A. Idle Book Reviews

COUNTING THE COST: A MEMOIR by Jill (Duggar) Dillard Jill Dillard, the oldest married daughter of the Duggar clan, reveals the details behind her estrangement from her family. As much as reality TV can be blamed for Duggar family issues, IBLP also contributed to the toxic family values. ‘Counting the Cost’ is perhaps the most authentic memoir to come out this year. Jill’s true voice has been uncov...

THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris When being black in the workplace goes wrong… Nella swallows covert racism in her editorial position as the only black woman in the company until Hazel arrives. Invoking the best friend to enemy trope, this book slowly reveals the conspiracy that Nella is up against. SPOILER ALERT: Hair grease is the weapon. Jesus be a fence! Further reading: ‘When No O...

THE PRESIDENT AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTER: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and their battle to save America’s soul by Brian Kilmeade This piece details Lincoln & Douglass’ proximity to abolitionism, the executive office & the US Civil War. The issue surrounding federal power & the president’s ability to free those enslaved, created a deep division that threatened the union established...

HUMBLE THE POET - Book Trilogy for Life Unlearn (2014), Thing No One Else Can Teach Us (2019) & How To Be Love(d) (2022) are all pieces by Humble The Poet that discuss growth and introspection. The trilogy encourages the removal of bad habits, focus within the current journey & aiming to become a vessel of love. They build off of one another by expanding on the best practices for personal...

THE PIANO LESSON by August Wilson The Piano Lesson is a dramatic stage play exploring legacy, family, ambition & dreams; all symbolized by the family’s piano. Popularized recently by it’s 2023 Broadway run with an all-star cast, this is an important reflection of what many black families dealt with  a few generations removed from slavery. Want to stay in touch? IG: @A.IdlePodcast Gmail: A.Idle...

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE by Tupac Shakur Tupac, the activist, the poet, the artist, the rapper, the lover, the human. ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ is a compilation of poems written by Pac between 1989 - 1991.   Want to stay in touch? IG: @A.IdlePodcast Gmail: A.IdlePodcast@gmail.com   Thank you!

THE TIPPING POINT: HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE by Malcolm Gladwell The tipping point is the catalyst for any epidemic. Gladwell explains the science behind word of mouth & Paul Revere’s successful journey; the power of context & the Zimbardo experiment; and the stickiness factor & Sesame Street’s successful curation. Ultimately, the Tipping Point preemptively foretold w...

BAD BOY: A MEMOIR by Walter Dean Myers ‘Bad Boy’ is a memoir covering Walter Dean Myers’ childhood up to the beginnings of his successful career in writing. From Harlem to the army to New Jersey, this man always communicated in creativity. Dean Myers published his 1st book “Where Does The Day Go?” after winning a literature contest in 1969; he continued to publish books for over 40 years. Bad Boy...

The Unbothered King has spoken! Omarion details his internal process of maintaining a peaceful mentality in his writer’s debut. Flying high above internet beefs, O reflects on fear, masculinity, emotions & more while encouraging readers to be introspective. As a longtime Omarion fan, I was pleasantly surprised in learning about his more personal side. As a book reviewer, I was delighted to obs...

DEATH IN THE CLOUDS by Agatha Christie Moneylender Madame Giselle has been murdered on Prometheus Air. Was it poison? Insects? Heart Attack? Certainly foul play.. Detective Hercule Poirot will put it all in perspective. Act 3 surprises us with a culprit whose motive is exceptionally cruel & without redeeming qualities. Analysis: There is a surprising overlap with Detective Hercule’s process & the...

THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD by Peniel E. Joseph PART 2 The revolutionary lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. In various ways they represent the political sword and shield of the Civil Rights Movement. This book also acknowledges the strategic development of Malcolm & Martin and the alliances they formed for the greater good of black people. Peniel E. Joseph penned a much needed nuanced narr...

The revolutionary lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. In various ways they represent the political sword and shield of the Civil Rights Movement. This book also acknowledges the strategic development of Malcolm & Martin and the alliances they formed for the greater good of black people. Peniel E. Joseph penned a much needed nuanced narrative on these figures. Side Note: This is your...

THE 7 ½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton This murder mystery dances with the premise of Groundhog Day by purposely changing the character perspective every day. Because the audience is continuously off balance, the thrill is heightened & the mystery’s captivation is strong. What we find leads us through a gruesome redemption story. But perhaps, we are left with more questions than...

SHOOK ONE by Charlamagne Tha God  In times of mental health awareness, Charlamagne delivers an intriguing reflection of his struggles with anxiety. Coupled with clinical correlations by Dr. Ish Major and a plethora of hip hop references, this book has truly earned it’s NYT Bestselling position. IG: @A.IdlePodcast YT: @aidlebookreviews Thank you!

Jinger Vuolo, nee Duggar, is discussing her religious path to following the true word of God. In her own words, this memoir is  “How I’ve had to figure out what I believe & why I believe it”. Although foreign to most, Bill Gothard’s teachings have proved incredibly harmful & disjointed. Jinger’s breakdown of her disentanglement from his reign is quite captivating for someone looking in. NO...

Released in 1997 this Toltec Wisdom Book explains the spirituality of the Naguals through 4 key self agreements. Ruiz imparts his esoteric knowledge that you haven’t encountered in most other self help novels. Adjacent to The Alchemist, ths novel emphasizes self regulation & accountability through concise phrases. Renowned for its impact on readers, this piece has been praised by many influential...

In an alternate Earth timeline, humans now have 9 chances to come back to life. Of course there has to be some government regulating this process, thrusting the world into a new society based on life scores. Our main character, Julian, is a teen who uncovers a wild conspiracy where many are forced to die to maintain natural resources. This YA novel is very reminiscent of the ‘Divergent’ & ‘Hunger...

Ashley Coleman’s pens a young black love story serving healthy conversation on creativity and career paths, music industry navigation, and a hint of a love triangle. Carli is a young writer trying to break into the music industry with a hit. But NYC is expensive so she’s stuck working several hours a day at a 9 to 5. When she meets Tau Anderson, several things seem to change expeditiously. But the...

Released in 2021 this YA Murder Mystery surrounds a few boarding school students & the death of the polarizing 2nd wife of the Dean. Carrie Doyle delivers an Agatha Christie level of thrill for the audience as they slowly draw out the suspect. By the last page we receive an answer to the crime mystery but is it really the end to the story? What we know for sure is 1. Joanna Heckler was murdered 2....

This week’s non-fiction piece discusses the defining characteristics and detriments of High Conflict Personalities (HCP). Classified as a self-help book, the intent falls on informing the public on how to deal with an HCP in the least disruptive way. While this book is certainly informative, it falls to the side of speculation with little scientific data to boost the conclusions. Nevertheless you...

Set in the late 1800’s, this stage play depicts the duplicitous nature of Jack Worthing & Algernon Moncrieff. These two goofy characters have spun a web of lies in order to enjoy life elsewhere. Ironically, these lies led them to realize who exactly who they really are. Accompanied by dramatically grandiose side characters, this play is a most comical narrative of life in the Victorian era. All Ep...

Officially ratified in March of 1781, this piece elaborates on The Declaration of Independence released years earlier. This document established the foundation of the United States of America as we know it today. Mostly dictating the behavior of each state in relation to the whole union & general conduct of an American representative. This short read is another historical document that can be easi...

The fourth novel by urban fiction legend Donald Goines continues the gritty voice of the streets established in previous works. Describing the life of a prominent pimp, Earl the Black Pearl, we get an insider’s view of a prostitution network. The nature of pimping mixed with the blunt descriptions of Goines paints an unnerving picture of street life that will certainly not hold to the social stand...

Caleb Azumah Nelson debuted with a vulnerable poetic piece on trauma & healing. Set in Southeast London, we watch our main character fall in love while treading ‘open waters’ within himself. With consistent background references of black artists, musicians & writers alike the vibe of this book is a perfect read for the creative searching for a deeper meaning. All Episodes currently streaming on mo...

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best released this piece in 2021 detailing her time as the first black woman to hold the position. As the self proclaimed, “Proud black voice [speaking] of the thin blue line” this book highlights the unique struggles she faced during the 2020 police brutality crisis. Amongst her story, she presents an inside perspective on ‘defund the police’ & used detailed ana...