Book Reviews
I am an avid reader. I tend to read mostly non-fiction. These book reviews are my personal impressions.
Feel free to click on the book cover's image for easy purchasing through Amazon.
Feel free to click on the book cover's image for easy purchasing through Amazon.
Crystals
The Essential Guide to Crystals by Simon and Sue Lilly
This is a good guidebook for beginners in crystals, or for the seasoned crystal lover that wants a quick reference. The book starts out with a basic guide to crystals and how they can be used, but the bulk of the book is a guidebook that describes the crystals and their uses. The guide is organized by the crystal’s color. This organization method is especially helpful to beginners because it may help them identify what they have based on its color. Each crystal has some quick stats (color(s), luster, hardness and system), at least one high quality picture of the crystal, a scientific description of the crystal, identification and care tips, a few “magic” uses, a few healing uses, a few “practical ideas”, and stones that are similar in appearance.
This a good book for beginners, helpful when trying to identify certain crystal, or handy to quickly look up a few quick things about a crystal. However, if you would like a more in-depth understanding of crystals, their uses, and how they work, there are better books for that. This book is good as a quick reference, but does not have enough depth to give you a clear understanding of crystals.
This a good book for beginners, helpful when trying to identify certain crystal, or handy to quickly look up a few quick things about a crystal. However, if you would like a more in-depth understanding of crystals, their uses, and how they work, there are better books for that. This book is good as a quick reference, but does not have enough depth to give you a clear understanding of crystals.
Eyewitness: Rock & Mineral
The "Eyewitness: Rock & Mineral" book above is the newer version of one of my favorite books from childhood. When I was growing up, I would read my "Rock & Mineral" book and study the alluring pictures. The 1988 version of this book is really what set me up for a life-long love of rocks, minerals, crystals, and gemstones. This book is intended for a younger audience and is rather general. It gives an overview of geology, how rocks are formed, different types of rocks and minerals, how rocks and minerals are used, and more. I highly suggest getting this book for any young folks you may know, especially if you would like them to take an interest in rocks and minerals. The new edition even comes with a CD and wall chart.
Crystal Healing by Judy Hall
This book focuses on 12 specific crystals for healing. The crystals discussed in this book are: Bloodstone, Smoky Quartz, Red Jasper, Orange Carnelian, Yellow Jasper, Green Aventurine, Rose Quartz, Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite, Amethyst, Clear Quartz, and Labradorite. The book describe how the crystals can help your chakras, body, mind, emotions, spirit, and relaxation. It also describes how to clear and protect yourself and your surroundings using the 12 crystals. The last part of the book is devoted to charts showing which crystals to use for specific ailments, organs, and body systems.
The book is very easy to understand and helpful. It is also a great resource for beginners in crystal healing. The fact that the book only delves into the healing aspects of 12 crystals is a double sided issue. On one side, some people may say that with so many crystals to choose from, it is silly to limit yourself to only 12. On the other side though, the book teaches you a lot of information about the 12 crystals, rather than less specific information on more. If you are starting out in crystal healing, I would recommend this book. If you are a seasoned crystal healer, I would say you could probably do without this book in your collection.
The book is very easy to understand and helpful. It is also a great resource for beginners in crystal healing. The fact that the book only delves into the healing aspects of 12 crystals is a double sided issue. On one side, some people may say that with so many crystals to choose from, it is silly to limit yourself to only 12. On the other side though, the book teaches you a lot of information about the 12 crystals, rather than less specific information on more. If you are starting out in crystal healing, I would recommend this book. If you are a seasoned crystal healer, I would say you could probably do without this book in your collection.
Crystal Grids: How and Why they Work by Hibiscus Moon
This book is awesome. The author uses science to help explain why crystal grids work and explains how to use them too. If you are unfamiliar with what a crystal grid is, the author describes it as "a geometric pattern of energetically aligned stones charged by intention set in a sacred space with the purpose of manifesting a particular objective". As a lover of science, I really appreciated how she explained crystal grids in scientific terms. She uses physics, sacred geometry, and more to help explain how the grids work. She also does a wonderful job of explaining the parts of a crystal grid, how to set one up, and how to activate it. She also describes how to make several grid "recipes". This book is pretty short (about 74 pages of actual information besides resources, ect.), but it is written in such a way that it tells you exactly what you need to know without excess fluff.
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
This book is very intereresting, but certain things about it peeved me. The book starts out with how crystals are formed, crystals as decoration, for healing, selection, programming, cleansing, and meditation exercises. All are short little explanations. It can be useful information to those who are new to crystals. The bulk of the book is a crystal directory. The stones are arranged alphabetically, have pictures, quick stats (color, appearance, rarity, source), additional properties, healing, and position. The information on each crystal is most extensive than I have seen in certain other books. There is a lot of really good information. There were some parts which I raised an eyebrow at, but I think that books should be a guide, not an "end all, be all". At the end of the day, you need to figure out what you think is true.
One of my problems with the book is that I found several pictures that make the stones look misleading, as they look different in real life. I understand that sometimes photography changes the appearance of stones, but some stones look completely different colors than are found in nature. The fact that the book has Azeztulite was off putting to me. Azeztulite has been proven to be plain old quartz by the geology community, and I find it misleading for people to continue saying it is a different mineral. Another cringe worthy factor for me was the Citrine page. In the description it says "Natural Citrine is comparatively rare; heat treated Amethyst is often sold as Citrine". This is true. But all the pictures that they show of Citrine in the book are actually heat treated Amethyst.
The end of the book has an index of different crystal shapes, a glossary of metaphysical terms, and a quick reference. This book has some really useful information, but I found certain things off putting about it. I would have liked if the author explained how she got the meanings for the stones and if there was more scientific information.
One of my problems with the book is that I found several pictures that make the stones look misleading, as they look different in real life. I understand that sometimes photography changes the appearance of stones, but some stones look completely different colors than are found in nature. The fact that the book has Azeztulite was off putting to me. Azeztulite has been proven to be plain old quartz by the geology community, and I find it misleading for people to continue saying it is a different mineral. Another cringe worthy factor for me was the Citrine page. In the description it says "Natural Citrine is comparatively rare; heat treated Amethyst is often sold as Citrine". This is true. But all the pictures that they show of Citrine in the book are actually heat treated Amethyst.
The end of the book has an index of different crystal shapes, a glossary of metaphysical terms, and a quick reference. This book has some really useful information, but I found certain things off putting about it. I would have liked if the author explained how she got the meanings for the stones and if there was more scientific information.
Feng Shui
Feng Shui Dos and Taboos by Angie Ma Wong
This book gives you tips for Feng Shui, without getting technical. It is great for incorporating some feng shui into your life without in-depth study on the subject. It has sections (for example Bedroom, Bathroom, Mirrors) which make it easy to find quick tips. This book does not thoroughly explain feng shui concepts, so I would not recommend it if you are looking to better understand the subject. However, it is great for quick Dos and Don'ts of feng shui.
10 Minute Clutter Control by Skye Alexander
This book is awesome, especially around Spring Cleaning time. It has organization and feng shui tips to help declutter your dwellings and life. It starts out explaining basic feng shui ideas and how clutter can negatively impact you. Then (my favorite part) it moves to tons of tips to help you declutter and get organized. Each tip takes give or take about ten minutes.
Other
Realm of the Earth Angels by Doreen Virtue
I love Doreen Virtue's Oracle Card Decks, so I wanted to buy a few of her books. This book has certain personality profiles which are supposed to tell you if you are an earth angel or other type of "elemental" (such as faerie, merperson, ect). If you read the first Earth Angels book by Doreen, I wouldn't bother buying this one. It is pretty much the same, but with some added information. Instead, I would go to a book store and read the parts that you are interested in. While I am generally interested in Light Working, Angels, and Elementals, the profiles in this book could include everyone on the planet. It seemed as if the profiles were personality archetypes. The book felt rather contrived to me.
Sign From Above by Doreen Virtue
I decided to buy a few Doreen Virtue books because I liked some of her Oracle Card Decks. I've got to admit, I like her card decks, but am not a big fan of her books. Signs from above is organized into 7 different signs from above, then explains how to ask for a sign and praying for a sign. The seven chapters are "Clouds of Happiness", "Finding Feathers", "Musical Signs", "Pennies from Heaven", "Following Rainbows", "Heavenly Voices", and "Angel Numbers" (which she made into a book of its own, which I may review at another time). Most of the book is examples about how these seven signs have been signs from above for people. I would have personally rather read a short web based article listing off the signs with short explanations. But if you like uplifting spiritual stories about other people's lives, you may enjoy this book.
Angels and Fairies: The World’s Greatest Artwork
This book is filled with beautiful angel and fairy artwork. The artwork is from the 1700s to the 1900s. This book has an interesting forward and introduction, a section on understanding the 4 sections of the book and descriptions of each picture, a further reading section, an index organized by the works, and a general index. For each piece of art, you will see an amazing picture on the right hand page. On the left hand page is the picture’s description including: Artist’s name (last name, first name), Title and date of its creation, information about the piece of art and the context in which it was made (the most interesting part and the bulk of the reading), where it was created, the medium which it was created with, similar works, and the name of the artist with their birth date and death date. This is a wonderful picture book for anyone who appreciates art, and whom loves angels and fairies.
You are Psychic! by Pete A. Sanders Jr.
I had bought this book when I was a teenager and struggling with being intuitive. I had been hoping that maybe this book would help me understand psychic abilities better, but it really let me down. I decided to reread it as an adult, hoping that I was just unable to gain anything from it due to being a teenager at the time that I first read it. Once again, this book seemed useless. It is a lot of stories that sound very fake. The book tells you that you are psychic, but doesn't really provide any good advice how to harness your abilities or manage them. I felt as if the book was really just some sort of sales pitch from a crooked salesman, which is sad because I do believe that people have the ability to be psychic.
