Healthcare from the Trenches: An Insider Account of the Complex Barriers of U.S. Healthcare from the Providers and Patients’ Perspective.
by Alejandro Badia, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Alejandro Badia, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Cuba and came to the United States with his parents in 1962. His passion for medicine is in his genes, and at a very early age, he realized it was the career for him. He studied physiology at Cornell and attained his medical degree at New York University, where he also trained in orthopedics. He is co-founder of the world-renowned Miami Anatomical Research Center (M.A.R.C) the world’s largest surgical cadaveric training lab.
He then went on to completed the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, a fully integrated clinical facility for the upper limb also encompassing the Surgery Center at Doral, rehabilitation, and an MRI imaging facility, and then he inaugurated OrthoNOW®, the first walk-in orthopedic care center in South Florida, which later became an officially licensed system. As well as incredible achievements in medical care he has studied, lectured, and taught in many countries, and has also written multiple scientific articles and book chapters in the field of small joint arthroscopy.
The author wrote this book because he passionately believes that the key participants in every healthcare transaction deserve a voice, and this is just what this book does. With such a vast experience, not only in his chosen field but also of others linked to it, the author provides his reader with in-depth information on every aspect of the healthcare system. In giving voice to so many medical professionals, and patients who share their stories on its pages, he hopes to educate others and hopefully encourage discussions to take place so that solutions can be found to restore the health system and go forward positively in the future.
As a layperson, I found the whole book fascinating. Like most people I look up to doctors and specialists with respect and admiration for the wonderful things, they achieve on a day to day basis. However, the author has done a wonderful job of allowing his reader to glimpse fly-on-the-wall like behind the scenes into the Doctor’s Lounge, the offices, committees, and careers of health professionals and the challenges they face. Through it, I learned so much and realized that the general public, on the whole, has no concept of how long hours medical professionals work, and how much paperwork and collaboration with other professionals goes on behind the scenes.
He is not shy in saying what he feels is necessary whatever the topic. The influences politics have in healthcare, hidden agendas, the workings of the health insurance companies, all are examined frankly and he offers solutions backed with solid reasoning.
Nearing the completion of this book the COVID pandemic hit the world, and its effects on the United States healthcare system and its impact on the patients and workers are discussed, and of course, this is an ongoing problem. He also examines the roles of regenerative medicine, and the anti-aging industry and with these, as other branches of the industry, he stresses the importance of comprehensive research when looking for a healthcare professional, and indicates factors which should be a priority.
This book makes fascinating and extremely interesting reading. It contains volumes of information and solid reasoning backed up by facts and examples. Highly recommended!
Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthcare-Trenches-Barriers-Providers-Perspective-ebook/dp/B088PSH2RL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=healthcare+from+the+trenches&qid=1595680361&sr=8-1
Arcadia’s Children 3: Pushley’s Escape
by Andrew R. Williams
The author of this exciting science-fiction story, Andrew R. Williams’ ‘day job’ is a Chartered surveyor, however, by night this mild-mannered English author can be seen with his wife Geraldine staring up at the sky, watching the stars, and plotting his exciting space adventures.
Pushley’s Escape is the third book in the Arcadia’s Children series and from the very first 
page, the reader is hooked. As in the previous two books, the main characters are Mick Tarmy, Claire Hyndman, and Nonie Tomio. We learn that Ed Pushley is an archaeologist whose mind has been taken over by a spettro Mick Tarmy nicknamed Irrelevant. However Irrelevant has died and their minds have fused giving Ed Pushley incredible psychic powers.
Pushley has been taken captive by Alton Mygael and desperately wants to escape, and with determination, he manages to free himself from the isolation helmet. However, once free a high priest appears and announces that the Great Ones want to speak to him. These are the same beings who had condemned Irrelevant to death in the past and understandably Irrelevant’s soul is indignant. He gets Pushley to ask, why a slave now free would want to go back into bondage. The cleric’s response is to explain that the Great Ones want to offer a genuine partnership, and he then goes on to remind him of a past event, and show him images. What will Pushley do, and what will his future hold? To tell you more would spoil the story…
This author’s imagination is beyond belief, he weaves a clever story and takes his readers on an exciting adventure as they find themselves in another world. A world which comes alive for them through his amazing penmanship which paints vivid scenes, exciting scenarios, and wonderful settings.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of science-fiction. As a fan, I couldn’t wait to read this story and I was not disappointed! This author has written a real page turner, with excitement galore, a storyline full of twists and turns and incredible characters. It is sci-fi heaven, beaming you into another world with mind control, aliens, transporters, and everything you could wish for! Oh, and if Steven Spielberg reads this, yes, it would make a wonderful movie!
Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadias-Children-3-Pushleys-Escape-ebook/dp/B08C3W79YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JRIML3X8E8XI&dchild=1&keywords=arcadia%27s+children+3&qid=1595680472&sprefix=arcadias+children%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1
Kelly and the Pirates (Kelly Winchester)
by Alex J Alex
If you’re looking for a hot sexy adventure which gives Clive Cussler a run for his money, well this is the book for you! Lieutenant Commander Kelly Winchester is an incredibly sexy vixen of a woman who makes Ian Fleming’s cool suave James Bond look like a kitten. As she warns an adversary, “I’m your worst nightmare. I’m a homicidal maniac, and my government keeps me around just so I can take care of little problems like this. I’m meaner and tougher than any man you’ve ever known. You’re just a bunch of lazy pansies compared to some of the characters I’ve run into.” Trust me she’s not exaggerating, this is one formidable woman!
This is the third book in the series, however, it easily stands alone. Kelly is beautiful and strong, and together with her adoring husband Jim they make a force to be reckoned with. In this thrilling adventure they are sent with another couple, Moretti and Kozlowski on a mission to Mogadishu in Somalia, their target the criminal Jalili, (which means Almighty in Swahili.) This shadowy character is a disgraced religious figure, with a reputation as a torturer, who leads a gang of thugs who hijack ships for ransom.
However, this time, the mission doesn’t go as planned. Kelly and Jim find themselves held for ransom by Jalili, who is incensed at the loss of so many of his men, even if it was at the hands of the notorious Winchester woman. Criminal to some, a savior to others, Kelly’s past deeds have made her a legend, and as news of her capture spreads and the jackals draw in for the kill. Each one hoping they will have her at their mercy. However, fate intervenes…
So, the adventure continues for Kelly and Jim, and what an adventure it is, as it isn’t long before they discover their enemies are catching up with them and their safety is compromised. To return they must flee across the perilous Tibetan landscape. However separated from her husband, Kelly has only the companionship of a wise Buddhist monk to see her through, and she must summon all her strength and courage to overcome adversity and survive!
Reading this gripping story, I found myself compulsively turning the pages, desperate to know what happens yet, yet dreading getting to the end. If you love a fast-paced exciting adventure with danger at every turn, wonderfully vibrant characters, and sexy scenes, then this is the book for you!
Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kelly-Pirates-Winchester-Book-ebook/dp/B07FSD4CFJ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=kelly+and+the+pirates&qid=1595680525&sr=8-2
African Migrants (Novel)
by Lang Fafa Dampa
The author of this interesting and thought-provoking book, Lang Fafa Dampa was born in the Gambia in 1965. In Paris, he earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature, and a Ph.D. in English Studies (Society and Culture). Whilst there he also taught Legal English (Law and Politics – UK/USA) and Economic English, for two years. In November 2009 he returned to Africa and he worked as a Senior Research and Programme Officer at the African Union office (the African Academy of Languages) in Bamako, Mali, from November 2009 to July 2015, and as Acting Executive Secretary from August 2015 to December 2018, and from then to now as Executive Secretary of the same institution.
In this book Lang Fafa Dampa, through his incredibly descriptive writing, relives the 
experiences of the main character/protagonist fleeing Africa, in search of a brighter future in Europe. He travelled through Dakar to Bamako, and then Niamey, crossing the cruel Sahara Desert into Libya, where he spent six months. Then along with thousands of others, he had to cross the Mediterranean, as a ‘boat migrant.’ Here he recounts shocking stories of the cruelty he observed being dealt out by the traffickers who treated the migrants terribly, with no regard for their lives, and no humanity. The horrific images of this voyage were etched into the author’s young mind, and will stay with him forever…
He managed to smuggle himself into France and lived in Metropolitan Paris, where he discovered a different world. Quickly he realised that both the African and white people lived in disdain of the ‘boat people,’ and he learned to stay very quiet about the fact that he had been one. However, this disdain caused him great pain, because he realised that they had no comprehension of the cruelty and suffering these people had to endure and had no concept of the desperate driving force which compels the youth of Africa to risk everything, (including their lives,) to better themselves in Europe.
In this new world, he found himself becoming a quiet observer of human nature, and through listening to conversations and witnessing events, he discovered a lot about the attitudes of the African immigrants he lived with, both to their wives, families, friends, their adopted countries and Africa. Countless times he found himself witness to the Alien combative Attitude Africans have, and asked himself, “Where is African civilisation? Where are Africans wisdom and bravery? Where is the great pre-colonial African civilisation that historians talk about?”
Well, the protagonist believes the answers lie in finding a way to establish the African people’s self-respect and confidence in themselves. He reflects that Africans are destructively jealous, to their detriment, and a brighter future can be achieved by future generations regenerating Africa and changing the current combatant attitude. He suggests they look for examples to other countries who work together in competing to achieve goals, not by fighting but uniting cohesively.
The passion the author feels for Africa and his people shine through in this book. He gives his readers, through the eyes of the protagonist, unparalleled insights into Africa, its people, and the struggles they face. Highly recommended!
Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Migrants-Novel-Lang-Dampha-ebook/dp/B01HUH79SQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=african+migrants+%28novel%29&qid=1595680565&sr=8-1
Why People Love God But Hate Church?
by Marnell Wicks Love, PhD. Ed.D. MDiv.
The author of this book, Minister Marnell Wicks Love, has drawn upon his vast experience of more than forty years in church administration, accounting, financial management, and ministry, along with thorough research to write this insightful book.
After recovering from a serious illness in 2007 he decided to launch Love-to-Help Accounting and Financial Management, providing help to struggling churches in Chicago and surrounding areas, non-profits, and helping small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at the present time Minister Love primarily dedicates his ministry to those who cannot attend church because of health reasons, such as those in hospices and safe shelters for women and children escaping abusive households, he is dedicating a portion of book sales to the latter.
His career of caring for the financial, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of people has given him a unique awareness of not only the modern-day role of the ministers in looking after their congregation, but also that of the churches. However, to ensure a complete picture when compiling this study he also carried out personal interviews, sent out questionnaires, and obtained written statements from church members and leaders.
The title of this enlightening book ‘Why People Love God and Hate Church’ was his unexpected finding. He discovered that although people were falling out of love with going to church, they still loved God, studied his words, and prayed, they just did not attend church to worship him.
So what can the church do to change this? Well, the many reasons for the change in attitudes towards the church and its ministry are revealed and explained. There are many reasons, just a few examples being the attitudes of the ministers and their congregation to their community and newcomers, racial demographics, and the increased political role the church has. Candidly, Minister Love looks at the problems and gives examples of his, or other’s experiences with that problem, then he offers unprejudiced ideas for change. The problems he unveils and his propositions for change are thought-provoking and, indeed I suspect many of the readers who are members and leaders of the church and its congregations will have pause for thought, and may well re-examine their lives, attitudes, and behavior.
In conclusion: Bravely written, honest and frank, this extremely interesting book should be read by anyone, whether they go to church or not. Its insightful pages, and the author’s sermons, which he has included, will encourage any Christian to reassess themselves and their lifestyle.
Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WHY-PEOPLE-LOVE-HATE-CHURCH-ebook/dp/B08D6ZN2QM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=why+people+love+god+but+hate+church&qid=1595680611&sr=8-1