reading this book.

Entering StartupLand: An Essential Guide to Finding Right Job is pragmatic approach to various career options or job profiles and responsibilities that are available almost in every startup. This includes product management, business development, marketing, growth and sales. To help one figure out what to expect when someone joins a startup there are insights from Jeffrey’s own life as he started his career with Open Market that was once a startup in 1997.

The book divides in eight chapters and begins with introduction to the startup culture and then discuss various but essential job profiles. Within the context, Jeffrey has made an effort to clarify and get his readers familiar with terms like Scrum and Agile working methodology. This I feel, is good for the reader to know some of the main buzzwords and make an effort to understand if they are new or not familiar with the context.

Having worked myself in one startup, I will say there are times when you dwell in uncertainty. Be ready for that. You may have to handle multiple responsibilities. Jeffrey has differentiated the two organisational paradigms, what a stable corporate life is and how it is different from the startup.

Since it is a nonfiction work, I don’t have much to write about the narrative voice. The book is written in an expressive and clear language. I do strongly feel that the author could have make an effort to explore the possibility of other skills that are common with startup culture.

If you want to get familiar with this term and its scions then this book is a great starting point. Perfect target audience are students in colleges and universities, and also recommended to someone looking for a job or career change.

4 out of 5!

The post BOOK REVIEW: Entering StartupLand by Jeffrey Bussgang appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Sombrero Fallout by Richard Brautigan
on 1976
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 187
Format: eBook
Goodreads

Subtitled as a Japanese story, Richard Brautigan’s Sombrero Fallout is my second reading of the author’s work. It is a unique story, a peculiar one too, with themes that might seem bizarre at first but are actually brought to clarity as the plot moves forward

.

The storyline is about a heartbroken American writer that starts a story (somewhat meta) about an ice-cold sombrero hat that falls from the sky and lands in the center of a small Southwest American town. This is where the bizarreness comes in. This scene is repeated in a different manner along those 187 pages. While the focus of the writer inside the story is on the hat he certainly tries different angles to find out why he wants to write about the sombrero falling from a sky. Along with that, we get insight into the recent events of his life. His Japanese has left him, and he is now trying to cope with the heartbreak. In order to cope, he is trying to western stories with an angle that seems pointless to him as the plot moves forward.

I cannot talk about the characterization in this novel. Because there is a single character whose imagination is the locus of this novel. It indeed is a sad tale but after reading it, I think is a perfect way to deal with broken relationships and the feeling of the void it leaves. The narrator of the novel, when searches for the lost totems of his girlfriend shows how longs for her. This is the turning point in the novel for me. It is written without any flaw and the narrative voice is important but it does not drive the plot forward. The series of real event and the events that unfold in the imagination of the novelist described in the novel drive the plot.

The book is loosely based on Brautigan’s life and the void he was left with. The perfect instability of novelist who is being considered a humorist by the society and national media, cannot be a pure work of imagination. It is a bittersweet piece of writing that one must explore.

4 out of 5

~ Find me on ~

BLOG |  GOODREADS |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK | MEDIUM

email: amandeepmittal@live.com

Check out my NEW Book for Bloggers and Book Bloggers

The post BOOK REVIEW: Sombrero Fallout by Richard Brautigan appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord
Published by Silicon Guild on 09/01/2018
Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Entrepreneurship
Pages: 228
Format: eBook
Goodreads

The nature of business in the modern digital and information overload age is ever-changing. The foundation of Patty McCord’s book Powerful – Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility is that the as workplace progress, so should human resources.

The author challenges the old, traditional corporate HR that include annual performance reviews, retention plans, engagement programs, etc. She clearly speaks her mind in the early chapters that these activities and actions are a mere waste of time and resources and why the modern day companies, irrespective of their number of employees should not practice them.

I liked this ideology. I feel this is the most positive point in the book. All that corporate mumbo-jumbo is a distraction and I have experienced it myself while working full time in previous years. It does stop an organization’s development process. Patty McCord’s pragmatic suggestions in managing a company are discussed in detail throughout this book.

Although the book starts stating that it is not a memoir, after reading it, I’d say that it is. It is written from the perspective of the author and her experiences in the organizations she worked. Especially, at Netflix. Another thing I did not like while reading is that the writing style is plain and it failed to create any enthusiasm in me as a reader and a learner looking to get something out of this book. While the practical insights shared from her own experience at Netflix in the book are a must-read, the way they are presented is not an ideal one.

3 out of 5

The post BOOK REVIEW: Powerful by Patty McCord appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

My Mute Girlfriend Published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors on 10/02/2018
Genres: Romance, Fiction
Pages: 218
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

Himanshu Rai’s latest book, My Mute Girlfriend is a typical romance fiction. I generally do not adore reading novels in this genre but this one caught my eye because of the title and blurb of the book.

The plot revolves around the boy, Rohan, the protagonist in this story and lives with his family. He has a teenage crush on a girl in his school and decides to propose her. Soon an incident in his life turns around his plans and he finds himself sitting for admit counseling after getting a good result in an entrance exam and fulfill his family’s dreams. This where we meet our second protagonist of the story. The female lead, Vaidehi. She and Rohan soon become friends after being in the same class. She has a reputation for being an egotist but with Rohan, she is a different personality. They love each other until a day when Vaidehi’s behavior towards Rohan changes completely and she stops talking to him. The question this incident arouses is why is she behaving in that manner?

The plot is organized well from to the end of the novel. It does follow the same standard as other romantic novel but the twist and turns do beg it to differ when both the characters have their fate turned around. I cannot talk about the climax as it is the authentic reason that makes the plot a bit different in its own genre. The theme tries to unveil in the end is genuine and beautiful. The use of subplots is done essentially well and above my expectation. They never felt like a dragging element to me.

The characterization in this novel is transparent but for me, it did lack in-depth development. At the start, it did feel good that the author is exploring the protagonist teenage days. But as the plot advances, I was not able to predict or guess their motives even though I’d love to be wrong in that matter. The narrative voice does help sometimes to turn the pages.

The length of the book compliments the plot to develop. I recommend this book if you are looking forward to reading something authentic that might touch your heart in the end, in the romantic fiction world.

3 out of 5

The post BOOK REVIEW: My Mute Girlfriend by Himanshu Rai appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Having a to-do list is no harm done. It is actually good, a productive step to increase your own productivity. It is a methodology that tends to change the way you work. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and stressed, one can perform their tasks in an organized manner.

Having a to-do list helps to bring a structure to your routine. As a blogger, I do get overwhelmed by the amount of research I have to do in order to complete the task of writing an article. It took me a lot of time to get into the habit of having and maintaining a list. At times, I still struggle to maintain one and achieve the targets I set in a day.

I believe in getting the habit of maintaining a system for oneself. Keeping up with a list and to have all checks at the end of the day is not possible every day. However, it does help me de-clutter my mind. I do not have to spend every moment for getting a task done if I write it down in the list. Not only, I get most things done on most days, the sense of excitement for all things I do is a bliss.

The key concepts I have found that works for me in developing and maintaining this habit are listed below.

Having a List

Write it down in a notebook. Write it in a smartphone application. Or in your email, Whatever works for you. Do make sure, that the material or the application you use must be accessible to you almost all times.

Adding the tasks

All tasks whether, personal or professional, big or small, projects, must dos could be the items on your list. Have a system around them, a concrete format. Such that you do not have to think about changing and modifying the system every day. Add those tasks to your list that capture your attention.

Organization

It can get a bit overwhelming if you add all your tasks without an identifier, whether personal or professional. Divide your tasks appropriately such that you can focus on them and have a clear idea of what you should do next and what can be done later. Do not get into the habit of multitasking, you are only going to exhaust yourself.

Reflect

Take time in a day or twice, to reflect how far you have come and how far you have to go. If your list is organized, you won’t be spending much time reflecting. The frequent reassessment will help you prioritizing your tasks and avoiding the dead end.

Do It

Do it. Write that post. Devoting a fixed amount of time to do the research. In that time, try avoiding getting distracted by new tweets or Facebook notifications. The system does not work in your favor if you do not work on the task you are required to.

By keeping up with your system, you will feel accomplishment and that is a good feeling. You have to feel worthwhile every day to continue putting the hard work. Try this method for few days and if it is not working, reflect and modify it to your needs. Remember. Reflect, and repeat. If you’d like to get in-depth into your working habits and how to maintain them, I recommend a copy of David Allen’s Getting Things Done and Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist.

Read my review on Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist | Five Things I Learnt from Steal Like an Artist

~ Find me on ~

GOODREADS |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK | MEDIUM

The post How to be a Productive Blogger: Getting Things Done appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.