Stay Safe During Covid19

Posted on by BooksAvenue

It has been really a while since we post something or anything to update everyone. And in this period, a lot things changed without much notice. Humans relationship change, things evolved and global events shift drastically. Everything is changing, everything is still changing.

At this point of writing, Covid19 has reached an infection toll of 1.5m. This is not the final number. And surely this number continues to grow. Only question is if the rate of increment will be increasing than the day before.

No doubt it first started in Wuhan, China. Thus because of that it was labelled as Wuhan Virus. Pretty much just like how everyone calls the various crisis that happened before; Ebola Virus, or bird flu. The correct term should be Covid-19.

Looking at the rate of infection, it will surpass each high unless everyone cooperates. It has become an issue of, ME vs WE. A simple instruction of staying at home cannot be executed correctly, with many errants staying NOT at home. The individualistic mindset of YOLO (You Only Live Once) brings danger closer to everyone, thinking that if one is to be infected, it is ultimately an individual issue.

Yet it is not. The virus is spreading rampantly, it just needs one more person to be infected so that that one more person can contribute to the contamination efforts of the virus. Just one more is all Covid19 takes to continue.

Why cannot everyone be at home and stay at home? Whenever there is someone not at home, that someone out there continues to contribute and increase community spread of Covid 19. It does not matter if the infection has or had taken place because no one knows, there are no symptoms and no signs. When the symptoms come, it will be too late already. All the people who are in contact previously will be in much higher probability of infection immediately.

So why YOLO, why take the chance? Why choose to be stupid like licking toilet seats and then getting infected after? Why take the risk and step outdoors? I cannot fathom why.

This is NOT a post of affiliated links, or Free sign ups or freebies. Surely you guys should be aware of all the freebies BooksAvenue have been providing by now if you have always been catching up with us BooksAvenue.

This is a post of disappointment and disgruntlement of poor choices by fellow citizens and friends who, in this difficult times, make life even harder for everyone.

I am just going to say it again. We need everyone to get their act together. Count beans or screw bottlecaps for all that matter. BUT STAY AT HOME.

Period.

How to get FREE Shipping From Amazon

Posted on by BooksAvenue

BooksAvenue did an article on how to buy Kindle books if you are not in the US. The article can be found here: How to buy Kindle Books for those living outside US

On the same note, BooksAvenue received many enquires on how to buy books or Amazon items and ship to Indonesia. So in this article, we will use Indonesia as an example. It works for any country in fact.

Since BooksAvenue has the knowledge and experience, the team has compiled all the information and steps in this page. Knowing that buying ebooks, movies, apps and games from Amazon store is difficult in some countries, we make it a point to help our customers so that they can have the digital experience purchase ( be it ebooks, or multimedia resources) via Amazon is as painless as possible.

Does Amazon.com Ship Internationally To Indonesia?

It depends on the item.

But in this short article, we’ll show you exactly how to buy any product from Amazon.com’s USA store and get it shipped to Indonesia, regardless of whether Amazon ships it internationally or not.

Continue reading How to get FREE Shipping From Amazon

How to buy Kindle Books for those living outside US

Posted on by BooksAvenue

buy kindle books in singapore

Previously, we discussed how to have UNLIMITED FREE reads on Kindle in Singapore, Malaysia and other Asian countries. In this post, we are going to talk about how to buy Kindle books in Singapore as well as buy Kindle books in Malaysia, both countries use the same method, but let’s just refer to Singapore.

In addition, this tutorial will be showing you on how to buy English Kindle book from US Amazon.

Continue reading How to buy Kindle Books for those living outside US

How To Get $10 Amazon Credit

Posted on by BooksAvenue

As always, the staffs at BooksAvenue help to document and search for ideas and ways to have books at an affordable price for everyone. In this way, reading can be affordable to everyone! Thank to Amazon!

In this post, we will share with you how to get a $10 credit. This credit can help to offset your Kindle ebooks purchase. It is savings and with the $10 saved, it translates to buying another title or two, reading more fulfilling desires.

 

Step 1: Register an Amazon Kindle Unlimited account.

Step 2: Get a Kindle E-reader. I assumed you would have purchased the Kindle either from Amazon or through one of the e-commerce portal. If not, use our link for a discounted price.

 

Once the Amazon Kindle Unlimited account is signed up and ready, there will be a free month trial.  It is a 1 month trial period available before paying. In this way, it is an excellent idea to surf and browse for every title available on Amazon.

After that trial period is over, Amazon will email you a S$10 credit email to fund your account. It should be about 2 to 4 weeks time after the Amazon Kindle Unlimited is ready.

Click on the link in the email sent by Amazon and there will be a banner that looks like this:

 

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Hope this is useful to all readers out there.

Please LIKE and SHARE to benefit everyone around you! 🙂

Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation

Posted on by BooksAvenue

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Sign up Amazon audible and get this book for free

Originally published: 19th Feb 2019
Authors: Ken Liu
Page count: 480
Publisher: Tor Books
Subjects: Science-Fiction
Language: English, Translated from Chinese
ISBN-10: 1250297664
ISBN-13: 978-1250297662
Product Dimensions: Kindle eBook / Audiobook
100 Word Summary

A series of short sci-fi stories translated into English from Chinese. Ken Liu presents (and translates) an anthology of sixteen short stories by fourteen Chinese science fiction writers, as well as three essays on the history and rise of Chinese science fiction. Personally, I find the stories to be concise and complete. It brings about the emotions as readers empathize the characters, the twist and turn in the stories. It is the unexpected twists as well as out of the norm developments that make these stories enjoyable, a short ride out of the world experience.

(95 words)

Stories include:
“Goodnight, Melancholy” by Xia Jia
“The Snow of Jinyang” by Zhang Ran
“Broken Stars” by Tang Fei
“Submarines” by Han Song
“Salinger and the Koreans” by Han Song
“Under a Dangling Sky” by Cheng Jingbo
“What Has Passed Shall in Kinder Light Appear” by Baoshu
“The New Year Train” by Hao Jingfang
“The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales” by Fei Dao
“Moonlight” by Liu Cixin
“The Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Laba Porridge” by Anna Wu
“The First Emperor’s Games” by Ma Boyong
“Reflection” by Gu Shi
“The Brain Box” by Regina Kanyu Wang
“Coming of the Light” by Chen Qiufan
“A History of Future Illnesses” by Chen Qiufan

Essays:
“A Brief Introduction to Chinese Science Fiction and Fandom,” by Regina Kanyu Wang,
“A New Continent for China Scholars: Chinese Science Fiction Studies” by Mingwei Song
“Science Fiction: Embarrassing No More” by Fei Dao

Who should read:

If you are interested in Chinese culture, Chinese habits and perspectives, these short stories help to see things in a different light. Though it is different from Western perspectives and preference, it is refreshing to read and get to know the other major culture on the other side of the world.

Who should NOT read:

On the contrary, if you are unfamiliar with any of the Chinese culture, this book will be extremely puzzling and confusing for you. A lot of hidden context and meanings that are not explained explicitly in the book. And if you were to google separately on the meanings and significance, you will lose the ‘reading momentum’ and may not enjoy this title as much.

Takeaway points:

Not many Chinese of sci-fi genres, then again, it could be of personal reading preference. It is promising and refreshing to read something that is not English.

Sign up Amazon audible and get this book for free

Why You Should Not Read Books?

Posted on by BooksAvenue

The perks of reading and the benefits are well documented. Yet what is the flip side? Ever wondered if there are any downsides?

Coming from a site that advocates reading, promote ways to read at low or no costs, this will be an interesting post to explore the possibilities and downsides reading may bring.

 

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Not all successful people are readers

It’s because high achievers are keen on self-improvement. Hundreds of successful executives have shared with me the books that have helped them get where they are today.

Yet is it only by reading?

No.

Readingequips with the necessary skills and preps the mindset. There are other factors and things that are required for success too. Example? Hands-on experience of doing it, lady luck for chance and opportunities, experimentations of other possibilities to discover new and better ways to succeed. And many more.

Case in point and the need for proofs? Here are 5 successful people who are not readers:

  1. Kanye West
  2. Fleur Pellerin
  3. Donald Trump
  4. Meghan Trainor
  5. Brian Krzanich

 

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The incessant want for perfection

Reading motivational or self-help books will have the want to for further improvements. And there is no limitation. There will always be a constant hunger to be better, like a rat in the rat race, churning and chasing for that target and it comes another target.

Improvements and upgrades are good. The constant want to improve is not. So there is a need to understand this. Books give the right path but it is up to one to walk.

7e4dbffd36535d22d19de72b487d479cReading fiction helps but…

According to research conducted at the University of Toronto, study participants who read short-story fiction experienced far less need for “cognitive closure” compared with counterparts who read nonfiction essays.

One hundred participants were assigned to read either an essay or a short story (out of a set of 8 essays and 8 short stories matched for length, reading difficulty, and interest). After reading, their need for cognitive closure was assessed. As hypothesized, when compared to participants in the essay condition, participants in the short story condition experienced a significant decrease in the self-reported need for cognitive closure. The effect was particularly strong for participants who were habitual readers (of either fiction or non-fiction). These findings suggest that reading fictional literature could lead to better procedures for processing information generally, including those of creativity.

Essentially, they tested as more open-minded, compared with the readers of essays. “Although nonfiction reading allows students to learn the subject matter, it may not always help them in thinking about it,” the authors write. “A physician may have an encyclopedic knowledge of his or her subject, but this may not prevent the physician from seizing and freezing on a diagnosis when additional symptoms point to a different malady.”

When that happens, simple mundane tasks will be torturous. The learned mind cannot unlearn. What is simple and enjoyable might not after.

 

 

Reading is a torture tenor

Sitting in a comfortable armchair, sipping a hot coffee or tea in a cool room reading a nice title. Notice the thing here? All the 3 factors have to be of an enjoyable activity.

Now change that to a dry and yawning title with a horribly dry subject matter. Even with the comfortable armchair in a cooling room is not desirable anymore.

Reading is not a normal and preferred human activity since the early humans, as well as Neanderthals and Homo erectus. It is only some 5,000 years ago, with our brains suddenly acquiring the specific ability to make sense of letters.

Comparing to the very very first mankind within the timeline of human evolution, reading is a learnt activity. It is not something we are born with. Certainly.

 

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In a nutshell

Reading for success is both boring and tiring. Reading is, and will never be an enjoyable activity if there is a certain agenda to be fulfilled. All roads lead to Rome, and there are myriad ways to gather knowledge. Reading happens to be one of many ways. With the gained knowledge, the mind changes with evolved perspectives. What seems to be thrilling and fun may not be any more after. If humans are supposed to read, then the very first man would be able to read.

So back to the question, why should you read at all?

 

 

 

 

Free Book Swapping app: Hawkins Decentralised Library

Posted on by BooksAvenue

 

There are many book review sites. And many more e-commerce book sites that sell books. It is not only Amazon apparently, and there ARE book stores that are cheaper than Amazon by the way. A list of book sites has been documented here; 5 Sites To Buy Cheap Books (Not Amazon)

But what about book swap apps?

One thing for sure, app developing is not easy. It is lengthy and takes much effort if the app is built from scratch. If not, it is possible to buy or hire help to develop an app to allow seamless book swaps within a region. Yet the question is, how and when can this cost be recovered? Through the paid subscription by members? Or through advertising revenue within the app? If these methods are possible, then the next question is who should risk this seed capital to develop the book swap app?

We, Team BooksAvenue last checked the app development cost to be S$10k. A good 10 grand! Wonder how long and how should this cost be recovered since BooksAvenue is a not for profit project.

Thankfully, there are free book swapping applications developed by book readers for book readers. The app is free and there are no paid subscriptions or whatnots.

 

Hawkins Decentralised Library
Hawkins Decentralised Library

 

The free app for book swap is Hawkins Decentralised Library. The app developer is currently a local student (Singapore) who used to lend/trade books on various platforms on SG for several years. His friends and himself built a mobile app during their free time for sharing books amongst ourselves. And now they decided to build it further for more books lovers in SG.

In case the words on the app descriptions are too small,

Borrow a novel from a neighbour, swap trusty paperbacks with a friend or simply explore others’ bookshelves for free

* List books you own and share your bookshelf
* Browse by category, or check out a live map of the books available around you
* Chat and meet other bookkeepers. Exchange book recommendations express mutual admiration or gripe about plot holes.

 

The app looks decent with clear fonts and sufficient pictures to communicate messages amongst users. This helps to facilitate the book swaps needed. Based on the number of downloads and demographics of the users, it is assumed that the users are mostly based in Singapore.

In any case, this is good for us. And with the app, it allows mobile book swaps, connecting readers to books on the go.

If you like to contact the app developer, please go to our BooksAvenue Telegram page. The same telegram group allows users to swap books too. So do share and spread the word.

On an ending note, BooksAvenue and the app Hawkins Decentralised Library are not affiliated or connected in any way.

Similarly, should you have a good idea or project and would like to work with BooksAvenue, do drop us a message on our Facebook page.

If you have benefited from our site, do drop us short review/post on our Facebook page. Your small gesture helps us to go a long way.

 

🙂

Trump: The Art of the Deal – by Donald J. Trump, Tony Schwartz

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Originally published: 6th October 2015
Authors: Donald J. Trump, Tony Schwartz
Page count: 384 pages (Paperback)
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Subjects: Biography
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399594493
ISBN-13: 978-0399594496
Product Dimensions: Kindle eBook / Audiobook

100 Word Book Review:

Trump narrates how he runs his organization, his life, the people he has to meet and chat with family and friends, as well as the clashes with enemies. All the while challenging conventional thinking, cutting great deals that are almost impossible. There are some unique insight and perspectives that opens up a different dimension on how deals are agreed upon. Nonetheless, the entire book captures only the wins but not the losses. Still, it is an excellent illustration of what professional salespeople must do. Salespeople must be negotiators, by definition. And Trump has achieved that over the years.

Who should read:

Well, I think if you are looking to understand Trump, this is a good book to start with. This book does give good insights into thinking, his logic and reasoning. It helps to understand why Trump calls off meeting or even agreed deals after hours of doing so.

Who should NOT read:

Certainly this book is not for those who are not a fan of Trump. Every word on the book will probably irk you much. Period.

Takeaway points:

It is an art to close a deal, no matter the size. While this book does give a few good pointers, I do feel it lacks of the realistic aspect. Then again, this is only my personal opinion.

About the Author

Tony Schwartz (born May 2, 1952) is an American journalist and business book author who ghost wrote Trump: The Art of the Deal.

In July 2016, Schwartz was the subject of an article in The New Yorker in which he described Donald Trump, who was running for President of the United States at the time, in unfavorable terms. Schwartz said he came to regret writing The Art of the Deal. Schwartz repeated his criticism on Good Morning America, saying he “put lipstick on a pig”, and again on Real Time with Bill Maher.

Ready Player One: A Novel

Posted on by BooksAvenue



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Originally published: 16th Aug 2011
Authors: Ernest Cline
Page count: 374pages (Paperback)
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Subjects: Sci-Fi
Language: English
ISBN-10: 030788743X
ISBN-13: 9780307887436
Product Dimensions: Kindle eBook / Audiobook

100 Word Book Review:

Wade Watts, along with other global players, dedicated his life studying hidden puzzles. These puzzles are in the virtual world, and it is based on the creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. Individuals and teams, everyone is using all ways to win the final prize. In this narrative story, as the race drags on Wade needs to win in order to stay alive. At the end of the day, Wade needs to face the real world that he tried to turn away from.

Who should read:

Anyone who has a passion in gaming will enjoy this book thoroughly. From the hardware specifications, to the software requirements, this book is peppered with many IT lingos, concepts and terms. Common terms include, ‘experience points’, ‘level up’, ‘high score’. If you are a gamer, you will find these terms very familiar.

Who should NOT read:

If you are looking for romance, or something close to real life, please stay away from this book. It is not entirely according to the typical boy meets girl and fall in love while they go on dates. It is a complete story of how Wade overcome the game and life challenges. Surely it is not a romance story as that is not the focus.

Takeaway points:

Overall as a gamer myself, I find this book very appealing and comfortable to read. I finished it in one seating, immersed in the literary world that the book has described vividly. At times it brings me back to my younger days when I was gaming delirious, a little similar to the character (Wade) in the book.

About the Author

Ernest Cline is an internationally best-selling novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. He is the author of the novels Ready Player One and Armada and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.

5 Sites To Buy Books (Not Amazon)

Posted on by BooksAvenue

Okay, let’s admit together. Amazon is way too simple to buy sell books. One click, one payment, one address and within 3 days it’s here.

So what if one day, in some extreme case that Amazon is not around. How can we feed our reading appetite and fuel our brain with knowledge?

Fret not. That’s why BooksAvenue did some searching and digging. There are many book sites with equally competitive prices. So yes, we can till survive without Amazon.

Presenting you the 5 popular book sites:

 

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RedShelf believes in making educational content more affordable and accessible for all readers. Students can access eTextbooks and eBooks through our eReader platform across any browser-enabled device including mobile, tablet and desktop.

Offering more than 500,000 titles, and this number continues to climb every day. While the focus is on higher ed content, they also offer a range of trade and self-published books for the leisure reader.

 

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Dubbed the Netflix of books, BookLender.com is an online rental service for paperback, children’s and audiobooks, offering subscribers access to more than 250,000 titles. The company offers a variety of subscription plans, starting at just $11.99 a month. There are no due dates or late fees and shipping both ways is free. Even better, now with promo code: SAS

 

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BookCase.Club is a monthly subscription service for avid readers. BookCase.Club was created to share the joy of reading with the world. They believe in the importance of literature, and the magic of the written word. Stories help to expand minds, expose us to new experiences, and show us that we are not alone. Reading can often feel like a solitary activity, and the company wanted a way to bring book nerds together. By sharing the fun of unboxing BookCases, as well as reading each month’s chosen novels along with other members, BookCase hopes we find a safe and happy place among their community.

 

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GoPeachy.com offers customers great deals on new and used Books, Textbooks, Blu-rays, Video Games, DVDs and CDs.  Their customers have learned they can count on quality products at great prices. But the value GoPeachy.com provides does not stop there. They  are dedicated to providing customers with the best media buying experience. What separates them from the competition?

From the website:

1. We strive for perfection when it comes to providing our customers with a website that is clear, accurate and comprehensive regarding product categories and descriptions, condition details, shipping and payment options and shipping times.

2. We inspect all products for sale and grade each of them under strict condition guidelines so you know the product you will get BEFORE it arrives.

3. We pass on shipping savings to our customers by offering low standard and priority shipping rates, further shipping discounts when you take advantage of multiple item shipping discounts and FREE shipping on orders $25.00 and over.

4. We provide the fastest order processing guaranteeing shipment within 24 business hours of order date and time.

5. All of our customers receive e-mailed order confirmations, tracking numbers for every domestic order no matter how small or large and professional customer service.

We are proud to have served thousands of satisfied customers and look forward to serving you.

 

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5. With AudiobooksNow you save on every audiobook you purchase. They do not use gimmicky credits to hide the true costs. Whether you want to save big through their Club Pricing Plan or simply purchase at their everyday low prices.

There are many great ways to enjoy audiobooks. Whether you’re working out, on a road trip or long commute, or simply doing chores around the house, audiobooks are the perfect way to enjoy great books anytime, anywhere.

Narrators make a story come alive and allow you to enjoy books in a whole new way. Audiobooks also allow you to be more productive by doing other things while you listen. Download audiobooks to your smartphone or tablet.