vmkirin's reviews
62 reviews

The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield

5.0

I read this book at a pivotal time in my career as an entrepreneur. I was floundering, dealing with burnout, and unsure what to do next due to lingering trauma from a previous career in disaster relief. To say the first chapters of this book stumped me is an understatement. It took two full years for me to read it in full!

Early on, Jack asks readers what they want for their lives. He challenges us to be specific about our goals — and lots of them. I soon realized I could only identify a few goals, and one of them was peace. XD Not only did that reveal to me a massive gap in my outlook on life, but it also helped me reassess my career, ultimately leading to the sale of my first business.

As a coach, I give this book to all my new clients as a welcome gift. It's that good. I don't care how far into your career you are, how assured you feel about your life, this book will do you good.

Propose Your Book: How to Craft Persuasive Proposals for Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children's Books by Patricia Fry

5.0

This is a quick and simple book with practical advice for authors who are working on their book proposals. I read it long after I was agented, and still found her tips supportive of my most recent proposal writing. Additionally, Fry addresses the elephant in the room; so many authors romanticize their writing and fail not because they are not competent, but because they do not frame their proposal as a business document. She covers a lot of genres, so take what you need and skim the rest. I recommend it!

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

4.0

I’m a pretty big fan of multiple intertwined timelines if it can be pulled off. I believe Danforth did a fine job of it while also representing female love through the ages. The symbolism repeated throughout the book, throughout the ages, wove further the relationship between modern and past. There were several scenes that made me question the sanity of the character, narrator, or both — delightful. A pleasant read.

Tales From A Broad: An Unreliable Memoir by Fran Lebowitz

4.0

I really enjoyed the sardonic humor that chaotically wove itself throughout the book. The quick wit and unusual circumstances kept me turning the page. I wanted so badly for the adventure to go on, but for both reader and characters, it came to a bittersweet end.

The PMDD Phenomenon: Breakthrough Treatments for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder by Carol Svec, Diana L. Dell

4.0

How frustrating that the most informative book available on PMDD is over twenty years old. It served as a critical guidepost despite its age, pointing the reader in a direction for research and the inevitable self-advocacy. I assert it is a must-read for any who believes they suffer from the disorder, at least until another book takes its place in the field.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

5.0

The first example of dystopian literature and granddaddy to the mighty works of Brave New World and 1984. One can see it, feel it, in the pages. As I read, the scenes brought to mind moments from Aeon Flux; Love, Death, and Robots; and The Island. I also enjoyed contrasting it to the fiction works by Ayn Rand — out of the same era and culture. Loved the book.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

4.0

Picked this book up on the recommend of a colleague. As I read, I couldn’t help but imagine that this could be a different storyline for the Red Dagon. Rather than succumbing to his disfigurement, the main character finds a way to love. It was an interesting read, a nice interlude to the serious nonfiction I was churning through at the time.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

5.0

I began reading this book to bolster my knowledge of the history of abuse in American medicine for my startup, Asterisk. Found myself enthralled, dismayed for the family, and afraid for Henrietta as she underwent primitive cancer treatment. It raises many important ethical questions, some not as obvious as those on the cover. Today, when I come across HeLa research or namesake organizations, I take a moment remember the woman from whom it all stems.

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

5.0

Could. Not. Put. It. Down. This will certainly be one of the books I read again and again. It’s no surprise Bono has a way with words. Nor a surprise that he has lived an interesting life. But the combination with his vulnerability and honesty makes for a heartfelt love letter to those who have supported him along the way. I found myself belly laughing as he got drunk with (and passed out visiting) President Obama. Grinning at the band’s teenage antics. Touched by Bono’s love for his wife. And, ultimately, impressed that someone with so much privilege remains humble enough to put that privilege to good use. It’s a must-read.

Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life, No Matter What! by Martha N. Beck

5.0

This book found me. It was laying on a bench in the park one day. Perfect timing, as I was in the midst of planning my next book and considering my goals for 2024. This book is heartfelt and warm. The author, honest and vulnerable. It’s a fun read, but also has extremely practical steps for the reader to take. It’s easy to integrate into one’s life and helps one to understand their innate emotional signals regarding what they want and what they don’t. There’s a reason it remains a classic.