And West Is West

This excellent, fast-paced novel, which won the Barbara Kingsolver Pen Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, tells its larger story of government and financial corruption through engaging, unique characters. In this twisty tale, the reader experiences how easy it is for a moral individual to become a cog in a corrupt organization's schemes. And how quickly that same individual can become a victim the Powerful want to destroy.

The main characters are Ethan, a "quant" who writes software to make billions for his Wall Street firm without adding any value to society, and Jessica, a US Army sergeant who remotely pilots war drones that drop bombs on Somalia. The book moves back and forth between their stories, all the while maintaining your fascination with both. Wall Street and the US Army drone program would be interesting enough settings on their own, but the plots expand to include the international art world, the US prison system, the Nevada desert, a dysfunctional wealthy family, an aging hippy couple, and more. The author navigates these diverse worlds with ease. Each character, place and situation is believable, interesting, and memorable.

I highly recommend this superbly written book. At little more than 300 pages, it's a swift, engrossing read that leaves you thinking about the real issue that faces us all: if an individual can't change a corrupt system, how do they live a moral life?

The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives

I absolutely loved this book. Theresa Brown is a gifted writer. Not only is she a nurse, but she has a PhD in English and is a former university English professor. By the time I finished the book, I felt I not only knew her intimately, but also her patients.I am a retired nurse and a former nursing professor, so when I read the details of her 12 hour shift, I could relate to all that she did. However, I don't think you would need a medical background to feel like you were right there with her with every decision she made and every task she performed. The book is entertaining in that it gives a real feel for what decisions nurses must make on a typical day in the hospital.It not only covers routine tasks she performed, but the emotional toll that nursing requires and the responsibility nurses have for being an advocate for a patient. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Skylanders SuperChargers Official Strategy Guide

One of the best versions of game guides that I've seen in a while for game strategy! It gives the stats for the vehicles and the characters as well as strategy recommendations for using them in gameplay. It has the traditional well colored pages that I have come to expect with this games book. The maps appear to be a little vague but are still very helpful. There are some key differences to expect with this version of Skylanders that are new to this version and this guide is helpful in explaining those.
THIS BOOK HAS A FREE E GUIDE CODE FOR ANY WEB ENABLED DEVICE AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

Madden NFL 16 Official Strategy Guide: Standard Edition (Prima Official Guide)

I would recommend this to this to anyone. It covers the new draft champions mode in Madden 16. It will also give you a breakdown of what attributes do as well as which positions you want to value each attribute which will help those new to Madden as well as those who are not.

This book also has many plays to give your offense and defense a head start , these plays are very effective on both sides of the ball and you will an edge on your competition with these as well. Memorize or refer back to these plays and make your own adjustments to fit a scheme that you create around them as well , this has helped out a lot. You will love some of the newer plays in madden 16 as well.

If you play MUT ( Madden Ultimate Team) it will also give you some help there as well. A well rounded book that covers fantasy , draft champions, attributes, top plays in madden 16 , MUT and more! This book is one that I trust and have gained a lot from.

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides)

Initially I thought this book wouldn't be relevant to me since I didn't consider myself a "violent" communicator. A few pages into the book however, it became evident to me that despite my easy-going nature, I had much to learn about communication. Dr. Rosenberg identifies learned communication that disconnects us from each other and is at the very root of violence. He then offers a simple yet powerful 4 step model that leads to respectful and compassionate communication. One catch - while the model is simple, it can be challenging to apply, especially when we're upset. That's because most of us have learned to blame others when we're upset and it's hard to unlearn this behavior. However, use of the model deepens our awareness and it becomes very clear how destructive our habitual knee-jerk reactions are to both ourselves and others. The Nonviolent Communication model helps us to become conscious and choose to respond differently - that is in ways that are more likely to lead to positive and satisfying outcomes for everyone. If you'd like to transform your relationships, for example: learn how to really listen to others while not taking anything you hear personally (what a gift!), learn how to give and receive in ways that are deeply gratifying, and much more, this is a must read. Also, this model is applicable in all relationship types - perfect for couples, parents, teachers, managers, executives, counselors and anyone else interested in relationship building.
On a personal note, this book has been life-changing for me. I have witnessed truly amazing results in all my relationships including one relationship which had been a great struggle for me for many years.

Nichiren

NICHIREN provides a clear, dramatic, and easily accessible history of this "radical" Buddhist priest as he advocated for humanism in 13th century Japan. The artwork is wonderful! The story's tension between the rich and the politically powerful, and the average citizen is analogous to our current society. The government's attempts to subvert Nichiren's efforts, even to the point of plotting his murder, are tempered with the values of loyalty, friendship, and perseverance. The message to embrace one's beliefs throughout hardships and to speak up for justice until victory is achieved, is one many people may find inspiring today. I am looking forward to the sequel from the Sado years on!

Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World and Might Do So Again

Chilled is one of my favorite types of books. It deals with a subject that, until I opened the book, I didn’t even know I was interested in. Few things in the house seem more boring than the lowly refrigerator, it just sort of hums along, keeping things cold, and holding up the household messages. And yet, as Tom Jackson shows, it can trace its lineage back further than even the most dedicated genealogist. Finally, modern civilization is only possible with inexpensive and ubiquitous refrigeration.