The Love Code

Alexander Loyd's The Love Code: The Secret Principle to Achieving Success in Life, Love, and Happiness is a book is had hoped to enjoy.  Sadly, it's proven to be another American-styled self-help book that promises far more than it delivers.

Much of what author Alexander Loyd says sounds good -- from the statistic that 97% of self-help books fail due to the fact that every problem stems from the fear that underlies it.  Even his definition of success rings true -- "True happiness and success mean living in love internally and externally in the present moment, regardless of your current circumstance".  But he hedges his bets in the definition of love and points to God/other, leaving it to the reader to fill in their personal preference.  That is a false choice that even the gospels won't allow.

In the end, much of the book is  rather quirky.

The Love Code is far more hype than it is substance.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.

My Review of "Lessons in Classical Painting"

Juliette Aristides' Lessons in Classical Painting:  Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier covers the essentials in classical painting -- subjects like understanding color and texture, to proportion, depth, light and shadow.  The text is insightful and filled with tips, supplemented by beautiful illustrated examples from artists and old masters.

This is not an immediately hands-on book where you can dive in and draw straightaway.  It focuses on the understanding of different techniques.   After which, each chapter ends with a guided practical lesson on learning points.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.