book review
Books reviews on workplace, corporate, and business driven books.
What Makes a Film Feel Real? Inside the Approach of Andreas Szakacs Productions
What makes a film feel real? Not just visually—but emotionally, physically, and psychologically. In an industry often driven by spectacle, where visual effects and scale dominate the screen, some filmmakers are moving in a different direction. They are choosing authenticity over illusion, building stories that feel lived-in rather than manufactured. Among the production companies working within this space is Andreas Szakacs Productions—a London-based independent company focused on realism, human experience, and location-driven storytelling.
By Andreas szakacsa day ago in Journal
Trump's abuse and insults: A confession of the shameful helplessness of the American superpower in the face of Iran
Special Analysis — Journalist Malik Sarfaraz Hussain Awan: Trump's abuse and vulgar language are making his helplessness and political failure very clear. It is an established fact that when someone has no strength anywhere and fails to control his opponent, he resorts to abuse and insults. Donald Trump has now become a psychopath and this growing disease of his is not only seriously damaging the American state identity but has also led to disrespect for the presidency of the superpower. If we look in the mirror of history, the heads of the great states of the world have always represented the dignity and moral highness of their nation through their language, tone and style of speech. But when the president of a world power publicly resorts to abuse, threats, and vulgar language, it is a clear admission of his political, moral, and diplomatic defeat. Trump's statement about "sending Iran to hell" is not only an insult to religious sentiments, but it also reveals his deep disappointment and frustration. He has failed to subdue a nation that has bravely fought severe economic sanctions, pressure, and hardships for the past several decades. The traditional and limited response of the international organization, the United Nations, to the humanitarian actions of the Trump administration has proven the complete helplessness of this organization. This organization has now fallen below the global level and become the protector of the interests of only a few powerful countries. International laws are enforced only on weak and poor countries, while whenever any concrete action is attempted to be taken against serious crimes against human rights, the United States immediately thwarts it through its veto power. This illegal war imposed by the United States and Israel has now entered a very dangerous phase. The Middle East could turn into a fireball at any moment. The silence of the international community over Israel’s flagrant violation and blatant disregard for international law is clear evidence that the entire region is standing on a powder keg and a spark can ignite the entire region. Other countries in the region also seem to be busy trying to convince Iran to surrender to Trump in the name of limited and safe diplomacy. They are unable to put any pressure on the US President and Israeli interests. This regional hypocrisy is actually the result of fear, weakness and self-interest, where instead of stopping aggression, the oppressed are being advised to bow down. At the same time, Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations also seem to be limited to traditional condemnation. When children are separated from their parents in war zones, hospitals are bombed, and civilians are targeted, the limited and ineffective actions of these organizations cast a big question mark on their existence. By claiming to push Iran to hell in his threats, Trump is as if considering himself the master of heaven and hell. However, followers of all religions know very well who is the real master of heaven and hell and who will make the final decision on the future of mankind. This president, who claims to be a god in subdued words, today holds the most important position in America, whose abusive and indecent statements are creating intense hatred and anger all over the world. America has now become a former superpower that has lost its moral superiority and is now trying unsuccessfully to control the world only through economic terrorism, sanctions, and pressure. Depriving ordinary citizens of medicine, food, and basic necessities is a serious crime against humanity. The American people and the world should get rid of a mentally ill and semi-crazy person like President Trump and take practical steps to promote true humanitarian compassion, justice, and peace on a global scale. If this is not done, his policies will have extremely dangerous and worrying consequences. Because of Trump, many countries in the world are under severe economic pressure, where people are burning in the flames of war on one hand and dying from lack of basic necessities on the other. This destruction is not limited to humans alone, but due to Trump's war and economic measures, animals, birds, trees, water sources, forests, and the entire global ecosystem are also being subjected to silent massacre. The lust for wars has put the entire ecosystem of the earth in grave danger. If the whole world still remains limited to political statements and traditional condemnation and fails to put real pressure on Trump, the dream of world peace will be shattered forever.
By Malik Sarfraz Hussain Awan2 days ago in Journal
365 Days of Writing
The Minimalist Journaling Practice That Rewired My Thinking DAY ONE: THE EXPERIMENT BEGINS 📝 On January first I committed to the smallest possible journaling practice: one sentence per day, just one, written in a physical notebook before bed, describing the single most important thing that happened or that I felt or that I learned that day, and this commitment which seemed almost insultingly simple compared to the elaborate morning pages and gratitude journals and bullet journals I had attempted and abandoned over the years was deliberately designed to be so small that I could not fail at it, because my history with journaling was a graveyard of ambitious systems that lasted two weeks before the effort required exceeded my discipline and the blank pages became accusations of inadequacy rather than invitations to reflection 😅
By The Curious Writer4 days ago in Journal
“The Crypted Path of the Druids.”
Within the eerie setting of a crypt, this story artfully interweaves threads of mystery and the supernatural, all while featuring a deeply unsettling ghost that contributes to its atmospheric dread.
By Pseudonym “Kathy,” though my legal name is Chantel.4 days ago in Journal
The No. 1 Habit That Destroys Adult Friendships, By A Psychologist
No healthy friendship operates on a strict 50/50 split at all times. Life happens. There will be seasons where one person gives more, carries more or needs more. However, there’s a significant difference between a temporary imbalance and a structural one.
By Muhammad Sabeel5 days ago in Journal
Do it Yourself
Before I decided to become an author I always imagined the hardest part or at least the part that would require the most work would be writing the book itself and then getting it published. Little did I know, the real work would begin after my book was written and published. The thing is I’m still on my book journey and I feel like I need to share with everyone the most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that it’s best to get the job done yourself.
By Joe Patterson6 days ago in Journal
Busy, busy, busy
Busy week! But Monday and Tuesday were quite chill it was only around Wednesday that things got busy. On Wednesday my wife came up to do some studying and we filled out some application forms so that she can come take classes at the university next semester.
By Max Brooks16 days ago in Journal
The Cost of Global Hegemony: An Analytical Study of Human Costs Since 1492. AI-Generated.
The story began in 1499 when an Italian explorer set foot on the continent that we now call America. This so-called discovery proved to be a great human tragedy for the original inhabitants, as the ruthlessness with which indigenous civilizations were wiped out in the struggle for resources is a sad chapter in history. The foundation of the American continent was laid on the desecration of innocent people who were targeted simply because they were an obstacle to the economic goals of the colonial powers. During various periods of European colonialism, millions of indigenous people living there were eliminated through forced evictions and systematic operations in order to lay the foundation for a new state. When independence was declared in 1776, its benefits were limited to a select few, while for the indigenous population and the millions of people who were forcibly brought in, these chains became even tighter. The policies adopted by the American state to expand its borders wiped out every nation and civilization in its path. From the beginning of the twentieth century, this state began to go beyond its borders and intervene from the Philippines to Cuba, the sole purpose of which was to protect its economic interests. At the end of World War II, when the world was looking for peace, the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved that any human limit can be crossed in the pursuit of power. This was the turning point from which this state established its role on the global stage, which plunged the world into the fire of constant conflict. In the name of the Cold War, the entire world was divided and dozens of countries were turned into laboratories. More than three million human lives were lost in the Korean War, while the operations that continued for fifteen years in Vietnam not only targeted humans but also devastated the land there with toxic chemicals. Behind all these measures lies the interest of the arms manufacturing industries, which can only thrive in the event of confrontation. This is why, in the last eight decades, there has hardly been a year when this state has not been directly or indirectly engaging in some kind of adventure in some region. These attacks have always been presented in the attractive words of “democracy and freedom” to appease the global conscience, but now it is time to bring the facts to the world that this system itself has become the biggest challenge to world peace.
By Malik Sarfraz Hussain Awan18 days ago in Journal
Author’s Advice. Top Story - March 2026.
If you would’ve asked me 20 years ago did I know I’d become a writer and an author, I would’ve said “nope, ain’t happening”. As fate would have it I did become an author and I can honestly say I’m loving it so far. It really does feel good to be a writer. I’ve learned a lot on this journey and I feel like with even me being as new to this world as I am, there’s some wisdom I need to share with every other aspiring author.
By Joe Patterson27 days ago in Journal
