Gisela Hausmann

An interesting memoir told in snippets of the author's life, about times they've overcome fear in one form or another. I enjoyed reading each story, and the takeaway the author had at the end of them. I thought the chapter breakdowns made sense, and if you're only interested in certain stories, it would be easy to skip right to those chapters. Although, I'm not entirely sure if I would personally label this as a self-help book. If inspirational stories are your preferred form of motivation to help make yourself better, then this would be perfect for you. If you're looking for a traditional self-help style book, this isn't that. Anyone who enjoys biographies is sure to enjoy this!… (mehr)

I picked this book up to see if it was appropriate to gift my preteen grandson, and got caught up in the story. Yes, it might be considered YA, but I see it entertaining younger and older readers as well. Heck, having read extensively for three-quarters of a century, I liked it.

It’s fast, easy reading, with a well organized, leading plot to keep the reader involved — the author’s writing skills making for a pleasurable experience.

If you enjoyed Watership Down by Richard Adams, and see a lighter bit of current underhandedness thrown in as a plus, you can’t help but to enjoy this book.

The fictive premise of the story is a squirrel nation, the Sciurus States, that develops after humankind pretty much did themselves in. Creature’s natures being not unlike our own, the squirrel nation reaches a stage of development that mirrors humanity teetering on the brink. There are functional differences of course, like deer being used as shipping transport, but some human gadgets were left that the squirrels learned to make use of. Mimicking human advancement has its hazards though, with pistachio gold nugget worshipers afoot. Are these clever creatures able to work out their problems before their nation succumbs in turn?

To my mind, this is a must read for youth, and might even help some of us older folks.



A snippet follows, as an example of the story telling.

[Pondering a quandary relative to the Tribe Council’s activities, Great-Grandpa, a direct descendent of President Theo Roosquirrel, has climbed midway up the Big Oak for a better look at the goings on in Nuttington.]

“Whoa! Great-Grandpa squinted his eyes. Down below he saw council squirrel Dick Hushsquirrel crossing the plaza, walking and talking with Steve Lobbynut. Steve Lobbynut, that greasynut!

In Great-Grandpa’s opinion Steve Lobbynut was not to be trusted. A few years ago, a reliable source had told him that Steve Lobbynut was involved in getting The Council to fund Nuttington Bowl while at the same time cutting the schools’ elementary scrolls exchange program.

Maybe Lobbynut was trying to cut another deal?

And, Dick Hushsquirrel? Aside from his involvement with whatever was going on at the Smartbox center, council squirrel Dick Hushsquirrel was also pushing the idea that the tribes’ benefits, free Nuttateria food and basic education, should be cut back. Hushsquirrel did not want the Nuttateria to be open all day, as it had always been.

And, here he was, ingratiating himself to Steve Lobbynut, which seemed to suggest that Lobbynut and Hushsquirrel were working on some kind of deal.”… (mehr)

This was an amazing book, filled with inspiring real life stories. I only only become aware of it when the author tweeted me, telling me that she was reading my debut novel, In the Middle. I then purchased her book out of respect for a fellow author. I started reading it the next day and I'm glad that I did purchase it and read it.

Starting with a great opening, Naked Determination is divided into forty-one short chapters, each one containing a life lesson that the author learned during the course of her life.

I wouldn't compare it to another self-help books because it doesn't read like one. Instead, reads like an autobiography and the lessons that the author learned in her life are very universal.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels uncertainty about what they should do with their life. Reading it will give them the courage to follow their dreams.… (mehr)