5 Questions with Dr. Minirth, author of Boost Your Brainpower

 

How'd this book come about?

I've long realized the brain could be accentuated Reading in psychiatry has correlated to that degree. Neuroplacticity is very important.
What is a good exercise people can do instantly for boosting their brainpower?

Word memorization.

What's the most inspiring story about someone boosting their brainpower you've heard?

I see people all the time that improve their cognitive thinking through word memorization.

Are there any foods you'd recommend for brain power boosting?

Caffeine as appropriate for each individual increases dopamine which increases the ability to think.

What's next for you?

I have several books being viewed by publishers that deal with cognition.

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5 Questions with Norman Phillips, author of Professional Posing Techniques

 

What makes a good pose?
A pose that flatters the subject, has leading lines, does not forshorten
limbs and if legs are included they are posed so as to create a tapered from
the top to the feet and when hands are included they are shown running
across the camera, not angled directly at the casmera and works with the
lighting plan.

What's a tip you'd give a newcomer to the modelling word in terms of
posing?
Unless the photographer directs you to face on to camera, always present
yourself at an angle to the camera.  Relax.  Don't force a pose that may
make you look uncomfortable.  Place hands so that they are presented without
either the back or palm of the hand to the camera.  Cross your ankles to
create a tapered line from hips to feet.  Enjoy what you are doing.  Dn't
make it look like a chore.

What's the best way to think of a camera to develop the best relationship
with it for posing?

Ignore the camera and focus on the photographer and his/her directions.
Project yourself in a way to express yourself and elicit excitement.  Don't
look disinterested, interact with the photographer, it makes the images look
alive.

Which model out there right now strikes you as being the most camera
 friendly model?

 This is a tough one.Locally, the best model I worked with is Jennifer
Williams, she is delightful to work with and responsive to directions and
smiles at every prompting. But Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hawkins and Jennifer
Lopez are truly camera friendly.

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 AVAILABLE HERE

Praise for The Book of Skin 'Richly conceived and elaborately thought out. No flicker of meaning has escaped Connor's ferocious, all seeing eye.' - The Guardian Praise for Fly 'In Fly, Steven Connor undertakes the monumental task of acquainting a prejudiced public with the spectacular diversity of Diptera. The book is a tour de force of all manner of flies through both scientific and cultural lenses ... The illustrations are an unremitting delight ... Fly is a joy to read' - Science

5 Questions with Brad Warner, author of Sex, Sin & Zen

 

What is the traditional Buddhist viewpoint on sex?

In ancient Buddhist tradition monks, both male and female, were celibate. For lay people there were only 4 rules. No sex that is unlawful, no sex with anyone still under the protection of their parents, no sex with criminals and no sex with those who are married or engaged to someone else. After a while a large list of sexual regulations for monks was developed. But later on this was abandoned and there was only one rule, do not misuse sexuality. This applied to both monks and lay people. 

Since the Meiji Restoration of the 1860s, Japanese Buddhist monks, again male and female, are no longer required to observe the rule of celibacy. But generally speaking, they remain celibate during their training period, which may be a few months or a few years. 

There are no restrictions on sex other than this. For example there is no idea that pre-marital sex is forbidden. There are no ideas that homosexuality is wrong. And so on. It is up to each individual to decide for herself or himself what constitutes the misuse of sex. 

Has the book caused any controversy in the Buddhist circles?

Not really. Most Buddhists have been very supportive of the book. On the other hand, I've noticed that a lot of the Buddhist magazines in the West are not reviewing the book. I suspect this may be because they are uncomfortable about taking any specific position on the ideas I bring up in it. They're aware that the rules about sexual behavior for Buddhists allow for a great deal of openness. But I think that the cultural background the editors and their readers are steeped in makes it difficult to acknowledge the implications of this idea. So they don't want to say anything either positive or negative about it. It will take time before this can change. 

Which chapter was the most fun to write?

I had a lot of fun interviewing Nina Hartley. She is a porn star who was raised by two Buddhist monks — one male, one female. So Buddhism has very much influenced her life. I asked her to talk about how she can do what she does for a living and still feel she is not violating the rule against misusing sex. I think her answers are really interesting. 

What can Buddhism teach people about sex?

I think Buddhism can help us get over some of the hang-ups that Christian-based culture has about sex. It's not necessary to indulge in wild sexuality and so forth. But it's good to be a bit less concerned about the morality of sex. Yes, sex can sometimes be immoral, depending on the specific circumstances and who is involved and so forth. But the very act of sex itself is neither moral nor immoral. We've been living with the idea that sex itself is wrong for far too long. It's good to see another way. And it's good to have some kind of spiritual support for the idea that sex isn't such a big deal. 

What new things do you have on the horizon?

I'm trying to write a book about God and one about Godzilla. I'm not sure which one will win out. Who is stronger? God or Godzilla? I'm also constantly on tour doing lectures and running retreats all over the world. My blog, hardcorezen.blogspot.com, has all the information.

      

5 Questions with 5 Questions with Stephen Fender, author of Love Sex Death & Words

 

What's the book about?

Love Sex Death Words is about the wide applicability of literature to all life experiences, hence an attempt to show how many different occasions at different times

may yield literary treatments.

How it came about:

At the suggestion of our publisher, Icon Books, John Sutherland and I drew upon over 40 years of literary conversations based on our careers, backgrounds, training, and specialisms dedicated to learning and teaching about literature. The aim was to share our mutual enjoyment of literature with anyone interested in books.

Why did you choose "Love Sex Death and Words" as the title?

It suggests the comprehensive cover of our literary selections and references, as well as to echo the title of Foster Hirsch's book on the films of Woody Allen, Love, Sex, Death and the Meaning of Life.

What's the best sex tale in the book?

Probably the entry on Fanny Hill  (15 December). Here is a book without a single dirty word, judged pornographic when published and still considered so after the Lady Chatterley trial. 

Which literary figure in the book was the most interesting to write about?

There really is no choosing, as all of the entries became interesting the more we delved into them. After all fixing a literary event to every day of the year shows the many ways in which writing has been used to express the human condition, across centuries, continents and cultures. We aimed to create not just a chronicle of literary dates or people, but fascinating and individual essays on all aspects of literature – from the social, economic and political context of its production and reception, to its inner workings, the subtle ways in which it weaves together images and formal patterns to suggest meanings below the surface. 


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In HOW WE FIGHT, author and scholar Dominic Tierney investigates the way in which American society views war, identifying specific traditions that take hold of the nation at different moments in conflicts. By looking closely at American warfare from the founding to the present, Tierney shows how consensus ways of thinking about armed struggle emerged over two centuries to become accepted wisdoms. He reveals how the crusader and quagmire traditions have shaped American foreign policy time and again, encouraging military campaigns for far-reaching goals, and cultivating a national allergy toward nation-building. As we fight two wars right now and possibly prepare for a third, Americans are trying to understand this new era of terrorism and counter-insurgency. HOW WE FIGHT then, is a remarkable, necessary book that reveals how American culture and power steer popular attitudes toward conflict. And it tells us how, when that next fight comes, Americans will respond, what they will demand from their commander-in-chief--and whether they'll rally behind the cause--or ultimately come to view the war as a disastrous mistake.

5 Questions with Henry Lord, author of The Ryder Cup

 

Why do you feel this match is so important?

In an age when the world's top sports stars are increasingly seen as billion-dollar brands rather than people, it’s wonderful that an event like the Ryder Cup is still being played (mostly) in the spirit Samuel Ryder intended – with team grit, humble aspiration and solidarity; where professional golfers at the highest level come together to play not for prize money but for pride and a love of the game. Of course, it would be naïve to think there have never been branding and merchandising opportunities underpinning the event, there have. But as Bruce Critchley says in his foreword, 'winning requires huge personal commitment and exposure of nerve ... there is no such thing as a good show and a top ten finish; it is win or lose, glory or public scorn, and no fat cheque at the end to soften the blow of not quite finishing top.'


What's the most memorable Ryder Cup moment?

Everyone has their favourite. Personally, I remember as a boy going to the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry and watching Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal charging around the course in one of their games. They played with such energy and passion, it felt like the two fiery Spaniards could take on the entire USA team by themselves!


What's a fact about the Ryder Cup a lot of people don't know?

Before every Ryder Cup, each team captain places the name of one of their players in a sealed envelope. This player will stand down from the singles matches if a member of the opposition is unable to play with just cause. Each side would then be awarded half a point in such a situation.


What's your favourite image from the book?

The iconic image of Jack Nicklaus shaking hands with Tony Jacklin in their famous 1969 match at Royal Birkdale. Nicklaus had just conceded a two-an-a-half foot putt to Jacklin on the final green, halving their game and the entire Ryder Cup match for the first time in its history. Nicklaus spoke the famous words: 'I don't think you would have missed that putt, Tony, but under the circumstances I wasn't going to give you the opportunity.' A number of the American team questioned that decision at the time, but it was and remains one of the great acts of sportsmanship.


What's next for you?

There are one or two projects in the pipeline that I'm working on with my friend and colleague, the extremely gifted golf photographer Kevin Murray. After the successful launch of our book St Andrews: The Home of Golf during The Open this summer, we felt inspired to showcase more great courses in parts of the world, such as China, that are not necessarily on most golfers’ radar. Yet.

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5 Questions with Stephen K. DeSilva, Author of Money & The Prosperous Soul

 

1. What's the key message of this book?

This book is unlike any financial message you’ve ever read.
Rather than proscribe a list of rules and mandates, it views
money as a handle for the deeper issues of a person’s soul.
The truth is that money is power, and power exaggerates
whatever is in your heart.

Many Christians are perplexed by money itself, how the
Bible instructs its use, and what their role is in the landscape
of riches or the lack thereof. Largely, the Church has seen
abuse on both sides of the debate. However, this book
clearly explains and prescribes the path to freedom from a
poverty spirit, the spirit of Mammon, and the development a
prosperous soul.

This book is a step-by-step financial deliverance for
Christians who have struggled with destructive patterns
that wreak havoc in their financial lives. Some recognize
generational cycles that are destructive, while others admit
outright self-sabotage. Money and the Prosperous Soul
leads the reader out of the dark and into the light of Biblical
promise.

2. Do a lot of people relate being poor to being spiritual?

Being poor is not spiritual; it is just living in lack. Christians
know from scripture and experience that poverty and
Mammon are both evil. But a problem arises when we
perceive ourselves as standing between these two extremes,
rather than moving beyond them and into a prosperous soul.

We learn to hate the two evils unequally. We perceive the
first to be especially evil over the second, causing us to
back away from the former directly into the latter. The devil
likes to send evil in pairs, keeping us busy measuring our
placement between the two, rather than navigating free.

Take Mammon for example. Because of Luke 16, most
Christians understand Christ’s warning and back away as
far as possible from riches and wealth. Misunderstanding
Mammon as riches or money, they back directly into realm
of poverty. The closer they get to poverty, the farther they
move away from Mammon. They spend their lives as close
to poverty as possible, living just outside its snapping jaws
of crisis and weakness because they hate the two evils
unequally.

But we are called to navigate away from both poverty and
Mammon, into the abundant life Christ spoke of in John 10.

3. What's a good way to be more prosperous and feel more
prosperous instantly?

Prosperity is an inside job…but it doesn’t stop there.
Prosperity, as Jesus would describe, would constitute true
riches. Examples would be peace of mind, living with
purpose and helping others. Becoming a person of influence
and strength will often require money, but money is merely a
tool of prosperity.

I’ve seen prosperous people in Africa who own nothing my
American standards; likewise, I’ve seen impoverished people
in America with six-digit incomes. At the same time, I’ve
seen wealthy Americans overjoyed with their ability to live
generously. This is because prosperity is not about money.

First, if you want to feel more prosperous instantly, I would
recommend a heavy dose of the Cross of Christ. Meditate
on the fact that the Cross restored you to significance. Many
Christians have no trouble understanding who God is; their
problem comes in misunderstanding who they are. If you
want to feel more prosperous, get a long glimpse of yourself
in Christ.

Second, return to your dream. Many Christians have allowed
their dreams to be shut down, either because they are afraid
of the dream or because they have been worn down by
troubles. Your dream enables you to see further than your
circumstances. We are designed to carry hope and to believe
that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

4. What's the most exciting part of the process of putting a book
like this together?

For me, the most exciting part of this process has been living
out the message first hand. The writing of this book has put
to words a deep and personal process in God. I describe it
to friends as the difference between being awake and being
upright. When I gave my heart to Christ, I came awake. But
when my soul began to prosper, I stood from my bed and
began to run.

Learning to hear the voice of God, to lead and co-labor with
Christ in strength, is our portion as Christians. Becoming a
bond-servant of Christ was my salvation; becoming an heir to
His kingdom made me a significant son.

5. What's next for you?

My next project is to write a follow up to this book
entitled “An Exaggerated Heart. This develops the original

thesis that money is power and power exaggerates whatever
is in your heart. I believe God designed money to be so
powerful, and when our hearts are filled with Him and our
souls prosper, we will allow money to exaggerate…Him!

The world is again facing Pharaoh’s nightmare. And though
the soothsayers and magicians are madly interpreting the
dream, the king awaits the voice of God through Joseph. This
time, however, God will speak through thousands, perhaps
millions, of Josephs as the Body of Christ steps into its
role as prosperous souls. Our ability to lead as supernatural
stewards will rescue cities, states and nations in the name of
the Christ.

I am also working on two other manuals, one dealing with
practical home financial tools, and the other designed for
entrepreneurs and the market place. I hope to do some
domestic and international travel where I hope to teach on
my favorite subject: money and the prosperous soul.

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5 Questions with Dr Kevin Leman, author of "Have a New You by Friday"

 

1. What's the main message of the book?

It doesn’t take forever to change, stuck people can get un-stuck

2. What's a good start to changing your life in 5 days? Something you can do right now?

Pinpoint one area of your life you want to change. Don’t be overwhelmed by many things you think you need to change, start with one.

3. What's a big lie that people tell themselves which undermines their confidence?

That other people are more successful than they are.

4. Why is accepting the truth about yourself key?

If you don’t tell yourself truth, you’ll never have any degree of happiness. All of us have positive and negative parts to who we are. Accepting the bad with the good is important.

5. What's the best reason why people should get the book?

The best reason is that you really can become the person you want to be in a very short time.

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