The Chris Voss Show

Eat or Be Eaten by Dr Rick Bein Rickbein.com The issue of food can be interpreted in two ways. As a geographical agriculturist, I have focused on food production around the world, but also on being faced with predatory action. These stories relate such events in my life. Some are humorous and some are educational. my Peace Corps experience provided the spark that led to this series of adventures and observations. Farming strategies vary tremendously around the world, from my home farm in Colorado to those in Brazil, Sudan, Papua New Guinea, Mozambique. The picture depicts a Sudanese feast, where various food items are laid on an outstretched tablecloth on the ground to serve men dressed in formal attire. Only the men are eating and when they are sated the women come to eat what is left over. Notice the only the right hands are touching the food. The left hand is considered foul and would contaminate the food.

> Little Miracles of Katrina – by M.V. Despenza Booksbymvdespenza.com Some Asses Just Need Wiping For every woman who’s ever carried the weight of others while losing pieces of herself — this book is for you. Some Asses Just Need Wiping is a raw, unflinching memoir that pulls back the curtain on the emotional toll of lifelong caregiving. From parenting her chronically ill mother as a child to emotionally supporting a mentally ill ex-husband, raising two young boys as a single mother, and having one son diagnosed as neurodivergent, Shelly Grimm has lived through—and risen from—it all. If you’re part of the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents while raising children, this book will help you feel seen, heard, and validated. In these pages, you’ll discover: The invisible trauma children of chronically ill parents carry for decades The generational cost of unacknowledged caregiving roles What “help” actually looks like when someone’s drowning quietly Ways to support caregivers (especially kids) before it’s too late Packed with stories that are brutally honest and laced with dark humor, Shelly shares lessons that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt invisible while doing the impossible. Whether you’re a caregiver, survivor, or both—this book is your wake-up call, validation, and lifeline all in one. Read it, feel it, and be changed by it. M.V. Despenza is a passionate storyteller and writer whose work shines a light on resilience, faith, and the extraordinary strength found in ordinary people. Inspired by real-life events, Despenza’s stories blend heartfelt truth with literary grace. When not writing, Despenza enjoys connecting with readers, sharing stories of hope, and continuing the mission of creating works that remind us of life’s hidden miracles.

I Am Machine: Life Without Free Will by Lex Van Der Ploeg, Raymond Van Aalst https://www.amazon.com/Am-Machine-Life-Without-Free/dp/1955026629 I Am Machine is an intriguing exploration of what it means to be human–and whether we truly have free will. This thought-provoking narrative will ignite your imagination while causing you to question what drives your own actions and decisions. Whether you’re interested in philosophy and science fiction or simply curious about the human experience, I Am Machine will engage your brain in a way unlike any other book in your personal library. Written from the perspective of an alien visitor to Earth named Ramona Black Hole, I Am Machine rationalizes human existence in the context of a universe filled with life. Throughout the book, Ramona, leader of the globular cluster Messier 13 galactic exploration team, describes life on Earth in the context of her prior planetary experiences, including those with other extraterrestrials she’s encountered. Although Ramona isn’t human, she has a lot of the same questions about life that humans have grappled with since their evolution on Earth. What does it mean to be alive? How much control do we truly have over our lives? What else is out there? Are there parallel universes and alternative realities that we aren’t aware of? Just what is possible in infinite space? Ramona has traveled broadly in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and shares her hypotheses about life and free will, but it’s up to you to decide what you think the universe holds. About the author Lex Van der Ploeg’s philosophical interests addressing life in our universe and collaboration with co-author Raymond Van Aalst, inspired the publications of “I Am Machine” and “God’s Retirement”. Having worked as a tenured faculty member at Columbia University and subsequently in leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Lex’s expertise includes an active interest in teaching and training colleagues, development of diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. Lex received numerous grants and awards for his research and has broadly published on his research in peer reviewed journals.

Rate by Donna Gene Stankey, Ramona Hammel https://www.amazon.com/Rate-Donna-Gene-Stankey/dp/1958920010 On this wintry December night in 1893, Millie had lots of time to think. His wife, Mina, was with child; and tonight, looked like the baby would arrive. His first child was a girl named Blanche, who was four years old. He was truly hoping for a boy, even knowing that Mina and Blanche both wanted a girl. Millie had thought back to the time when he and his family came to Michigan from Canada in the late 1870s. He reminisced about events and adventures this move had brought. He loved life on the farm. To him it was a very rewarding life. He hoped to be able to pass this passion he had for farming on to a son. He had dreamed of being married and having children. He remembered how his pa and ma favored his sister over him and his brother. He never wanted to do that to his children when he had them. He thought how nice it would be to have a son to carry on the family name. A son to help on the farm and eventually inherit it. A son would just make him feel complete as a man. Then came the words. “It’s a boy!” Millie heaved a heavy sigh. A son! He couldn’t wait to see him. He would call him Rate to honor his dad. Now he could look forward to this new chapter in his life. Only time would tell how this chapter would unfold.

Emu on the Loose: Awakening Strength, Embracing Life by Dr Zanyk https://www.amazon.com/Emu-Loose-Awakening-Strength-Embracing/dp/1968519459 https://zaneez.com/ https://anklestone.com/ When an ordinary trail walk turns into an unforgettable encounter, Mimi and her children come face to face with an unexpected escapee-an emu on the run. What unfolds is a whimsical and heartwarming adventure that reveals powerful truths about courage, creativity, and the unshakable spirit of freedom within us all. Based on real events and reimagined with fantastical flair, Emu on the Loose is more than a children’s story-it’s a cross-generational celebration of possibility and empowerment. With charming prose and bold illustrations, this debut in the Mimi Adventure Series reminds us that greatness can be found in everyday moments-and that even the most surprising events can lead us back to our own inner strength.