4 out of 4 stars
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Burn Zones by Jorge P. Newbery is a self-help memoir aiming at motivating individuals through focusing on the life of the author and addressing his challenges.
When he was only seven, Jorge got his first employment as a newspaper delivery boy. He worked very hard and even started delivering two newspapers at a go. Later, he shifts to ice cream business where he succeeds despite the several challenges which came with it. After finishing high school, he declines the offer by his father to join the college and instead, decides to experience real life by seeking employment. Luckily, he gets employed as a loan originator and later loan officer. His life isn't smooth though, because at some point, after becoming a real-estate mogul, he runs bankrupt and later recollects himself together and proceeds with the line of prosperity.
Reading Burn Zones proved to be very enjoyable as I could relate, at least to some extent, to every experience the author went through, especially before he became a real-estate mogul. Though not brought out in black and white, a keen reader will realize that the author's intention was not only to narrate about his life and experiences but also to encourage individuals who are experiencing similar challenges and to instill hope in them. The language used is very simple and interactive hence the concepts can be easily understood. As opposed to the usual "mindset" narratives of novels addressing similar subject, this book takes you through a step-by-step procedure on how he actually acquired his wealth.
I especially liked how the author addressed the issue of seeking employment in a more elaborate manner. I learnt that with self-confidence, seeking employment is a relatively easy task as portrayed by Jorge's life experiences narrated in this book.
Although the book was good, I didn't like how a sentence or two addressed the issue of drugs and substance abuse. The author says, "For some, alcohol and drugs filled a void and helped dull whatever pained them. For others, the substances helped them feel like they fit in. " (Page 10). These sentences portray alcoholism and substance abuse as remedies for pain and suffering, which is very untrue.
Since I only found one grammatical error throughout the book, I must say it was exceptionally edited. The issue of drugs and substance abuse only covers a couple of sentences and did not affect my reading. I therefore rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to anyone going though tough times and would wish to get some motivation based on someone else's personal experience. However, government authorities, especially those with the mandate to restore peace and order in the society, may get offended upon reading how he disliked them.
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Burn Zones
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