Category Archives: Parenting/Families
The Four Hats of Leadership: Be Who Your People Need You to Be by Drake E. Taylor
Reviewed by Dianne Woodman
Drake E. Taylor, an officer in the United States Air Force, advocates four types of hats that will help individuals become effective and successful leaders. The Preface is an excellent tool for drawing readers into The Four Hats of Leadership: Be Who Your People Need You to Be. The four types of hats are The Farmer’s Hat, The Drill Instructor’s Hat, The Psychologist’s Hat, and The Self-Care Hat. Taylor does an excellent job of providing an analogy between a farmer’s job and that of leading a team of people, describing the role of when it is appropriate to use the drill instructor’s hat in a civilian environment, the value of the psychologist hat and ways to help people with their emotional well-being, and the importance of the self-care hat for a leader’s mental health.
Bound by My Choices: How a Death Nearly Broke Me But the Navy Saved Me by Keshawn A. Spence
Reviewed by Timea Barabas
This illustrated memoir is a modern fairy tale of how a troubled young boy managed to overcome the many obstacles thrown his way and how he continues to do so as an adult. Keshawn A. Spence claims that he is bound by his choices, but as his story unfolds, the opposite message seems to emerge, one of freedom and possibilities.
Bound by My Choices is mostly rooted in the childhood of the author, focusing on the influence of the external factors over his life. The book debuts with a series of photos immortalizing some of the most important events throughout his life, but also some that are precious precisely because they mirror the nakedness of real life. So, ever since the beginning, the intention of the author to create an intimate bond with the reader on his journey of self-discovery is quite clear.
The Day Momma Made Me Dance by Patrice Brown
Reviewed by Veronica Alvarado
As any parent will attest, deciding how best to properly discipline a child is far from easy. It is truly a daily struggle and requires a careful mix of patience, sternness, and most importantly, love. In her new picture book, entitled The Day Momma Made Me Dance, author Patrice Shavone Brown offers her own perspective on the correct way to discipline one’s children.
Brown comes to this book with years of perspective and first-hand insight. A self-described visionary, motivational speaker, and go getter, Brown is also the single mother of two children. Immediately from the dedication, she positions her underlying viewpoint for the project: “A mother is strong when her children are weak, a mother stands when everyone else sits, and a mother loves unconditionally from the beginning of birth to the end.” This philosophy of tough love resounds throughout the book.
Marriage: Divine Design or Devilish Deception by D.E. Christian
Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb
With all of the sin and corruption in this world, this veil of tears, it’s often difficult to avoid being tempted by desires of the flesh. The Bible is the best guide, many people believe, to aid us in avoiding the pitfalls we daily face, and to help us from succumbing to temptation and sinning. Marriage is one of the holiest of institutions, and it is a covenant not to be entered into lightly, so it is fitting that there are many books written about this subject, and about how to avoid being divorced from one’s spouse and having premarital sex. One of the latest examples of this type of book is the short treatise by D.E. Christian, Marriage: Divine Design or Devilish Deception. Any book or treatise, sermon, hymn, scripture verse, etc., that aids us from sinning is worthwhile to know about, read, and learn from, so if you’re looking for a way to help boost your faith and learn more about the importance of marriage and how to avoid being deceived by temptation, then this is a book you ought to check out.