Smarts and Stamina – A Book Review

Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person’s Guide to Optimal Health and Performance

Shaar, M. J. & Britton, K. H. (2011).
Positive Psychology Press.

ISBN 0615529682. ISBN-13: 978-0615529684.

Genre: Healthy Living.

Key words: Health habits, Habit formation, Healthy eating, Exercise, Mood, Productivity, Sleep

Author's Web site: http://smartsandstamina.com.

 

Reviewed by Louisa Jewell originally for Positive Psychology News Daily  http://www.positivematters.com/

I have been anticipating Marie-Josée Shaar and Kathryn Britton’s new book: Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person’s Guide to Optimal Health and Performance for several months now and it is better than even I had anticipated.

According to Dr. Liana Lianov of Harvard Medical School, virtually all of the top 10 leading causes of death among American adults are related to lifestyle patterns. Taking this to heart, the authors do not preach about what you ‘should’ be doing to be healthy, or promise if you follow their advice that you will look like Jennifer Aniston in 6 weeks. Their focus is on guiding the reader to improve personal everyday habits to be healthy, and they do this by helping you build your health skills. Their approach is realistic and simple: make small incremental changes to your habits.

The Smarts and Stamina (SaS) Compass Model

The book is based on research on the interaction among the various aspects of good health and intelligently weaves in the research in positive psychology on self-regulation, goal pursuit, and successful change to help people make sustainable change to their behavior. Their approach is guided by the Smarts and Stamina (SaS) Compass which has four points:

1. Sleep
   
2. Food
   
3. Mood
   
4. Exercise

The authors begin with a discussion of four biochemicals; serotonin, dopamine, leptin, and cortisol and how they affect how you feel and subsequently behave. Some biochemicals boost our ability to self-regulate while others can detract. While these biochemicals affect behavior, our habits in the four SaS Compass areas also affect our biochemical levels in our body. Thus all four compass points are mutually reinforcing. For example, physical activity increases serotonin levels and acts as a stress-reliever which contributes to good sleep. Sleep balances all four biochemicals which can curb food cravings and maintain positive emotions. Stronger emotional health contributes to better sleep and so on.

Jogging with a dog

50 Avenues to Good Health
The book is written in a workbook format that offers 50 different avenues to good health with excellent reflective questions, assessments, exercises, and suggestions for changing habits in all four SaS Compass point areas. The intention is not to overwhelm people with 50 avenues. Instead the authors suggest starting with one area and exploring the avenue(s) that works for you. The book is also written so well it is a pleasure to pick up anytime and use it as a reference for years to come.
For each of these 50 avenues, the authors have provided a comprehensive guide for putting it into action, including:

1. Science Says: This section describes the research that supports this avenue.
   
2. Story: The authors share stories of people they have worked with who had problems in this area and then successfully implemented the avenue for good results.
   
3. Build the Skills: The authors then describe how to build skills in this area.
   

• Mindfulness: The authors ask powerful questions here to get people to reflect on what is already working for you in this area. This was one of my favorite parts of the workbook. When I was able to contemplate on what I was already doing well, I actually felt better about myself and it made me think about how I could do more of what I was already doing. This is the first book I have ever read that offers a strengths-based approach to good health. I believe this is what sets this workbook apart from others in a powerful way.
  
• Plan & Execute: Activities that cause you to take action.
  
• Onward & Upward: A final reflection about what can be gained from this avenue that might carry over into other avenues or other aspects of your life.

One of the things I found very helpful was how the authors adapted Carol Dweck’s learning theory of Mindset to how our mindset can affect behavioral change in the health arena. After taking this assessment, I discovered that while I had a growth mindset as far as food went, I had some work to do in the exercise arena.
An Intelligent Resource for Positive Psychology Practitioners As a positive psychology practitioner working with organizations to improve well-being, I am already using the book as an intelligent resource for new ideas to immediately implement with my organizational clients. For example, one of my favorite avenues is ‘Do a Mini.’ This avenue gives several activities people can do at their desk or while at work that gives them an opportunity to have a 10-minute meditation session that can instantly relieve stress and energize them for continued work.

While I love the countless suggestions for my organizational clients, I started to get really excited about using the workbook to improve my own health.

Vegetables at the Farmer's Market

This workbook is a great resource for positive psychology coaches and practitioners who want to help clients achieve optimum health, but it is also a great resource for anyone wanting to be healthier. And now I am off to find a good recipe for oyster and shiitake mushrooms . . . Anyone have a good recipe to share?

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Shaar, M. J. & Britton, K. H. (2011). Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person’s Guide to Optimal Health and Performance. Positive Psychology Press. Available from Amazon and from an eStore (may be easier for international orders).


----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Holiday Gift Books for Kids in Your Life

Three Children's Books
Details Below

Synopses by Denise Cassino

 

I just found some fabulous books for children that are getting rave reviews everywhere! They're Homiedre's boxed set of 3 books: What is Love? What is Friendship? What is Imagination? Here's what one reviewer had to say:

"These excellent books - rich in content and in art - can now be obtained in this boxed set, a box full of love, friendship and imagination just waiting to be consumed by the children whose school exposure to these values is diminishing. .Adding these books to the child's library is not only an enriching experience for the lucky children who own them, but the purchase of this set aids the Channing-Kullijian Foundation and hence to the encouragement of everyone to restore the arts to our schools. Everyone wins - but especially the children who will doubtless place these books on the top of their favorites list!" ~Grady Harp http://bit.ly/oGtRne

The books feature "Children, dressed in soft 'critter outfits' accompany the couplets while cavorting on fluffy clouds set on a sky blue background. This is extremely effective, eye catching and makes a wonderful group read.:

WHAT IS LOVE? Here's a snippet:

'You can find Love in all kinds of places.

In smiles and laughs and all kinds of faces.

It's inside our hands so we can use them with care,

Love is even in the curliest of curly strands of hair.

It's in every single toe from big toe to small,

And then into our dance feet

when we're having a ball!'

WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP? - Various aspects of friendship are explored through the charming use of a little boy and his quiet life-like toy robot. Again, the rhyming text makes this book an ideal group read and the artwork is bold and concise; splendidly executed. Text and illustrations go perfectly together.

'Some friends were made to love,

as others were made to care,

But what all friends have in common,

is knowing how to share!'

WHAT IS IMAGINATION? - A little girl, Petunia and her pet stuffed dog, Patches go about a typical day in a child's life and due to the ability of the little girl and her "pet" the day is livened up in oh so very many ways via the use of their imagination. What a wonderful thing it is to be a child (or an adult, for that matter), with an active and creative imagination! Again, the art work in this book, as with the previous two is rather amazing and simply fun!"

'Well the school day is done, and it was a blast!

Thanks to my imagination, it went by so fast!

But now I must walk, all the way back home,

And see where my imagination, is willing to roam.

So I look at the trees, that are ever so tall.

And can't help to feel, ever so small!'

So don't miss these books - and when you buy them, you'll receive dozens of fabulous downloadable bonuses for you and the children in your life. Click here: http://bit.ly/oGtRne

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Reviewer says, "Historical fiction fans, this book is for you!"

 BETRAYAL

Author: Michele Kallio 

Publisher: IUNIVERSE

ISBN is 978-1-4620-0408-9.

Genre: Historical Fiction. The link to the review on Amazon is
Available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Betrayal-MicheleKallio/dp/1462004067/

Reviewed by Amy Sheldon, originally for Amazon

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. As a matter of fact, I had just finished 'The Other Boleyn Girl', maybe a month before picking up Betrayal. Betrayal can go toe to toe with any historical fiction I've read. I particularly enjoyed the way the story of the two women seperated by centuries, were woven together. Both story lines flowed effortlessly - so gripping. I read the book in two days! I could not put this book down. Can't wait for Michele's next book!

~BETRAYAL is available online at Amazon.com, Amazon. co.uk, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble.com and various other online retailers.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

FLOWERS OF VITRIOL
By JOHN WHEATLEY
HISTORICAL NOVEL
ISBN-13: 978-0956734204
PAPERBACK PUBLISHED BY HULME HALL BOOKS [ www.hulmehallbooks.com  ] £9.99
 E-BOOK FROM AMAZON [£2.13]

Review by DEBORAH GRACE, first published on AMAZON


The year is 1817 and the setting is Amlwch, on the north east coast of Anglesey.
The `blackened mountain and sulphurous air' bear dubious testimony to the town's
status as copper capital of the world and on its streets social strife, borne of
hunger and poverty, threatens to erupt into open violence.


Into this volatile and toxic mix, mine superintendent, Thomas Kendrick, brings
his young bride, Alys, a capricious beauty whose sexually disruptive presence
infects men with a kind of madness. Jealousy, adultery and sexual exploitation
inevitably lead to disaster and make for an intriguing and often menacing tale.


With Anglesey providing the inspiration here, as in his debut novel ('A Golden
Mist'), John Wheatley appears to be doing for this part of North Wales what
Daphne du Maurier has done for Cornwall. In this second novel, the rugged
coastline and baleful influence of the vitriol works provide as much drama as
the characters themselves. Brilliant, brooding and atmospheric!

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

The Winters in Bloom reviewed by Jan Rider Newman

The Winters in Bloom

A Novel by Lisa Tucker (http://www.lisatucker.com/)

Released by Atria Books September 13, 2011

ISBN: 978-1416575405

Genre: Literary

Reviewed by Jan Rider Newman for LitStack (http://litstack.com/?p=1515) and Best Damn Creative Writing Blog

The epigraph that opens The Winters in Bloom, by Lisa Tucker, fits the novel perfectly: T. S. Eliot's "Little Gidding," Four Quartets, arriving where you've begun to "know the place for the first time." The novel is about so many things but mostly relationships between parents and children. It explores extremes of child-rearing—from smothering to abandonment—and the consequences.

Six-year-old Michael is much loved and too well cared for (yes, there is such a thing). The first time his parents let him play in the back yard by himself, he disappears. This felt contrived, especially since he got meningitis as a baby on the only major trip he took with his parents—every time they let their guard down, something dire happens. Nevertheless, Michael's kidnapping sets him, his parents and everyone connected to them free.

 

David and Kyra have been damaged by parents and lovers. Kyra and her sister were abandoned by their mother and ignored by their father. The sisters had only each other until Kyra committed the worst possible betrayal. David had a child by his first wife, Courtney, and the child died. David moved out of their house the day the baby died and divorced Courtney. Yet one wonders whom he really blames.

He's determined never to see another child harmed on his watch. Before Michael was born, David crawled the house on hands and knees seeking potential dangers. Anything that posed a remote potential of harm was eliminated—even going out to school. Kyra teaches him at home.

"He was the only child in a house full of doubt," the novel opens. "The doubt list was always growing, towering above him like the giant boy at his old school, . . . whose name was Paul." Paul "had never done anything to Michael, but his parents doubted that Michael could learn in such an environment . . ." (1). Michael is amazingly patient with his parents. In fact, he's one of the most endearing children in contemporary fiction.

Kyra and David are too well matched—so thinks David's mother, Sandra, who isn't allowed to be too close to him or Kyra or Michael. For one thing, Sandra's house isn't a danger-free zone. Sandra also remained friends with David's first wife.

Kyra vacuums Michael's room every day because David thinks he's allergic to mold spores and dust mites and wants to be "on the safe side."

Part of Kyra knew that the safe side was a chimera, like the pot at the end of a rainbow, but she didn't argue with her husband. She was afraid now, too, now that she understood just how fragile her family's happiness was. . . . A great chasm still separated her from David. . . . They'd lost the inclination to do anything together other than work harder, ever harder, to protect their precious little son (105).

Through the various narrators we slowly learn why David and Kyra are so damaged they carry hovering to extremes, why their relationship is so fragile they stay on the safe side with each other as well and don't share losses never grieved, injuries never forgiven. As they wait for word about their missing son, they gradually remember and release the past.

During the time Michael spends with his kidnapper, he misses his parents and fears doing something that will worry them, yet he finds wonderful moments as well, moments his parents wouldn't allow to happen. Eventually he takes a giant step of self-determination and hopes for the best.

This novel is full of sensitive writing and well-drawn characters. Tucker creates a tension beyond what one expects from a kidnapping story. This is no crime novel. The suspense evolves from the struggle of hearts to free and heal themselves.

Highly recommended.

More about the reviewer:

Jan Rider Newman
janridernew@gmail.com
Beyond Acadia: Reading, Writing, & Living Well ( janridernewman.blogspot.com )
Editor, Swamp Lily Review (swamplily.com)

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Writers' Tricks of the Trade: Carolyn Howard-Johnson gives marketing advice

The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition
By Carolyn Howard-Johhnson
Author's Web Site: www.howtodoitfrugally.com
Author's Sharing with Writers Blog: www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com
ISBN: 97814637743291
Cover Design: Chaz DeSimone
Designer's Web Site: www.chazdesimone.com
Genre: Nonfiction: Writers/How-To/Marketing

Reviewed by Morgan St. James originally for the Las Vegas Examiner

A few years ago I met author, promoter and writing instructor Carolyn Howard-Johnson when she presented workshops at the Las Vegas Writers Conference. We’ve since become friends and follow milestones in each other’s careers.

Carolyn is the author of books that are tremendously helpful, particularly for the writer who must stay on a budget. One of her books, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won’t, is on my own bookshelf with lots of bright orange sticky notes marking passages that I go back to again and again. It is also listed in the bibliography at the back of my new book Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction. As you can tell, I cherish her solid advice.

Her books that relate to the real world

In this tight economy and fierce competition for the readers’ dollars, we need every edge we can possibly find. In Carolyn's new book, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Get Nearly Free Publicity On Your Own Or Partnering With Your Publisher, she relates to the dynamic changes that have occurred over the past few years in the way we do business. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy and delighted to see that one of the people she dedicates this book to is Trudy McMurrin, a very talented editor I had the pleasure of knowing. Trudy influenced the way many writers developed their skills, and her life was claimed by cancer much too soon in 2009 .

Here is why I suggest adding Carolyn’s books to your writers’ library.

She approaches her topics in plain language, something I really like, and fills them with real-world common sense. I do that, in my own books and columns because hyperbole and lofty writing are not the way to teach in my opinion.Give me plain talk any day!

She doesn’t advocate that the author “run willy-nilly” and break the rules of PR (public relations.) Instead, she says as a creative author you can take the rules and turn what might have been the tinkle of bells into the sound of timpani for everyone you want to reach. She further states that the idea that authors can’t promote is anything but the truth, and cites Mark Twain as one of the best at putting himself out there.

There are two big words the author needs to have at the front of their consciousness at all times: branding and networking. In simple language, figure out who you are—your strengths, who you want to reach, how you want them to perceive you which will give them a reason to believe they can’t go one more day without putting your book in their collection. Then network, network, network. The best branding in the world is no good if the message isn’t circulating.

It reminds me of the bit of advice I always spout.

No one is going to knock at your door and say, “I understand you just wrote a book. Please let me buy a copy.” Of course, it could be Aunt Sadie who lives close by because your mother just told her about the book, but that's not reaching your market.

Let the world know what you’re doing and enlist the help of others to spread the word.

The new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter is broken down into well organized sections:

• Section I Getting Started and Getting On with It
• Section II Plunging In: Publicity Basics Now
• Section III Do-It-Yourself and Partner Publicity
• Section IV Promote Your Book by Doing What You Love
• Section V You and the Media
• Section VI Well Traveled, Oft Forgotten
• Section VII Onward and Upward

This book is an absolute treasure trove and with two new books to promote myself, I can’t wait to start marking the pages and putting her sage advice to use.

The release of her new book will be announced in this column, on my blog and in the newsletter. Incidentally, Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a guest contributor for the October issue of the Writers’ Tricks of the Trade Newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to the Writers' Tricks of the Trade blog for posts and newsletters to be delivered to you automatically when published.

~For more information about Morgan St. James, visit www.morganstjames-author.com website or the Silver Sisters Mysteries website. Morgan frequently speaks and gives workshops for published and aspiring writers at conferences and events. Her next appearance will be at Partners in Crime, Sydney, Australia on September 11. Information on her website.

Because of the popularity of Writers' Tricks of the Trade, she has recently added a blog, newsletter and the just-released Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction book., available in paperback, eBook and Kindle. The hilarious third Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas, was also released in August.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Award-Winning Author Mary Green Gives New Frugal Book Promoter Heads Up

The Frugal Book PromoterBy Carolyn Howard-Johnson416 pages
ISBN: 9781463743291
Available in paperback or for Kindle
Also available as an e-book at http://createspace.com/3656422
Author's Web site: http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com

 

 

 

 

 

Everything you wanted to know about book promoting and much

much more., September 25, 2011

Reviewed by

mary greenwood

originally for Amazon

This review is from: The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher. (Paperback)

When I saw the Table of Contents for this promoting bible, I was hooked. There was a chapter on everything I wanted or needed to know. I have written three "How To" books and have had a number of reviews and awards, but I am looking to go to the next level with some fresh new ideas. In other words, I had reached a plateau and did not want to repeat the same old methods.

When I first started reading the book I immediately liked the tone. It was as though the author was in my living room saying: Mary, why don't you try this and maybe you don't want to do this." Her books, like mine, are based on her personal experience. She has done book fairs; she has taught classes and consulted with authors; she has written award-winning books. She is an expert. That is what makes the book so powerful. I have read books that make me feel guilty if I haven't done ten things for my book that day.

Yesterday, I exhibited at a book festival and most of the authors were complaining that they had few sales. I looked up the topic in my new book. The author says "Book festivals are for readers." I knew intuitively that she was right. She goes on to say that these are really networking opportunities for the writers and not that many books are sold. That shift made me feel encouraged rather than discouraged at the book festival's results. Even though I did not sell tons of books, I did meet a lot of people: readers, writers and bookstore owners. I got a few tips and gave a few tips. I reconnected with people I had seen at previous events and got some recommendations for the best venues for future events. The author was spot on.

I also checked the chapter on book awards. I have won a total of 28 book awards for my three books and thought I knew all there was to know about awards and have spoken on the subject. However, after reading that section on book awards, I realized that I was not doing enough publicizing after I won the book awards and I am going to remedy that situation. Another tip I picked up. I am now going to say Mary Greenwood, multi-award winning author, instead of award-winning author.

Of course, I wished I had seen this book when my first book came out, but I can see that this book is useful for all authors, those working on their first book and authors who already have published several books and need some new ideas. I know I will go back and reread a chapter when I am starting a new task such as a press release or am thinking about doing a new blog or sprucing up my website.

I am just starting on my new book about "How to Negotiate With Your Dog" (hint: you don't.) I am going to use The Frugal Book Promoter Second Edition, the whole way. I can't wait to get started!
~Reviewer Green is author of How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :