Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Closer to Consciousness by Alexander Durig

Closer to Consciousness by Alexander Durig

Taking a deep plunge into the furthest recesses of the mind, author Alexander Durig presents a bold and expansive theory of the brain in Closer to Consciousness: The First Strong Theory of Consciousness. Like the unified Theory of Everything that astronomers and physicists so eagerly seek, a unified theory of consciousness is the holy grail for social sciences, and this well-structured tome takes a big swing in that direction.

This eye-opening read begins with an introduction to consciousness and autism, as well as modern-day neuroscience and psychiatric paradigms related to perception and the self. The sociology of autism and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-18T17:16:04+02:00May 4th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Psychology Book Reviews, Science Book Reviews|

Review: As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams

As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams

As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams is a beautifully written, heartfelt, fictional memoir, in which the stories of a lifetime trigger profound reflections on life, love, and death. With unique irony and mastery of the written word, W. Royce Adams questions his own life and life writ large, guiding the reader through an unforgettable journey.

Looking back on his life as an almost 90-year-old man, the author can zoom into his memories in incredible detail, crystallized in time and yet very alive, with a deep sense of direction and perspective, tracing the many trails of his story from […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-07-06T11:12:33+02:00May 2nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Eudora Space Kid: The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! by David Horn

Eudora Space Kid: The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! by David Horn

Expanding his Eudora Space Kid series with another interstellar romp, author David Horn crafts another hilarious and heartfelt adventure in The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! A wild and whimsical story set onboard the AstroLiner Athena means more adventures and mischievous plots by Eudora, a human adopted by alien parents on an intelligence-gathering mission across the stars.

Nothing gets past Eudora onboard her star-crossing home, and whether it is an impossible engineering puzzle to solve, or the personal problems of the highest-ranking man on the ship, she is ready to take on the challenge. However, inventing a foolproof scheme for falling […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-30T17:40:11+02:00May 1st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Prepping for Success by Anmol Singh

Prepping for Success by Anmol Singh

Boldly re-framing and curating ageless wisdom, Prepping for Success: 10 Keys for Making it in Life by Anmol Singh is a creative and concise guide for those seeking an ethical and innovative edge in professional development.

Though the idea of “making it in life” is broadly subjective, this straightforward and easy-to-follow collection of advice will objectively have a positive impact on one’s potential for success and happiness, given the breadth of insight collected here. From self-discipline and the pursuit of joy to honesty, noble values, and purposeful living, the author addresses nuanced and complex ideas with graceful simplicity.

Refreshingly, the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-17T08:21:43+02:00April 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert

Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert

An empowering and dramatic story of romance in deeply troubled times, Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert is an authentic period novel with a fearless female lead. From the novel’s bold opening line to the heartwarming final proposal, this book is carefully crafted by a master of relationships and emotional tension, for a tightly written, heart-pounding twister of a tale.

Genevieve is a precocious and daring young protagonist who refuses to bow to the gender norms of the time, hiding her gender in order to seek out her education. Terrified at being found out, she has a single person to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-19T10:20:46+02:00April 10th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The House on Tyner by Matthew O’Connell

The House on Tyner by Matthew O'Connell

Eerie, surprising, and profoundly emotional, The House on Tyner by Matthew O’Connell is a beautifully written ghost story with the structure of a mystery, plunging the reader into the snowy atmosphere of Nevada’s winters, and into the chilling outcomes of a murder case that challenges the reader’s sense of the rational.

Since losing his wife and children and quitting his baseball career, Jackson retrained as a chef and decided to pursue what once had been his wife’s dream – to leave Napa Valley and open a restaurant on Lake Tahoe. Looking for properties to rent nearby, Jackson stumbles across the […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-06-21T12:22:39+02:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews|

Review: The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan

The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan

Taking readers beyond the pale of comedy, decency, and reality itself, author Cameron A. Straughan delivers a gobsmacking adventure of weird whimsy with The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen. Following the banal yet brain-boggling events of one man’s larger-than-life existence, this collection of loosely-linked vignettes bends the limits of normality in an outlandish spree of storytelling.

The bizarre nature of the world that Straughan has created transcends the lines of farce in some ways, but there is always some strange sliver of reality that draws readers back. The idea of colleagues growing accustomed to Anthony forgetting to wear pants, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-06T16:38:10+02:00April 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Humor|

Review: Jetsam by Tracy Grogan

Jetsam by Tracy Grogan

Death-defying drama and an intimate character portrait make Jetsam by Tracy Grogan an addictive thrill for fans of the Divemaster Ricky series.

Leaving behind trauma and a shocking loss in North Africa, Ricky is eager to start a new job thousands of miles away, and turn a page in her unpredictable life. A three-month break on a luxury yacht seems like a dream job – an impressive salary and a string of cushy dives should be the perfect salve for her aching soul, but peace is not on the ship’s manifest.

As the scope and true expectations of her employment […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-05-12T13:51:31+02:00April 5th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|