The Power of Positive Words

The Power of Positive Words: What You Say Makes a Difference

Author: Stan Toler

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Length: 192 Pages








About the Author
For many years, Stan Toler served as vice president and instructor for INJOY, John C. Maxwell’s Institute for training leaders to make a difference in the world.

Words Play a Role in Our Success or Failure
Our words are more than just what we speak. Rather, our words play a significant role in our outcomes toward success or failure.

Mr. Toler has written a fascinating book about the importance of words and how they have shaped our past and can affect our lives in both positive and negative ways.

The author tells about many famous speakers who have used positive words to communicate with people and make a difference in the world. He also explains the importance of silence and listening. Even though this is a book about positive words, Mr. Toler warns readers about the destructiveness of negative words.

This is not a strongly Christian book, but the author uses the final pages of the book to teach the reader how to have a conversation with Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father.

My Thoughts
I found this book inspiring and informative. Mr. Toler is an excellent and experienced writer and expresses his thoughts in an organized and insightful manner.

I really enjoyed reading one story after another about how the power of words can change situations in a positive or a negative way. I also found the chapter about the importance of silence and listening very interesting. 

We can all benefit from thinking about the words we use. Knowledge and words are powerful. This book will give you a practical background and guide for the use of positive words and how they make a difference.


MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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Los Angeles Central Library Fire 1986

The Library Book

Author: Susan Orlean

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: October 16, 2018

Length: 336 Pages










About the Author
Susan Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. She is the author of seven books, including Rin Tin Tin, Saturday Night, and The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Academy Award–winning film Adaptation.

Fascinating History of the LA Public Library
This true story begins on April 29, 1986...the day of a devastating fire at the Los Angeles Central Library. Susan Orlean investigates a mystery that has never been solved: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library...and if so, who?

Ms. Orlean shares extensive research in this riveting book about the history of the library, the library architecture, the library employees, library patrons, the library culture and the accused arsonist, Harry Peak.

My Thoughts
I worked as a school librarian for many years, so the title of this book piqued my curiosity. The author tells of her childhood love of reading and her frequent visits to a public library in her neighborhood. She wrote this book as a tribute to libraries and the important role they play in our society.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and that is certainly the case with this book. In her quest to investigate the library fire, Ms. Orlean traces the history of the library back to 1926. She explores the library culture and the personalities of the people who held leadership positions at the library and the librarians who spent their days performing the duties required to serve the library patrons. She investigates the challenges the library has faced in recent years and shares her thoughts about the future of the library.

The author can't understand why anyone would intentionally start a fire in the library. She is not convinced that this was actually a case of arson. However, she admits that this is probably a mystery that will never be solved. Harry Peak, the main suspect in the arson case, was arrested but released because of lack of evidence. He later died of AIDS.

I found this book extremely informative, enlightening and even entertaining. The author did an amazing job mixing the intrigue of the fire mystery and the more unremarkable history of the library.

I believe this book will be on the shelves of many libraries and all library enthusiasts will devour the pages and be hungry for more. Highly recommended!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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Confessions Of A Book Blogger

I would like to share the method that I have developed to choose books to read and review. I wish I had time to read every book that attracted my attention, but that is not possible. I have developed the following method that works for me and I would like to share it.

Contacts From Authors And Publicists

Over the past several months, I have read and reviewed quite a few books from independent authors and book publicists.  Unfortunately, I feel like a kid in a candy store when I get these requests. I accept more than I can read in a reasonable amount of time. I have a terrible case of the guilties each time I look at the books that I have not read yet.  I have decided NOT to accept anymore books in the mail. I will accept books from authors if they can send them in PDF or MOBI format so that I can read them on my Kindle.

My Passions
I have identified the following subjects that I am passionate about. These are subjects that I will base my book selections on in the future.

• Christian Living
• Entrepreneurship
• Social Media Marketing
• Children's Picture Books (especially children's books for the Kindle)
• Self-Help, Psychology, Life Coaching
• Biography and Memoirs

I have never been a big fiction reader.  I remember my first trips to the public library with my family. I went straight to the biography section and searched for "real people" books.  I later majored in social studies with an emphasis in history at college. I have learned that I am a happy camper when I am reading a good non-fiction book.

Choosing Books To Read

My husband recently gave me an Amazon Kindle. I am now totally hooked. I no longer borrow books from the library or visit book stores. This is how I choose the books that I want to read and review;

• I go to Amazon.Com and seach the Kindle Store for books that have been published in the past 30 days.
• I type in the subjects that I am interested in and then notice the top ten best sellers in that category.
• I check the number of reviews that the book has received and then read both the positive and negative comments.
• Many times the Amazon page will show more books on the same subject.  I also check these books out. 
• When I decide on one book that I believe I would like to review, I download the free sample that is provided by Amazon. I also do some research on the author to see if this is really the book that I want to invest in.
• When I make the decision to buy a book, I just click the Purchase button and I am happily reading the book on my Kindle 60 seconds later.

Free Books For The Kindle From Amazon

Amazon frequently offers free Kindle books. I have downloaded many free books in the past several months. The key is to be selective and only download books that really interest you. I have read and reviewed several of these free books and they have been excellent quality. 

Remember, you do not have to have a Kindle to read these free books. You can download the FREE Kindle for PC Application and read books on your computer.

A Happy Booker

I no longer have a huge stack of unread books on my desk. I have found that it is much better to be highly selective in choosing the books that I read and review. I seldom waste my time reading a "bad" book because of the research that I do before I read it. My book reviews are positive because I make it a point to read good books.