Author: Stephanie

If you’re an Internet enthusiast, you’ve almost certainly heard of Bitcoin. You’ve probably also heard of the rise—and now progressive fall—of that cryptocurrency. But what’s all the hullabaloo about? Frankly, I barely have a clue. That’s why, in an attempt to keep up with this technological and financial trend, I’ve read Cryptocurrency 2^nd Edition: Mining, Investing, and Trading Bitcoin Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Dash, Gridcoin, Iota, Digibyte, Dogecoin, Emercoin, Putincoin, Auroracoin and Others by Abraham K. White.

For those who aren’t techno-savvy, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies seem as foreign as Old English manuscripts. In Cryptocurrency, White tries to simplify the concept and the process of obtaining cryptocurrency. White covers everything from the mining of Bitcoin (the original cryptocurrency) to the pros and cons of alternative cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Litecoin. He also explains the politico-cultural and financial controversies tied to each of kind of cryptocurrency and how the entire concept could revolution the world’s economy. White provides virtually everything you need to know in order to invest in the cryptocurrency trend, the only problem being that even a simplified description is still very complicated.

I have to start this review by noting that I’m not a computer nerd, not the kind with the mind to create and add onto blockchains. I got this book in the hopes of strengthening my understanding of Bitcoin and how I might profit from it, so I was looking for something which could explain the basic concepts to me as well as Bitcoin’s ebbs and flows.

This book provides all of this information and more. White explains Bitcoin and several other forms of cryptocurrency and provides a glossary. However, it is not a light read. I had to re-read multiple sections, and I highly recommend giving the book more than just one read in order to fully understand it.

White’s writing is not at fault. It’s smooth and uses as simple and straightforward a vocabulary as you can with this topic. Nevertheless, unless you already have a basic knowledge of the technology behind cryptocurrency, you’ll want to take your time digesting the material before making any judgments or decisions.

White could have helped the reader’s understanding more with a better book structure. It was a good idea to frame the chapters on the different cryptocurrencies rather than starting or ending the book with them. Regardless, I don’t think that White should have saved the chapter on blockchains for the finale. I was incredibly confused by the concept earlier in the book and would have appreciated this chapter sooner. This chapter also causes the book to end rather abruptly, going from a concluding note on blockchains and their pros/cons straight to the glossary. I’m glad for the chapter, I just wanted it before White explained the different cryptocurrency platforms and wish that he had ended on a general conclusion about cryptocurrency and its future.

Cryptocurrency opened my eyes to a world I didn’t even know existed. I knew of Bitcoin, but I had no idea that cryptocurrency was so prominent. White takes readers through the history of virtual money as well as the technical details of each kind, including how Bitcoin emerged in the first place. He illustrates the issues that different governments have with cryptocurrency, all of which are valid, but also shows readers how virtual money can benefit individuals and the world as a whole. He mostly emphasizes the decentralized nature of virtual money such as Bitcoin, but I still have many questions as to how exactly the peer-to-peer transaction system works.

All in all, Cryptocurrency by Abraham K. White is a great tool for learning about this phenomenon. It takes some time and brainpower to read, as does most technological topics, but the possibilities will capture the imagination of anyone with a shred of interest in finances and technology. If the discussions in this book are any real indicator, the current dip in the value of cryptocurrency is only temporary and you should get in on it while it’s still affordable. You shouldn’t jump right into Bitcoin. Rather, check out this book and see which of the cryptocurrency platforms is right for you. Despite the current devaluation, cryptocurrency seems to be here to stay and we should probably get to know it better.

You can buy Cryptocurrency by Abraham K. White as an e-book and in print through Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Trigger Warning: The book in today’s review, ode to poet by Annika Andersson, contains a poem which briefly mentions suicide. There are also portrayals of political/social views which some may find controversial. If you are triggered by such discussions or otherwise wish to avoid these topics, proceed with caution.

I want to follow up my discussion of prose and poetry with a review of another modern poetry collection. This collection is called ode to poet by Annika Andersson.

In its brief 36 pages, Annika Andersson’s ode to poet represents a wide variety of poetry topics and styles. Some of the themes discussed include the life of a poet, faults in communication, the horrid condition of humanity as portrayed on the news, and suicide. Each poem is bite-sized, creating a collection which is perfect for the busy reader looking for something to read in between shifts or while chauffeuring their children.

Andersson is definitely a modern poet. For most of the collection, her work does not follow any prescribed form or rhyming pattern. Even punctuation is irregular throughout the book, sporadic at best but always with a purpose. Andersson, much like T.A. Price, has an ear of her own and relies on it to craft her poems. Yet these poems provide a much different perspective from Price’s work, covering themes more common to city-dwellers and boasting a more “urban” voice and feel.

I think my favorite lines in this book come from “Savannah”:

 

and when I can find the time, I can’t

find the energy

 

Energy seems to be a rare commodity these days.

 

I straighten away from the mirror and

pull my hair

out of the top knot

in which it seems to permanently reside.

I have too much hair. I should really cut it.

I’ve been saying that for months.

 

Not only do I find these lines to be beautiful as poetry, I also connect with them on a personal level. I suffer from depression and, while it is mostly under control at the moment, I still have many days when energy and the will to care escape me. I believe that Andersson has captured these struggles perfectly in “Savannah”.

However, my favorite section in the collection is the second section, titled “Poetic Styles Through Time”. Andersson really flexes her writing muscles here, taking on eight different poetic movements from the late 18^th to late 20^th centuries. Better yet, she puts her own stamp on these styles and gives them modern twists.

My favorite poem from this section, from the book in general, is the one dedicated to the Harlem Renaissance style, titled “10 O’clock News”:

 

I turn on the television

Screen fills up with black and white

Static noise from indecision

Channels flash with colored light

 

–we bring news of yet another

Trayvon Martin been attacked–

Hoping praying not a brother

Son or father: family cracked

 

They deny that it’s a pattern

Claim there’s no repeat offense

But then why so many battered

But then why are we so tense

 

I turn on the television

For a transient escape

Instead greeted with a vision

Yet some more bright yellow tape.

 

In addition to the powerful message (which I know not everyone will agree with), I found the rhythm and structure of this poem particularly natural, like music, in a way. I suppose that that embodies the Harlem Renaissance, which is exactly what Andersson set out to do with this poem. I think, even more so than the other poems in this section, “10 O’clock News” best represents the era of poetic style which it is meant to imitate, and I would love for her to explore more work in this style.

All in all, I think that Annika Andersson’s ode to poet is a wonderful collection. It’s different from T.A. Price’s Bent, but the change is refreshing; I really enjoy reading a wide variety of poems about a wide variety of themes in a wide variety of styles, so going from Bent to ode to poet gave me that range of voices I’m always looking for in poetry.

As with most poetry, this book contains some debatable messages, which is fine. In fact, I think that’s preferable for any work but especially poetry. After all, the purpose of writing is to get us thinking and talking, and what gets us fired up more than topics which we passionately agree or disagree with?

You can order ode to poet in paperback through Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Well, we’re nearing the end of another week, readers and writers. Today was my last day working for MeowShare (unless they decide to reinstate the English Special Force Team). Needless to say, I’m bummed. They said it was just a trial run but when you spend so many weeks with the same people, you grow attached, and I’m sad that I may never work with them again. The money didn’t hurt, either.

Life goes on, right? Change is inevitable; you just have to keep moving forward. That’s why I’m here, bringing you another book review. This book is a guide for purposeful change, i.e. weight loss and improving your health. Today I will be reviewing Flipping Your Fat Loss Switch: Trigger Your Paleolithic Genes to Burn Fat by John Griffin.

It’s a common story in the modern world: you decide to change your ways and lose that extra body fat, so you start to exercise and eat healthier. You’ve probably chosen moderate exercise like going for walks, jogging, yoga, and so on. After all, isn’t that what the doctors recommend? At first things seem to go well, you start to shed some pounds and maybe feel a little better. Then, after a few weeks of your new routine, you plateau. You try and raise your time exercising or cut back more calories, but you can’t seem to get that weight loss started again. You might have even gained a couple pounds. Eventually, you give up on the pursuit altogether and return to your old ways.

John Griffin knows this story from personal experience. It happened to him to a T, but then he took a turn many others do not: he ditched the moderate exercise for high-intensity interval training. He not only lost weight, but that weight loss was mostly body fat, he gained muscle, his memory improved, and more! But why? Why did the high-intensity interval training succeed where moderate exercise and dieting failed? Will it work for others trying to lose weight, too?

These are the very questions that Griffin addresses in Flipping Your Fat Loss Switch, and more. The answers may be more obvious than you’d think. All you have to do is go back in time to the days of our Paleolithic ancestors and how humans became hardwired to survive among predators.

I’m going to get this out of the way right now: I hate exercise. I hate it with a passion. The only forms of exercise I’ve found any joy in have been walking, riding the stationary bike, yoga, and playing with my dogs. This avoidance of exercise, along with a poor diet and unfortunate hormonal imbalances, has led to me gaining a lot of weight. That’s why I decided to give Griffin’s work a look, and he may have convinced me to try high-intensity interval training despite my hatred of exercise.

Griffin presents his arguments and advice in a very logical, well-organized, and well-written manner. He backs all of his assertions with reliable resources, namely a variety of articles in a variety of scientific journals. My only problem with this fact is that the explanation of why high-intensity interval training works and why moderate exercise fails dragged on. This issue was especially tedious because it was mostly in the beginning of the book. I appreciate Griffin’s depth of research, but a little more concision or spreading the information throughout the book would have been more palatable.

Like most authors of self-help books, Griffin is a professional in this field (certified personal trainer and health coach). Better yet, he knows his method works from personal experience. Frankly, if he hadn’t gained my trust through his personal anecdote of weight loss, which contained many moments that I recognize from my struggles, I may not have continued to read the facts behind his advice.

Griffin certainly knows how to pique a reader’s interest when it comes to weight loss, I’ll give him that. He emphasizes the benefits beyond the weight loss and the short amount of time high-intensity interval training takes, both of which are very important in the modern world. He also anticipated all of my questions and needs. He answered everything from why moderate exercise doesn’t cause weight loss to step-by-step instructions for starting a high-intensity interval training program when you’ve been sedentary for a long time. (I definitely need that tip!)

While his writing is excellent overall and his content compelling, I did notice proofreading errors off-and-on. Namely, I noticed commas where they shouldn’t be and commas missing from where they should be. However, the more annoying errors were the use of “highintensity” and “lowintensity” in place of “high-intensity” and “low-intensity”. Of course, I was reading the book on Kindle and it’s very possible that it was just a formatting error due to my screen size.

Overall, I really recommend this book for people who are looking to lose weight. I know that “high-intensity exercise” may sound like too much work compared to moderate exercise, but Griffin has convinced me that really isn’t. While it requires more work during the brief session, high-intensity interval training takes less time and produces more results.

As a book, Flipping Your Fat Loss Switch is engaging, fascinating, and convincing. I think that intellectuals will want to read it just to see another side of the weight loss debate. Still, we won’t know for sure if Griffin is right until we give his method a try for ourselves. As Griffin says, just remember to consult your doctor when making any health-related changes. And for the love of God, don’t forget to warm up first! (And if you pursue this training, please leave a comment below letting us know how it’s going!)

You can get Flipping Your Fat Loss Switch as an e-book or in paperback on Amazon. To learn more about John Griffin and get more tips on health and exercise, be sure to check out his website.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Trigger Warning: The book reviewed in this post, Beyond the Spiral Gates by Mutch Katsonga, contains depictions of abuse, violence, and corporal punishment which can only be described as torture. If you are triggered by such depictions or otherwise wish to avoid them, proceed with caution.

Happy Hump Day, readers and writers! After yesterday’s announcement about the passing of beloved fantasy/science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin, I’ve decided to lighten the mood some by bringing you another book review. Of course, the topic of the book in this review is not a light one, but the writing and story are both thrilling and compelling. Today I’m reviewing Beyond the Spiral Gates by Mutch Katsonga.

We all have things in our past that we’re not so proud of. Whether we’re embarrassed by the time we farted in class during high school or we did something so violent that we’re too ashamed to let anyone know about it, each of us has something we wish we could undo. Unfortunately, that’s not how life works, and these events can have drastic consequences. Even something entirely out of our control or in which we’re the victim can haunt us and change the entire course of our lives. Such an event leads us to the incarceration of the narrator of Beyond the Spiral Gates at Wicksfield, a school and prison for criminal boys.

The unnamed narrator has been dealt a bad hand. Pampered by his mother after his father died when he was a few months old, the narrator’s entire world turns upside-down when his mother remarries. He’s abused by his stepfather for disobedience, and his mother, while loving and doting, does nothing to stop it. Things only get worse for the narrator when a couple of horribly chaotic days lands him in Wicksfield, where he and the other boys are terribly mistreated and viewed as nothing but demon-infested vermin who need to be exorcised. But what happens when the narrator finally gets a chance to escape—not just one of his daytime jaunts but a true, planned escape that could actually gain him his freedom? Will he take it? And what will become of him once he gets beyond the spiral gates of Wicksfield?

Beyond the Spiral Gates by Mutch Katsonga is a gripping, heart-wrenching tale of a young man’s coming-of-age journey, a physical, emotional, and spiritual trek with more twists and turns than you can imagine. I can usually predict the outcomes of these kinds of books—that’s why I so rarely bother with them anymore—and while I could still see much of what was going to happen next, Katsonga pleasantly surprised me with plot twists I actually did not expect.

I simultaneously wanted to keep reading until I was finished and had to take multiple breaks. So many moments were cringe-worthy and emotional that they necessitated those breaks in order for me to continue. For me, that’s the sign of a good book in this genre; it both had my adrenaline pumping and made me emotionally attached to the main character.

I think, perhaps, the biggest reason why I experienced such emotional turmoil in sympathy with the main character is because I know that institutions like Wicksfield once existed. One real-life example constantly came to mind while reading Katsonga’s work: Preston School of Industry in Amador County, California, better known as Preston Castle. (If you’re a fan of Merle Haggard or Neal Cassady, you might know it because both of them were once wards of Preston Castle.) Knowing that such deplorable conditions and abuse once happened to such boys, even criminal boys, makes the depiction in this novel even more heartbreaking.

The unfortunate flaw I saw in Katsonga’s writing is that many of the characters are one-dimensional stereotypes. In particular, Hector Sevene—the head of Wicksfield—and Switch—the narrator’s bully from his hometown of Hayvern—did not receive much development or growth despite being rather crucial to the story.

However, this could have been by design. The book is narrated in first person, and so the reader only gets the narrator’s views on these people. To someone as angry and mistreated as the narrator, these people, both of whom represent different miserable aspects of his life, would only be those one-dimensional, almost devilish stereotypes. It’s a toss-up and probably depends on how the reader decides to interpret it.

The biggest mystery in the novel—and, thus, the most compelling aspect—is why the narrator ended up at Wicksfield in the first place. The event haunts the narrator throughout his time at Wicksfield and beyond, but for much of the book these brief glimpses are all that Katsonga gives the reader. While a little frustrating, it also kept me reading even if the book sagged a little. Mind you, it did not sag often, but the mystery really helped to keep me interested whenever it did.

Katsonga’s writing is, for the most part, crisp and quick-paced. Still, I thought that Katsonga’s descriptions were sometimes drawn out unnecessarily and slowed down the narrative. Katsonga takes several paragraphs to describe the narrator’s anger at seeing Switch again and what he would have done if he had known who it was sooner. While this description is amusing in a bitter-sweet way, I felt the tension begin to dissipate and I just wanted to watch them fight already. Similarly long descriptions are scattered throughout the book, but the rest of the novel is written well enough that these passages do not detract much from the overall experience.

Overall, I highly recommend Katsonga’s novel for thriller and mystery lovers. I noticed some proofreading errors but they were very minor, such as misused commas, and that could have just been the difference between American English and Queen’s English. At 166 pages, it’s a very quick read, perfect for those brief moments of downtime. If you’re sensitive to violence and/or institutionalized abuse, you’ll want to avoid this book. However, if you can stomach such issues, you’ll definitely want to read Beyond the Spiral Gates.

You can find Beyond the Spiral Gates in both e-book and paperback form on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Happy Monday! Another week has begun. Frankly, I’m not really in the mood for it. Given my current attitude, there’s some irony in the book which I am reviewing today: Stoicism: Be a Stoic, Live a Life of Joy and Cure Anxiety by Using Ancient Wisdom (The Happiness and Optimism of a Good Life) by Abel Gray.

Stoicism by Abel Gray is, as the title implies, a book about the Ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism and how it can be used to change your way of thinking and how you approach life for the better. In addition to explaining stoicism and how to use it in the modern day, Abel Gray explains the origins of the philosophy, how it has evolved over the centuries, and how it is used by today’s leaders and military.

Stoicism is not a light read. It’s full of philosophical terminology, history, and Ancient Greek names which can be hard to pronounce. Still, the lessons on positive thinking and not relying on destructible things (such as material goods and jobs) for happiness are useful even for those who aren’t into philosophy or history. The author mentions how large a role philosophy plays in the earlier parts of the book and even suggests that readers looking only for self-help start with chapter ten or twelve. (If that’s all you’re looking for, I actually recommend that you start with chapter eleven, which explains the importance and use of stoicism.) I just think that readers won’t get the most out of this book if they follow that strategy.

I found the history of stoicism incredibly interesting, but I had to read a few parts repeatedly to understand the explanations of the philosophy. I’m big into philosophical ideas and grew intrigued with the basic principles of stoicism as I read more of Abel Gray’s work. I am particularly focused on the idea that our perception, not external factors, makes our happiness. Nevertheless, I’m not much into philosophical terminology and often get lost if I don’t take my time with this sort of reading. Others may not have this problem, but those who do should really give themselves time to read and fully digest the first ten chapters of this book. I also don’t recommend it for nighttime reading; it’s much harder to concentrate then.

I think that the only true hindrance for the readability of Stoicism is the structure. There seems to be two books at work in these brief 168 pages, one which discusses the history and principles of stoicism and one which shows how we can use stoicism. The introduction somewhat connects the two concepts, but I don’t feel that it frames the work well enough. The subtitle for Stoicism implies that this is a self-help book focused on that philosophy. However, the principles and historical evolution far outweigh the self-help section. Expanding the introduction and the self-help section as well as weaving the history and principles in with the self-help tips would have improved the structure immensely and made the work more palatable for those who aren’t really into the technical terms.

Overall, Abel Gray’s writing is smooth, polished, and easy to follow—as easy as this subject allows, that is. I only noticed a couple proofreading errors, which indicates professional editing to me. I believe that the principles of stoicism are explained well and the connections they have with modern, everyday life are good food for thought. The history is fascinating and helps set the stage for the principles; I found the influence of stoicism on Christianity to be particularly captivating. However, the structure does the work no favors. I worry that Abel Gray will lose readers partway through because the volume of information is so staggering all at once, especially for a self-help book, yet I also think that readers will miss out if they skip straight to the self-help section.

If you have an interest in philosophy, history, and/or exploring new approaches to happiness, I highly recommend Abel Gray’s Stoicism. Just remember that even though it’s less than 200 pages, it’s a lot of information and will take a while to read and digest properly.

You can find Stoicism by Abel Gray as an e-book and in paperback on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can work something out.