A Sense of Direction: Pilgrimage for the Restless and the Hopeful by Gideon Lewis-Kraus is less about the scenic road and more about the internal journey towards self discovery.

Article first published as Book Review: Man At a Machine by Stef Wertheimer on Blogcritics. About: Man At a Machine by Stef Wertheimer is an autobiography of the Israeli industrialist. My father has always admired Mr. Wertheimer, unfortunately he did not live long enough to read this book which I’m sure he would have loved. 383 pages Publisher: yediot sfarim (2011) Language: Hebrew ASIN: B00641DQDM My rating for Man at a Machine – 5 Buy this book in paper format. Thoughts: Man At a Machine by Stef Wertheimer is more than just a biography, it is an important document of what can be achieved with dedication and creativity. Mr. Wertheimer came to Israel as a boy after his family escaped Germany during the 1930’s and has became a successful entrepreneur and statesman. The self-made man, who built his first business with his own two hands believing in himself and his foresight, is not only one of the captains of Israeli industry but also a posses a unique ideology. Mr. Wertheimer’s views were shaped and solidified by his parents, who accurately forecasted Europe’s turmoil and managed to get out in 1936, when Stef was 10 years old. To this day, in his…

Jean Naggar writes her childhood spent in Cairo and England as we all remember our childhood – a magical time in an enchanted world. Surrounded by a large, protective family members of the Cairo elites

Article first published as Book Review: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on Blogcritics. About: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a non-fiction book which tells the story of a woman who started a successful dress making business under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Not only did Kamila Sadiqi provide honorable employment to her family and female community, but also a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak existence. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter. 288 pages Publisher: Harper (March 15, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0061732370 My rat­ing for The Dressmaker of Khair Khana — 5 Buy this book in from Amazon.com through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (website | Facebook | Twitter) is a quick read, interesting and heartwarming book. While short, the book packages a strong story of perseverance, fighting against the odds, helping the community and entrepreneurship combined. This is an inspiring story of courageous women who are in a dangerous…

About: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a biographyof the Godfather of Soul. The title “The One” refers mainly to the artist’s emphasis on playing the right beat. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter. 464 pages Publisher: Gotham (March 15, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1592406572 My rating for The One – 5 Buy this book in paper or electronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by RJ Smith Thoughts: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a true testament that the nickname of “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” is not an empty gesture. While I don’t think I’d like to have worked with Mr. Brown or even would have liked him personally, I can certainly appreciate and even admire his work ethic. In this new biography, which digresses often but always stays on message, James Brown comes across as a demanding, violent, abusing and demanding man. However, this giant of music grew up in violent times; shaped by a segregated South in a rural community riddled with crime and poverty, which he never…

About: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall is a memoir of the author’s time being a drug addict in Hong Kong. The book takes a good look at into the red light district of Hong Kong, the colorful Wan Chai district. My rating for Eating Smoke – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall (website | Facebook) chronicles the author, an ex-Royal Marine, downfall into the world of drugs in Hong Kong. There are several viewpoints one could read this book as: a funny memoir, a cautionary tale, a how-not-to-succeed-in business book, a how-not-to-choose-your-friends type of story, a smart-guy-doing-stupid-things anecdote, or as a foreigner in a foreign land story. Of course, all of the above would also apply. Besides the drug addict mindset which I cannot understand or comprehend, I found Mr. thrall’s stories about Chinese culture fascinating. The stories of the jobs he got simply on the base of his pale face are funny and somewhat disturbing. The condition wasn’t only a white face…

About: Wine to Water by Doc Hendley is a non-fiction memoir of the author starting the Wine to Water non-profit. The charity brings clean water to many parts of the world. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— enter at the end of the post. 288 pages Publisher: Avery ISBN: 1583334629 My rating for Wine to Water – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: Wine to Water by Doc Hendley, a CNN hero, is an inspiring book told in the prose of the liked and endearing author. While never owning a motorcycle I have hung out in one or two biker’s bars, met people much like Doc described in his book and always felt welcomed – even with the toughest crowd. The highlight of the book for me was Doc’s ingenuity getting water and equipment to remote places around the world. Surviving some dangerous, almost deadly events, losing friends and facing hurdles from bureaucrats, local and international will break most people – but Doc kept on. Witnessing government sponsored genocide would have most people running for the hills – but not Doc. The story was well paced, easy to read…

The book is peppered with GI slang and phrases in French and German which I liked, the writing is engrossing and very good for a first time author

Mission to Mach 2: A Fighter Pilot’s Memoir of Supersonic Flight by Earl Haney and Lee Courtnage is an exciting book, very readable and engaging. Earl

Luck and Circumstance: A Coming of Age in Hollywood, New York, and Points Beyond by Michael Lindsay-Hogg is a refreshing and amusing book in which the author talks about his lifelong haunts with honesty. The author might or might not be the son of Orson Welles, an imposing figure which comes and goes through-out Mr. Lindsay-Hogg’s life in a way which makes him seem both benevolent and detached.