Book Review: Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Katie January 9, 2015 0 Comments

I definitely have an anxious brain. I worry and panic over things that I shouldn’t need to worry about. A lot of times I have to tell myself to calm down because I fear I may make myself sick – worrying about the silliest things. I am always looking for ways to try and help myself deal with this, which is why I chose to check out the book Rewire Your Anxious Brain.  The book recommends that you not try anything alone and work with a professional while working on the ideas presented in the book.

The book contains a lot of information about the brain to help you figure out how and why these things are happening to you.  There are exercises throughout the book to help you figure out what is going on in your head and what your end goal is.

This book left me with a lot of new thoughts about myself and how I think. It was definitely an interesting read, and full of very detailed information about the brain.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Do you ever wonder what is happening inside your brain when you feel anxious, panicked, and worried? In Rewire Your Anxious Brain, psychologist Catherine Pittman and author Elizabeth Karle offer a unique, evidence-based solution to overcoming anxiety based in cutting-edge neuroscience and research. In the book, you will learn how the amygdala and cortex (both important parts of the brain) are essential players in the neuropsychology of anxiety. The amygdala acts as a primal response, and oftentimes, when this part of the brain processes fear, you may not even understand why you are afraid. By comparison, the cortex is the center of “worry.” That is, obsessing, ruminating, and dwelling on things that may or may not happen. In the book, Pittman and Karle make it simple by offering specific examples of how to manage fear by tapping into both of these pathways in the brain. As you read, you’ll gain a greater understanding how anxiety is created in the brain, and as a result, you will feel empowered and motivated to overcome it. The brain is a powerful tool, and the more you work to change the way you respond to fear, the more resilient you will become. Using the practical self-assessments and proven-effective techniques in this book, you will learn to literally “rewire” the brain processes that lie at the root of your fears.

Book Review: Graffiti South Africa

Katie January 9, 2015 0 Comments

Graffiti South Africa focuses on 3 of the areas in South Africa – Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg and their resident graffiti artists.  The book is filled with photography of beautiful graffiti. I always find graffiti to be fascinating because I know if I had a spray can I couldn’t do anything but maybe some drips from not knowing how to properly use it. The fact that these artists can use spray paint to paint what could be considered masterpieces is amazing. It was also interesting to read about the changes with graffiti over the years and how many artists (or “writers”) are still doing it. There are also interviews with the writers letting you know a little bit about their style and what got them into graffiti. (Graffiti is a weird word I am realizing, now that I’ve typed it so many times!)

Very interesting read and an even more interesting look at some of this art. So amazing!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the book

In a visual feast, hundreds of vibrant images showcase the work of South Africa’s most influential graffiti artists, which will entertain and inspire graffiti enthusiasts and art fanatics all over the world. Selective interviews with major graffiti personalities reveal their passions and inspirations and cover all aspects of the movement, creating a true representation of its evolution. Initially unknown for its graffiti scene, South Africa has now become a prime destination for many renowned international graffiti writers. From underground tunnels and abandoned buildings to train yards and townships, local writers, each with their own distinct style, spread their work across the nation. Now, for the first time ever, the global spotlight can fall on these talented artists.

Book Review: Hit

Katie January 7, 2015 0 Comments

This book is about Sarah, a high school student who has received a full scholarship to Mills College for Girls. Her parents are eager to have her attend, but now she is thinking maybe she should go to UW.  This all comes after her school gets a student teacher from UW – that Sarah has taken a liking to. Sarah believes that the teacher is into her too and since he is her poetry teacher, writes a poem declaring her feelings for him.  As she is heading off to school and to the bus – after refusing a ride from her brother who would get her to school too late – she drops the note and as she heads back into the crosswalk to retrieve it a driver who is not paying attention hits her. She ends up airlifted to the hospital in need of immediate brain surgery.

Driving the car? Mr. Haddings – the student teacher!

The book alternates chapters between Sarah’s point of view in the hospital and Mr. Hadding’s point of view in the hospital waiting room, debating confronting Sarah’s family, etc.  The book is only 3 days worth of their lives, but it seemed like so much had gone on.

SPOILER ALERT

Unfortunately, this is one of those books that I say “didn’t have an ending”.  I mean, it ended, obviously because I’ve finished it and am writing this review – but I didn’t feel like it gave me any closure with the whole situation. I won’t go in to too much detail.

I really enjoyed this book, but would have liked it more if there was an ending I was more satisfied with. It was well written, a quick read, and I felt connected to all of the characters.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

About the Book
After receiving a full-ride scholarship to Mills College for Girls, it appears Sarah’s future is all laid out before her … that is until she walks into a poetry class led by Mr. Haddings, a student teacher from the nearby University of Washington. Suddenly, life on the UW campus seems very appealing, and Sarah finds herself using her poetry journal to subtly declare her feelings for Haddings. Convinced Mr. Haddings is flirting back, she sets off for school in the rain with a poem in her back pocket—one that will declare her feelings once and for all.

Mr. Haddings has noticed Sarah’s attention; the fallout from any perceived relationship with a student is too great a risk, and he has decided to end all speculation that morning.

But everything changes when Mr. Haddings feels a thud on his front bumper when he glances away from the road, and finds Sarah in the street with blood pooling beneath her.