Analysis of common beliefs from across the world!

MythStories: 746 Popular Myths and Misconceptions Exposed Across History, Science, Culture, and Everyday Life by Jason Karpeles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are several stories that are told about places, people, phenomenon, cultures, etc. Some of them have even attained almost historical status. But not all of them are true and people are often misled by these popular stories and continue to believe in an apparent fallacy. Jason Karpeles, a data scientist, and author has penned a 462-page volume to demystify 746 popular myths that are often construed as truth.
In this neatly organized and well cited book, Karpeles places these myths front and center and presents the reasons they became popular, and why are they are not truths. This is one of the books that doesn’t necessarily need to be read from the beginning. One can start at any page and stop similarly. Each myth is presented, examined, and a verdict is delivered with a confidence level that will stop almost everyone in their tracks.
I am impressed by the citations at the end of the book in which the author presents further reading about nearly every myth presented in this volume. So for those believers and skeptics this list will provide further reading and veracity to the authors claims. This book is an easy read and is ideal for all. Everyone can learn something from the book and enjoy the text.
Of course like all research works, it is simply impossible to cover all the myths that are popular across the world. Hence this author’s work is highly Euro-centric or West-centric and ignores majority of the myths from the east and far east. Probably for the next curious author to take note and produce a similar book in future.

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Exercise to promote mobility, strength, and flexibility for seniors

The Strictly Seated Chair Tai Chi for active seniors by Martin Mayes; 108 pp.

The Strictly Seated CHAIR TAI CHI For Active Seniors: Gentle Seated Flows to Strengthen Your Core, Improve Coordination, and Stay Active Without Stressing Your Joints by Martin Mayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the biggest challenges of aging is the loss of physical strength, limitations in mobility, and impaired balance. These challenges make several seniors scared of falling or getting injured and become immobile. Tai Chi is an ancient oriental exercise/ physical practice that helps strengthen core, improve coordination and balance without placing too much on the body. With more research into this practice in modern times there have been adaptations of the same.

Chair tai chi is the one adaptation that is becoming increasingly popular among seniors who are using this routine to regain strength, flexibility, and balance. Martin Mayes, a tai chi practitioner presents The Strictly Seated Chari Tai Chi for active seniors, a 108-page book that provides a great guide to this practice. “Chair Tai Chi is a practice that can transform the way you experience movement and vitality, allowing you to enhance your strength, balance, and confidence from the comfort of your favorite chair,” writes Mayes in the introduction. He further explains that with each movement practitioners can harness the power of tai chi to pump new life force into the body and mind. The goal of this book according to the author is to improve movement, confidence, breathing technique/ synchrony, and ultimately remain active even in senior years.

Neatly organized into nine information and illustration rich chapters, the book presents several concepts that challenge modern thinking about aging and accompanying physical limitations thereof. The approach in this book is not about exercise, rather it is about attaining harmony between body, mind, soul and nature, which will in turn promote wellness, vitality, and strength.

My favorite chapter is titled “the 28-day independence program” in which Mayes provides a blueprint to a slow but steady transformation. “When we decide to get healthier, it is tempting to try and do everything at once. We push too hard on the first day, get frustrated with the coordination, and quit by the third. This 28-day program is designed specifically to prevent that cycle,” explains Mayes emphasizing on following the program and not to hurry the process. In this chapter the author explains how by spending five to ten minutes daily on breathing, and exercise one can attain significant changes. The 28-day program is divided four parts – one for each week and acts as a good guide for those who like structure.

Summing up I think it is important for seniors to remain active during their later years of life and one way to improving physical conditioning, balance, and mobility is by practicing exercises like the program mentioned in this book. This guide is specially helpful to those who can’t run, walk, for long periods of time, the exercises described in this book are mainly done sitting in a comfortable chair and will work with most people.

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Sustainable guide to improving liver health

Fatty Liver Diet Cookbook for Seniors: Support Liver Health and Energy with Delicious Everyday Recipes and Clear Meal Plans, Designed for Seniors Seeking Wellness and Relief. 49-Day Meal Plan. by Lucy Madron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

According to the American Liver Foundation over 100 million people in the United States suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A staggering number of seniors are victims of this condition and need urgent help to modify lifestyle, diet, and improve health so as not to go into a full-blown wellness challenge. Most common reasons that lead to development of this condition is increased body fat (over 30% of Americans are obese); diabetes, or high cholesterol. After heart disease diabetes is perhaps the most prevalent disease in the US.
In this scenario it is important for lifestyle modifications to prevent and even reverse this condition. One way to do it is to modify dietary habits and include foods that improve liver health and function. To aid in this journey Lucy Madron brings you a comprehensive recipe book appropriately titled Fatty Liver Diet Cookbook for seniors. The aim of this book is to provide everyday recipes that are easy to prepare, support liver health, and improve energy for seniors seeking wellness and health.
Madron has over a decade of experience crafting healthy, nutritious, and delicious culinary marvels. She is passionate about supporting wellness through balanced eating and mindful lifestyle choices. Her goal is to make healthy habits easy, accessible, and enjoyable to everyone irrespective of their life circumstances. Her recipes are flavorful, practical, and easy to prepare and provide a comprehensive meal plan for seniors to maintain and improve liver health.
Carefully organized into eight chapters Fatty Liver Diet Cookbook for seniors is a one-stop-resource for seniors and others interested in improving liver health. In the introduction Madron sets the stage a delicious journey towards health and wellness. “The air is fragrant with the enticing aroma of fresh herbs, mingling beautifully with the warmth of a lovingly prepared home-cooked meal,” writes Madron emphasizing that the primary focus of this concise 81-page volume is to provide necessary tools and information on creating flavorful, easy-to-make meals that nourish the soul and body.
Chapter two deals with important information about liver health broken down to ensure easy understanding and quick reading. This chapter also presents a bird’s eye view of foods to consume and those to avoid; how to build a liver-friendly pantry; and most importantly how to cook meals for two and portion control. Chapter three presents a 49-day meal plan to take control of liver health, with weekly prep strategies, progress tracking, and plan adaptation based on reader preferences.
Chapters four through eight present recipes to cover all meals of the day breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks and desserts too. Vibrant salads, hearty soups, comfort food, satisfying lunches and dinners not only for individuals but for gatherings too. My favorite chapters include seven and eight, the former deals with vegetarian recipes and the latter desserts and drinks. I have a major sweet tooth and I am a vegetarian, hence I naturally gravitated towards these chapters.

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Learning Korean Made Easy

The One and Only Korean Workbook – Learn and Perfect the Hangul Alphabet in just a Few Weeks – Includes accompanying Videos and Digital Learning Materials by Self-taught KOR
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Learning a foreign language is tough, particularly for adults who are trying to juggle careers, family, hobbies, etc. Personally, I have always been fascinated by different languages and have tried to pick up words, phrases, and sentences as I interact with people from other parts of the world. While picking up a few words here and there seems easy, learning the alphabet, grammar, and script can be challenging. Especially when it comes to oriental languages such as Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and other eastern languages the script and dialects are so different it seems daunting.
I recently decided to start learning Korean from scratch and properly. On searching I found The Korean Workbook by Self-taught KOR very useful. This comprehensive volume makes it possible to learn the Hangul alphabet and Korean script for beginners with no prior exposure to the language. It is not easy in any measure, but The Korean Workbook makes it possible and guides the way by focusing on the basics and right from alphabet and help the reader master the language.
Featuring over 400 writing exercises which will ensure the reader learns not only letters but syllables, words, and even entire sentences in Korean. A set of digital flashcards serve as additional resources for serious learners. My favorite part of this guide is its emphasis on proper pronunciation and diction. There are links to several videos that assist learners master correct pronunciation.
As I go through the book and learn the Hangul script, I am beginning to think that this book is designed specifically for people like me – those with no prior knowledge of Korean. The workbook has taken the fear of the unknown away and has helped me start on this journey of learning a new and beautiful language.

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Spreadsheets Become simpler with this book!

Excel Made Easy: (3 in 1) A Visual Step-by-Step, Fully Illustrated Crash Course to Master Excel Fast; Boost Efficiency and Productivity with Practical Examples, Custom Formulas, and Expert Tips by Gavin George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Microsoft office software is perhaps the most popular word processing, spreadsheet, and database application bundle worldwide. Almost all businesses, schools, and homes use this software to achieve their goals. Developed in 1985 by Microsoft to be part of the office suite, MS Excel or simply Excel is a spreadsheet editor with several other functions including mathematical calculation, functions, macros, graphing, pivot tables, etc. While doing basic functions in excel is intuitive and easy, utilizing the advanced capabilities of this software can be challenging.
I recently came across a comprehensive guide to this software titled Excel Made Easy by Gavin George. Spread across 172 pages, this book features several 15-chapters of self-guided lessons on optimizing your understanding and use of Excel for work, school, or home. This comprehensive guide is beginner friendly and is designed to help readers master the software quickly.
Organized into three sub-sections appropriately titled Books 1 – 3, and 15 chapters spread across them, Excel Made easy is ideal for the visual learner. The easy-to-follow text is liberally peppered with several illustrations and screenshots from the actual software. Each exercise in the book is followed by real-world examples and scenarios to help readers get hands on experience even as they are learning. The book starts with a section titled “Fundamentals of Excel Mastery,” which contains four chapters that deal with foundations; data organization and presentation; beginner data management strategies; and core formulas in Excel.
The next sections progress in disseminating intermediate and advanced knowledge of Excel. Summing up Excel Made Easy is a comprehensive guide to learning and mastering spreadsheets. It has something for everyone that uses Excel, from beginners to the seasoned professionals.

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Guide to win the battle of the bulge!

The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick: Simple Recipes to Boost Your Metabolism, Energize Your Body & Burn Fat Fast While Detoxing Your System Naturally All in Less Than 21-Days by Eva Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Weight loss has been the buzzword for a very long time. Ever so often a new trend comes up and everyone seems to want in on that and then it fades away. Then another trend explodes, that seems to be the order of the day. It was exercise, diet, meal supplements, protein shakes, and a plethora of programs promising readers fitness, health, and beauty. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick by Eva Wells presents an alternative to fad diets with a solid foundation in science, holistic health, and nutrition.
Wells an expert in holistic health, nutrition, Pilates, and organic natural remedies. She has been in the business for several years and is passionate about coaching and empowering people with the skills and knowledge to live the best life possible. This is done with a combination of nutrition, mindfulness, and exercise believes Wells. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick starts off with a detailed introduction in which she explains the science behind the program and the historical origins of pink salt. “Understanding the journey that pink salt undertakes once it is ingested is pivotal to appreciating its role in supporting overall health. When pink salt dissolves, its array of trace minerals is mobilized into ionic forms,” explains Wells writing about the biological processes that are initiated by pink salt inside the human body.
Organized into eight chapters and a bonus section on recipes, the book instructs the reader on the safety measures, limitations and benefits of pink salt, and most importantly how to store different types of salt. Chapters four to six are primarily composed of recipes for weight loss, healthy body, beauty, self-care, and exercise. Chapters seven and eight offer practical dietary solutions for complex problems such as menopause, and a comprehensive meal plan is presented in chapter eight.
I have tried recreating some of the recipes and it’s easy to make and delicious to consume. These recipes are easy to follow and provide a great plan for everyone to succeed in their health goals. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick is indeed just that, this book is all about evidence-based insights, easy-to-cook delicious recipes and practical tips on getting healthier and losing weight in the process.

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Healthy Digestion from Ancient Wisdom

Dr. Poop’s 30-Day Gut Reset: You will rock your bowels! 5,000 Years of Ayurvedic medicinal wisdom on how to poop better and stop getting constipated. by Dr. Poop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A common, embarrassing, and annoying health problems that plague about 15-25% of Americans is constipation. It is a digestive issue wherein bowel movements become infrequent, difficult, or hard to pass. This condition affects people of all ages from infants to geriatrics and can often be traced back to lifestyle factors such as diet, hydration, physical activity, etc. A more concerning factor about constipation is the fact that it could be one of the earliest symptoms of colon cancer.
Moreover, constipation makes one feel bloated, uncomfortable, and disinterested in regular activities of life. In this scenario comes the book Dr. Poop’s 30-Day Gut Reset published by You Will Rock Books. The 96-page volume draws heavily on the principles of Ayurveda, one of the oldest healing systems that has origins in India. In the West Ayurveda is recognized as an complementary system of medicine.
Introducing the book the author is quick to place the disclaimer that this volume is meant as a guide and not medical advice or prescription. “The author and publisher are not licensed medical professionals, dietitians, or healthcare practitioners,” writes Dr. Poop, a fictional character created for the purpose of this book.
Organized into six chapters, preceded by a detailed introduction about ayurveda and principles covered in this book and followed by a section titled ‘The final flush,’ the book ends with a one-page bibliography with references/ further reading material for those interested to diver deeper into this science. The first chapters introduce the readers to a four-week ritual which is aimed at making the readers’ bowel habits easy, regular, and comfortable.
Peppered with nuggets of ancient wisdom Dr. Poop’s 30 Day Gut Reset, is a handy guide for those suffering from constipation to change lifestyle and get into a regular habit. This guide helps avoid unnecessary supplements, powders, and banks on healthy lifestyles and habits to improve bowel movements.

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