Your Book Den

Empowering Communities Through Literacy: Starting the School Year Right

BDAdmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 23:50:41 +0000

As the fresh pages of another school year unfold, we’re reminded of the pivotal role reading plays in shaping young and old minds. Literacy isn’t just a skill; it’s a bridge to knowledge, empathy, and opportunity. But in many communities, this bridge remains out of reach due to a lack of resources or guidance. Thankfully, several organizations stand as beacons, championing the cause of literacy.

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Ages 0-12

100 Backyard Activities That Are the Dirtiest, Coolest, Creepy-Crawliest Ever!: Become an Expert on Bugs, Beetles, Worms, Frogs, Snakes, Birds, Plants and More

$22.76

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Ages 0-12

100 First Words for Toddlers

$5.99

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Ages 0-12

4 Pack Babies Love Learning Lift-a-Flap Boxed Set: First Words, Animals, Colors, and Things That Go (Chunky Lift a Flap)

$24.49

1. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) https://www.rif.org/

Dedicated to inspiring a passion for reading among children, RIF has been making reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life since 1966. They’ve distributed over 422 million books to 129 million children nationwide, establishing the importance of early childhood literacy.

2. First Book https://firstbook.org/

Believing in the transformative power of books, First Book has distributed more than 225 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada.

Altrusa International of Tucson, Inc. is an organization of diverse individuals who serve the community with a focus on literacy, leadership development, and fellowship, which has been instrumental in fostering the love for reading and creativity among young minds.

As part of the Young Authors and Artists Contest, volunteers go to local schools and encourage students from K-12 grade to write a story and submit it to be considered as the winner and presented with a $100 certificate at the Tucson Festival of Books. This initiative not only encourages children to read but also to create, blending literacy with artistic expression in a celebration of young talent.

The importance of literacy for children and adults as we commence a new academic year encompasses the following:

Foundation for Learning: A solid grasp of reading is vital before mastering complex subjects like math or science. Literacy is the bedrock upon which all other academic achievements stand.

Boosting Confidence: Fluency in reading and comprehension isn’t just an academic edge. For children, it fortifies self-esteem and nurtures a learner’s identity. For adults, it unlocks doors to better employment opportunities and an enriched role in their communities.

Empathy and Understanding: Reading broadens our vistas. Through it, diverse perspectives come alive, fostering empathy and a cosmopolitan outlook. Whether it’s a child relating to a fictional character’s emotions or an adult navigating intricate societal discourses, reading beckons us into another’s world.

Lifelong Skill: Beyond classrooms or phases of life, reading is a perpetual ally. It promises unending opportunities for learning, growth, and joy.

Embracing the dawn of a new school year, let’s champion the profound essence of literacy. Pledge support to organizations like the ones mentioned above or local equivalents.

Let’s galvanize our communities, one reader at a time.

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Teens

A Separate Peace

$17.00

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Teens

Aspen (The Dragon Kings)

$14.99

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Teens

Broken Wish (The Mirror)

$18.99

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The Joy of Reading a Printed Book

BDAdmin — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:22:28 +0000

Reading a print book can be a joyful and immersive experience for many reasons. Here are some of the reasons why people enjoy reading print books:

Tangibility: One of the main benefits of reading a print book is the tactile experience of holding a physical object in your hands. The weight, texture, and smell of the pages can all add to the pleasure of the reading experience.
Focus: Reading a print book can help you focus more deeply on the content you’re reading. Without the distractions of digital devices or notifications, you can get lost in the story and fully immerse yourself in the world of the book.
Nostalgia: For many people, reading a print book can evoke feelings of nostalgia and comfort. The experience of flipping through pages and seeing physical bookmarks can bring back memories of childhood reading experiences or favorite books from the past.
Aesthetic appeal: Print books can be visually appealing, with beautiful cover art, typography, and design elements. Holding a well-designed book can be a satisfying experience in itself.
No battery life: Unlike e-books or audiobooks, print books never run out of battery life or require a charger. You can take them anywhere and read them anytime, without worrying about whether you have access to a power source.

Overall, the joy of reading a print book is a personal and subjective experience that can vary from person to person. However, for many readers, the physical act of holding a book and turning its pages can add to the enjoyment and immersion of the reading experience.

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Horror

‘Salem’s Lot

$9.99

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Fiction & Literature

A Column of Fire: A Novel (Kingsbridge)

$10.99

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Genre Fiction

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel

$18.00

The post The Joy of Reading a Printed Book appeared first on Your Book Den.

Great Spring Reading List

BDAdmin — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:52:57 +0000

Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and these books offer readers the opportunity to explore new ideas and perspectives, to reflect on the challenges and joys of life, and to be inspired by the power of the human spirit.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
	This international bestseller is a philosophical novel that tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who dreams of treasure and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The book explores themes of following one's dreams, finding meaning in life, and the power of the universe to guide us towards our destiny.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
	This classic novel is a semi-autobiographical account of the author's own struggles with mental illness. The story follows Esther Greenwood, a talented college student who descends into depression and is institutionalized. The book explores themes of identity, gender roles, and the pressures of society.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
	This novel is set in the 1920s and tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat who is placed under house arrest in a luxury hotel in Moscow. The book explores the themes of love, friendship, and the power of literature to enrich our lives.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
	This non-fiction book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cancer cells were used for scientific research without her knowledge or consent. The book explores the ethical implications of using human tissue for research and the impact that this research had on Henrietta's family.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
	This novel is set in a quiet suburb of Cleveland and follows two families, the Richardsons and the Warrens, whose lives become entwined after the Warrens move to the neighborhood. The book explores themes of race, class, motherhood, and the complexities of human relationships.

Enjoy the spring reading list and happy book shopping.

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Genre Fiction

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel

$18.00

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Genre Fiction

A Man Called Ove: A Novel

$17.00

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Genre Fiction

All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel

$18.00

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How to Start or Join a Book Club

BDAdmin — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:45:27 +0000

Starting or joining a book club is an excellent way to learn more about a topic in a fun and social environment. Here are some pointers on how to do that, whether you’re new to book clubs and want to start one of your own, or if you’re looking for an established group.

Everyone that loves books and reading should consider starting or joining a book club. I have been in a book club for three years now, and I really enjoy the experience that I get from it. Even more than when I am reading my own books, I like to learn about what other people are reading and why they chose that book. It is fascinating to hear how different people interpret the same piece of literature, and there is always something new to be learned.

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Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

A Minute to Midnight (An Atlee Pine Thriller, 2)

$16.99

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Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance)

$29.95

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Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

A Time to Kill: A Jake Brigance Novel

$18.00

Book clubs can be started in many ways. If you already have a friend or two who is interested in reading, you might start with them. Then they will invite you to join them on a regular basis. You can also look for other suggested book clubs online that feature topics of interest to you, as well as people who share your interests and goals. Two popular sites are Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) and Book Riot (www.bookriot.com). You can also join online social networks like Facebook (www.facebook.com) and Twitter (www.twitter.com), where you will find many book club groups ready to accept new members.

Once you are part of at least one book club, consider starting your own group, either by posting a message on the network that features your interests and hobbies, or even finding other people on that specific social media network who might be interested in having a book club you might give a fun name like “Chic Peppers Book Club.” You can do this on Facebook and create a group so you can communicate with each other about the books that you are reading and discussing even when you aren’t meeting in person.

When choosing a book to read, it is important to select something that you will enjoy. That could include a book that you have already read, or one that has been recommended by a friend or in the comments section of another book review. In the book club you can recommend books for the group to read. Your book club can create a reading list and select a book to read and discuss together.

RELATED: Book Review Sites

Be sure to check our article entitled “Book Review Sites” for a short list of sites that review books. You can also do an online search for a list of Top 10 Online Book Reviewing Sites or more specific ones such as Best Christian Book Reviews or Non-Fiction Book Reviews.

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Book Review Sites

BDAdmin — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 22:27:21 +0000

This article will list some popular book review sites online so you can find a perfect read for your next vacation or suggestion for your book club members. These websites will help you choose your next book to read and give you feedback on whether it will make for a good story.

In the past, reviewers were usually called book critics or newspaper editors and they reviewed books to provide the readers with information about what kind of stories they could expect by reading a certain book. However, there have been rapid changes in how people find out about new books. These days, more and more people are turning to online book review sites to find out whether a certain book is going to be a good choice for their next read.

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Horror

‘Salem’s Lot

$9.99

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Fiction & Literature

A Column of Fire: A Novel (Kingsbridge)

$10.99

Quick View

Genre Fiction

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel

$18.00

Online book review sites help you get valuable information about potential books to read and give you a sense of whether a certain book is worth your time and money providing a variety of reviews as well as ratings for the books that are being reviewed. There are also some of these review websites that offer book excerpts for their readers to preview before they decide whether it is worth purchasing.

Here are some of the top book review websites:

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/) tops most lists of online review and recommendation book lover’s sites. This site offers The Best Books Choice Awards, Search and Browse function for authors and most genres, and insightful recommendations.

Publishers Weekly (https://www.publishersweekly.com/) is loaded with information. Reviews, bestsellers, authors, news, and so much more – even job postings.

LoveReading (https://www.lovereading.co.uk/) and LoveReading 4 Kids (https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/) is the UK’s leading book recommendation website. The site caters to audiences around the world.

New York Times Best Sellers (https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/) is an authoritatively ranked list of books sold in the United States, sorted by format and genre.

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Summer Reading

BDAdmin — Wed, 12 May 2021 18:37:13 +0000

Summer is a time to get lost in a good book. There’s no better way to spend a summer afternoon than curling up with a captivating novel. Whether you’re looking for great fiction, self-improvement, or something to escape to, these are a few books that we recommend. We hope this gives you some ideas for your own summer reading list.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
	“Reid’s acerbic send-up of identity politics thrives in the tension between the horror and semiabsurdity of race relations in the social media era. But she is too gifted a storyteller to reduce her tale to, well, black-and-white….Clever and hilariously cringe-y, this debut is a provocative reminder of what the road to hell is paved with.” —O, The Oprah Magazine
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger
	“Eric Berger has followed the exploits of SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk, from its very early days. In Liftoff, Eric relates the many personal accounts collected in one-on-one interviews with Musk and many of his key leaders and associates. He chronicles the frenetic pace of Falcon 1 development and the toll it took on many of the early employees. This is a book that will hold your rapt attention from start to finish.” -- CHARLES BOLDEN, Former NASA Administrator and Four-Time Astronaut
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
	“Thrilling . . . Great Circle starts high and maintains altitude. One might say it soars. An action-packed book rich with character . . . Great Circle grasps for and ultimately reaches something extraordinary. It pulls off this feat through individual sentences and sensations—by getting each secondary and tertiary character right . . . What’s so impressive is how deeply we come to care about each of these people, and how the shape and texture of each of their stories collide to build a story all its own. It’s at the level of the sentence and the scene, the small but unforgettable salient detail, that books finally succeed or fail. In that, Great Circle is consistently, often breathtakingly, sound.” —The New York Times Book Review
His Majesty's Dragon: Book One of the Temeraire by Naomi Novik
	“Just when you think you’ve seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. . . . Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages.”—Terry Brooks “Terrifically entertaining.”—Stephen King
Journey of the Pharaohs (The NUMA Files) by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
	“This nonstop thrill ride will leave readers breathless.”--Associated Press “Fast-paced, nonstop fun. Cussler fans will gobble it up.”--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Lively. . . The twist ending fits neatly into the Cussler canon. Series fans will be pleased.”--Publishers Weekly

Enjoy the summer reading and happy book shopping.

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Mystery Books to Pick Up When You Want a Page-Turner

BDAdmin — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 17:54:31 +0000

Who doesn’t love a good mystery?

Looking for an exciting mystery book? Maybe you need a suggestion for a book club?

Listed below are six mystery books that will keep you guessing.

You’re guaranteed to find something on this list that you’ll enjoy!

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
	"The Girl on the Train is as much about marriage as it is about missing persons" - The New York Times Book Review - 3.5 stars. “The Girl on the Train has more fun with unreliable narration than any chiller since Gone Girl. . . . [It] is liable to draw a large, bedazzled readership.”—The New York Times “Marries movie noir with novelistic trickery. . . hang on tight. You'll be surprised by what horrors lurk around the bend.”—USA Today
Look for Me by Lisa Gardner
	"Gardner has hit another home run." – Booklist – 4 stars. “An utterly absorbing story about troubled families and twisted fates. You won’t be able to put it down—and it will haunt you long after you turn the final page.”—Shari Lapena “A complex crime scene, a missing girl, a ticking clock: no one writes a more page-turning, gut-wrenching thriller.”—Tess Gerritsen
The Likeness by Tana French
	"Gripping, suspenseful, and utterly addictive, this is a winner." – Booklist -4 1/2 stars “[Tana French] aces her second novel. The Likeness [is a] nearly pitch-perfect follow-up to her 2007 debut thriller, In the Woods.” --Entertainment Weekly** “Tana French puts a clever twist on every lonely child’s fantasy of leading a parallel life when she creates an alternate identity for her detective in THE LIKENESS... Cassie is a character — the eternal lost child — you can really care about.” --New York Times Book Review “The writing is glorious, and the characters and drama so compelling” --The Boston Globe*
The Black Widow by Daniel Silva
	"A taut and gripping thriller, with its own unique plot twists and climax." – Kirkus - 4 stars #1 NYT Bestseller #1 USA Bestseller #1 WSJ Bestseller An Amazon Editors' Best Book of the Year
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
	A fast-paced thriller that will keep you turning pages." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review – 4 stars “Imagine drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by morning. That’s the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . . You’ll stay up late reading until you know.” -- People (4 stars) “Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending.” -- Anita Shreve “A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller.” -- Lionel Shriver “An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller. . . . A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot.” -- Library Journal
The Girl Before by JP Delaney
	"Delaney has created an ingenious, fast-paced thriller with characters that leap off the page." — Booklist, starred review – 4 stars “Dazzling, startling, and above all cunning—a pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense.”—Lee Child “The Girl Before generates a fast pace. . . . [J. P.] Delaney intersperses ethics questions on stand-alone pages throughout the book. . . . The single most ingenious touch is that we’re not provided either woman’s answers.”—The New York Times “Immediate guarantee: You will not be able to put this book down. . . . Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will realize that there’s not only more where that came from, but it’s also more thrilling.”—American Booksellers Association

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Thinking About Traveling?

BDAdmin — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 23:48:39 +0000

Spring is here and summer is fast approaching and with more people getting vaccinated I started to wonder about where I would like to go here in the United States or sit back and vicariously travel reading a great travel adventure story. So, I checked out the top selling travel books and found some intriguing ones. And I found many choices that got me planning my next adventure.

Here are 4 books that I found sparked my interest.

Ballparks: A Journey Through the Fields of the Past, Present, and Future by Eric Enders
	If you love baseball and have ever thought about visiting the parks of the Major Leagues, this book is for you. You’ll find histories of the easily recognized stadiums like Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium and the forgotten treasures like Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, plus stadiums of the Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park, the Minneapolis Twins’ Target Field and others. Enjoy hundreds of photos, stories, and stats for these and more than 40 other major league parks through the lens of the fields the players call home.
Smart RV Travel Guide For the Lower 48 States by Ron Samson
	With so many people wanting to travel, but not wanting to get on a plane or stay in a hotel RV’s and travel trailers have become a hot commodity. But where are the best places to go? What is the best route? What can I do and see in each state? This travel guide includes all the RV, State, and National Parks in each of the lower 48 states. Great information on the amenities they offer, cost to stay there, what to see, where to visit, and famous attractions in each of the states. If you are planning a trip in your RV or travel trailer, this is a great resource.
50 States 5000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do by Joe Yogerst
	The travel experts at National Geographic showcase the best travel experiences in every state, from the obvious that we all have heard about to the unexpected. You’ll find national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out of the way museums. Want some fun and unique experiences? You’ll discover the world’s longest yard sale in Tennessee, swamp tours in Louisiana, dinosaur trails in Colorado, America’s oldest street in NYC, and the best place to see sea otters on the central California coast. Get fascinating facts about every state stoking your wanderlust and ensuring the best vacation possible.
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway: An RV Travel Adventure by Heidi Eliason
	Can’t travel yet, but yearning to get away? This book will take you on an adventure with a woman and her dog on a five-year motorhome road trip. Join her as she takes a leap into the unknown, finds a community of friends, and experiences freedom like she had never known. More people are turning to alternative lifestyles such as the van life movement and fulltime RV travel. This book may help you find the courage to jump off the hamster wheel and make a transformative journey of your own.

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How to Start Journaling When You Keep Putting it Off

BDAdmin — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 19:06:18 +0000

Are you someone who wants desperately to journal and get the benefits of it, but actually starting is what is keeping you from doing it? If so, this article is for you! It will provide some simple ways to motivate you to start journaling and keep it up every day.

Start Each Entry with a Prompt

A lot of times the reason people don’t write in their journal more often is because they aren’t sure what to write about. This might be in the beginning where you lack proper inspiration, or you have been journaling for a while but are struggling with writers’ block. Either way, journaling prompts are a wonderful start! They provide questions or statements that you answer in your journal entries, with topics like childhood memories, future goals, and recollecting different things in your life. Give them a try! The “Season For Me” journal series is a great way to start journaling with a weekly prompt to rev up your creative juices.

Use Your Journal Like a Diary

This is a little trick that really does work wonders. Sometimes people get overwhelmed with the thought of journaling because there are so many different types. While each of these journaling types provide more flexibility for you, you might be more interested in just writing how you feel. That is wonderful to do, and it doesn’t have to follow any conventional rules of journaling. Just write in it like you would a diary when you were a kid or teenager. Write to yourself, or write to an invisible person. Do it however you want.

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Journals & Notebooks

Chaos Coordinator: To Do List Notebook

$6.99

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Journals & Notebooks

Dream Plan Achieve: Goal Challenge Planner

$10.95

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Journals & Notebooks

I’M Sewings At Home So I Don’t Need Social Distancing: A practical Sewing Journal To Plan & Record Your Sewing Creations (Quilting, Crocheting, … Notebook For Material Logs, Patterns…

$6.99

Pick the Journaling Time Wisely

When you choose to write in your journal can also become more motivating for you. If you feel more creative and inspired in the morning, then that is when you should write in your journal. On the other hand, some people find that they prefer nighttime writing, or in the middle of the day between appointments or while on a lunch break. If you’re struggling with this, try different times and circumstances, and you will likely find at least one that works best for you.

Find a Better Reason to do it

So, you know you want to journal, have bought all the supplies, but just can’t find the motivation. If this sounds like you, you may just need to find the right reason to do it. Just wanting to journal because of some vague benefits might not be enough. Really hone in on why YOU want to journal, and what you hope to get out of it. Don’t worry about the reasons other people choose to write in their journal. This is you and your experience, so it should really be unique to you.

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How Books Can Guide You to Better Health

BDAdmin — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 23:33:18 +0000

There are so many amazing and inspiring books to choose from if you find yourself in a space of not feeling okay with life, or yourself.

Maybe sometimes all you need is to bury yourself in an enthralling mystery, travel back in time with an historical romantic love story, or lose yourself completely in a fantasy story.

You might find some benefit in books and reading when you do this and often you might be looking for something more to guide you or support you to find a new habit or way of thinking or living.

That’s when the true value of a book comes to light.

How many books on your shelves have you read, put down and picked up again, over, and over for the true value of what they provide in regard to your better health. They are about habits or new ways of living in a positive way.

Take your mindset as an example. It is a pretty complex thing and sometimes you might get caught in the story of growing up as a child. That’s when books like Your Body Keeps the Score are invaluable. This book explains just how much of your emotional journey is stored within your body and how that impacts on your overall wellness and health.

You might not realize how much your thought patterns impact on your sleep, for example. Yet, having a broken and troubled sleep isn’t something anyone wants and so by reading and taking in what is included in a book such as The Sleep Solution, Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It you might finally have a good nights sleep.

Maybe meditation is something you have wanted to master for a long time, and you haven’t known where to start. There are a ton of different methods on the internet and like our cookbook versus online recipe dilemma [include link to other article here], you don’t know where to start.

And yet, the book The Warriors Meditation might be just what you are looking for to teach you how to meditate in a way that relaxes and calms your mind, the way you want it to.

What I love about books is that they are a guide to health all in one place. I can narrow my topic area and easily find a book or books that will give me the guidance and insight into better health that I am looking for.

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Health, Fitness & Dieting

Chair Yoga for Weight Loss: 10 Minutes a Day to Transform: Low-Impact Exercises for Seniors and Beginners

$15.95

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Health, Fitness & Dieting

Essential Art Therapy Exercises: Effective Techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD

$18.99

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Health, Fitness & Dieting

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

$27.00

When I read a book written by an author, it sets off a string of thinking that has me connect with what they are saying and the benefit to health that the information they are sharing has.

Each book containing information that you haven’t understood or don’t have in depth knowledge about is valuable in your life journey.

Take Jay Shetty’s book Think Like a Monk. I’ve been curious, as you might have been too, how monks think and what makes them appear so calm and relaxed all of the time. Wouldn’t you love to unlock that insight to benefit your health? I know I would.

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