The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight- Book review

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! – Here is my review of The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight

What if you could share your vision, and stop that train? Could these forebodings help the world to prevent disasters?
In 1966, John Barker, a dynamic psychiatrist working in an outdated British mental hospital, established the Premonitions Bureau to investigate these questions. He would find a network of hundreds of correspondents, from bank clerks to ballet teachers. Among them were two unnervingly gifted “percipients”. Together, the pair predicted plane crashes, assassinations and international incidents, with uncanny accuracy. And then, they informed Barker of their most disturbing premonition: that he was about to die.
The Premonitions Bureau is an enthralling true story, of madness and wonder, science and the supernatural – a journey to the most powerful and unsettling reaches of the human mind.

Review

I must make a confession; I was in a bit of rush when I picked this book off the shelf at my local waterstones. I took one look at the title and assumed with a title like the Premonitions Bureau, this book by Sam Knight would be firmly in the science- fiction genre. But this book is a strange true story!

Moon Yoga by Lisa Hood- Book review/Blog Tour

I’m pleased to be part of the Random Things Tours Blog Tour for Moon Yoga by Lisa Hood- yoga practice that can fit into your busy life.

Yoga is both a physical practice and a spiritual one. Expert yoga instructor Lisa Hood provides insightful guidance on how to shape a spiritual practice that channels the moon’s energy to stimulate vitality, creativity, productivity and relaxation. Whether you work through a whole flow, focus on one pose, or just work through a breathing exercise, aligning your body and your mind in a moment of spiritual connection with the moon can help you centre yourself, even if just for a few moments in the middle of a busy day.
– Learn about how each phase of the moon brings a different energy into your life.
– Move with the moon with yoga positions and flows that draw on the energy of each of the nine lunar phases.
– Adjust your practice seasonally with practices for each of the full moons of the year, such as the Wolf Moon, Flower Moon and Corn Moon.
– Find rituals to carry you through the cycles of the moon.
With uplifting mantras and rituals to provide grounding, strengthened intuition and mindfulness beyond your physical practice, Moon Yoga gives you all the tools you need to move in sync with the moon.

Review

I try to be regular in my Yoga practice but I have to admit I struggle with this, so I look forward to incorporating Lisa’s Hood Moon Yoga into my daily life (or at least try to!).

How to be Perfect by Micheal Schur- Book review

I loved The Good Place, especially the discussions of Moral philosophy, so Michael Schur’s How to be perfect was the perfect and hilarious introduction.

Source- My own

Genre- Non- fiction

Most people think of themselves as “good,” but it’s not always easy to determine what’s “good” or “bad”—especially in a world filled with complicated choices and pitfalls and booby traps and bad advice. Fortunately, many smart philosophers have been pondering this conundrum for millennia and they have guidance for us. With bright wit and deep insight, How to Be Perfect explains concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, and more so we can sound cool at parties and become better people.

Book review

I loved The Good Place, especially the discussions of Moral philosophy, so Michael Schur’s How to be perfect was the perfect introduction to this complex subject.

Michael Schur’s writing is hilarious, making what could be a dry and boring subject fun and I loved the little footnotes by him and his Professor Todd May the Philosophical Professor. His writing style makes sense of various philosophical discussions such as the Trolley Problem, Contractualism, Utilitarianism, etc.

Schur discusses the teaching and thoughts of various philosophers from Aristotle to Kant to Scanlan to Phillipa Foot – their pros and cons and how they relate to modern-day problems. Questions such as Should I tell my friend her shirt is Ugly or I screwed up should I say I’m sorry.

I really enjoyed the discussion around unintended consequences and how difficult it is to try and lead an ethical life as well as the realities of trying to be charitable.

There is of course, chapters dedicated to the Trolley Problem and What we owe to each other – major concepts in The Good Place ( an some of the funniest!)

The book has made me want to learn more about Moral Philosophy but after reading this book I do feel more optimistic that perhaps even making small changes can help me be a better person.

Perfect for

People who want to dip their toes in Moral Philosophy and of course fans of the Good Place.

Femina by Janina Ramirez- Book Review

I loved this trip through history focussing on women who have been written out of important events and this book shows that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction Here is my review of Femina by Janina Ramirez.