How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead, by Ariel Gore

This is an absolutely marvelous book which gives any writer or wanna be writer motivation, inspiration and practical methods for writing and getting published. I am almost finished reading it now and have derived much of real use from it. In short, the biggest lessons I took from it were that rewriting and rewriting again are essential, and that writing is just the beginning, with publishing the end game. No publication, no fame or cash or even feelings of closure. I am grateful to Ariel Gore for having put this book together for us. To read a more thorough review by an excellent reviewer, go to this link.

Rich Like Them: My Door To Door Search for the Secrets of Wealth, by Ryan D'Agostino

This book caught my attention. Having been wealthy for at least a year or two, and lost it, I was intrigued by the idea of someone profiling the lives of others and their paths to wealth. It is a very readable book, about quite down to earth people who generously told the author how they were able to accumulate luxurious homes, cars, and money in reserve. I saw myself in the pages, but of course in my present circumstances I am impoverished. Still, this book gave hope and promise. What is made once can be made again. Both consistent efforts and luck play a part in the wealth of many, and will certainly play a part in any recovery I might be able to make as well. I suggest this book as a great read to give you ideas on how to acquire money and then how to keep it and build it into even more money. Thanks to D'Agostino for taking the time and doing the door to door walking and talking for this book. He literally walked door to door to get interviews with these friendly and helpful people.

Chicken Soup for the Writers Soul, by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, & Gud Gardner

Lately I have taken great pride in spending time in bookstores without spending anything except for a hot latte. I use the time there to browse, read brief lines from the books that catch my eye, and write down titles and authors. Then in the days following, I go to the nearby newly constructed library and check the book out for free. After all, these are hard economic times and the need to hold onto the few dollars we have leads us to more traditional sources of books that we can get at no cost. Anyway, I found Chicken Soup for the Writers Soul and have spent the past two days soaking up the stories and guidance that the writers included in the book have to share. The stories tell of the support of parents, of the opportunities that public school teachers provided, and of those first days as a new writer. They are inspirational and motivational, and one can see oneself in the stories. The paths to becoming a full time writer are many, and I guess that is the main value of this book: it reveals that there are many ways to get there. Pick it up and spend some time with it. I guarantee you it will not disappoint you.