Welcome To Emerald Book Club

Welcome To Emerald Book Club

by | May 27, 2024 | Emerald Book Club

Welcome to Emerald Book Club! We are a community of book enthusiasts dedicated to exploring the world of literature together. Our club offers a space for readers of all genres to come together, share their love for books, and engage in meaningful discussions

Emerald Book Club

Who We Are

At Emerald Book Club, we’re more than just a book club – we’re a community. We’re the early morning risers who can’t put down a good book, the night owls who lose track of time between pages, and everyone in between. We’re the dreamers, the thinkers, the storytellers, and the explorers. Together, we embark on literary adventures, uncover hidden gems, and share our passion for reading with the world.

About Us

At Emerald Book Club, we believe in the transformative power of literature. Founded in September 2018 by Joshua Jehudah, our club is a vibrant community of book enthusiasts dedicated to exploring the world of literature together. Whether you’re a seasoned bibliophile or a casual reader, there’s a place for you here. Our diverse membership spans across genres and backgrounds, united by our shared love for books and our desire to connect with fellow readers.

  • Book Reviews
  • Word Games
  • Book Recommendations
  • Writers Lift
  • Digital Art
  • Community Events

Our Pages

Home: Get acquainted with the latest news and events, and discover what’s new in the world of books.

About Us: Learn more about our club’s history, mission, and the team behind the scenes.

Book Lists: Explore our curated reading lists, featuring a diverse selection of books across genres.

Events: Stay updated on upcoming events, author talks, book swaps, and themed reading challenges.

Blog: Dive into articles, reviews, and member contributions, and join the conversation.

Join Us: Become a member of the Emerald Book Club and unlock exclusive benefits and opportunities.

Contact: Reach out to us with your questions, suggestions, or just to say hello.

Events

Join us for our next event:

  • End of Month Book Club Meeting: Date: Last Wednesday of each month 8 PM GMT – Bring a book, take a book, and enjoy lively discussions with fellow book lovers.
  • Book Club Wednesday: Date: Every Wednesday 1 PM GMT – Dive deep into the latest literary gems as our passionate readers share their insights, opinions, and recommendations. Discover your next must-read!
  • Poetic Flows Podcast: Date: Every Monday 8 PM GMT – Join us for poetry

Join Us Today!

Whether you’re looking for your next great read, eager to engage in thought-provoking discussions, or simply seeking connection with fellow book lovers, you’ve come to the right place. Join us on our journey as we celebrate the written word, one page at a time.

Welcome to Emerald Book Club – where every story has a place and every reader belongs.

Join our Discord
Subscribe To Our Youtube Channel
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Female Poets, Poems, Poetry, Poets

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,
And Mourners to and fro
Kept treading – treading – till it seemed
That Sense was breaking through –
And when they all were seated,
A Service, like a Drum –
Kept beating – beating – till I thought
My mind was going numb –
And then I heard them lift a Box
And creak across my Soul
With those same Boots of Lead, again,
Then Space – began to toll,
As all the Heavens were a Bell,
And Being, but an Ear,
And I, and Silence, some strange Race,
Wrecked, solitary, here –
And then a Plank in Reason, broke,
And I dropped down, and down –
And hit a World, at every plunge,
And Finished knowing – then –

The Brain — is wider than the Sky

The Brain — is wider than the Sky

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Emily Dickinson, Female Poets, Poems, Poetry, Poets

The Brain — is wider than the Sky —
For — put them side by side —
The one the other will contain
With ease — and You — beside —

The Brain is deeper than the sea —
For — hold them — Blue to Blue —
The one the other will absorb —
As Sponges — Buckets — do —

The Brain is just the weight of God —
For — Heft them — Pound for Pound —
And they will differ — if they do —
As Syllable from Sound —

Reading and the Brain

Reading and the Brain

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Articles, Reading

Have you ever wondered how we recognise words when we read? Are you not fascinated as to how your brain scans, interprets and relates information to you through your eyes? The awesome brain is like your virtual assistant or secretary. In this article I am to discuss about reading and the brain.  Various sources have been referred to and are quoted for further reading. Lets Dive In.

Reading reshapes the brain through neural plasticity, creating and strengthening connections, particularly in language and visual areas. This process involves the brain repurposing areas for visual processing and language to recognize letters, sound out words, and understand meaning. Regular reading improves brain connectivity and function, while also offering benefits like stress reduction, improved focus, and memory enhancement

What reading does for the brain
  • Improves Brain Function: Reading is a form of mental stimulation that can improve memory and language skills, especially when done regularly.
  • Changes Brain Structure: As reading skills develop, the brain physically changes. Areas that weren’t previously used for reading become more activated, and neural pathways are strengthened through practice.
  • Enhances Vocabulary: Reading provides context for new words, helping you learn their usage more quickly than through simple memorization
What is the Brain

The brain is a complex organ that acts as the control center of the body, located inside the skull and protected by the cranium. It is part of the central nervous system, along with the spinal cord, and its main functions include processing sensory information, controlling thoughts, emotions, movement, and regulating vital processes like breathing and heart rate. The brain is composed of billions of nerve cells (neurons) and consists of three main parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brainstem

How reading changes the brain

Repurposing brain areas: The brain is not pre-wired for reading; instead, it adapts areas for visual processing, language comprehension, and speech production.

Structural changes: Frequent reading can increase the size of areas like the temporal cortex, which is involved in language comprehension, and strengthen white matter tracts that connect language and visual processing centers.

Neural pathways: As a person learns to read, the brain creates specialized neural pathways, such as the “letterbox” (visual word form area), to process written words quickly and automatically.

Neuroplasticity: Reading actively exercises the brain, leading to enhanced neuroplasticity and a more adaptable neural network

 

How the brain learns to read
  1. Visual Recognition: You see letters and words, and the occipital lobe processes this visual input.
  2. Letter and Sound Mapping: The brain’s “letterbox” identifies the letters. This triggers activity in the parietal-temporal regions, which connects letters to their corresponding sounds.
  3. Meaning Connection: The brain links the sounds to the meaning of the word, a process that relies on networks for spoken language.
  4. Developing Fluency: Through practice, the brain creates a direct connection from the letterbox to the meaning area, allowing for faster processing and more fluent reading.
  5. Instruction’s Role: Explicitly teaching letter-sound correspondences (like systematic phonics) strengthens these neural pathways, making it easier for the brain to build these connections and improve reading skills
Brain regions involved in reading

Occipital Lobe: Initially processes visual information. As you read, it’s involved in recognizing letters and symbols, and the visual cortex here is active even in skilled readers.

Parietal-Temporal Regions: Crucial for decoding words. The parietal lobe helps segment words into their component sounds (phonological processing), while the temporal lobe connects sounds to the meaning of words, often linked with Wernicke’s area.

Frontal Lobe: The inferior frontal gyrus contains Broca’s area, which is important for the production of speech and can be used to “sound out” words.

Orthographic Processor (“Letterbox”): A region in the occipital-temporal area that becomes specialized for recognizing printed words. It stores information about a word’s spelling, pronunciation, and meaning

 

Health and cognitive benefits of reading
  • Mental stimulation: Reading keeps the brain active, which can help slow cognitive decline associated with aging.
  • Stress reduction: Engaging in a book can lower heart rate and ease muscle tension.
  • Improved focus: Regular reading can improve concentration and attention span.
  • Memory improvement: Reading has been linked to slowing memory deterioration and improving memory and thinking skills.
  • Vocabulary expansion: Reading is one of the most effective ways to learn new words
References

Havard Medical School

https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/reading-brain

Reading Rockets

https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-101/how-children-learn-read/reading-brain

National Institutes of Health

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4128180/

How Reading Improves Your intellect

How Reading Improves Your intellect

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Articles, Reading

Reading improves your intellect by enhancing cognitive abilities like memory, focus, and critical thinking through the creation of new neural pathways. It also expands your vocabulary, boosts knowledge, and develops comprehension, allowing for better communication and a more nuanced understanding of the world. 

Cognitive and brain function
Strengthens brain connections: Reading creates new neural pathways and strengthens existing ones, improving your brain’s efficiency and processing power.

Boosts memory: As you follow plots and recall details, you create and strengthen memories, which improves both short-term and long-term memory functions.

Increases focus and concentration: Following a story requires sustained attention, which trains your brain to focus and improves your concentration over time.

Enhances critical thinking: Reading exposes you to new ideas and different perspectives, which stimulates your ability to analyze information and think critically

Knowledge and communication

Expands vocabulary: Exposure to a wide range of words in context naturally increases your vocabulary, leading to better verbal and written communication skills.

Increases knowledge: Each book you read adds to your general knowledge base, providing information on a vast number of subjects.

Improves comprehension: The act of processing information from text helps you better understand complex ideas and the main points of a text.

Imagination and empathy
Develops creativity and imagination: Reading allows your mind to visualize settings and characters, which stimulates imagination and creative thinking.

Builds empathy: Reading stories can activate the same parts of the brain used when understanding another person’s emotions, helping you to develop empathy.

The Power of Intellect

The Power of Intellect

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Articles, Reading

The power of intellect is the ability to think, reason, and understand, which allows for problem-solving, innovation, and navigating complex situations. It involves using knowledge and logic to make considered decisions, acting as a crucial regulator that guides actions based on evaluation rather than mere impulse. This capacity for higher-order thinking and generalization enables abstract thought, the creation of complex ideas, and the ability to simplify complex problems

What is Intellect?

Intellect is the human ability to think, reason, understand, and acquire knowledge, especially at a high level. It encompasses reasoning, abstraction, conceptualization, judgment, and critical thinking, allowing a person to discern truth and falsehood and solve complex problems. In a broader sense, a person with great intellectual power can be called an intellect. 

Definitions of Intellect
  • Intelllect is defined as the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially with regard to abstract matter
  • a : the power of knowing as distinguished from the power to feel and to will : the capacity for knowledge
  • b : the capacity for rational or intelligent thought especially when highly developed.  Miriam Webster
    the ability to understand and to think in an intelligent way
  • Intellect is a faculty of the human mind that enables reasoning, abstraction, conceptualization, and judgment. Wikipedia

Understanding the Power of the Intellect

The mind generates thoughts—images, ideas, goals, and concepts. But the intellect discerns which of those thoughts are worth acting upon. If the mind is like a screen displaying possibilities, then the intellect is the “eye” that watches, assesses, and decides.

Unlike animals, human beings can reflect, evaluate, and refine ideas. This isn’t about academic intelligence. It’s about discernment, creativity, and the ability to simplify complex problems. Our greatest intellectual gift may be the ability to return complexity to its essence.

COTRUGLI BUSINESS SCHOOL

Key aspects of intellect
Mental faculty: 

It is the mind’s power to know and understand, distinct from the power to feel or will 

Higher-order thinking: 
It includes the capacity for rational thought, abstraction, and complex problem-solving that goes beyond immediate perception.
Knowledge acquisition:

It is the ability to think and acquire knowledge, often associated with intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking skills. 

Application: 

An intellect is a person possessing a high degree of this mental capacity. 

Lifelong development: 
Intellect can be developed and enhanced through education, experience, and reflection.

In psychology

The Structure of Intellect (SI) model organizes intellectual functions in three dimensions: (i) Operations, (ii) Contents, and (iii) Products.

A person’s intellectual understanding of reality derives from a conceptual model of reality based upon the perception and the cognition of the material world of reality. The conceptual model of mind is composed of the mental and emotional processes by which a person seeks, finds, and applies logical solutions to the problems of life.

Core functions of intellect
  • Problem-solving and innovation: Intellect provides the ability to identify challenges, analyze them critically, and devise creative solutions.
  • Discernment: It allows for the evaluation of thoughts and ideas generated by the mind, discerning which are worth pursuing.
  • Regulating impulses: Intellect serves as a regulator to control impulses and desires, leading to more thoughtful actions instead of impulsive ones.
  • Abstract reasoning: It is the faculty that allows humans to work with abstract terms, draw conclusions from assumptions, and generalize experiences.
  • Critical judgment: Intellect enables the discernment of truth and falsehood, as well as higher-order thinking beyond immediate perception. 

 

Developing intellect

Real-world experience: Real-world experience is crucial for intellectual development, as it provides understanding of reality and helps in learning to resolve life’s problems without being overwhelmed by emotion.

Acquiring knowledge: A factually accurate understanding of the world is a key component of a mature intellect.

Collaboration: The historical and modern norm for intellectual work is often collaboration, as seen in scientific and artistic endeavors, where people work together to create something.

How to cultivate intellectual power
  • Continuous learning: Engaging in self-education is an effective way to stimulate and nurture the intellect.
  • Creative outlets: Activities like writing, painting, or playing music can spark inspiration and enhance mental health.
  • Social connection: Forming connections with others who share your interests can be crucial for mental wellness. 

Reading and Intellect

Reading is strongly linked to intellect, as it enhances both fluid and crystallized intelligence by building knowledge and improving brain function through neural pathway development. It strengthens vocabulary and comprehension, increases problem-solving skills, and fosters emotional intelligence. While reading can improve intelligence, the ability to read itself is a separate skill from general intelligence, as some individuals with superior intellect may struggle with specific reading challenges like dyslexia

How reading improves intellect

Increases knowledge and vocabulary: Reading exposes you to new terms, ideas, and facts, increasing your crystallized intelligence.

Enhances problem-solving: It helps you detect patterns and make connections, boosting your fluid intelligence.

Develops the brain: Reading creates new neural pathways and strengthens existing ones, leading to clearer and more creative thinking.

Boosts emotional intelligence: Engaging with stories and characters helps you understand and manage emotions, leading to better social interactions.

Improves reading skills: It strengthens skills like phonological awareness, which is the ability to reason about the sounds in language, and improves reading speed and fluency

 

The relationship between reading and intelligence
  • Reading is a learned skill that relies on repurposing specific brain regions for processing language and recognizing letters.
  • Studies show that reading ability is a significant predictor of later intelligence, especially verbal intelligence.
  • However, some individuals with high general intelligence may face difficulties with reading, a condition known as a specific reading disability or dyslexia, demonstrating that reading ability and intelligence are not identical. 

    Research on Reading

    According to an article on the BigThink website,  Research shows that reading not only helps with fluid intelligence, but with reading comprehension and emotional intelligence as well.

    Click here to Read the article

    References

     – The paradoxical relationship between intelligence and reading disability

    P G Aaron

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4094867/

     – How reading rewires your brain for higher intelligence and empathy

    Derek Beres Bigthink

     – Cotrugli Business School

    Professor Mike George

    https://cotrugli.org/the-mind-and-intellect

    Friday by Theresa Ann Moore

    Friday by Theresa Ann Moore

    by | Nov 14, 2025 | Female Poets, Friday Poems, Poems, Poetry, Poets

    Friday is a day of the week
    That gives employment a break
    TGIF is an acronym for relief
    Releasing you from a mind ache

    Friday is a day that concludes
    Never again to be renewed
    ABC appropriately describes…
    It’s like gum that’s already been chewed

    Friday is a pause that offers
    A space that is temporally free
    It improves the current flow
    Whether you are AC and DC

    LOL and enjoy the weekend
    Breathe deep and smile
    Monday is two days away…
    So unwind your mind for awhile

    Thank God it’s Friday

    Thank God it’s Friday

    by | Nov 14, 2025 | Friday Poems, Life Poems, Poems, Poetry

    Monday, such a blah day, we’re all in a mood.
    Tuesday, things are better, but really, not that good.
    Wednesday, so called hump day, we are getting there.
    Thursday, “little Friday”, there’s a party in the air!

    Thank God it’s Friday! What took so long?
    Time to get crazy! A little wine and song.
    It’s time to party! The weekend is here.
    Fire up the charcoal, ice down the beer!
    Dancing until the dawn’s early light.
    Thank God it’s Friday! Bring on the night!

    Saturday, sleeping in, doing all the chores.
    Mow the lawn, rake the leaves, head out to the stores.
    Sunday’s here, time to rest. It never seems to last.
    Weekend’s gone, where did it go? Time goes so fast!

    Thank God it’s Friday! What took so long?
    Time to get crazy! A little wine and song.
    It’s time to party! The weekend is here.
    Fire up the charcoal, ice down the beer!
    Dancing until the dawn’s early light.
    Thank God it’s Friday! Bring on the night!

    Day by day we go through life, never to pretend.
    We are living everyday to get to the weekend!

    Thank God it’s Friday! What took so long?
    Time to get crazy! A little wine and song.
    It’s time to party! The weekend is here.
    Fire up the charcoal, ice down the beer!
    Dancing until the dawn’s early light.
    Thank God it’s Friday! Bring on the night!

    Friday’s at yours by Shannon

    Friday’s at yours by Shannon

    by | Nov 14, 2025 | Female Poets, Friday Poems, Poems, Poets

    Friday’s at yours.
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    Whether we’re going out to the theatre
    Whether we stay in to watch movies
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    It always starts with tea and ends with a kiss
    and theres always a cuddle or three
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    You are my stormboy
    You are my light
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    You are all my favourite love songs
    You are the epitome of safety and fearless
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    Curled up, no matter where we go
    In your arms safe and calm and happy and
    free.
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    We laugh and kiss and look and love
    We discover new things about each other.
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    you play with my hair and I scratch your back
    and we kiss like nobody else exists
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    you walk me out in just your socks,
    kiss me tenderly,
    wave goodbye.
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    Going home, leaving you alone in your room
    kills me. all I wish is to fall asleep in your arms and
    not have to wake up
    alone
    Friday’s at yours are special to me
    i get home and we’re still talking
    talk until we fall asleep
    alone
    but happy
    Friday’s at yours are special to me

    Books to Improve Your Vocabulary

    Books to Improve Your Vocabulary

    by | Nov 14, 2025 | Book Reviews, Books, Vocabulary Books

    A list of great books that will develop your vocabulary
    How to Build a Better Vocabulary
    image of How to Build a Better Vocabulary
    This is the entrancingly entertaining yet amazingly effective guide that shows you how to know the meaning of words that you have never seen or heard before, learn the history of words so that they come alive for you, master an invaluable and permanent technique of word-viewing within 30 days
    Word Power Made Easy
    image of Word Power Made Easy

    For use in schools and libraries only. Exercises designed to develop vocabulary skills present words together with their pronunciations, definitions and use in sentences

    30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
    image of 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary

    A program for developing one’s word power in 15 minutes a day. Includes tips on noticing new words, avoiding misuse, and a pronunciation key

    Webster’s new explorer vocabulary skill builder
    image of Webster's new explorer vocabulary skill builder
    25 lessons introduce more than 3,000 new words. Lessons feature 200 Greek and Latin words that are the roots of most common English words. Definitions, pronunciation, and usage examples accompany each new word. Hundreds of quizzes test your progress. Excellent prep tool for the SAT
    Instant Vocabulary
    image of Instant Vocabulary
    LEARNING NEW WORDS IS AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE! • RECOGNIZE the keys to the English language, the basic units from which all words are made • FOLLOW clear examples of how the key explains a word’s
    The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart: 1200 Essential Words Every Sophisticated Person Should Be Able to Use
    Be the life of every highbrow cocktail party—just by mastering the deliciously obscure terms in The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart.This book is a tongue-in-cheek guide to words that any well-educated, witty person should be able to drop into cocktail conversation
    The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart: 1200 Essential Words Every Sophisticated Person Should Be Able to Use

    Popular Electronic Engineering Books

    Popular Electronic Engineering Books

    by | Nov 14, 2025 | Books, Electronic Engineering Books

    Below is a list of the most popular books on Electronic engineering from sources across the web
    The Art of Electronics

    The Art of Electronics, by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill, is a popular electronics design reference textbook dealing with analog and digital electronics. The third edition was published in 2015. The author accepts reports of errata and posts them, to be corrected in future revisions. Wikipedia

    The Art of Electronics

    Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory

    For upper-level courses in devices and circuits, at 2-year or 4-year engineering and technology institutes. Highly accurate and thoroughly updated, this text has set the standard in electronic devices and circuit theory for over 25 years. … Google Books

    Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory

    Analisis de Circuitos En Ingenieria

    “Although in many engineering programs the introductory circuits course is preceded or accompanied by an introductory physics course in which electricity and magnetism are introduced (typically from a fields perspective), this is not required to use this book. … Google Books

    Analisis de Circuitos En Ingenieria

    Microelectronic Circuits

    Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith has served generations of electrical and computer engineering students as the best and most widely-used text for this required course. … Google Books

    Microelectronic Circuits

    Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

    A Fully-Updated, No-Nonsense Guide to Electronics Advance your electronics knowledge and gain the skills necessary to develop and construct your own functioning gadgets. … Google Books

    Practical Electronics for Inventors, Fourth Edition

    Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective

    Intended for use in undergraduate senior-level digital circuit design courses with advanced material sufficient for graduate-level courses. Progressive in content and form, this text successfully bridges the gap between the circuit perspective and system perspective of digital integrated circuit design. … Google Books

    Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective

    Electronics in easy steps

    Ever wanted to know how things work, especially electronic devices? Electronics in easy steps tells you all about the building blocks that make up electronic circuits and the components that make an electronic device tick. … Google Books

    Electronics in easy steps

    A Dictionary of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

    This popular dictionary, formerly published as the Penguin Dictionary of Electronics, has been extensively revised and updated, providing more than 5,000 clear, concise, and jargon-free A-Z entries on key terms, theories, and practices in the areas of electronics and electrical science. … Google Books

    A Dictionary of Electronics and Electrical Engineering