REVIEWS
Countdown to Greatness
Pacific Book Review
The US Review of Books
book review by Barbara Miller
book review by Jennifer Hartman
Not upside down, but transposed a bit and laid out backwards, yes this is how author Michael Carter Griffin organizes his chapters in Countdown To Greatness – C2G Greatness Lives Within You Find It Ignite It. Starting with the last chapter and finishing with his first, Griffin uses every variation of typesetting, font, various flowcharts and graphic tools at his disposal to imprint his truisms upon the reader in a unique style. This wordsmithing hedges on poetry, although the content is inherently within the self- help genre. Claiming to be a victim of having a short attention span, the whimsical and somewhat humorous depictions of the content is different from any other book I have read. It is fun, informative and definitely different.
He talks about the goals of humility when used with wisdom to be a very persuasive personal forte. The typical success pyramid is highlighted with more detail, and his book reads as if it were a PowerPoint presentation. He dedicates his book to himself – why? Because he feels you have never seen an author dedicate a book to himself – again, being out-of-the-box original in thoughts. I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on the subject of learning. He combines science and art as being the two important character traits to bestow knowledge upon oneself. He is “right-on” in my opinion, and it’s effortless to read his charts and summations on this subject in his unusual way.
An author who emerges from a rather straightforward lifestyle, he uses his printed platform to bust out of the constraints of normality and challenges the status quo. This book would be best received as a printed version, as paging it will be half the fun of reading it, always being surprised by what lies ahead (or behind in his case). This is a great gift for young adults as well, as the rebellious formatting will encourage a new generation of authors to stray over the lines – and, not staying between the lines. It is original, fun and inspiring, and something I can simply say, “You have never seen anything like this.” This is an ideal gift for a high-school graduating class as it will be as much fun ink on paper can possess. I highly recommend Countdown To Greatness to all those aspiring to be great in their own lives. An excellent book on how to live your life the best way you can. It will help guide you on determining what things really matter and your purpose in this journey called life.
"Failure is not a negative; failure is part of the learning process, and helps to drive improvement."
Is there a blueprint to finding greatness in oneself? It is believed that to be great one only need to be positive and look in the mirror, as greatness is held within. Griffin shows how basic principles of science and art lead to learning and finding a balance using repetition, practice, and refinement. Some individuals have learned the art of finding greatness within themselves, and others need a road map to guide them along the way. Countdown to Greatness encourages readers to reduce negativity and replace it with peace, self-worth, and positivity. By looking within one's own mind, they can learn self-esteem and a feeling of purpose. This leads to achieving greatness. Readers are encouraged to continuously improve and reinvent their creativity, thus leading to a better understanding of oneself.
Chapters are presented in reverse and intended as a countdown to assist the reader with a step-by-step guide to becoming a better person within. Written for those with short attention spans, the large print chapters are quick and to the point, offering simple instructions to find and ignite greatness. The writing style is playful and purposeful, guiding the reader to see life as a work in progress and strive to continue working on greatness. The author uses silly anecdotes to engage the reader to look deeper and ignite a desire for performance and a drive that leads to self-realization. The general takeaway is to follow your dreams, which will ultimately lead to the greatness that already lives inside you.
Santa Clawziz Comin-2-Town
Pacific Book Review
book review by Beth Adams
I must say Santa Clawziz Comin-2-Town by author Michael Carter Griffin at first glance took me by surprise. Reading the text was something which I have not seen before, as the words and spelling is done in a poetic fashion using phonemes, in a phonetic text, bringing a verbal flow of rhymes and humor to the story’s narration – not what I expected in a book suited for youngsters; some of whom are still learning to read. But once you get the hang of it, I do believe it is quite comical with the expressions and analogies, and will ultimately bring chuckles and smiles to the reading audience.
The book parallels the popular Christmas song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town,by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. In Michael Carter Griffin’s version, the lyrics are brought to the current times, making reference to such iconic elements as a UFO and a 747. For example, “he be comin down the chimney-he be makin some noise-singin Merry Little Christmas to duh girls and duh boys ridin dat sleigh – bringin all the presents – flyin thru the sky like uh 747.”
The text is quite comical and is interleaved with classic Santa illustrations; showing Santa with his big, cottony white beard, red-velvet outfit, glasses and his all-knowing smile. The book moves along at a quick pace, and the author finishes with a very positive poem on the final page. The take-away readers will get – in one word – is “Fun!” This is quite a different book than all of the others on their bookshelf, and has a “bad-boy” attitude children will find exciting and a bit rebellious. They will be enlightened to the concept of “being good for goodness sake” and “you better watch out, you better not cry” – all fundamental morals for kids to adhere to prior to Christmas so they get the presents they ask for.
Yes, Santa Clawziz Comin-2-Town is quite the unique book in the genre of Christmas stories – it flows with the humor of updated lyrics to the classical song, and for those children who know the right-from-wrong spelling of the text, will further appreciate the wordsmithing of this one-of-a-kind author. It needs a ribbon and bow, then will make a great gift under a family’s Christmas tree, awaiting to be enjoyed time-and-time-again by happy kids and loving parents.
Michael Carter Griffin has crafted a timeless tale that celebrates the magic of Christmas in a fresh and enchanting way.
The US Review of Books
book review by Joslyn Vann
"he be comin down the chimney-he be makin some noise-singin Merry Little Christmas to duh girls and duh boys..."
This book offers up a modern-day twist on the traditional holiday song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Griffin uses colloquial language, phonetic spellings, and pseudowords in an attempt to deliver an updated version that readers will find relatable. The book cleverly compares Santa Claus’ famous annual trek from the North Pole in a reindeer-drawn sleigh to an alien spaceship or double-decker jet aircraft flying through the air and traveling across the sky.
The author’s comical characterization of old Saint Nick twice checking his infamous naughty or nice list conjures up images of Rocky Balboa shadowboxing before a fight. Griffin infuses this tale with merriment by alluding to Star Wars characters and depicting the North Pole as a festive gathering of laughing, prancing, and dancing reindeer and elves, with Mrs. Claus kicking off the revelry. Pop culture references and vibrant illustrations add to the story’s fun, quirky tone. The book ends with an inspirational message encouraging readers to celebrate who they are and strive to fulfill their potential.
The author's closing poem entitled “Love Never Ending” is touching. Full of metaphorical comparisons of the majesty of nature to the beauty of art, this poem speaks of an eternal devotion that transcends time, space, and dimensions. It is a promise to hold a loved one close, support them always, and never let them go. Griffin uses artistic license and sometimes cringeworthy slang to revitalize a Christmas classic. He then follows up the frivolity with a profound statement on the power and constancy of love. Fans of the familiar song who are interested in a different take on the original version might wish to peruse Griffin's offering.