TheRicanReader

Book Review: Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday As someone who has been studying the virtues of Stoicism for a couple of years now, Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday continues to be an invaluable guide as I continue my journey of seeking ancient wisdom and personal growth. This is a book that I read on an annual basis and always walk away with new and deeper insights into how unchecked Ego can derail even the best intentions, stifle growth, and weaken the very virtues that lead to success.    The book is divided into three sections—Aspire (Explores how Ego can negatively impact when you are setting goals and ambitions), Success (Once you have attained success, this is where Ego can be its most dangerous, for one must guard against becoming arrogant or complacent, losing sight of what got you where you are.), and Failure (We all fail at some point, many of us more than once. It is here where Ego sees your weakness and seeks to undermine you with self-blame, self-doubt, denial, and...

Randy Schwantz’s How to Get Your Competition Fired (Without Saying Anything Bad about Them) is a masterclass in competitive sales, offering a fresh, insightful approach to winning business by driving a wedge between prospective clients and their current service providers—without negative tactics. As a former business development/sales executive, the book's core strategy of focusing on delivering proactive, exceptional service, highlighting your value over the incumbent's resonated with me. Schwantz emphasizes the importance of thorough homework before every prospective client meeting —understanding the client’s needs and the incumbent’s shortcomings is essential. Doing this puts you in a strong position to offer better solutions. Failing to do this is a non-starter if you want to unseat your competition.  The book is packed with actionable, ethical strategies, making it an essential read for sales professionals aiming to win through excellence rather than badmouthing the incumb...

Review of  James  by Percival Everett Have you ever read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? I haven’t. Growing up in the deep South, it never really caught my interest. But James by Percival Everett is a different story altogether. This reimagining, told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved character, is unforgettable. It’s no surprise it was named a New York Times Best Book of the Year so far for 2024 and hailed as a masterpiece by The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Esquire, and W Magazine, among others. And with Steven Spielberg set to direct the film adaptation, it’s clear that James is making a significant impact in the literary world.  The story kicks off with Jim learning that he's about to be sold, separated from his wife and young daughter. Driven by desperation, he decides to run. Huck still appears in the narrative, but this time Jim’s journey takes center stage. As a reader, you feel like you’re right there with him, dodging slave catchers, foraging for food...

Jesmyn Ward, a MacArthur Fellow and two-time National Book Award winner, proves once again why she is one of contemporary literature's most powerful voices with her latest novel, Let Us Descend. In this harrowing yet beautifully written masterpiece, Ward delves deep into the horrors of slavery, offering a fresh perspective that resonates on a visceral level. Many books have tackled the dark theme of slavery, but Ward sets her reimagining apart by focusing on the inner life of Annis, a young enslaved girl sold by her white slave-owning father. As Annis travels from the plantation fields of the Carolinas, through the New Orleans slave markets, and finally to a Louisiana sugar plantation, Ward immerses us in Annis's suffering. Through memories of her mother, lost love, and tales of her African warrior grandmother, Annis finds strength to endure her unimaginable journey. Ward’s vivid portrayal of Annis's pain and resilience is both haunting and unforgettable. The audiobook, nar...

Book Review:  Nuclear War: A Scenario  by Annie Jacobsen Annie Jacobsen is known for her meticulous research and compelling storytelling, and  Nuclear War: A Scenario  is no exception. Jacobsen, a renowned investigative journalist and bestselling author, has a track record of diving deep into the most harrowing corners of modern history, including the inner workings of secret government programs and military operations. Her ability to uncover hidden truths and present them in an engaging narrative is evident in this chilling exploration of nuclear armament. Nuclear War: A Scenario  takes readers to the heart of one of the darkest and most terrifying realities imaginable: the potential for nuclear war. Jacobsen's dogged research, which includes dozens of exclusive interviews with military and civilian experts, former cabinet members, military leaders, and those involved in nuclear response plans, lays bare the frightening reality of the ticking time bomb scenario...

Book Review:  Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz, Narrated by Scott Brick Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for providing this book for review consideration. This review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, their publishing company, or anyone connected with the book or author. Review: My review encompasses both the author's work and the narration by Scott Brick. This is my second Orphan X novel narrated by the ever-engaging Scott Brick, and once again, he delivers a stellar performance. In The Lone Wolf, former government assassin Evan Smoak, also known as Orphan X or the Nowhere Man, faces an unusual task. He is called upon to look for his half-brother's daughter's missing dog. His little niece, unaware of her connection to X, seeks him out because she believes he can find anything or anyone. This is not the typical life-or-death mission X is used to, but how can even a hardened assassin turn down the pleas of a little girl, es...

Thank you NetGalley and Pen and Picture Publishing for providing an advance copy of the audio and ebook for review. All opinions are my own.  "The New Bad Thing" by Michael Ebner has inexplicably garnered rave reviews, with many praising it as riveting, engaging, exciting, action-packed, a thriller, and a page-turner. I might have agreed if I could have stomached enough of it to see if these reviewers were correct. Unfortunately, I couldn’t. The book starts off promisingly with a gripping terrorist attack at a Paris hotel, setting up what seems to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride. But then, Ebner makes the fatal mistake that too many authors do—resorting to lazy, harmful stereotypes. He dives headfirst into the tired trope of depicting Black characters as mere muscle for their "master's" whims. One of the main characters, Roman, has Black bodyguards. Predictably, one is described as a hulking, slow, and dim-witted figure, untrustworthy enough that he must wear ...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage now, it has become the focal point of technological advancement with industry giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others vying for supremacy. In this landscape, Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of the pioneering AI company DeepMind, delivers a sobering assessment of our AI-drive world. His urgent warning about the unprecedented risks posed by emerging technologies is both informative and unsettling.  Here is my take on the book and authors writing: The Book:  1. The phone is ringing, pick it up. This is an insightful wake up call that we all must answer. Suleyman’s exploration serves as a wake-up call. Humanity stands at an inflection point, where the fast-paced narrative reveals sobering facts about AI- what’s happening today, not decades away.   2. Suleyman posits that we’ve evolved beyond Homo sapiens. We’re now Homo technological - a fusion of human, technology, and synthetic biology. This combination deman...

As I continue my exploration into the philosophy and teachings of Stoicism, came across this gem of a book by James Harris on Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Seneca, better known as Seneca the Younger, On The Shortness of Life written to his father-in-law Paulinus. Harris adapts Seneca's moral essay for the contemporary reader.  Here is my take on the book.  Overview: James Harris distills Lucius Seneca’s timeless wisdom into accessible language for today’s readers. In this sobering exploration of life’s brevity, Seneca emphasizes four key principles which I am working to incorporate into my own life:  1. Embrace Time: Recognize life’s fleeting nature and make intentional choices. 2. Study Philosophy: Seek wisdom to enrich your existence. 3. Avoid Distractions: Cut through the noise; focus on what truly matters. 4. Live Fully: Seize the day; discard trivialities. Harris’s Writing Style: 1. Balanced Approach: Harris maintains fidelity to Seneca’s prose while ensuring...

  I am not a Paw Patrol fan; I think the concept and stories dumb down the reading experience. That said, 3, 4, 5-year-olds love it, why, only a child's mind can know.    The book is five compact stories written by 3 authors.    Why this is important: I think the entire Paw Patrol enterprise shortchanges young readers. The stories, as usual, is about the saving of hapless, dumb witted town folks by Ryder, the super, privileged looking kid, and his mighty trusted pups. Really, give me a break. Oh, I digress. Don’t let your little one start with any of the books, movies, TV series, or games. If they have, work to break them from this dribble. If I could give this book, like all the others, zero stars, I would.