Colette

Morbid Curiosity Meets Bureaucratic Red Tape

Revisado: 07-12-23

Interesting stories of death investigators but the day-to-day BS at government run facilities was not at all a surprise and could have been left out of the book entirely. Glad that the author is no longer depressed after her job loss but - I'll go out on a limb and guess the people she fired felt the same way.

Nothing to learn here - just interesting stories of death in the big city. Could have been almost anywhere and anybody but a varied perspective of ONE person's account.

Given the casual conversation to "get through the job" as the author repeatedly states - this book could have been written by any one of her colleagues with the same emphasis and mono-tone narration.

Sometimes it's worth the money to hire a professional voice actor - may have been able to get to a half star more in the review.

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Rid Yourself of Negative Energy and Toxic People

Revisado: 02-08-22

While the title is completely hyperbolic, I can easily get past the rhetoric and get to the meat of the meal - so to speak - and so should you. People are continually separating themselves from toxic people - so why not negative energy? This book helped me to be thankful for the things I often took for granted. Within days, I started noticing coins all around me. I felt light and joyful and positive energy felt heavy and charged all around me. I just felt better not being pissed and whiney most of the time. Whether you are a believer in the LOA or not this book can be helpful in allowing you to recognize quiet time to get your mind and spirit right. I've gifted this book to nearly 10 people - including a NOW - cancer-free friend!

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The Abused Become The Abusers

Revisado: 07-21-20

Does this narrative fall into the traditional family gossip that we are all subject to? Absolutely. This family dysfunction is bolstered by a higher level of income. Same problems, just with a lot more money. Fred Trump was clearly controlling and wielded a great deal of influence (or dominance) and power in his family. Every member of the family feared being ostracized or worse yet, uninherited.

The love of (extreme) money and to the same extent (the perception) of power has this family and other 1% family ruining this county for their own selfish pleasure and benefit.

From Mary Trump's perspective - Fred Trump was textbook toxic. The epitome of why people seek therapy. "My daddy didn't love me" and "I'll do whatever I can to please him, to hear the words...I Love you". No surprised that abused personalities become abusers of those around them.

Donald Trump as Mary frames it was, what JFK was to Joe Kennedy Sr., after Joe Jr was killed in WWII - gotta go with number 2, if number 1, is unable or unwilling.

Between Roy Cohn and Fred Trump - DJT is the perfect culmination of unapologetic narcissist and the kid who pulls the wings off flies. I didn't need Mary to tell me that DJT has no moral compass - how many over-indulged people do?

The book is what appears to be an unloading of years of dirty family laundry. Mary's mother continuing to attending holiday family gatherings at the request of Fred Trump Sr., because he wanted her there even though as Mary tells it - he didn't like her.

No doubt that Fred Trump called all the shots and controlled lives by controlling purse strings - going as far as to denying Fred Jr., a mortgage when he struck out on his own.

Mary stumbles a bit in her narration and lacks the empathy to really drive the story home. The book really is the airing of "my horrible family" and why we are unfit to run the local post office let alone a country.

Mary had problems weaving story details and meandered a bit to make certain issue cohesive, so it felt like I was hearing the same story in subsequent chapters. I've heard similar diatribes at my own holiday dinners - albeit with a lot more red wine.

I'm sure she's leaving much out - that could be subject to a libel or defamation suit - but a tease would have been equally as scintillating.

Did I learn anything that I didn't already know or surmise about the current occupant of the White House that I haven't already seen for myself over the last 3.5 years? Nope

If it talks like a duck, walks like a duck and cheats on wives, taxes and contractors like a duck.. it's a narcissistic and totally f'd up duck.

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When You Dance With the Devil....

Revisado: 02-04-20

Lewis in my opinion has always been masterful at story-telling and this book does not disappoint. Every person who chooses to listen to this book should be thoroughly frightened about what they hear,

Michael Lewis illustrates in a linear way that is not hard to follow, on why - not only understanding the rules are vital to playing the game correctly, in a way that benefits all the players - but, how skipping out on the rule book altogether is a detriment to everyone - players and non-players alike.

Polarization may play a part here but, the ending is the same for all of us. You can ignore the stop sign at the corner and blow through it like the rules don't apply to you - but a measurable and actual percentage of the time - you'll get caught and get the ticket you so richly deserve - or you may literally hurt someone by a selfish act - that you had no business doing in the first place.

Actions have consequences and Lewis dives into insights that have direct impact on every human on Earth. Like it or not - choices that people in politics are making WILL effect your life in one way or another.

Coming Storm lays out the unfathomable arrogance happening in Washington.. the all I care about is THAT MY SIDE is winning attitude that will ultimately fail us all.

When you dance with the devil you should never be surprised when he calls the tune. Every Faustian bargain starts with a great reason for getting what YOU want... but, they all end the same way.

Every criminal thought it was a "good idea" at the time of the crime but, nearly all without fail .... wishes to TAKE IT BACK when it comes time to pay the Devil his due.

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More Like .."The Best of Les Brown"

Revisado: 02-04-20

I'm a fan of Les Brown and have followed him for years. This book seemed to be a compilation of several motivational speeches - which in and of itself is fine.

I would have preferred a start to finish thoughtful string dedicated to this event. Maybe I missed that but, I'd heard many of these stories previously so - I didn't feel I got much of anything new.

Same cake different frosting to a large degree. Was there new information? Absolutely.
Did I have new insights or takeaways - not so much.

On the other hand - if you are relatively new to Les Brown - this may be a great book to start with. You get the best of Les on one power packed book.

I guess you could say - the first album was great... what do you do for a follow up? Well, in this case you make sure some of your best hits are in the list - so people get a sense of familiarity.

Les has his act together and I would recommend him to anyone.

This choice is something to gift to someone else and less so for the population that is familiar with Les and his brand.

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Mystery and Tragedy...Wrapped in Selfishness

Revisado: 02-03-20

So many players with so much desire and deception. Everyone wants something from you and will bleed you dry to get it.
Perhaps August was always doomed and so no other way out - or the same could be said about her husband - who clearly wanted to keep her fame ongoing for as long as possible.

The interviews criss-cross and intertwine like an overly viewed Chris Hansen "To catch a predator" episode. While there are two sides to every story all the players in this game are bogged down in rivalry and social media.

This story reads like adult Jr High. Interesting yet sadly ending in a questionable suicide that seems all but inevitable for the players that seemed to be consumed by fame, fortune or both.

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Save a Few $$$ on Your Next Therapy Session

Revisado: 02-03-20

GJB does not parse words and will certainly not spare your feelings - so take cover and be ready for the shit-storm you know is coming.

Does Bishop stumble onto anything new and revolutionary? Not in the least but, we all know that this is shit you need to hear but have been ignoring because - you are a "Stable Genius" and no one knows as much as you do.

Bishop uses portions of his life to relate to the reader and assure you that he has the same issues but, with a much better handle on dealing with it. Like how he moves a newly ordered couch into his home.... every wife loves that kind of humility!

Whenever I feel like I need my ass kicked - I plug this in on the way to and from work and (sometimes at work). Forget the blame game and the "why me" bullshit.

Bishop is Yoda squared. "There is only do or not do... there is no try" You either want it or you don't. I love how GJB could care less about hurting your feelings, while helping you to eliminate the minutia that is constantly getting in your way.

Save the money and co-pay for therapy - at least for a while. GJB won't sit across from you taking notes on why your childhood was terrible and your co-workers don't value your talent.

Bishop forces you to tap into your own truth - If you can handle the truth... as Jack Nicholson so aptly put it.. "You want the truth.. you can't handle the truth!" - sorry - (I kinda had to)..

Like I said... when it's time for a "self-initiated ass kicking" GJB is part therapist and catholic school nun all wrapped into one.

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I Expected a Bit More...

Revisado: 02-03-20

I'm a huge fan of Pat Flynn's but, I must say that I expected a bit more. Pat is so very transparent in his blogs and at conferences - so I expected a bit more depth and insight.

I found myself fast forwarding through parts of chapters and feeling like I didn't really miss much because Pat was still on the same topic in much the same way. It felt like filling time until the next chapter.

Overall, I take Pat's meaning of thoughtfully planning and re-evaluating a project before determining if it will fly. Too many people take off with no concept of how to fly - Flynn counters that argument brilliantly.

Knowing what I know of Pat, I wasn't looking for a step-by-step blueprint but more of process and actionable insights that take me to the next threshold. I personally felt that this was lacking. While the blogs don't offer a blueprint - they do share steps that Pat uses to create a product or service.

You have the option to buy into Pat's detailed journey or not. I can evaluate Pat's results and determine for myself - if this is useful information - all in the time it takes to read a blog post.

Pat works hard at making sure you see him as someone relatable and family oriented - which is covered in nearly every chapter.

This book would have made a great 2-3 page entry in the Passive Income blog or even on Flynn's podcast. There is a lot of redundant information that I felt was unnecessary for this interpretation.

In the end, for me at least - this information was not as useful as I had hoped it would be,

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It's Nick Offerman Narrating... Nuff' Said!

Revisado: 02-03-20

All the narrators were great. This was a tickle to my unfunny - funny bone that made me say "WTF?" more than once. Enjoyed the entire story catalog.

Also great for listening while traveling - if you prefer not to read but simply listen.

The off-brand humor is sometimes just enough to get me through a serious day of "ho hum... and the clock hasn't moved in the last 10 minutes.

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Clever and Devilishly Funny

Revisado: 02-03-20

This funny little quip about frenemies was a welcomed interruption in what can be a monotonous day at work. Short enough not to distract but, just enough of a chuckle that keeps you listening until the end.

This is definitely the kind of "travel audio" (Flying, Driving or Hiking) book that will keep a funny little smile on your face that will cause other to wonder .. "what the heck is up with that weirdo?"

Not sure it was entirely worth a FULL Audible credit - but it sure was clever.

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