Why get Grammarly?

Have you ever sent an email with good intentions, but the recipient misunderstood or felt offended in some way by what you wrote?

While many of us have become better at getting messages across, there is always room for improvement. Getting guidance on tone can also assist those who speak English as a second language.

Grammarly is here to help with the tone detector!

By analyzing your word choice, phrasing, punctuation, and even capitalization, Grammarly’s tone detector can identify how your message is likely to sound to someone reading it so you can make necessary adjustments before you hit send.

Let’s say you’re writing a note to congratulate a friend. You may find that the tone detector identifies your message as sounding excited and joyful. Nothing wrong with that! But when you need to write an article about a controversial subject or remind a co-worker about an incomplete task without sounding aggressive, you may need some help.

A beta version of the tone detector is currently available as part of Grammarly’s browser extension for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. To give it a try, be sure you have Grammarly installed on your browser, then head to a site where you can start writing, such as Gmail. Make sure to write a few sentences—the tone detector needs at least 120 characters to activate.

Grammarly’s tone detector will save you and your target market time, misunderstandings, and possibly even hurt feelings. Remind your readers, users, and audience that Grammarly is a FREE resource that should be in everyone’s toolbox!

And be sure to check the Grammarly blog for our latest features and inspiration.

5 free things for books lovers

As a book lover, we take refuge in the pages of a book. Some even say those who read books travel “many places.”

And so, providing reading resources to all readers has been our pleasure. BooksAvenue believes that reading can be available to everyone with little, or no cost at all. Thus today, we have compiled a list of links and ways to help you save more or even get books or e-books for FREE.

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

This is useful for readers who are not living in US.

Many of the reading perks are given for FREE by signing up via the link inside.

However, it is only available for those no living in US.

Check it out how to bypass this geographical restriction.

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Don’t have a Kindle reader? Check out our promotional links to Amazon. There are good and decent kindle readers which are less than $100.

Not just the price tag, BooksAvenue has reviewed each and every Kindle Reader for your convenience. In this way getting the right reader with the right budget,

Something for everyone without breaking our bank!

Photo by Luriko Yamaguchi on Pexels.com

Now with the link to buy books outside of US, and the convenient link to compare all Kindle Readers, this link helps to find out other good books that are given away for free. Check out the link inside ways to source for FREE books.

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Say there is FREE shipping, will you be happy with it? And with the free books, surely this will be better with FREE shipping? It took BooksAvenue years to compile this. Check it out too.

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If Amazon is the only way to buy books, then you are missing out a LOT! There are other cheaper alternatives too! This is the link to find out what you have been missing out!

Click on the point 5 above to go to the page to find out what are OTHER sites to buy books from!

So there you go, all the 5 points summarized here for your convenience. Do bookmark this page for future reference. BooksAvenue will update this from time to time. This ensures information to be accurate and updated. And more importantly, ensuring that all readers get their resources at low cost, or no cost at all.

Find this useful? LIKE our Facebook page to support us!

Grammarly’s Ai-powered Writing Assistant

Check your online writings for FREE!

Everyone writes and types these days. However with so much content and so little time, how is it to do spelling and grammar checks efficiently?

Enter the Best Plagiarism Checker & Proofreader.

Regardless if you are a writer, or a casual user, Grammarly helps to track and correct your English errors. Grammar, spelling errors or even mistypes, it will capture all and change it properly for you.

Add it to your browser. Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer and it works automatically. Furthermore, you may add it in your phone well. The possibilities are limitless!

Added mine to Chrome and you can change the language anytime.

Personally, we find this very useful in composing content and publish it online. With Grammarly, we can create content efficiently with no mistakes.

The best part?

It is FREE and you can sign up here!

Father’s day promo on Amazon (14 – 22 june 2020)

$64.99List: $89.99 (27% off)Save $25 on Kindle

Start Date: 14 Jun 2020, 09:00 pm GMT-7

End Date: 22 Jun 2020, 09:00 am GMT-7

$99.99List: $129.99 (23% off)Save $30 on Kindle Paperwhite

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End Date: 22 Jun 2020, 09:00 am GMT-7

$124.99List: $159.99 (21% off)Save $35 on Kindle Paperwhite

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$99.99 – $119.99Save up to $30 on Kindle Paperwhite

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End Date: 22 Jun 2020, 09:00 am GMT-7

$99.99List: $139.97 (28% off) Save $40 on Kindle E-reader Essentials Bundle

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End Date: 22 Jun 2020, 09:00 am GMT-7

$64.99 – $79.99 Save up to $25 on Kindle

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End Date: 22 Jun 2020, 09:00 am GMT-7

$124.99 – $214.99 Save up to $35 on Kindle Paperwhite

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FREE Kindle Books on World Book Day

Do you know what day is it on 23 April every year?

It is World Book Day.

And for that Amazon celebrate it by offering free ebooks. These ebooks are ranging from award-winning fiction to under-the-radar memoirs and true crime. Year 2020 might see a few more of us reading right now due to COVID-19, so satisfying our travel bug by reading about far-off locales is a great way to pretend we can leave our homes.

As promised, BooksAvenue helps to source and get all the deals to ensure reading is free, if not at a very low cost for you. Head to Amazon’s Read the World page to download these free ebooks now through April 24th, and keep reading to see what books are available!

So how to do it?

 

STEP 1: Get this FREE VPN here

STEP 2: Sign up Amazon Kindle Unlimited here

STEP 3: Head to Amazon’s Read the World page

Optional: Buy Kindle reader at promotional price.

 

May this COVID-19 pass soon. It is a terrible disease which has the ability to spread without visible symptoms from the infected patients.

And remember please stay safe and stay at home! All shall pass and tomorrow will be better.

Stay Safe During Covid19

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.

Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation

 

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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 DimensionsKindle 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 empathise 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?

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

 

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
Page count: 384 pages (Paperback)
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Subjects: Biography
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399594493
ISBN-13: 978-0399594496
Product DimensionsKindle 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.

Literature and Art

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