Eva Wong's How To Win is a book that provides numerous tactics and advice on how to conduct life dealings based on ancient Chinese maxims and military strategies.

WHY I LOVE THE BOOK
If you love books like Art of War (Sun Tzu), then you will enjoy How To Win as it goes beyond explanation into practicalities of how some of these tactics were used in Ancient China and what it takes to use them today.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR?
This is for self-help nerds who enjoy deep sayings and decoding their meanings. Chinese philosophy enthusiasts will get a lot more from historical references and examples that are in this book.

Many thanks to Shambhala for a review copy.

Many thanks to Viz Media for the review copy.

This is one of the many posters I have been working on during the lockdown. To snag a copy, please visit my Rebubble store.

"For the majority of us, however, faith in nature’s goodness only affects certain aspects of our lives—some food choices here and there, or maybe that expensive organic mattress for the baby’s crib. Even so, it is important to recognize that the effects of a lukewarm faith are not limited to individuals’ decisions. Nature worship infuses culture in myriad ways, its power hidden under the sediment of time and built into the unconscious demands of custom and language, making it all the more difficult to recognize and challenge."

Natural argues against dogmatism when it comes what we assume to be natural and what is not concerning food, culture, and ways of life.

WHY I LOVE THE BOOK
There are reasonable arguments about how what was initially conceived as unnatural can be beneficial to humanity (for example, the advent of fertilizer). The author also put forward arguments about how actions that some might think is the natural way of things can be a cloak for bigotry and evil (eugenics, mixed-race marriages, etc).

This is a work that is not for either side of the argument but much on the side of balance, reason, and humanity.


DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR
For anyone who loves the environment and wants to do their best to care for the earth.

Many thanks to Random House for a review copy.

A Wonderful Life is a book that aims to find out how to live fully. It explores the results of the breakdown of traditional and cultural structures, how it has led to existential crises and unhappiness in modern lives. The book examines the prevalent lack of meaning in the modern person's life and plots a few paths to mending that longing for meaning that plagues us today.

WHY I LOVE THE BOOK
Any book that explores how to enrich our inner lives is always a joy for me to read. The author does a good job analysing the sources of most of our unhappiness today - lack of community, the collapse of religious structures, our absolute faith in technology, etc.

DISLIKES
It is easy to point out flaws and propose solutions, however, it is difficult laying out how those solutions can be achieved. I think this is a book heavy on what but not how. Though the author points out to building communities, understanding ourselves, among many solutions, there is little in the way of how to achieve that exactly.

WHO IS IT FOR
This is a book for anyone looking for how to be more happy, fulfilled and contented in their lives.

Many thanks to HarperCollins for a review copy.