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Brilliant Authors of Impactful Books that You Should Know

Books are beautiful and influential. They are full of astonishing thoughts, amazing discoveries, and other exceptional things. In contrast to their plain appearance, they hold such wonders that make every reader in different corners of the world in awe. With their plots, themes, and other elements, they can reveal the truth to their patrons with only the use of words put together to tell a meaningful tale.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Eleanor & Park, Wonder by Rainbow Rowell, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai are some of the best books that leave a big impact on the lives of the readers. But, these masterpieces wouldn’t be able to live their glory days if it weren’t for the bright minds that wrote them. With that being said, listed below are the best authors of impactful books that you should know.

Paulo Coelho

The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho de Souza, or Paula Coelho, is one of the bestselling and popular authors of today. He wrote a couple of books, where each creates different kinds of impact on the readers. The Alchemist is his widely known novel that helps people realizes how important it is to achieve one’s goals. However, it didn’t mean that Coelho didn’t experience his downfall. In fact, his debut novel in 1982, Hell Archives failed to become a hit. He went through procrastination on jumpstarting his career in writing and asked for a white feather to God as a sign. Luckily, he saw the sign at the window of a store that very day and continued writing. He wrote The Alchemist a year after that incident and wrote more wonderful books after that.

Mitch Albom

Perhaps you have read Tuesdays With Morrie, then you may already be familiar of this author. Mitch Albom is an American author who is famous for his fiction and nonfiction works. Most of his books inspire people about the different things in life. He has sold more than 39 million copies of his works from all over the world. Tuesdays With Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, Have a Little Faith, For One More Day, and Finding Chika are his remarkable works. Moreover, he is also known for being a playwright, radio talk show host, sports journalist, and more.

Neil Griffen

Have you ever read a book that discusses two almost contradicting fields, but made a way for them to coincide? Author Neil Griffen’s book, From Science to Spirituality: Finding Spirituality in Science, talks about how great science is but there are just things that it cannot explain but can be elaborated by spirituality. Hence, it is analyzing spiritual issues and talking about science at the same time. Moreover, Griffen has a Ph.D. in Physics that he acquired from Ohio State University. During his stay in the university, he started to walk on the spiritual path. He became an instrument and spiritual healer; later on he was ordained 4 years before he got his Ph.D. in Physics by the National Spiritualist Association of Churches. Griffen has a great background in the spiritual and scientific fields.

Michelle Obama

Former first lady Michelle Obama has written an exceptional nonfiction book titled Becoming. Before everything else, Michelle was born on Chicago in 1964. She studied in Princeton University majoring in sociology and minoring African-American studies. She successfully earned her BA in 1985 as a cum laude. She left Princeton with a head held high and a remarkable thesis titled Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community. She continued her education and entered Harvard Law School where she got her Juris Doctor in 1988. Furthermore, she married former President Barack Obama in 1992. She became a first lady after her husband was elected president in 2008 and officially started his administration in 2009.

Books are truly meaningful. But, they wouldn’t create a big mark on the lives of their readers without the authors that gave them life. Hence, readers should also give value to the brilliant and talented minds behind every great tale.

The Pandemic and Other Significant Issues in the World

Eight months after the worldwide outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the world has not yet found a solution. Laboratories and scientists from different countries are doing their best to beat the virus that is making people’s lives at risk. There have been thousands of deaths recorded and to be recorded. The first few months of the pandemic were a complete disaster. There were people who refused to wear masks, individuals who are still conducting gatherings, and persons that are not practicing social distancing.

The pandemic is viewed as a global emergency that threatens the health of every person. Nobody expected it and wanted it to happen. China, Italy, Japan, India, Russia, Brazil, Spain, France, and Argentina are some of the widely affected countries. The United States, however, tops the list of nations with highest Covid-19 cases.

Although it is a common knowledge that the Covid-19 is an urgent societal issue, there are many problems in every community of the world that also weighs as heavy as the pandemic but the only difference is that they don’t bring immediate death. Thus, listed below are the worldwide crucial issues in different parts of the world that are still left unsolved.

Poverty

Perhaps you already know and understand what poverty is, but what could really be the definition of poverty? According to Investopedia, it is the state where a community or an individual does not have enough resources and necessities to afford the minimum living standards. Money is always the primary aspect that is being examined to determine if a family or community is poverty-stricken or not. It cannot be denied that in different corners of every country, there are people suffering from low to no income. As a result, they’ll be experiencing a lot of hardships including but not limited to eating proper meals, living in a good shelter, having clean water, getting good healthcare, and even pursuing education. Poverty is still a big issue that has not yet been given a concrete solution, and is one of the factors that worsen the pandemic.

Corruption

Upon hearing the word “corruption,” the government might be the first thing come to mind. Although there are places which their government were proved as corrupt in some point of time, corruption doesn’t only happens in the administration. There are also many dishonesty, frauds, and bribery that take place in companies, businesses, organizations, and the likes. Much news was released pertaining to corruptions that were revealed by whistleblowers. These revelations anger the public, especially those who work hard and still get their pay deducted for taxes. The most typical forms of corruption include secret transactions, vote manipulations, money laundering, accepting bribes, and giving bribes.

Hunger

Hunger is always being felt by people. The only difference is that some have the means of satisfying their hunger while others don’t. There are many definitions of hunger, but this is the one that really stand out: a state where an individual cannot consume enough good to fulfill his basic nutritional needs for a particular time. It may be a simple problem, but can you imagine how those unfortunate people survive the extreme desire to eat? What about those who are living in the street or those who were left jobless? Thus, it is really something that people must focus on. Dr. Conner’s mission for Ethiopia or in Ethiopia, which he documented on his book The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia, revealed how famine threatened the peaceful living of the people in the land. There was even an estimate that four to five hundred thousand Ethiopians died because of hunger and famine.

Domestic Violence

Family violence and domestic abuse are the other popular terms for domestic violence. There are many homes that were wrecked because of this issue. It is defined as violence conducted in a domestic place; hence, it takes place in homes with married or cohabiting couples physically fighting and hurting one another. Often, it is the women that are the victims of this issue; however, this doesn’t only limit to the boy-girl relationships because it can also happen to same-sex couples. This issue is definitely one that inflicts physical and emotional pain to the victims and can even lead to the development of different mental health conditions.

Caregiving 101: The Basic Duties of Caregivers

Caregivers are the unsung heroes of today. They are those people who sacrificed their time in order to provide care to others. Who would have thought that one of the toughest jobs is also among the most rewarding? Moreover, people who work as a professional or family caregivers have had experienced different kinds of emotions in during their roller coaster journey of giving care to those vulnerable ones.

The primary job of caregivers is to care and nurture those who need their services. Most of these people are suffering from old age, diseases, and the likes. Apart from that, there are also other tasks that caregivers must attend to — the ones that cannot be handled by the care recipient or their direct family members. Hence, listed below are the common caregiving duties that every caregivers or caregiver-to-be should know.

Assist the receiver of the care in doing essential tasks

There are many daily tasks that people cannot do because of their underlying illness or condition. That’s when caregivers are needed to the rescue! These amazing heroes will be required to help these people with health issues or of old age in performing their everyday routine. However, the execution of the assistance might differ because it will depend on the request that the patient. There are also times that caregivers will be needed to assess the situation and work with their own initiative. Most of these tasks will include giving assistance on eating, walking, bathing, and moving. It is important that caregivers must execute their services with kindness and care so that the receivers of the care will feel that they are being taken care of genuinely.

Be there on times of need and on 24/7 if possible

Sometimes being a caregiver means that you should be there not just on times of need but all the time. Hence, you should focus your mind on your job and on the sake of the receiver of your care. Whether you are a professional or a direct family member, it wouldn’t matter because what is important is that you carry out your job at all times. You should be there on times that the person needs you and preferably at any time of the day. Take for example, Eleanor Gaccetta — a remarkable author who documented her caregiving journey that lasted for more than 9 years. Becoming a 24/7 caregiver by Gacetta or as experienced by Gaccetta is not really the easiest journey in her lifetime but it is one of the most memorable and meaningful.

Communicate with medical staff

There are times that you will be needed to talk to doctors and nurses. It can be during the regular check-ups or random clinic visits of the person that you are taking care. You must accompany your person to the medical institution, help him move from one place to another, talk to nurses and doctors regarding his condition, and listen to the advices and instruction given by the medical staff. Even though it is hard to multitask, you should lend your full attention for a short span of time to the doctor so that you can buy the needed drugs and help the person take them on time. This part is crucial because it involves the condition of the person receiving your care and how you can help in alleviating their pain and giving them the right meds to keep them healthy.

Manage the finances and other money-related stuff

Finances can become a sensitive and serious matter. However, it cannot be avoided that you will be involved in handling money. Sometimes the direct family members are busy hustling and bustling that they will entrust you with the financial needs of the person receiving your care. They will give hand you enough cash to buy the things needed so the person that you are taking care of will feel more comfortable. The money-related stuff can be about groceries, medicines, food, and other miscellaneous that will make your patient happy and delighted.

Do a couple of household chores necessary

Household chores are probably not in your job description, but these tasks often accompany caregiving. When you go to work and stay in the room or house of the person that you are offering your care to, it is expected that you help in cleaning up their area. They cannot walk or move normally; hence, they cannot fully exert their effort in cleaning their houses. A little help in cleaning and doing the chores will help them feel better and recover because their surrounding is clean.

Best Contemporary Science Fiction Series to Keep an Eye on

Science fiction has been the talk of the town ever since Marry Shelly’s Frankenstein. The hype for this genre has become greater when the Star Trek novel series was released and adapted into a TV series. Both kids and adults enjoyed science fiction so much, making every book from this genre crawl to the top of bestselling lists. The amazing branches of science, advancements in technology, and other science and technology related aspects make this genre more interesting to the eyes and minds of the readers.

In this contemporary period of literature, sci-fi still continues to spark the imaginations of the readers. There is already wide variety of books that are making every bibliophile’s life more colorful. With that said, provided below are the best contemporary science fiction series for you to check out!

Shatter Me Series

Among the popular subcategory of sci-fi is dystopia. It is defined as a fictional society where an extreme degree of pain and injustice is present in a post-apocalyptic setting. Tahereh Mafi published the first book that has the same title as the series in 2011. It was followed by Unravel Me in 2013 and Ignite Me in 2014. The series follows the story of a 17-year-old Juliette who is also the narrator. The young protagonist has a lethal skill, wherein she drains the energy of every living creature that she touches making them paralyzed or dead. Before the sequel was produced, Mafi published an e-book called Destroy Me that took place after the first book. A year prior to the publication of Unravel Me, there was a sequel with the same title that was published containing the point of view of Warner. Moreover, it was followed by Fracture Me, Ignite Me, Restore Me, Shadow Me, Defy Me, Reveal Me, and Imagine Me.

The Genesis Project Series

Greg Van Arsdale is the brilliant mind behind The Genesis Project series. It centers on the story of a man named John Neumann and the alternate world that he created. The first book of the series is The Stranger, which is full of mystery and secrets. The protagonist was having an identity crisis for he couldn’t remember a bit about himself. However, he is still being chased by a mafia that aims to take his life. The sequel, New Beginnings, enlightens the readers of the back story of the main character. It is the book that contains all his memories because Neumann already recalled his identity. The tension rises because he now knew who his enemies are and what they are after. However, the Genesis machine that Neumann tried so hard to protect was infected by a virus. They blackmailed Neumann to hand over his multi-billion corporation or they will destroy the planet, however the protagonist has a clever plan in mind.

End Game is the third book of the series. It follows the story of Neumann who already entered his virtual world but in real trouble. He is surrounded by an army who wants nothing but his wealth and life. Hence, Neumann is working hard for his plan to work because his enemies will triumphantly get all that he had worked hard for including the virtual world. In the last book, The Final Day, the series is being put to an end. It presents how both the real and virtual worlds of John Neumann will end. In the former, the sister of one Neumann’s enemies aims to free his captured brother. Thus, her plan landed on killing people who get on her way from catching Neumann. In the latter, John Logan was freed making the place vulnerable.

The 5^th Wave Series

This post-apocalyptic sci-fi series is authored by Rick Yancey. It is composed of three novels that were published 1-2 years apart. The first novel is The 5^th Wave (2013), the second is The Infinite Sea (2014), and the third is The Last Star (2016). The series revolves around an alien invasion on the Earth. The invaders are referred to as “the Others.” They have an undetermined form and are attacking via a chain of waves. The Earth’s population has been greatly banished due to the 4 sequential waves, meaning that the 5^th upcoming attack will definitely threaten the life on Earth. Moreover, the sequel The Infinite Sea has made a mark on the readers for its dark aura but has received similar positive feedback as the first book. The Last Star is the last book of the series, which concludes the whole story.

The Importance of One’s Purpose in Life

Purpose, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, pertains to a thing that set as a goal to be achieved or an action in the verge of accomplishment. The connotation of the word purpose, however, weighs deeper than its literal meaning. Cliché as it sounds; there are many people out there who try so hard to find their purpose in life. Some of them have been in a very dark place but didn’t fail to see the light at the end of the road while others are still following a clear path hopeful to stumble upon their purpose on the process.

There are many mediums that can help you search for your true purpose in this world. The word of God is the best example, but books also help too. Sitting on Jesus’s Lap: Life on Earth is a book that contains Troy Louis’ a great purpose in life and how he encourages readers to love them and that they have a purpose. Perhaps you are wondering about the degree of importance of one’s life purpose. Listed below are the things that will satisfy your curiosity.

It motivates you to do better

Purpose is important because it drives you to become better, not just for yourself but for others. There may be times that you feel like all the energy has been drain from you. When moments like these come, the world will seems like a very plan and boring place. Nothing excites you anymore, like everything you do is pointless. But the moment that you discover your true purpose, everything will start to fall into place. You will be motivated to do more than what you already did. There is just something wonderful about knowing that you matter and that you are aiming for something. It makes you see the world in a different angle and inspires you to achieve the things that fulfill you.

It makes you realize that life is worth living

Life is the most peculiar thing. Sometimes you thought that you already have uncovered the mystery that surrounds it, but the truth is you still haven’t. There are just too many twists and turns that makes you confused. Life will also bring you a lot of highs but with corresponding lows. You will never know what happens next because you do not have the ability to peek into the future. It cannot be helped that the pain will blind you, making you want to surrender the fight. However, when you just adjust your view and focus on yourself instead of life, that’s when you will see the clearer view of the picture. Life will become worth living because you have something that you want to accomplish; and, giving up will never be an option anymore.

It helps you stand up more than the times that you fall

Whether you admit it or not, there is pretty handful of times that you have fallen. The first few falls have been easy peasy that you can immediately stand back up. However, the more you experience the downfalls, the more it becomes harder to stand up. Perhaps you have been so used to falling that you lost your will to try again. The thought of “surrendering will make everything easy” crowds your mind. However, it is just an illusion that you subconsciously created in order to suppress the pain and frustration that you are feeling. In these moments, your true purpose will begin to emerge and will give you more will to fight. Thus, you will never get tired of standing up no matter how many times you fall; and, facing each day with a head held high and a heart made stronger.

It increases your faith in yourself and your faith in Him

People are fickle beings, but the fickleness of their minds depends on the circumstances that they are in. So, your brain will start to generate multiple thoughts at the same time the moment that your life is challenged. Some of these thoughts are bothersome and will really put your mind to the line where darkness lies. Hence, you will soon begin to lose your self-esteem and even question God’s ways. But, there is always a silver lining in the middle of your overthinking and lowest point. The deeper you fall into darkness, the harder your heart aims to reveal your true purpose. Once you become enlightened, you will regain the faith that you have lost. Thus, you are now more confident than ever and you now have a firmer faith in Him.

Why Grandparents Always Have a Special Place in Our Hearts

Grandparents are the people who will never, in our wildest dreams, hurt us. They are the most loving individuals in the world. They are the softest and warmest people who always welcome us to their homes at any given time. With them by our side, the world seems to become a little less cruel. However, little did we know that they are fighting their own battle silently so we don’t have to worry about them. They always put us, grandchildren, first and make sure that we are living our best and most comfortable lives.

Sometime life becomes too harsh that they suddenly want to take our grandmas or grandpas back. When that time comes, it would break our hearts knowing that we cannot experience the same feels that they give. However, it would also bring us another type of comfort knowing that their sufferings are over and that they are in a better place.

Hence, because of the unforgettable experience that they gave or are giving us, we always want to honor them. That is why there are people who used their writing skills and write stories about them, such as the Grandpa Nick books by Lynda Daniele. Moreover, perhaps you are wondering how our grandparents crawled their way up to our whole existence, below are the reasons why.

They spoil us with love like no other

Although we receive love from our parents, the affection given by our grandparents hit differently making us feel more special and appreciated. Probably it is due to the fact that they have been existed in the world and have seen how it needs more love than ever. They are expert in the act of give and take that even if we haven’t given enough, they still spoil us with affection that is an ounce greater than we deserve. No one can top the warmth of their laughter, the security of their hugs, and the comfort of their presence. Moreover, maybe the reason why they provide us with love that cannot be compared to another is because they have experienced different types of love in their lifetime already, such as the puppy love, first love, love as a parent, great love, and more.

They feed us with a lot of good food

Who doesn’t like food? One of the best things of having grandparents is the delectable dishes that they feed us! The moment they knew about us coming over, they will start to gather ingredients and cook various dishes along with mouth-watering desserts. The food that they cook will slowly leave a big mark in your heart and mind. There are even a lot of memes on the internet showing the comparison of the physical features of grandchildren before and after they go to their grandparents’ house. One can never go out with a flat stomach because there will always be an extra belly fat gained. Moreover, when you go to a restaurant and you’re being served with your grandparents’ signature dish, you will be reminded of them and the whole eating experience will become nostalgic.

They share a bunch of wonderful tales and wisdom

Take note that they were our parent’s parents before they become our grandmas and grandpas. Hence, they have braved and fought every problems and challenges in life and there is nothing that can break them down now. Their experiences are the reason why they have become tougher every single day even if their physical aspects are becoming weaker. Their journey in life is also one of the reasons why they are full of amazing wisdom and stories, which they are sharing to us from time to time. Some of these tales are oral traditions that were also passed down to them by their elders while others are their personal tales that they want us to know. They also aim to teach us meaningful lessons from their failures and mistakes.

They guide us in our walk through life

In every ups and downs of life, our grandparents have already gone through it all. That is why they have didn’t only become older but also wiser. The more years added to their ages, the more they are filled with wisdom. There is no one you can turn to for advice when it comes to walking through life but our grandparents. They are the best people to talk to when you feel that the world is going against you, which life is crushing you to the core, and among other good and bad things that can make or break you.

Informative Books about Construction Management You Should Know

You probably are wondering what construction management is and how essential it is in life. The definition of construction management is a professional work that offers the project manager with an efficient handling of a particular project’s timetable, expenses, quality, security, extent, and duty. Therefore, it goes well with every project presentation ways. The primary duty of a Construction Manager is to present a well-done project to the owners.

Among the specific roles of construction management include but are not limited to the following: generating project goals and outlines including depiction of scope, schedule creation, budget allocation, and performance setting; making use of the resource effectiveness by acquiring of materials, tools, equipment, and manpower; and enforcing several operations by thorough cooperation and control of the overall process of planning, designing, estimating, contracting, and constructing.

So, if you want to get to know more about construction management, then you are on the right page! Listed below are the best books about the subject that you might want to check out.

Modern Construction Management by Frank Harris

In March 13, 2001, the 5^th edition of the book written by Frank Harris titled Modern Construction Management was published by Wiley-Blackwell. Although it is a nonfiction book, it also has fallen under the scope of other subcategories, which are civil engineering books, home design and construction books, and business management books. Moreover, it tackles various aspects of construction management, such as field level project creation management, important commercial factors and business management, and company handling and administration encompassing corporate events — including information technology systems and abroad services. Hence, Modern Construction Management is definitely essential for every student of construction management and even civil engineering.

Real Life Construction Management Guide from A-Z by Jamil Soucar

This exceptional guide book, Real Life Construction Management Guide from A-Z, was produced because of Jamil Soucar’s construction management understanding and construction industry knowledge that he wants to share to people. The book was published in 2017 by Dorrance Publishing and has earned several positive responses. It asks the readers if they have ever observed the flaws of the concepts that are in textbooks when applied to the real world. Hence, for readers to fully enter the world of construction management, they must mix together the theories, concepts, and experiences like how Real Life Construction Management Guide from A-Z does. Fusing life information and theoretical concepts together enable the book to provide a guide for those who aspire to become a well-established CM or construction manager.

Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights by Paul Netscher

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform published Paul Netscher’s Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights. The publication took place last February of 2017. Moreover, Netscher questions the readers about the dozen steps to achieve a successful construction project, practices that mold an amazing project manager, methods of how technology eases the project, mistakes in the pricing process, and a whole lot more. The book gives substantial insights and answers to these queries, as well as contains over 50 articles that have been successfully published to different sites on the internet. It is also composed of practical concepts, tips, and ideas that are product of the author’s 3 decades of experience in the field of construction. These aspects can give the key for you to finish your project on hand profitably, securely, and on schedule along with the needed project quality and a delighted client.

Introduction to Construction Management by Fred Sherratt

This textbook that touched the scope of civil engineering, construction engineering, and home design was published in 2015 by Routledge. It was authored by Fred Sherratt along with Peter Farrell. It tackles how proper handling and management in the field of construction is a daunting and difficult work. There can be several members of the group that frequently conduct dangerous work. The pile of rules and legally required documents and the constant risk of plans to go wrong add up to the complexity of the industry. But with this book, construction management is presented in a new approach. This textbook aims to help those newbies in this industry to get to know the main principles, ideas, methods, terminologies, and other important details that come along with modern construction management.

How Picture Books Brought Children’s Literature to the Next Level

Children’s literature is already great as it is. There have been wide arrays of children books in this genre that already made it to the top of best-selling lists, recommendation lists, to-be-read lists, and other important lists that prove their effectiveness. There are also those that luckily sit on the shelves of children’s bedrooms, local public libraries, and school libraries. However, a little twist and turn would do a big help in improving its beauty and engagement.

Picture book is one of the best improvements that happened in children’s literature. The utilization of pictures in books that already contain great stories brought the genre’s A game. The Wonderful Things You Will Be, Enchanted Rainbows, Owl Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, and The Cat in the Hat are some of the best picture books of all time. Hence, if you are wondering how pictures books brought children’s literature to the next level, below are the methods that will answer your questions.

They increase readers’ vocabulary

Books always have a unique way of teaching; but, what makes picture books better teachers is their approach towards learning. They use a language that is relevant to their target readers, which are children of different ages. It is already a common knowledge that every person does not have the same learning pace and preferences, this also applies to reading. However, picture books use its powers to help kids increase their vocabulary through the fun and imaginative stories that they highlight. Although there are some that still cannot read, having someone to tell the story for them will still increase their vocabulary little by little until those words will be learned, remembered, and used by them.

They develop readers’ comprehension

Comprehension is not only important in reading but also in life in general. Without this skill, people will be having a hard time processing the ups and downs of life. It is better to develop one’s understanding when they are still little so that learning will be ascending and free-flowing. Hence, a person can figure everything out on his own just by observing, assessing, and evaluating the situation. The development of comprehension is one of the greatest gifts that picture books provide to their readers. With the valuable stories and entertaining illustrations, the readers will understand the events and message of the tales easily; thus, improving their skills in comprehension.

They magnet readers’ attention better

People generally have short attention spans and fickle minds. But the case for kids is different because they are still innocent and enthusiastic, meaning that they may have a shorter attention spans and more fickle minds than teens and adults. Every little thing excites children as long as it’s colorful, adorable, and interesting in their eyes. With the bright colors of the covers, wonderful cover illustrations, entertaining tales, and awesome pictures incorporated in picture books, children will be most likely to become interested in reading and will finish the whole story in no time. Their attention will be fixed on the story and the pictures and perhaps they will become enthusiastic in reading more picture books.

They provide greater reading experiences

One of the things that define the success of a book is if the readers had a great experience in reading the book. This can be assessed and observed if the readers had a big smile, a good cry, a warm heart, and other emotions all throughout the reading process. It can also be evaluated after the readers finished the book and tell if they have learned something from the piece. The thing is that the pictures are definitely among the reasons why children become more hooked into the story. People are visual creatures, and there is no one in this world that doesn’t take an interested in something that has pictures on it. Hence, for the case of picture books, who doesn’t want to read a book with amazing illustrations and heartwarming tale?

To wrap it up, there is another kind of magic that picture books bring to children’s literature. Its overall characteristics made it possible for children to become more interested and delighted in reading. Hence, picture books have indeed brought children’s literature into another level of awesomeness.

American Literature Books to Read this Coming Election

America is always the country that is listed in every dream destinations, bucket lists, and travel goals of people from all over the world. Who wouldn’t want to explore the United States? It has picturesque sceneries, rich culture, wonderful attractions, delectable foods, amazing people, and great history. No wonder why it is one of the best places to land on and discover.

But the United States, as of the moment, is in a buzz because the election is fast approaching! Presidential debates are already being conducted and scheduled. Hence, it is now the time for citizens in the US to evaluate and use their voice to create changes in the system and in the society. This is the perfect moment to use their right to vote and give their country the things that it deserves; that said, provided below are the best fiction novels to read this coming US election for readers to ignite their love for their country and cast their votes to the suitable candidates.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the most popular classic books of American literature is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was originally published on April 10, 1925 by Charles Scribner’s Sons in the US while on February 10, 1926 by Chatto & Windus in the UK.

It follows the story of a peculiar wealthy bachelor named Jay Gatsby who always hosts grand parties at his home. However, the story is narrated by Nick Carraway who is a friend of the well-known bachelor. Through Nick’s eyes, he discovered Gatsby’s longing and obsession of being reigniting the flame that once burned brightly between him and the fine Daisy Buchanan. That is when everything went downhill when Daisy and Gatsby met again. Moreover, one of the themes of the story is the failure of achieving the American Dream.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is an embodiment of literary success. This book is still living its glory days from the moment that it was published by Roberts Brothers in 1868-1869 until today. It is considered to be one of the books that highlighted how women have the rights to dream and succeed.

This coming of age story centers on the March sisters. They are named Margaret, Josephine, Elizabeth, and Amy who transitioned from being amazing children to fine women. Homemaking, labor, and love are the three themes that Little Women revolves on. In the past, females are viewed as the inferior gender because of the societal perception that they are physically weaker and cannot compete with men’s ability to do work. So, instead of teaching women politics, physical work, and other things that men enjoy back in the day — they were taught how to become proper ladies that make the best housewives. But Little Women made its way to break the gender stereotypes that is why it is still being read until today.

The Bald Eagle Who Wanted to Fly the American Flag by Attilio Guardo

Attilio Guardo is a versatile author whose books belong to different literary genres. Hence, The Bald Eagle Who Wanted to Fly the American Flag by Attilio Guardo is a contemporary work of fiction under children’s literature that centers on the love for the country and the drive to go on an adventure.

This book focuses on a little bald eagle named Elgae who recently learned about how his one-of-a-kind inherited sense of family identity is the symbol of America. Because of that, he started to desire to come to Washington D.C and began dreaming to fly all across the country’s capital with the American flag. To live his dream, he must be able to bear the journey from California to Washington D.C. Thus, the motivated eagle started to embark on the trip of his lifetime and encountered challenges on his way. Little Elgae definitely teaches readers what patriotism, courage, and love mean.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

This satirical children’s adventure novel has created a lot of buzz in the world right after its publication. It is written by Samuel Langhorne Clemens under the pen name Mark Twain and was published originally in 1876. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was followed by yet another satirical sequel called The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin.

The book centers on adventure with a hint of criticizing the society. This has tackled the serious issues of the real world, which is the reason that it was one of the banned books from libraries before. It follows the journey of young Tom Sawyer who embarked on a wide array of adventures along with his comrade Huckleberry Fin. The book, moreover, is a bestselling classic that has been adapted into a cartoon series.

Crossing of Disciplines: Brilliant Psychologists in the Field of Literature

The realms of psychology and literature are completely different from one another. The former refers to the scientific investigation of the mind and behavior and also covers health, human development, cognitive processes, and more. The latter, on the other hand, pertains to any anthology of oral and written pieces and writings that are considered as work of the creative and artistic minds. But have you ever wondered if these two disciplines would intersect? What could be the result?

Literature and psychology would probably meet in the middle and create wonderful works that center on self-development, mental health, and other aspects that revolve on the people. Some of the notable writings that are being enjoyed by readers today are Man’s Search for Meaning, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, and Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life.

It is already known in both fields that there are authors who are promising psychologists and likewise. That said; let us get to know the brilliant minds of psychology and literature.

Angela Lee Duckworth

The brilliant psychologist, author, and academic Angela Lee Duckworth is known for her study on grit — which is an optimistic and non-cognitive characteristic based on a person’s determination and passion towards a certain long-term goal. Duckworth has an impressive educational background. She attended Harvard College and got her B.A in Neurobiology, and went to the University of Oxford and acquired her master’s degree in neuroscience. In 2006, she earned her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance is Angela’s New York Times bestselling book that was launched in 2016. It conquered the bestselling list for 5 months and 1 week. She definitely created a big impact on science and literature with her study on grit and everything that revolves on it.

Eric Alsterberg

The licensed psychologist Dr. Eric Alsterberg is the author of the must-read books Life Is An Adventure: A Guide to the Path of Joy and Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary. For 32 years, Dr. Alsterberg has been working as a clinical psychologist. Giving relevant and substantial custody and parenting time analyses and interventions to the local Court of Michigan is among his works as of now. He also conduct counseling sessions for seniors in nursing homes, treatments for patients in an outpatient clinic, clinical hypnosis or visual hypnosis to clients, and healing circle hosting. Apart from being a renowned psychologist and author, he is also certified Teacher I and have executed his expertise in Rocky Mountain Mystery School and Astara Mystery School.

Sonja Lyubomirsky

The John Trempleton Foundation grant, Science of Generosity grant, Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, and National Institute of Mental Health million-dollar grant awardee Dr. Sonja Lyumbomirsky is a Russian psychologist and professor in the University of California Riverside. Apart from being an award-winning psychologist, she is also a bestselling author of the book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. The book is full of strategies supported by a scientific study that can be utilized to improve happiness.

Paul Bloom

The popular Canadian-American Paul Bloom is an award-winning psychologist. Among the awards that he had earned are the Stanton Prize, Lex Hixon Prize, 2017 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, and more. Furthermore, he attended McGill University where he didn’t only earned his B.A. in psychology but also graduated first of his class. Hence, he pursued his Pd.D. in cognitive psychology in Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1990. Bloom is also known as the author of multiple impeccable books and writer of well-written articles. Examples of his works are Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil, Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion, How Children Learn the Meanings of Words, The War on Reasons, Does religion make you nice?, Is God an accident?, and more.

Robert Biswas-Diener

The positive psychologist Robert Biswas-Diener is the offspring of two brilliant psychologists, which are Carol Diener and Ed Diener. His study on positive psychology, profit and happiness, and culture and happiness paved the way for him to be referred to as the Indiana Jones of positive psychology. It is because he has been to different states in order to produce a well-written research, such as India, Kenya, Spain, Greenland, and Israel. Biswas-Diener is also known for being a successful author of multiple books, such as The Courage Quotient: How Science Can Make You Braver, Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention, and more.