Know Your Own Power – Book Review

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Know Your Own Power: Inspiration, Motivation and Practical Tools For Life

by Dr Radha Modgil

Flawless Victory

Life is life, with all its chaos and tranquility, with all its "good" and "bad". Crises, challenges, and changes are bound to strike us at some point in our lives and we can feel frustrated, depressed, despondent, down in the dumps... You have come to a dead end, and it is as if your world is crumbling, burying you deep under the rubble and leaving you utterly helpless. Dr Radha Modgil wants you to know that this is NOT the case. You can rise up, go through those life dynamics, and end up conquering life as your true self.

Know Your Own Power by Dr Radha Modgil is an absolutely wonderful gift for humanity, for those facing hardships and hurdles in life. She writes passionately, affectionately, and empathetically, and I could really feel that Dr Radha deeply cares about the readers. Divided into three major sections: Getting Through, Stepping Up, and Moving Forward, this wisdom-laden, uplifting book is full of practical tips to help readers overcome what life hurls at them. If I have to describe this book in only one word, I'd say "home", because it is something that I will return to again and again... It is a place where you can feel comfort, consolation, and reassurance when life feels harsh, menacing, or hostile. Thank you for writing such a much-needed and incredibly impactful book, Dr Radha! Know Your Own Power by Dr Radha Modgil is a flawless victory!

Have you read Know Your Own Power? What are your thoughts about this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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Earthen Lamps – Book Review

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Earthen Lamps: 60 Parables and Anecdotes to Light Up Your Heart

by Osho

Invaluable Source of Wisdom

It is no surprise at all that Osho is called "the master of masters". His words are mind-blowingly insightful and ethereally heartwarming, flowing deep into the very soul of man. Earthen Lamps is the third book by him that I've read. It consists of 60 stories recounted by the eccentric mystic which will lead you to reach godliness. If you have a thirst for knowing the essence of life, I heartily recommend this book. Osho naman~ 🙏🏻

Have you read Earthen Lamps? What do you think about this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Life Is a Soap Bubble – Book Review

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Life Is a Soap Bubble: 100 Ways to Look at Life

by Osho

An outstandingly beautiful gem crafted by a life master!

Osho is such an indescribable individual. Life Is a Soap Bubble is a book consisting of 100 letters, originally written to his disciple Yoga Sohan, about the very life all of us are in. The wonderfully magical words in these letters will penetrate into the innermost part of your being, waking you up to the reality of life and priming you for the ultimate unleashing of your own potential. I couldn't agree more with llarod r hernaiz's words in their Amazon review of this fundamentally transformative book: "Osho has a special way to take you to the center." Suffused with the Indian mystic's timeless wisdom and incomparable poetry, Life Is a Soap Bubble by Osho is a must-read for those seeking to live their lives to the fullest.

Have you read Life Is a Soap Bubble? What is your opinion about this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely – Book Review

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Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely: 3500 Most Beautiful English Vocabulary Words

by Robin Devoe

I've been trying to supercharge my vocabulary by consuming books on this subject. The year 2024 concluded with me finishing up Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er by Albert B. Squid, which presents one big and fancy word (as the title says) for every day of the year. In the middle of this year, I wrapped up my reading of the lexically luminiferous resource The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain. Now here I am reviewing Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe, which, in a sense, is the ne plus ultra of all such I've read to date.

Why so? Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe lists English words that you would most likely not encounter in everyday life. Here is a selection of random expressions from the book: amaranthine, limerence, oneiric, catachthonian, mansuetude, quiddity, gourmandism, esprit d'escalier, plumigerous, hesternal, zeitgeist, redivivus, encincture, devenustate, and spizzerinctum. On the whole, the definitions are easy to understand, and I like the fact that the author also provides information about etymology, parts of speech, synonyms & antonyms, rarity, obsoleteness, etc., although this doesn't apply to every entry. A tiny number of entries show how to pronounce the words – I kind of wish each and every one had such information; natheless, I realize that it would probably be too massive an undertaking. Hence, I had to use other resources, such as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), to grok this aspect of the vocabulary.

All of these notwithstanding, I have encountered a number of inaccuracies, without which the dictionary would be more outstanding. Here are several examples:

• In the entry for "nanization", "bonzai" should be "bonsai" – a mistake probably caused by the similarity between "bonsai" and "banzai" (another word of Japanese origin). (p. 86)
• As the definition is that of a verb, the word "scintillant" (adjective) should be "scintillate". (p. 118)
• In the entry for "spiracle", "anthropods" should be "arthropods". (p. 125)

All in all, Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe is an absolutely frabjous English resource! I am sempiternally grateful for its existence and wholeheartedly recommend this dictionary to any logophile, poet, or one who wants to delve deep into the English lexicon.

Have you read Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely? What would you say about this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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The Lexicologist's Handbook – Book Review

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The Lexicologist's Handbook: A Dictionary of Unusual Words

by Dane Cobain

I have been fascinated by English for eons. The joy of learning and exploring this language is immense, so much so that I ended up becoming an EFL teacher in my country, Indonesia. Although grammar is the aspect that got me hooked in the first place and played a primary role in setting my life trajectory, the beauty and richness of the English vocabulary is unlimited food for my insatiable linguistic appetite. The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain is such a terrific resource for this never-ending adventure.

This book is basically a dictionary – but not a usual one. It is jam-packed with unusual, rare, fancy, or otherwise cool English words that will imbue readers with lexical superpower. In each entry, there is information on the word's pronunciation, type(s), definition(s), and example sentence(s), which enables you to understand the word thoroughly and primes you to use it in real-life situations, impressing your fellow humans linguistically.

Howbeit, considering The Lexicologist's Handbook is aimed at learners of English and educational in nature, I wish the accuracy of the content were higher. I have encountered a number of mistakes, one of which is "Amphitheatre" being misspelled as "Ampitheatre". On top of that, the pronunciation feature could be enhanced by adding information on stress position.

On the whole, The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain is a spectacular addition to English literature. If you are bored of using ordinary expressions or looking to diversify your vocabulary, I highly recommend reading this tremendous lexical booster!

Have you read The Lexicologist's Handbook? Do you agree with my opinion? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know – Book Review

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Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know

by Dr Dean Lomax

Wow, wow, wow! What a stupendous book! In an "eggshell", Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know by Dr Dean Lomax is a superlative summary of the dinosaur world, perfect for people who are curious about the prehistoric icons but do not have much time to devote to studying them in depth.

Just like the author's last name – low but max (tongue in cheek) – this book is a paradox. It is very modest in size but contains a wealth of information on dinosaurs, which has been carefully selected such that only the most important is presented (for example, while terminology inevitably exists, it is not overwhelmingly present). Dr Dean Lomax is an exceptionally fine writer; he writes with remarkable clarity and I am really fascinated by his style, which is conversational but engaging and absorbing! It is also evident throughout the book that the British paleontologist is so deeply in love with the subject. His contagious exuberance reminds me of fellow paleontologist Steve Brusatte, the author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, another dinosaurian tour de force.

If you are in a hurry but dying to know more about the dinosaurs, I wholeheartedly recommend Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know by Dr Dean Lomax, a magnificently written and enormously enjoyable piece of dinosaur literature!

Have you read Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know? What is your opinion on this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Homophones Visualized – Book Review

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Homophones Visualized

by Bruce Worden

Watt a grate book!

Homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings, can be annoying (the title is a good example). Homophones Visualized by Bruce Worden is a wonderful reference which showcases simple yet informative illustrations explaining the differences between a good selection of homophones in English. If you want to learn this linguistic phenomenon in a fun, playful, and entertaining manner, this witty book is just for you! I also find it intriguing that the author's name, Bruce Worden, contains "word" in it (it is as if he is destined to write such books). I really enjoyed Homophones Visualized greatly (no mistake this time) and I hope you do two! ;-)

Note that this book is to be read from the American English standpoint. Thus, some of the content may not make sense, say, from the perspective of British English.

Have you read Homophones Visualized? What are your thoughts on this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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The Book of Understanding – Book Review

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The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

by Osho

Warning: If you are not open-minded or cannot resist taking offense, do NOT read this book.

The Book of Understanding by Osho is certainly one of the most mind-boggling and thought-provoking books I've ever read. The Indian mystic gracefully explains what understanding really is in lyrical language of his own style. The concept of "Zorba the Buddha" is absolutely fascinating, but this book is much, much, much more than that. Brilliant. Eye-opening. Electrifying. Powerful. Moving. All the same, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with all of his points. I am completely sure, though, that it is quite impossible to finish reading The Book of Understanding by Osho without taking something home.

Unfortunately, due to local circumstances, I cannot fully express my view on the self-development book in this blog. If you are interested to know more of my thoughts, I would be more than happy to discuss The Book of Understanding by Osho with you personally.

Have you read The Book of Understanding? What is your opinion of this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Level Up – Book Review

Hardback version of Level Up by Rob Dial
Photo taken at Periplus Mall Kelapa Gading, Jakarta

Level Up: Get Focused, Stop Procrastinating and Upgrade Your Life

by Rob Dial

My life has been pretty good so far and I'm positive that I'm not the idlest or the least productive person in the world. Nevertheless, before deciding to masticate this book, I felt that I could be a better version of myself, realizing the full potential that the universe had bestowed upon this earthling. When there is room for improvement, it's time to act, isn't it? The next question is "Why this book?" I'm not usually a self-development-book–reader kind of guy, but, as far as I can remember, podcaster and coach Rob Dial has always hooked me on his intellectual charm ever since I found him (I think it was on Facebook). This explains why I've been propelled to diving into the mindset guru's writing for my personal growth and I'm glad I did.

If I had to describe Level Up: Get Focused, Stop Procrastinating and Upgrade Your Life by Rob Dial in a nutshell, it would be "cheat sheets for a better life". This book wonderfully presents the grand recipe for success in fewer than 250 pages, and the author deserves infinite plaudits for that (this is not an exaggeration). From Level Up, I have gained a massive number of insights into self-improvement: the way our fear robs us of our opportunities to grow (pun sort of intended), the pernicious nature of distraction (which has prompted me to turn off some social media notifications), how to establish discipline, and so on and so forth. Anything that is scientifically backed trumps those which aren't, and that's a huge part of why Level Up is outstandingly good. This book is laden with science and there is a chapter devoted to discussing neuroplasticity, which the author defines as "the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience" (p. 196). Rob is an eloquent writer and it is a great pleasure to read his writing. You may find some of what he wrote somewhat repetitive, but I think it's fine because we often need to be reminded over and over when it comes to personal development. To end this paragraph, I'd like to say that Level Up is one of the most helpful books I've ever read in my life. Simply brilliant and fascinating read on the subject.

If you feel stuck in your life, are frustrated with your progress, or simply aiming to become a better person, Level Up is the right book for you. Grab it fast, level up, and achieve your goals!

Have you read Level Up? How did you find the book? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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English Visual Dictionary – Book Review

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English Visual Dictionary

by Collins Dictionaries

Are you planning to continue your education in the UK? Have you recently gotten a job which requires you to relocate to Darren Naish's homeland? If so, this wonderful visual dictionary is just what the doctor ordered!

English Visual Dictionary by Collins Dictionaries is an extremely comprehensive dictionary that teaches you English vocabulary that you need in order to survive in the UK by virtue of clear, relevant pictures. The book is divided into 10 theme-based chapters, ranging from "The Essentials" to "Leisure" to "Special Days", ensuring that everything you need is covered. Even though it is a visual dictionary, it also presents common expressions without accompanying images which you might need in order to communicate successfully in the UK. One of my favorite features in this book is the YOU SHOULD KNOW... sections, which give readers useful information about local customs. For example, do you know what double yellow lines on the road means? You'll find the answer to such questions in this dictionary!

Note that the vocabulary contents of this book are British English, which means that some of them may not be suitable to use in American English.

In summary, English Visual Dictionary will be of such great help, communication-wise, to those would love to explore the UK.

Have you read English Visual Dictionary? If so, share what you think in the comment section below!

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Dinosaur Therapy – Book Review

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Dinosaur Therapy

by James Stewart and K Roméy

I am in seventh heaven! Yes, I just purchased a Kindle! 🥳🥳🥳 The e-reader, which I named Klindle (short for "Klinsman's Kindle"), is the culmination of my accumulating thoughts swirling around my reading life. Both my bookracks are almost full, which means I'm running out of storage for books. Needless to say, print books have something indescribable to it, but e-books offer a number of advantages, including the lack of need for space required by their paper kin. So, voilà! Now I'm an e-book reader! 📱📚📖😄 And, as you might expect, the very first book I bought and read is Dinosaur Therapy 🦕🦖🧠📖 by James Stewart and K Roméy.

Let's cut to the chase: I thoroughly recommend this dinosaur comic book. Why? Dinosaur Therapy highlights a very important societal issue that seems to be largely taboo and blithely ignored: mental health. This topic is nicely presented in the form of short comic strips (mostly consisting of 4 panels) showing a wide range of situations which are grouped into 7 chapters, for example "Growing Up", "Depression", and "Relationships". This book reveals things that might fly under the radar as we go about our business on a daily basis, but they are crucial to acknowledge and discuss for it is people who make up society and our mental states are a determining factor in the future of our species.

Reading Dinosaur Therapy will open up a lot of possibilities for a mental-health–literate society, which is just what we need in a seemingly crumbling world, psychologically speaking. I can imagine the book becoming alive and saying, "We need to normalize talking about mental health issues and rather than behaving as if they did not exist, we have to work together to find the best solutions to these 'invisible' problems." Keep in mind that it is not always negativity that you will find here; the book also portrays positive realities regarding mental health. Another thing that I like about Dinosaur Therapy is that the drawings are cute and do not look intimidating, which would help readers relate to the subject. Oh, one more thing: if you are a dinosaur freak like me, this comic will be a unique addition to your collection.

As you go on the journey with the blue T. rex, you will find yourself weeping, laughing, and reflecting over and over again. Treat your mind through perusing Dinosaur Therapy.

Have you read Dinosaur Therapy? What is your view on this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Stoicism for Inner Peace – Book Review

Stoicism for Inner Peace

by Einzelgänger

The last several months have been an exhilarating philosophical ride for me. The previous book that I read is The Little Book of Humanism, an all-important philosophy work which I regard as "one of the most important, if not the most important, books I have ever read in my life." Having finished the marvelous opus, I ventured into deepening my knowledge and understanding of another school of philosophy by reading Stoicism for Inner Peace 🏛️📖 by Einzelgänger. Before I started reading the book, I had been so powerfully drawn into this ancient philosophy that I created a blog post about it entitled the name itself (to read my article about Stoicism, click here). Perusing the volume just made me more deeply in love with the philosophy and to start with, I would like to say that Stoicism for Inner Peace by Einzelgänger deserves to be placed cheek by jowl with its humanism cousin on my shelf for essential books for life.

No, I wasn't exaggerating in any way. Especially in this era of rife chaos and pandemonium, we seriously need guidance on living our lives in an orderly and tranquil manner. How can we attain that aspiration? From my viewpoint, Stoicism is the way, and this philosophical realm is gloriously and effectively presented in this book through the hand(s) of "the loner". In Stoicism for Inner Peace, you will discover Stoic principles, teachings, and wisdom regarding the numerous issues that humans encounter and need to deal with in life. Take a look at the following questions:

• How can I achieve true happiness?
• Does anger have any value at all? Can it be justifiable in any way?
• I just broke up and it hurts so much that I want to end my life. Is it possible for me to deal with this extremely depressing situation?
• My father is the worst man on earth and I mortally hate him. He deserves it, doesn't he?
• I just got laid off and it's really hard to find a job nowadays. I don't have a lot of savings either. What should I do?
• This pandemic has caused acute distress for so many people, including me. It's the end of the world, right?

You may have questions similar to the above in your mind, and if you are still wondering, this book provides the best answers for tackling them. Stoicism for Inner Peace also has a section discussing four great Stoic philosophers: Zeno of Citium (the founder of Stoicism), Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor), Epictetus (a slave), and Seneca the Younger (a statesman). As if that's not enough, the author supplies a set of exercises for readers to become a better Stoic in chapters such as "Praemeditatio Malorum", "Memento Mori", and "Amor Fati".

This book is a masterpiece, not only due to the nature of its contents but also the way it was written by the author. Einzelgänger is absolutely an ace writer. His God-tier eloquence shines throughout the book and it makes this philosophy gem very clear, persuasive, and engaging. He does not ramble on or include any unnecessary parts, taking a straightforward approach without sacrificing nuances.

In brief, Stoicism for Inner Peace is a truly worthwhile investment if you want to live a good life. For my money, you will actually get more than your money's worth (see what I did there?). There are certainly other resources for learning about Stoicism, but believe me, you can't go wrong with this one. Read Stoicism for Inner Peace, practice the philosophy, and attain inner peace. Be a Stoic. 😊

Have you read Stoicism for Inner Peace? What do you reckon to this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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The Magic of Reality – Book Review

The Magic of Reality

by Richard Dawkins

Let me begin this review by commenting on the first phrase you read even before you crack this book open. The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins probably has one of the most impressive titles of all the books ever published. The subtitle is also extremely arresting: How we know what's really true. I got this sleek copy of mine on my second visit to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Jakarta 2020, and I brought it home for an orgasmic bargain price, partly thanks to a discount voucher I had won from my first visit to the grand book fair. So, what do I have to say about the contents of this little book? Let's get rolling!

The Magic of Reality aims to clearly explain to the readers what is real (and what is not), in life, in the universe. The first chapter sets out the nature of reality and how it compares with magic, and then it is followed by 11 chapters each dealing with a question on a particular subject, several examples of which are "What are things made of?", "When and how did everything begin?", and "Why do bad things happen?". Dawkins begins most of the chapters with myths and then provides explanations for what is really true, or what really happens, through none other than science.

The Magic of Reality is the second book by the world-renowned British scientist that I've read, the first one being the religion & atheism book The God Delusion. The language in The Magic of Reality is "lighter" than in TGD, but Dawkins still writes eloquently in his delightfully conversational style, which would transport readers through his strings of ideas smoothly. It is a book that I wish I could have (and had) read 10 or 15 years ago, at a much younger age – had that really happened, I would have formed a real understanding of reality earlier. Insightful, informative and addictive, The Magic of Reality also has made me wish Prof. Dawkins had been my science teacher in school (not only of biology, but also of physics and chemistry)! In my mind, The Magic of Reality is a terrific (and, indeed, magical) book on introduction to science, quite possibly the best one available.

The book that you see in the photo above – the one that I own – is actually the minimally illustrated (and paperback) edition. To see the richly illustrated (and hardcover) edition, click here. (Even practically without illustrations, The Magic of Reality was so easy to digest; I wonder how much of smooth sailing my reading experience would have been if I had read the lavishly illustrated version!)

I would like to finish this review by making a more general compliment to the author: I believe Richard Dawkins is one of the greatest science communicators out there.

Note: I would be more than happy to discuss my review of this book with you in more detail. Feel free to contact me through one of my social media channels.

Have you read The Magic of Reality? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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The God Delusion – Book Review

The God Delusion

by Richard Dawkins

I don't usually read books centering on non-dinosaurian and non-English topics or subjects. Nevertheless, this book is one of the few which have managed to pass my bookish filter. I was in the midst of immersing myself in a great work by a Canadian dinosaur paleontologist whose initials are S.D.S. when this bestselling book on religion finally landed in my hands – after a couple of weeks of typical pesky waiting for an imported book. At first, I hesitated as to whether to finish the then-being-read book, or grab and devour the newly arrived one. The latter turned out to be the champion of this little battle of thoughts (now that I have completed reading the British author's, I am delightfully back from my short hiatus to the interrupted dinosaurian adventure). Please pardon my inexorably burning fanaticism about the iconic creatures of the past, and here is my take on The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins:

First of all, it is pretty obvious, from the title alone, that this book is concerned with atheism, i.e. the absence/lack of belief in God or deities. What you will encounter is the author's arguments for the godless outlook on life and thoughts that thoroughly explain his stance on religion. One might expect that the pages of this book are peppered with vulgar or foul language such as "fuck religion!" but, on the contrary, you will be surprised by the cordiality (and eloquence) of his writings. It is strongly recommended, especially if you are religious, to get rid of any prejudice towards the contents before you start reading; or otherwise you will fail to grasp what the writer genuinely intends to convey to the reader. As an evolutionary biologist, Dawkins possesses a very scientific framework of thinking: consequently, he examines and discusses the subject on the basis of his expertise. Through reading this book, which is made up of 10 chapters and richly loaded with information (including quotations) from a great many sources, I find it extremely easy to see that Dawkins is indeed a hardcore rationalist. Personally, I think The God Delusion is well worth reading for people of all sorts of (un)belief, who comprise, but are not limited to, theists, agnostics, and even atheists themselves, if they want to gain useful insights into this particular worldview.

Note: Due to some geographical reason, I cannot fully write my review and I'd be very glad to share more of my thoughts on the book when the circumstances make it possible to do so.

Have you read The God Delusion? What is your opinion of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Quick Tips on the IELTS Test

Many people in the world would like to pursue their dreams by continuing their studies in their favorite universities or working in top global companies. If the organizations are located in English-speaking countries, it is very likely that one of the requirements is in the form of a test or exam such as TOEFL or IELTS. In this article, I am going to give you quick tips for achieving a good (or even great) band score on the IELTS test.

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This is just true in the case of IELTS taking. Before you face the real test, make sure you devote a sufficient amount of time to getting prepared for it.

The very first thing you should do is to familiarize yourself with the test format and band score criteria. You have to be able to answer questions such as How many and what types of questions are there in the Listening part?, How many texts are there in the Reading component and how long does it last?, What is the minimum number of words do test-takers have to write in the IELTS Writing? In addition, keep in mind what you have to do so as to achieve your desired band score. For instance, to reach a band score of 8 in the IELTS Speaking, you must “use paraphrase effectively as required”, and to attain a 7 in Writing Task 1, you have to “use a variety of complex structures”. Knowing these will be of great mental advantage to you in tackling the exam, with good time management being one of the results.

Possessing that knowledge alone is not enough. In order to succeed in the IELTS, you also need to do a substantial amount of practice. It is highly advisable that you do many practice tests. Make sure you practice carrying out the various possible task types; for example, in the IELTS Reading there are multiple choice, identifying information, identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, and so on. What is more, put a lot of effort into honing the skills that are required to get your target band score – these might include paraphrasing and using complex structures (see above). Learning with an IELTS tutor can be very helpful too as they can monitor your progress and give you feedback based on your performance – what is already good and what still needs to be improved on.

Last but not least (and perhaps one that is often forgotten or missed by IELTS participants), ensure that you are physically fit and remain calm during the test. Nourish your body with plenty of nutrients and, while practicing can take a lot of energy, remember to always have enough rest and sleep. Taking an exam can also be especially stressful, with students sweating being a common sight in examination rooms. Getting nervous can lead to your mind going blank and it definitely reduces your chance of performing to the best of your abilities on the IELTS test. Test-takers might find the effect even stronger in the Speaking section, where they need to give responses to an examiner face-to-face. Therefore, relax and enjoy the “show” – relishing your favorite beverage before the test begins might help. Wish you the best of luck with the IELTS test!

Information about IELTS can be accessed at https://www.ielts.org.

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Why Dinosaurs Matter – Book Review

Why Dinosaurs Matter

by Kenneth Lacovara

This is it. This is just the book the world needs. This is more or less what was in my mind before I purchased this book. Now that I finished it, all I can say is it really is.

Gazing at the intriguing title – and after reading the previous paragraph – you might be frowning with several shadows of a doubt: Do they really matter? Aren't they just long-gone creatures intended merely for children's entertainment? Grab this book and let Kenneth Lacovara obliterate any reservations of yours and convert you into an ardent dinosaur defender.

Why Dinosaurs Matter is definitely "a dinosaur book with a difference," as Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE puts it in her review. You won't find numerous dinosaur illustrations accompanied with a great deal of information on the diet, behavior, and other aspects of hosts of dinosaur genera. No, you won't. Instead, this book will take you into deep contemplation of your very existence on this planet. It will take you into a clearer understanding of the world through the medium of dinosaurology. It will take you into a period of reflection that will eventually lead you to genuine humility. The small size of this book shouldn't delude you into thinking that it is nothing. Why Dinosaurs Matter is made up of 12 chapters, each of which is filled with Ken's sublime scientific writing, which shows that he is a remarkable science communicator. I found that Ken's poetical prose, which was composed with his linguistic prowess, is a supreme point of this book, and with its content of scientific nature, Why Dinosaur Matters is a treasure of (dinosaurian) paleontology. You might be asking: Are there any particular dinosaurs covered in this book? The answer is yes! These include the world's most famous dinosaur: Tyrannosaurus rex, and the mighty Late Cretaceous sauropod Dreadnoughtus schrani, which was discovered by Kenneth Lacovara himself in southern Patagonia over a decade ago. In a nutshell, Why Dinosaurs Matter is a brilliantly & beauteously enlightening book.

As you may have noticed, Why Dinosaurs Matter is a TED Book, which means that it expands on a related TED Talk. Be amazed at Kenneth Lacovara's 2016 marvelous speech: Hunting for dinosaurs showed me our place in the universe (to access it on YouTube, click here). You might also want to have a glimpse into the book by navigating through these useful links:

• Here's Why Dinosaurs Matter (TED)
• In Defense Of Dinosaurs (Science Friday)
• Q&A with Paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara (Natural History Museum of Utah)
• Why T. Rex's Puny Arms Are a Sign of Strength (National Geographic)
• Why Dinosaurs Matter... (Live Science)
• How a Boy Who Was Obsessed with Dinosaurs Discovered Dreadnoughtus (Live Science)
• Kenneth Lacovara Tells Us ‘Why Dinosaurs Matter’ (GeekDad)
• We are all walking natural history museums (INKtalks) (to watch it on YouTube, click here)
• Why Dinosaurs Matter - Kenneth Lacovara, at USI (Unexpected Sources of Inspiration)

Beware! Reading Why Dinosaurs Matter has a side effect: it will astronomically enlarge your vocabulary, owing to the innumerable expressions Ken poured into it. You might want to get a reliable English dictionary ready before you start reading this eye-opening book.

Have you read Why Dinosaurs Matter? What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

P.S. I love how Ken addresses young Earth creationism in this book. ;)

Related article by me: Why Dinosaurs?

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Raptor Red – Book Review

Raptor Red

by Robert T. Bakker

I should have written this review a long time ago as I finished this little dino novel before Velociraptor came into scene – you know I'm kidding. But they say "better late then never", so here I am, slouching in front of my Lenovo, typing my opinion on this not-authored-by-Robert-T.-Kiyosaki book.

Raptor Red is a novel about the life of an adult female dinosaur belonging to the genus Utahraptor – that is a kind of medium-sized predatory dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Period that was discovered, as is easy to guess, in Utah, the  U.S., and is a close cousin of the more famous Velociraptor. This story is based on the discovery of the animal and was written by world-famous American paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker, casually called Bob Bakker – does it ring a bell? Yeah, in the movie Jurassic Park Tim Murphy, who is the grandson of John Hammond, mentions this dinosaur expert when conversing with paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant. So there are two points that make this novel stand out from others: there are NO humans involved (as it takes place hundreds of millions of years ago before the first humans appeared) and it was written by a REAL paleontologist! Before enjoying the story, you are welcomed by the preface, which revolves around the discovery of Utahraptor and discusses its relation to the blockbuster movie. And then the show begins. Bob Bakker exquisitely tells the tale of this bird-like creature in a gripping as well as emotional way. With his background as a dinosaurian scientist, the author successfully mixes science with extremely vivid and imaginative descriptions. In addition, the plot is riveting and will definitely keep the reader enthralled during the ride. Bob Bakker knows how to satisfy readers with his highly descriptive writing and engaging story-telling skills – honestly, I didn't expect to be as wowed as I am when reading it. In short, this novel deserves standing applause. If you are an adventure novel addict and/or dinophile, I am sure you will fall in love with this book in a brief second.

Unfortunately I think this novel is one of a kind (any other novels of this sort? tell me!). To be brutally honest, I need MORE of this. I do hope Bakker (or other paleontologists) will come out with this type of novel in the (near) future.

Have you read Raptor Red? What do you think of this novel? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Flying Dinosaurs – Book Review

Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds

by John Pickrell

Birds are dinosaurs. Yeah, you read it correctly. Birds are dinosaurs! Nearly 10,000 species of birds living in the world today are dinosaurs – these include the minuscule bee hummingbird, the huge ostrich, and the modest chicken! (To know some of the implications, click here.) To quench my thirst for knowledge of this, I embarked on a journey to finding a great resource book. And... I found this book! Honestly, it was quite costly (around 420,000 IDR or 31.50 USD) for a book this 'thin'; however, it was absolutely well worth it. I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to dig deeper into the dinosaur-bird notion to grab this book as soon as possible. (Please be aware that there is a lot of paleontological and dinosaurian terminology in this book. Although it contains a glossary that can help you with it, I still think you should already be familiar with the jargon and it might not be suitable for newbies.)

First of all, I would really like to commend the author, John Pickrell, for his eloquence and magnificence in writing the book. Personally I fell head over heels in love with his writing style! Your attention will be completely drawn to this book and you will feel the indescribable beauty of it as John tells the dino-bird tale. The award-winning journalist and the editor of Australian Geographic magazine is a master at engaging readers in his Pickrellish world. I can assure you that Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds is a real page-turner, thanks to the brilliant author. (actually John has recently published another book titled Weird Dinosaurs: The Strange New Fossils Challenging Everything We Thought We Knew, which I, without a doubt, will buy once I have the money) Regarding the content, Feathered Dinosaurs presents a huge body of information and covers many areas, including the coloration of dinosaur feathers and Jack Horner's 'chickenosaurus' project. Another point that I like about this book is that it incorporates commentaries from many experts such as Canadian paleontologist Phil Currie and Chinese paleontologist Xu Xing. Although not many, there are a number of illustrations concentrated in the middle of this book which you can feast your eyes on. Finally, there is a mini-dictionary at the back which boasts rich information about species of feathered dinosaurs including how to pronounce their (genus) names!

However, like dinosaurs themselves, dinosaurology is constantly evolving as more and more discoveries are being made all over the world, and Flying Dinosaurs, which was published about 3.5 years ago, certainly needs updating. What are your thoughts on this book? Write your comment below!

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Cheater's Guide to Speaking English Like a Native – Book Review

Cheater's Guide to Speaking English Like a Native

by Boyé Lafayette De Mente

This book comes in two versions: one written in English only and one with Japanese accompanying English. I got the English-only one a few years ago (I don't recall where I bought it) and read some of it. However. the terrible fire incident happening two years ago seems to have destroyed the book. Last year, I came across the Japanese edition at a book fair by Periplus at Plaza fx, Senayan, South Jakarta, and decided to get a copy of it – it was damn cheap! In the last few weeks, I have tried to read the whole book and I completed it of late.

Native speakers don't speak English using literal and direct expressions only. They also use a lot of idiomatic ones and other expressions that might baffle those who are not familiar with them. For instance, one might say "I passed the exam with flying colors", instead of "I passed the exam with a very high/good score." Knowing these expressions is essential and would enable you to communicate more smoothly as well as more naturally. Cheater's Guide to Speaking English Like a Native by Boyé Lafayette De Mente is a book that addresses this matter in an excellent way, and I find this book really lives up to what the title claims the book is.

Firstly, you need to keep in mind that, as the title indicates, this book is intended for improving your spoken English. Therefore, you might find some of the expressions not appropriate if used in writing. This book contains over 700 entries which are in alphabetical order. Personally, I'd say the number is relatively small and thus, it probably doesn't function well as a dictionary (you could read other books such as McGraw-Hill's American Idioms Dictionary instead in this regard). I would suggest reading this book like a novel – from beginning to end – to take full advantage of it. The explanations are overall clear; however, most of them are written in high-level English and not direct. Consequently, low-level learners of English may struggle in understanding the expressions. It is also worth mentioning that many of the explanations include history of the expressions, which might be of some people's interest. Each expression is also accompanied by 3 examples which help provide context for when to use it properly and help readers on how to use it correctly as far as structure is concerned. As well as that, there are a few illustrations (not many) throughout the book that somewhat do this job as well. Lastly, as the price is reasonable (around 11 USD), you won't have to pay through your nose for it.

This book has been really helpful for me and is a great addition to my English book collection. How about you? Write your comment about this book below!

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McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English – Book Review

McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English

by Richard A. Spears, Betty Birner, Steven Kleinedler, and Luc Nisset

Okay, I want to be honest here. Everyone has their own weak areas when it comes to English proficiency and my lexical resource is one of those things I need to work on.

That's why I bought this not-so-thick book called McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English by Richard A. Spears, Betty Birner, Steven Kleinedler, and Luc Nisset. Before purchasing this book, I could speak English well to the extent that everybody would understand what I said; however, I needed more, yeah, more! It is monotonous to use the same expressions over and over, so you need to add variety to your speech to make it more interesting. On top of that, native speakers use a broad range of expressions when having conversations and discussions. This book has done a good job in preparing me for better English communication in that regard.

What makes McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English worth paying a small chunk of your income for?

Although it is not comparable to a big dictionary like Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's English Dictionary, McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English contains almost 5,000 conversational expressions that are put into 464 groups. These expression groups are arranged under topics which are grouped into 11 headings of social interaction: Basic Social Encounters, Polite Encounters, Family Matters, Food and Drink, Shopping, and so on. I also find it easy to find the right expressions as it is well organized. In short, this book is a comprehensive reference that you will surely return to again and again.

Additionally, it really does its best to help learners understand the meaning of the expressions and the circumstance in which you can use them properly or you are likely to encounter them, For example, on page 26, under the Launching the Conversation topic and the Requesting that the speaker get to the point group, there is one entry as follows:

Cut to the chase. (idiomatic)
     = Switch to the focal point of something.

The label in the brackets, idiomatic, tells us that it is an idiomatic expression. Such labels are present in this book and include formal, informal, jocular, cliché and vulgar among many others. They are important because they give us information which we need to know to be able to use them appropriately – you wouldn't want to use a formal expression in an informal situation, for instance. In addition, there is an explanation of the expression below it (in this case it shows the meaning of the expression). Explanations like this definitely assist readers in working out the meaning of the phrases.

Reading text without pictures can be dull and not fun. This book addresses this issue by displaying cute images made by Luc Nisset (ah yeah! The subtitle says "Illustrated"!) which aid learners in visualizing the situation where the expressions might be used. However, bear in mind that the number of images in this book is minute compared to the number of expressions presented.

One thing that you need to take into account before deciding whether or not to buy this book is that, as the title clearly shows, the phrases included in this book are used in American English. Then, if you are aiming to improve your British English conversational vocabulary, this might not be the best choice for you, although many of the expressions surely can be used in British English as well.

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