Book Review: The House of Unexpected Sisters
So, I love finding books at the library. I found this book on display at my local library. I was immediately drawn to the picture on the cover. Whoever was the librarian who put out those featured books that day was on point! MashaAllah I found quite a few books that day and this particular find led me to many others. This book, The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith was the first that I had read from the author. It is actually part of a series about the main character, Mma Precious Ramotswe, the owner/operator of Botswana’s fictional No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. This book series actually inspired a short-lived television series with the same name starring Jill Scott as Mma Precious Ramotswe.
This book, like other books in the series, follows Mma Ramotswe on her adventures solving a few cases or problems that her clients bring to her. The stories of these adventures are interwoven with mundane tidbits of daily life as well as numerous mentions of Mma Ramotswe’s African Red Bush Tea habit. In this particular book, we are delighted by finding out more about Mma Ramotswe’s past and joining her on a journey of unexpected revelations of her own. I really enjoyed this book. Much of the book is sort of an ode to the old Botswana, as are other books in the series. The author’s ability to put you in the main character’s mind with simple language and clear descriptions gives the reader a longing for Botswana. I find it refreshing to read a book set in Africa that is down to Earth without being depressing or overly political.
Book Review: The One-Minute Millionaire
I admit it, I’m a softy for self-help books. I find most of the ones that I’ve read to be informative, inspiring and motivating. The One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen is a book about following “the enlightened way to wealth”. This book is unique in that it is 2 books in 1 – a guide book and a novel. Every other page of the guide book is a purple-bordered page of the novel. For full disclosure: I only read the novel thus far. Intertwined with the novel’s plot are carefully placed lessons from the guidebook. It follows the story of a recently widowed mother of two, who is broke and in need of a huge amount of quick cash to ensure she prevents her wealthy, yet conniving in-laws from taking custody of her children. To achieve her goal, she follows the guidance of a master millionaire mentor. I must admit that at times, the story’s twists and turns seem somewhat over the top, but I guess not too far fetched for reality.
In addition to snippets of some very practical advice about money and real estate, one of my favorite things about this book is the author’s principled approach to wealth. The 3 main principles are:
1. Do no harm
2. Do much good
3. Operate out of stewardship.
The path to wealth is not meant to be a solitary one. You always have help on this path. Help from God of course. But also, help from others in one form or another. Thus, wealth is meant to be shared and used to make the world a better place while doing no harm on the path to attaining it – the path of the enlightened millionaire.
Have you read this book? Do you have any enlightened millionaire advice? Please tell me what you think below!
Her Solitary Musings 