“Elsewhere” – a Dean Koontz book.

Dean Koontz has a new book coming out Oct. 6th, 2020, called: “ELSEWHERE”.

I won’t be ordering it, yet, as its in ebook? or Kindle form. Hoping for a paperback version later. It sounds good. But there’s more (from Amazon.com) :

The fate of the world is in the hands of a father and daughter in an epic novel of wonder and terror by Dean Koontz, the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.

Since his wife, Michelle, left seven years ago, Jeffy Coltrane has worked to maintain a normal life for himself and his eleven-year-old daughter, Amity, in Suavidad Beach. It’s a quiet life, until a local eccentric known as Spooky Ed shows up on their doorstep.

Ed entrusts Jeffy with hiding a strange and dangerous object—something he calls “the key to everything”—and tells Jeffy that he must never use the device. But after a visit from a group of ominous men, Jeffy and Amity find themselves accidentally activating the key and discovering an extraordinary truth. The device allows them to jump between parallel planes at once familiar and bizarre, wondrous and terrifying. And Jeffy and Amity can’t help but wonder, could Michelle be just a click away?

Jeffy and Amity aren’t the only ones interested in the device. A man with a dark purpose is in pursuit, determined to use its grand potential for profound evil. Unless Amity and Jeffy can outwit him, the place they call home may never be safe again.

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Self-Help Book: “How to Live 365 Days a Year” by John A. Schindler M.D.

LIfe has its stresses and hassles.  Sometimes we may feel too worried, or depressed, or angry, or too rushed, or irritated by aggravations.

It would nice, if more of the time, we could feel both: 1. Calm and 2. Happy

John A. Schindler M.D. and his book: “How to Live 365 Days a Year” can be a big help with that.  The book was written years ago but is still very relevant and accurate, today.

No, it’s not another book on “Mindfulness” or “positive thinking” or visualization. More down to earth and physical and some solid everyday advice.

It talks about how we can be “calm, and happy. –Right now.” You will also get a mini-education about: Glands and hormones.  No worries, he keeps it simple and not too technical, but you will likely find it eye-opening.

What is STH? What is ACTH? What can be the long-term effect of too much of these? Who was Dr. Hans Seyle?  The book mentions that “Good Emotions are your best medicine!”  Several times, you will be presented with a real-life situation, and see how 2 different people handled it, one in a healthy way, the other one not so much. You can see the difference.  This is realistic advice you can put into practice. You will also learn more about your body chemistry and how it affects you.

Who doesn’t want to feel more “Calm. and Happy. –Right now”?   Amazon.com should have this book. Barnes & Noble should be able to order it. Get it. Read it. It is definitely “time well-spent”.   🙂   You’ll feel better.   PS—I post about a variety of topics. Scroll down and see my last 12 posts, or explore my monthly archives. Thanks for stopping by.    –the Owl

Dean Koontz books

Dean Koontz has written some very suspenseful and interesting books. And some that I felt were a letdown. When he’s hot, he’s “on Fire!” And when he isnt, I feel its because A) some books have rushed and too abrupt endings, and B) sometimes there are too many unnecessary characters or the book rambles with things that could be left out.  But when he’s good, he’s reeeeally good!  So if you are indoors and could use some good books to read, I offer these, by Dean Koontz:

If you’ve never read anything of Koontz’s I would start with:

“The Vision”    This one reads fast. A lady psychic can sit in a car, put her hands on the steering wheel, close her eyes and–almost– see who the killer was.  Koontz gives great suspense.  It moves fast.

“Lightning”   Completely different from The Vision.  The main character is Laura Shane. A mysterious man suddenly shows up at the most critical or uncanny times to either rescue her, or alter an outcome. Yet, at some bad times, Laura is left to fend for herself. Amazing “incidents”.  Who is this good samaritan? Where is he from? Why does he do it? How?

“Night Chills”    Pressing harder on the gas pedal, a driver goes fast and faster and smashes his car and himself in a suicide. But why?  Then, we find out that a town’s water supply has been drugged. And what is the “Key/Lock Program?”

“The Face”   Someone, is leaving surprise packages at a rich persons house. What things are being left there? By who? Why?

“Midnight” was also a good read.  I haven’t read Koontz’s “Intensity” but many have reported they liked that one.  Have also  heard that “Hideaway” was a good one.

I read another book that Koontz wrote under the name of Leigh Nichols, called: “Shadowfires”.  Rachel and Eric are getting a divorce. Then Eric dies. But his body is missing. Or is it? What was “The Wildcard Project?”

Try the above, first.  Another nice thing about Koontz is that his books are often quite different, in plot, from each other. Good variety and imagination.

I could not finish “The Bad Place”.  It rambles all over the place and I kept asking wherrrrre?? is this going, before just saying heck with it and giving up.  I seem to remember “Winter Moon” being a letdown at the end, and also “From the Corner of His Eye”. This was more sentimental, not creepy enough.  But when Koontz is good, he’s really good.  Try some of the above.  Good reads.

 

The World Almanac Book of the Strange, Vol. 1

Who was Nostradamus?

What is The Crystal Skull?

Who carved the giant Heads made out of rock, on Easter Island? and how? and why?

Why have planes and ships disappeared in “The Bermuda Triangle”?

Why do we sometimes experience Deja Vu?

What is Automatic Writing?

Order the book: The World Almanac Book of the Strange, Volume 1.  This is THE most fair, level-headed, pro and con book on all of those odd and unusual things you’ve wondered about that I’ve ever seen so far.  A fascinating variety of topics covered, with reasons for, and reasons against. You decide. Definitely an interesting read.

Living Better & Too Much Advice

There is no shortage of advice these days. On how to be:

A Success….or Happier……or more Productive……or Fulfilled….and on and on.

But it’s time ask yourself:  What do *you* think is “the Answer”—and why that? Ya know, its kinda weird. For all the tons of books and advice out there, almost no one tells you to “trust your own judgement”.  Everyone wants you to follow *them* (while they make more money). People are too dependent and reliant on what others tell them is the answer—to “get ahead”…to “find Bliss”…or whatever.

I was just recently in a Barnes and Noble Bookstore and there are lots of books on “Mindfulness”. It’s all the rage these days. And meditation. In the bookstores, On Youtube.  But—the answer, keeps changing with time. As if they are fads that come and go.

Over the last 40 years, advice has been all over the map. But what do *you* think is best?  Is it all about:

“letting go”…..or “taking responsibility”……or “getting in touch with your inner child”….or cutting out “toxic people”……or “getting more confidence”…..or “finding your passion”……or starting your own business…..or “forgiving yourself”…..or “being assertive”…..or labeling half the people in your life as “narcissists” and then ghosting them?…..or buying excersize equipment?….or being more “grounded” (How? what does that even mean?)….or “balancing your Chakras?”…..or “being more mindful” ?

Next year, when the bookstores have another new batch of advice-books, will you jump on the Bandwagon or whatever the next fad is? Even the “experts” keep changing. So!  After all the books, and TedTalks, and Youtube videos, and therapists—-What do *you* think is best? and Why?
….

 

 

 

Some thoughts on Spiritualism & Spirituality

I had fun researching and reading about what I’ll call “History of Alternative Spirituality/Occult.

Here’s some thoughts on Spiritualism.  The “Big-Daddy” of Modern Spiritualism would be, in my opinion, Andrew Jackson Davis. He wrote: The Principles of Nature (1847) and The Great Harmonia (1850). He died in January of 1910.

In 1875,  we got Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and the founding of Theosophy (the Theosophical Society). This was less Spiritualistic and more Occult than Spiritualism. By 1885, Andrew Jackson Davis would have been married 3 times and had all of them end. His popularity very likely diminished after that. In 1888, Blavatsky would write The Secret Doctrine.  A massive 2 vol. set that few would read completely. She had already written another 2 vol. set earlier called: Isis Unveiled (in 1877 ?).

Even though Davis’s popularity faded, many people were still interested in Spiritualism. Why rely on Davis? People wanted to communicate with the dead on their own. Then we got “the Ouija Board” (in 1891?)

But Science and Materialism were marching on, and we also had Robert G. Ingersoll “The Great Agnostic’ and his writings from about 1872 to 1899. In 1902, after Davis’s 3 marriages, Frank Podmore would write “Modern Spiritualism”. I believe this was a critque.  Then, 1914-1918, we had World War 1.

By the 1920’s, there were all sorts of beliefs one could get into: Spiritualism, Theosophy, “The Mind-Cure Movement” (as William James called it), Psychology, Christianity, Mysticism and more. Spiritualsim would still be popular in England. Arthur Conan Doyle would turn to Spiritualism, and Arthur Finlay would write the book “On the Edge of the Etheric”. Then, in America, we would have the Great Depression and also World War 2 and alot of people were likely too busy for alot of reading.

That’s my opinion, from reading and researching. I wasn’t there but I think that’s close to how things went.  If you want still more info, a good book on this kind of stuff is “Occult America” by Mitch Horowitz. Amazon.com should carry it.

BOOK: The 60-second Shrink by Arnold A. Lazarus PH.D. and Clifford N. Lazarus, PH,D.

Book: “The 60-second Shrink” (Over 100 Strategies for Staying Sane in a Crazy World) by Arnold A. Lazarus PH,D. and Clifford N. Lazarus PH,D.

Lots of useful advice in this book! From the Table of Contents: 1. What to Say When You Talk to Yourself

22. The Dangers of Faulty Positive Thinking

31. Setting Realistic Goals

41. Keys to a Successful Marriage

62. Assertion, Aggression and Passivity

89. The Three Major Types of Psychotherapies

97. Got a Problem? Take Something for it? Or Do Something About it?

And there’s much more. A useful and handy reference to have.

Relationship Book: Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay by Mira Kirshenbaum

New Boyfriend? New Girlfriend? Maybe you’ve both been together awhile and now that the initial fire has settled down, you think about your future together. Or perhaps you’ve been together even longer and while things aren’t that terrible, but they’re not that great, either.

You’re thinking that things could be worse. But you also wish you were more happy. And you ask yourself: Should I stay or should I go?

Mira Kirshenbaum has written a good book to help you decide. It’s called: “Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay”.   Amazon.com has this. Barnes & Noble could probably order it if they don’t already have it. An informative book!  Would be useful for men or women. https://www.amazon.com/Too-Good-Leave-Stay-Publisher/dp/B004TDDLP0/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516665704&sr=1-2&keywords=too+good+to+leave+too+bad+to+stay   P.S.–like this post? I blog about several different topics. Music, Books, Spirituality, TV,….   Explore my posts. Followers welcome!   🙂

Book: “Philosophy Made Simple”, by Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll

Philosophy. What is The Good Life?

Who was Aristotle? Who was Spinoza?

Who was David Hume? Who was Rene Descartes?

What is Hedonism? Stoicism? Pragmatism? What is Epistemology?

What is the difference between Subjectivist and Objectivist Ethics? How can each of them be criticized?

Explore what many Philosophers have thought, in the book: Philosophy Made Simple by Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll.  It’s a fun read and you can learn alot.

Book: “Bright-Sided” by Barbara Ehrenreich

People tell you to “think positive”.  What could be wrong with that? Actually, quite a bit. More than you think. No, even more than that!

Does this mean we should think negatively? No. It doesn’t. But in her book “Bright-Sided”, author Barbara Ehrenreich shows us just how rampant and wide-spread and too-much-of-a-good-thing “being positive” has become. Read this book! After about pg. 30, it gets reeeeally eye-opening. Maybe even shocking. Most people have nnoooo idea how New Thought began, and how it got applied and over-used in so many different areas. This is an informative read. People need this info.

 

Books: “Phantoms” by Dean Koontz

“Phantoms” by Dean Koontz is a good read! Read the outside back cover of the paperback. Stephen King described it as: Gruesome! Unrelenting!

This one gets good right away, in under 5 pages. Enjoy!  –theOwl30

Book: Self-Creation by Dr. George Weinberg

Self-Creation by Dr. George Weinberg. This is one of the top 5 best self-help books I’ve ever read!

Not another ultra-positive “fluff” book.  Insightful. Believable. Useful.

Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble Books should be able to get it for you. A great book that applies to real-life everyday situations.

#Books #Psychology #SelfHelp #Depression #PersonalGrowth #Adulting