Rising Above a Toxic Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself in an Unhealthy Environment by Gary D Chapman, Paul E. White, Harold Myra

What is it about?

Toxic organizations are rife with conflict, fear and anger. The environment causes people to have physiological responses as if they're in a fight-or-flight situation. Healthy people become ill. Colds, flu and stress-related illnesses such as heart attacks are more common. By contrast, in resonant organizations, people take fewer sick days and turnover is low. People smile, make jokes, talk openly and help one another." - Annie McKee (author, consultant)

Many employees experience the reality of bulling bosses, poisonous people, and soul-crushing cultures on a daily basis. Rising Above a Toxic Workplace tells authentic stories from today's workers who share how they cope, change-or quit. Candidly they open up about what they learned, what they wish they had done, and how to gain resilience. Insightfully illustrating from these accounts, authors Gary Chapman, Paul White, and Harold Myra blend their combined experiences in ministry and business to deliver hope and practical guidance to those who find themselves in an unhealthy work environment. Includes a Survival Guide and Toolkit full of strategies and realistic insights.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This is an excellent book for anyone to read! At some time in our lives we all find ourselves in a toxic environment, it may not only be at work. There were lots of example stories from real people about the toxic environments they found themselves in and what they did to change it or to get away from it. There were stories from leaders explaining what they did to keep the work environment happy and productive. 
I really liked the survival strategies at the end of each chapter along with the leadership lessons. There are also discussion questions at the end of each chapter which make it an excellent book to use as a tool for training

What It Was Like by Peter Seth

What is it about?

“It’s really a very simple story. What happened was this: I met this girl and did a very stupid thing. I fell in love. Hard. I know that to some people that makes me an idiot and a loser. What can I say? They’re right. I did some extremely foolish things; I’m the first to say it. And they’ve left me in jail and alone.”

So begins one of the most compelling, emotionally charged, and affecting novels you are likely to read this year.

It is the summer of 1968 and a young man takes a job at a camp in upstate New York before starting his first semester at Columbia University. There, he meets Rachel Price, a fellow counselor who is as beautiful as she is haunted. Their romance will burn with a passion neither of them has ever known before…a passion with the power to destroy.

In the tradition of Endless Love and Gone Girl, What it was Like is an intimate, raw, and revealing journey through the landscape of all-consuming love. It announces the debut of a remarkable storyteller.

My Thoughts....

I rated this book two out of five stars.

*This book was provided by the publisher as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.*

These days, when a book is compared to being like another hit book I usually don't pick it up. But this book was provided as an ARC from Net Galley and it sounded interesting, so even though it was compared to Gone Girl in the blurb, I downloaded it anyway. 
The idea of the book was good, but it seemed like there was something missing through out the entire story. I was waiting for the big reveal and there was none. I get that it was about an all consuming love, a young obsession that lead to a tragic end. There seemed to be a piece of Rachel that was left out or not fully developed. I believe this book could have been great, if only there was more of Rachel's true self in the book. Maybe having a few chapters from her point of view would have given the reader a better understanding of where exactly she was coming from. The relationship between Rachel and her parents needed more explaining, because, honestly, it didn't seem to warrant the over the top negativity described in the book.
There was also a lot left unexplained- a lot of what seemed like foreshadowing that was never followed through on. For example, at the end of camp, the narrator's friend makes a statement along the lines of "get in touch with me and I'll tell you what really happened this summer." That seemed like it was going to be a major part of the story, however that character was never mentioned again. There were also incidents where people gave vague warnings or strange comments that were never followed up on later in the book. 
I found myself skimming quite a bit because there was a lot of unnecessary description and even entire scenes that were not needed. To me, it seemed like the author dwelled on the unimportant and completely left out things that were important.
Overall, it was okay. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. 

This book is due for publication on September 2, 2014. 

Virgin by Radhika Sanghani

What is is about?

Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.

Yet.

This is normal, right?  I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?

It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.

The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?

Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?

I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.

Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars.

I was expecting to really like this book. I thought it was going to be very funny. However I didn't like it all that much and I didn't find it to be all that funny. I thought the main character was quite annoying actually. I kept reading, waiting for the big moment, the life changing moment, but it didn't happen. So then I kept waiting for 'funny' to happen, only that didn't happen either. 
The book did touch on some important issues- peer pressure, conformity, virginity (obviously), relationships and how media affects our perceptions of what is 'normal' and acceptable. These are important issues for today's youth.
It was a disappointment, not at all what I expected.