Tag: nonfiction

Book Review: Higher Connections: Humor and Inspiration from a Certified Public Pothead

March 24, 2023

Title: Higher Connections: Humor and Inspiration from a Certified Public Pothead
Author: Eric Right and Alexandra Right
Genre: Nonfiction; Addiction; Memoir
Year Published: July 27, 2022

Date Started: March 15, 2023
Date finished: March 19, 2023

This book is about the author, Eric Right, and his addiction to cannabis. The book was written while he was high on cannabis in which he was able to reach areas of thoughts that he wouldn’t be able to reach if he’d not been high. Right covers a few areas of life from raising a family to religion, to science, to questions about who we (humans) are. It’s a thought-provoking book with included research.

The topics Right touched on were interesting. He seemed to delve deeper into religion than anything else, but it’s understandable because of his upbringing. It makes sense that that’s at the forefront of his insights. I just found it unfortunate that he’s only able to delve that deep when high because it’s impossible to truly communicate with others about these insights in that state.

I’m glad to have read this book. I like learning about people and why they make the life choices they do. Right sounds like someone who’s intelligent and caring. It sounds like what lead him to the use of cannabis was his environment. He was being pulled in too many directions and found cannabis to be something to hold him together. It was also his way of escape.

This book was well written with a touch of humor. Aside from learning about Right and his life on cannabis, I also learned a lot about the effects of cannabis in how it distorts the mind (how it’s one-sided). It seems to jump start a part of the brain that’s been dormant in some people. If not done already, more studies should be done on the positives and negatives of this drug long term.

Who should read this book: Anyone interested in learning about a person’s path into using cannabis.

Book Review: From Utopia to the American Dream

March 11, 2023

Title: From Utopia to the American Dream
Author: John Czingula
Genre: Memoir, Nonfiction
Year Published: October 23, 2021

Date Started: March 2, 2023
Date finished: March 7, 2023

This is a memoir about John Czingula, the author of the book. It follows him through childhood in his home country of Hungary to the United States. The focus on the memoir is John’s ambition to become successful in his endeavors. His father inspired him to be the best and to never give up and that stuck with him.

Through war torn Hungary from WW1 through to WW2, John and his family lived in fear. His father refused to join the communist party and thus John followed in his father’s footsteps in avoiding any confrontation or push to join the party. Communism, as it should be, was not what it really was. On the outside, it looked perfect and pristine, but the reality of it was not so. For John and his family (and a lot of other Hungarians) the party and its belief worked against them. John had a lot of ambitions. There was so much he wanted to do but communism wouldn’t allow him any of his success. He yearned to experience life in America where he’d heard he’d be able to do whatever he wanted without politics stopping him at every point. The way to America was not an easy one, especially during war, but John persevered. He took chances to escape his home country. With some luck he made it to America successfully.

John didn’t live in a dream world. He knew the good and the bad of America, but compared to communism, America was freedom in both mind and opportunities. John’s story is about overcoming fears and never giving up. There were times in his life when things were so bad that he was at a lost, but he didn’t let those moments take him down. He kept going. He became a successful business owner, actor, and pilot. He came from a place where dreams were stomped on to a place where a single idea could create massive success.

I’m so glad to have read John’s story because I can relate to a lot of his experiences. I liked that he looked up to America and saw the beauty of it and the ability to succeed. I see America the same way and it’s a great feeling to know that there are still people out there who believe in this country. Btw, John mentioned goulash a couple of times and it made me crave it (I’m not Hungarian though but have made my own version of it many times and have also had it at a restaurant). Love it when a book does that!

Who should read this book: Anyone who enjoys a memoir about war and overcoming the harshness of communism and realizing what freedom really is.

Book Review: Heaven on Earth: A Simple Reminder of the Everyday Miracles that Happen Around Us

March 11, 2023

Title: Heaven on Earth: A Simple Reminder of the Everyday Miracles that Happen Around Us
Author: Julia McCoy and Rachel Keagy
Genre: Self-help; Christian Inspiration; Memoir
Year Published: February 10, 2023

Date Started: February 14, 2023
Date finished: February 17, 2023

This book is a collection of the author’s real life experiences and how she overcame the struggles within these parts of her life through the help of prayer. Each story is meaningful and also relatable. They’re struggles that each of us have either gone through or know someone close to us who’ve gone through, and even if not, they could possibly be insights into future experiences that might be similar and thus provide some guidance for your future. Knowing about prayer and how to overcome struggles will make things easier. In this book, the author talks about how prayer can lead to miracles, to situations where a better outcome overcomes what could end up being disastrous.

I found this book very insightful. Some of the stories touched me such as the birthing story and the barn on fire story. I liked how the author used prayers to help her through these times and how the prayers came through in the form of miracles. It just goes to show how powerful prayer can be in both possibly making the situation better and also provide peace of mind or a quiet calm. Even if you’re not a believer in miracles, you can learn to use prayer during difficult times of your life and ask for guidance or help. You don’t have to feel like you’re going at it alone, and you don’t have to pray to a higher God. Find a method that you feel comfortable with and use it to bring you a better outcome.

This is an excellent book for inspiration and hope. Again, even if you’re not a believer of faith, you won’t be disappointed in this book. There is something to learn from it.

Who should read this book: Anyone looking for inspiration, hope, and just anything to help pick you up when you’re feeling at your lowest.